It is pretty well known that the outstanding college debt burden is surging and having spill over effects on individual’s choices. Per a Federal Reserve Report, 36 percent of individuals aged 24-32 owned homes in 2014, down from the reported 45 percent in 2004. I read this article discussing the effects of co-signing for a partner’s college debt.

As the burden of debt increases in both size and the number of effected individuals, the decision for one to marry into one’s debt burden might increasingly be a sticking point for young couples. Take this example of this couple, where their spouse had $390,000 in student debt. Granted, love is sometimes outside of the bounds of rationality, but can you argue that in terms of a potential partner’s debt burden?