About $1.2 trillion in outstanding loans, 40 million borrowers all balancing out to roughly $29,000 per person, the numbers say it all: student debt in this country is through the roof, leaving borrowers wondering how those vying for the White House will handle these staggering numbers.

However, it’s really anyone’s guess because the topic of student debt has yet to be prominently displayed or repeatedly addressed on any of the candidates platforms.

As reflected by data collected in regards to the 2012 election, 60 percent of young voters — ages 18 to 29 — either were currently or had been enrolled in college. And of that 60 percent, 71 percent actually attended college classes. This means that those in college are representing more of the youth of America, than non-college educated youths.

All of this being said, it is perplexing why candidates working toward 2016 are not putting the issue of college debt up amongst top issues in America, accompanied by realistic ways to flatline the slippery slope that is student debt.

At Iowa universities specifically, students are climbing the uphill battle and presidential candidates need to take note of this.

According to the most recent Iowa Board of Regents Annual Financial Aid report, the three major universities are sending their students off into the world with varying amounts of debt. ISU students will leave with an average of $28,880, with the University of Iowa and UNI trailing with only around $25,000 in debt.

These numbers are stratospherically high while universities are having to deal with decreased funding on a federal level. Work study awards as well as Pell Grants are dwindling, leaving the universities to impose additional tuition charges on their students. In the end, this is causing students to seek out external loans only widening the spectrum of student debt.

In a nation that implores its young people to seek higher education to emerge with the ability to actively contribute to society, why wouldn’t presidential candidates actively and realistically address the issue of skyrocketing student debt?

This campaign has been highlighted with cheap shots and social media fire and quite frankly, unnecessarily so. The race for president is one that should be marked by active discussion about real issues facing real Americans, including college students.

Leaving the friendly world of university only to be faced with thousands of dollars in debt could lead to a vicious cycle in the job market – trying to find a job fast rather than a job that fits the degree for which you just paid.