Student Debt (#129)

Original Air Date: Monday, January 14, 2008

Iowa's college graduates have the nation's second-highest debt burden per student. One of the contributing factors is the growing cost of education. Although the cost of college has increased 40 percent in the last six years, the availability of financial aid has not kept pace, forcing many students to turn to private loans with high interest rates. As a result a growing number of students are struggling under increasing debt burdens.

The Iowa Journal explores these trends. Guests on the program include: David Miles, the new president of the Board or Regents, State of Iowa; and Jim Sumner, senior counselor, Office of Admission and Financial Aid, Grinnell College.

We'll also visit an Iowa community that is developing a plan to help pay for student's tuition. It's called the Davenport Promise. Supporters of the plan believe it also offers the city a tool to reverse the out-migration of young families to the suburbs. Longer term it could provide Davenport with a better educated workforce.