The Institute for Higher Education Policy Reports…

on who is taking out private loans to fund his or her own college education.  The report says that stagnant Stafford loan limits and higher costs of college after grants are given out are reasons why the increase in private loans are occuring.

The report stated that not everyone that got a Stafford loan got the maximum amount they could borrow.

The reports shows off a massive jump in private loans up 1,042% in around 10 years from around 1.4 billion to around 16.25 billion while Stafford loan borrowing when up 83% to around 63.5 billion up from almost 37 billion 10 years ago.
Maximum borrowing for a dependent Stafford loan student is 23 grand while it is twice that for an independent student.  IMO that is not alot of money when tuition can easily be over 10 grand a year after grants are given out.

The report shows that the higher the tuition, the greater the percent of students taking out private loans.

This report is not a bad read.