Then where is the unambiguous and enormous rise in student loan debt coming from?

Honest question, for anybody who has a real answer.

From the above NPR article:

"Prices do not include room and board. Numbers are adjusted for inflation in constant 2011 dollars."

"these are just averages, and there's huge variation."

The go look at the report it is based on http://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-table...

And the 2012 NPR article doesn't include the 2 years since of further net price increases above inflation.

Because there was a huge recession that depressed or eliminated incomes. Student debt often rises during and following recessions, because some people who can't get a job, can get student loans, and choose to go to school.