Ashlee Rezin | Photojournalist

Student loan debt is shattering records.

More than 44 million Americans owe $1.4 trillion in outstanding student loans. In 2008, that number was about $640 billion.

The balance of student loan debt is likely to continue growing, experts have told the Chicago Sun-Times. Some have likened the problem to the 2008 mortgage crisis — but others have said it's worse.

You don't have to tell that to these Chicago-area college grads struggling to repay their loans.

From right to left: Tiela Halpin, 32, of Evanston, who has a degree in photography from Columbia College Chicago and owes about $80,000 in student loan debt; Rick Ceniceros, 27, of Chicago, who has a degree in television from Columbia College Chicago and owes about $47,900 in student loan debt; and Jessica Barazowski, 29, of Chicago, who has a degree in biology from Loyola University Chicago and owes about $100,000 in student loan debt. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

A generation of college grads buried in student debt

Jennifer Hudson poses for a portrait in Chicago, the city she says “is my home and always will be,” Thursday afternoon, Aug. 5, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

For Jennifer Hudson, playing Aretha Franklin meant showing ‘her faith was always present’

Masseny Kaba poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky's media day at their practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Here’s a look at your 2022 Chicago Sky

R. Kelly walks into the Daley Center in Chicago for a hearing in a child support case, Wednesday afternoon, March 6, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Decades of abuse allegations lead R&B superstar R. Kelly back in front of a jury

Matt Shultz, of Cage The Elephant, performs at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Chicago’s most powerful alderman, Ed Burke (14th), walks into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday afternoon, Jan. 3, 2019.

After serving on the City Council for nearly half a century, Burke stands accused of using his position as alderman to try to steer business toward his private law firm. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Burger Sting: Ald. Ed Burke tried to shake down fast-food execs to get business for his law firm, feds say

Christine Ebersole stars as Elizabeth Arden in "War Paint" at the Goodman Theatre, photographed in her dressing room at the Loop theater Friday, June 24, 2016. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times  

Drag queen Gigi Goode performs during Drive 'N Drag presented by Voss Events at Soldier Field in Chicago, Friday night, Aug. 7, 2020.

The drive-in theater-like event at Soldier Field’s South parking lot showcased queens from various seasons of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Drive ’N Drag transforms Soldier Field lot into socially-distanced dance party: PHOTO GALLERY

"I love playing character parts," John Travolta told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper while promoting his new film, "The Fanatic," in Chicago, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019.

“Give me Robert Shapiro [in ‘The People v. O.J. Simpson’], give me Edna in ‘Hairspray.’ But don’t ask me to play me because I don’t even know who I am. I’ve [rarely] cashed in on my persona, except maybe in ‘Look Who’s Talking’ and ‘Phenomenon,’ where I was playing guys who were all personality. But coming from a theater family background, my goal was always to be honorable to creating. It’s more than just saying lines.” | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

John Travolta has no qualms about working again with Quentin Tarantino

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness performs on day two of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Former longtime Chicago Teamsters boss John T. Coli Sr. leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse after pleading guilty to receiving a prohibited payment and filing a false income tax return, Tuesday morning, July 30, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times


Teamsters boss bragged ‘you can cut my fingers off, I wouldn’t talk’ years before deal with feds

Candace Parker poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky's media day at their practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Here’s a look at your 2022 Chicago Sky

Vic Mensa performs on day one of Riot Fest in Douglas Park, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Lady Gaga joins her fiancé Taylor Kinney and the stars of NBC's "Chicago Fire" to jump in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan during the Polar Plunge at North Avenue Beach, Sunday morning, March 1, 2015. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Snoop Dogg performs on day three of Riot Fest in Douglas Park, Sept. 13, 2015. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Chris Christmas, 70, of Portage Park, plays "Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles as the sun rises over Lake Michigan near Foster Beach on the North Side, Friday morning, June 24, 2022. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Chris Christmas is Chicago’s sunrise serenader