As the U.S. Department of Education ramps up collection efforts on past-due federal student loans, a default wave is coming, new reports show. Of the 5.8 million newly delinquent borrowers, nearly one-third could reach default status in July,

For many borrowers, student loans linger long after graduation — and for some, they become more than just a financial burden. They're frustrating, persistent reminders of debt that won't go away. One listener recently brought this up on the "Women & Money" podcast hosted by Suze Orman and Kathy Travis,