It'd be interesting to knowhow much of this is due to people feeling more confident in their ability to pay (i.e. improving economy) vs having to rely due to job loss/other factors (i.e. slowing economy). I think it's overconfidence, personally. I paid off all my CC debt in 2012 and will pay off ealry the remainder of my student loan debt in 2013 as a hedge. My bigger concern is the staggering $23B in new student loan debt. Mine was for new training, not a full-on degree. I can't fathom how the current crop of college grads are going to gain their financial footing.
They aren't going to have to. With they way the law is written now they can get forgiveness after 15 years of payments I think, so the tax payer will be on the hook for the rest of the bill. And they are being given more lenient payment options as well I think.
So what are you saying? They take out a 30 year term for their loans and pay for 15 and the rest is forgiven? That's such a great way to teach fiscal responsibility. Not! 
Something like that. It's a fairly new law but I don't remember the specifics. They have to make all their payments for that first period, but those are structured to their pay so that shouldn't ba an issue. And yes, society is continuing to foster the entitlement culture.
Wow. So someone goes and gets a $100K harvard liberal arts degree and goes to work at the local Starbucks and only has to pay what they can afford. Sounds like a perfect way to further backrupt the country. 
It's called the Studen Loan Forgiveness Act: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/student-loan-ranger/2012/05/30/would-the-student-loan-forgiven...