Tie it to grades and ACT/SAT. If those are below median, then associate it with some number of years of national service, military or otherwise. Or maybe tie it to national service regardless, that’s a little more egalitarian.
More than 1/3 of defaulters owed less than $5,000! Sort of turns upside down the narrative of the burden of the six-figure loan and how we should be capping those loans so people don’t default. Seems like the problem is on the other end. Actually, the more that was owed, the LOWER the default rate.