A close-up of a map focusing on Wisconsin, highlighting cities like Wausau, Merrill, and Nicolet, with nearby roads and natural features.

About DebtSmarts

The Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt—known publicly as DebtSmarts—is a nonprofit collaboration of organizations and community partners committed to addressing the challenges of student debt in our state.

We are a nonpartisan coalition, which means we do not advocate for specific policies or political positions. Instead, our focus is on:

  • Increasing clarity around student debt, college affordability, and repayment options.

  • Sharing trusted insights to help Wisconsin borrowers make informed decisions.

  • Promoting outreach and resources that make borrowing and repayment easier to navigate.

Our ultimate goal is to improve financial outcomes for Wisconsin residents by making the student loan process more transparent and borrower-centered.

👉 Learn more about how we support students before college, during college, and after college.

A notebook with the word 'GOALS' written at the top, placed on a wooden desk along with a green pen, a potted plant, and metallic clips.

Our Goals Are

  1. To increase understanding among Wisconsin policymakers and stakeholders of beneficial strategies and practices around student debt. We aim to share insights and resources that inform decision-making and improve financial outcomes for borrowers.

  2. To facilitate Wisconsin community-based financial counseling and workshops by working with community partners and financial counseling experts. These efforts connect reliable information and resources with the Wisconsin residents who need them most.

  3. To foster greater transparency and dialogue around the challenges and solutions for minimizing and managing student loan debt in Wisconsin. Explore our borrower resources: Before College, During College, and After College.

Everyone should have the opportunity to succeed!

The image shows a clock with the word 'mission' at the center, surrounded by related words in different colors like 'communication,' 'development,' 'customer,' 'business,' and 'planning.' There is also a lightbulb illustration at the bottom right of the clock, symbolizing ideas and innovation.
A graphic design featuring a large light bulb made up of colorful words related to ideas, vision, and future, with a hand drawing the light bulb with a black pen. The design emphasizes creativity and innovation.