Thanks to the hard-work and dedication of our country’s educators millions of students have access to brighter futures for themselves and their families.
Yet, while teachers give so much to so many, they often struggle with financial burdens. Teaching salaries lag behind with the cost of living, teachers pay out of pocket to supplement their classrooms and it can take years for them to overcome the debt they took while they pursued their own education – limiting their saving potential and emergency funds.
Add to that the weight of unexpected expenses and life events (from medical bills to family emergencies) and even the most dedicated teachers can find themselves overwhelmed by debt. Thankfully, debt consolidation and relief programs like Beyond Finance are helping educators take control of their finances, reduce stress, and focus on what they do best: help others learn and grow.
A High-School Spanish Teacher With $36,895 in Debt After Her Father’s Unexpected Cancer Diagnosis
Caroline M., a high-school Spanish teacher from Colorado had her world turned upside down when her father was given an aggressive cancer diagnosis. At the time, she was glowing from her recent engagement and when the news came that her father had a short time to live, she moved mountains to plan an elopement so her father could walk her down the aisle, and take off work so she could care for him. When he passed 2 weeks after her elopement, she knew she’d made the right decision.
However, although the wedding and time away from work was the right emotional choice, it came with a financial burden. Wedding debt paired with some existing education debt left her financially overwhelmed.
Life has its unexpected events. Having programs like Beyond there is really reassuring. There are people out in the world who want to help.
Debt Amount: $36,895
Started: September 2024
Monthly Savings: $758*
Caroline Is Excited to Have a Clean Slate
Caroline’s debt added so much unwanted stress and embarrassment to her life during an extremely difficult season of life. Before finding Beyond Finance she often wondered how she’d stretch her budget to afford groceries and bills between paychecks.
Now, she is relieved that she’ll have a clean slate when she graduates and return to a happier and more optimistic version of herself that celebrates the little things in life.
Learn more about Caroline’s journey
A Teacher from Texas With More Than $28,000 in Debt
When Mackenzie M.’s husband started having health issues, their household debt which had been accumulating slowly suddenly escalated into a bigger problem. Without his income, they relied on personal loans and credit cards to get by, but the impact of the debt was unsustainable. The monthly payments overwhelmed them and they went searching for hardship programs.
Beyond Finance stood out above all the other options they considered. They were professional but down to earth which put her at ease. And with a strong but affordable plan in place, their financial stress lowered immensely.
I googled and researched many companies and had many quotes and phone calls but Beyond Finance was the most professional and made me feel the most at ease.
Debt Amount: $28,396
Started: June 2025
Monthly Savings: $352*
How Mackenzie’s Life is Improving After Enrollment
“My stress level went down five notches just from signing up!”
With her stress level and monthly payments finally at manageable levels Mackenzie is looking forward to focusing on her family.
A Teacher and Widow from Indiana with $35,027 in Debt
Andrea S. is a teacher who took a pay cut after her husband passed away. During this difficult time she relied on credit cards to survive. Eventually, she reached a point where she could only afford to make the minimum payments and wasn’t making meaningful progress on her debt.
When she saw a Beyond Finance story on Facebook promising solutions for teachers in debt, it resonated with her and she reached out.
Do it!!!!! It can be scary at first, but you won’t regret it. My contact person, Stephanie, made this a wonderful experience. She is so kind with no judgement.
Debt Amount: $35,027
Started: April 2025
Monthly Savings: $649*
Life After Starting a Beyond Finance Program
Now that she is in the program, Andrea is able to pay ahead on her mortgage and car and still have funds left over for other things. Ultimately she feels blessed to have found Beyond Finance and is grateful that her financial stress has finally been addressed in a meaningful way.
“I’m just blessed that I stumbled across Beyond and am looking forward to getting my debt completely paid off!”
A Teacher from Kentucky Who Took a Pay Cut and Ended Up With $18,117 in Debt
When Nicholas S. experienced flooding in his home, a $10,000 pay cut and a bad car engine back to back, it threw his household finances out of control. Replacing his car and keeping up with household expenses was non-negotiable and he leaned on debt to make it all happen. In about 10 months, he went from feeling secure to financially vulnerable and in need of serious help.
Patience is difficult, but necessary with the program. If you need assurance, go to the app. You can also call them or email them. They’re great communicators.
Debt Amount: $18,117
Started: March 2025
Monthly Savings: $210*
Nicholas is Comforted by Beyond’s Great Communication
While Nicholas is still early in his journey, he is reassured by the quality of the communication he received from Beyond. He loves tracking his progress in the app and wants others to know that the program can take patience but that it’s worth it to have a plan in place.
Debt Consolidation Options with Beyond Finance
For over 13 years, Beyond Finance has helped more than 700,000 people pay off over $2 billion in debt. Their top-rated debt consolidation option is faster and more affordable than alternatives like bankruptcy or making minimum payments.
*About these testimonials
These are real clients who were compensated for taking the time to share their experience with us. Clients typically save $480 on their monthly payments. Monthly savings were calculated by subtracting their program payment from their self-reported payments or tradeline minimums on eligible accounts.