The claim: > Main cause: Government-backed student loans.
I've read the article. It discusses student loans and how they've skyrocketed, but never makes the claim that their availability is the cause. Instead, it argues a change in America's "labor profile" is to blame for the rise in demand (which, in turn, leads to higher tuition):
> Rising enrollment is also associated with a changing US labor profile; for example, manufacturing jobs were eclipsed by “business and professional services” jobs as well as healthcare, education, and retail jobs.
Going further, the author suggests we need to forgive/cancel the student loans:
> These loans should be forgiven/cancelled
To me, this implies the author does not believe federal student loans are to blame.