The average college student now borrows $26,600 to get a degree, which often forces delays in a host of things: buying a house, getting a car—and getting hitched.

According to a new study from the non-profit group Demos, those who borrow still suffer after the debt is paid. According to the study, students who must pay off student loans earn $208,000 less than their peers who don’t have any debt to service, even when they take advantage of the government’s income-based repayment plan.

Researchers say most of that loss in equity comes because students aren’t able to invest in big-ticket items earlier. Students who pay off debt instead of investing in a retirement account, for instance, lose about $134,000 in equity. Waiting to buy a home costs students another $70,000 in equity.

“The household with student debt was forced to save significantly less for retirement early in their working lives while paying back their student loans,” a release from Demos said.

All that said, it’s still probably worth going to college even if you have to take out loans to do it. According to a study from Georgetown University, people who get college degrees earn about $1 million more dudring their lifetimes than those who don’t. (Time)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife Wendy and his two children. Follow him on Twitter.