A quick word association quiz: Bubble. Odds are some readers may have answered housing.

But lately there's been talk of a student loan bubble. While some observers warn rising student debt is dangerous, many point out that, as occurred when the housing bubble burst, credit unions are in a much better position than many lenders.

They're in the private student loan market, rather than offering government loans, experts reminded. Just as mortgage lenders got into trouble with no-doc, low-doc loans, there is a concern government student loan requirements aren't strict enough. Credit unions, on the other hand, have held to prudent requirements for their student loans.