To put these numbers in perspective, if you add up all of the real estate investments of all Americans, they would total roughly $9 trillion. If you add up all of the stocks and bonds and liquid investments of all Americans, they would total roughly another $9 trillion.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/college/story/2011-10-19/student-loan-debt/50818676/1
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/college/story/2011-10-19/student-loan-debt/50818676/1
