LOS ANGELES — According to the Education Data initiative, Californians owe more than the average borrower, with more than 3 million residents owing the federal government an average of $37,000 per person in student loans.

Angel Vasquez is pursuing a doctorate in education and had planned to pay for it with scholarships and grants. But with high tuition prices, he had to take out student loans.

For decades now, the cost and debt of education has trended up, which is why Vasquez is looking forward to saving some money with the student loan forgiveness plan.