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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 6, 2006 Student debt is piling up in Oregon, OSPIRG study finds By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Student loan debt is unmanageable for nearly 16 percent of Oregon’s public college graduates who become teachers, according to a report released Wednesday by the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG). That percentage more than doubles for the state’s public college graduates who studied to become social workers. About 37 percent of them have unmanageable debt when they graduate, if they do not get jobs in a higher-paying field. Dwindling college financial aid is becoming a "bigger and bigger problem, and the cuts in the past legislative season is one example of that," said Alissa Cordner, Southern Oregon University organizer for OSPIRG. In February, Congress slashed $12 billion in low-interest student loan programs, the largest cut since the programs began. At the same time, federal grants have not kept pace with tuition increases, the report stated. Advertisement However, the burden of student loan debt is not as significant in Oregon than in other states, the report indicated. Oregon ranked fifth with Texas in the lowest percentage of unmanageable debt among graduates seeking a teaching career. SOU’s high number of low-income students, who have access to more help in the form of grants, has helped the student body’s overall debt load remain lower than other schools. In 2004-05, 35 percent of SOU students received a Pell Grant, a federal program for low-income students, compared to 26 percent nationwide. About 71.3 percent of graduates who receive a bachelor’s degree and 54.5 percent of those who earn a master’s degree graduate with student loan debt. The average debt is $23,709 for a bachelor’s degree and $37,839 for a master’s degree. Sarah Praskievicz, an SOU senior, expects to graduate with a loan debt of $23,000. She aspires to become an environmental activist but has already started dismissing some nonprofit employers because they don’t offer any kind of loan assistance. "When I first started going to college, I was only interested in jobs that were fulfilling to me or made a difference," Praskievicz said. "Now, I’m looking for a job with federal loan assistance that pays enough that I won’t have to default on my loans." She said the debt could also end or postpone her hopes of obtaining a master’s degree. The OSPIRG study compared undergraduate student debt with average starting public service salaries nationally and by state. It focused on teachers and social workers, partly because of their critical role in society and because they serve as a bellwether for other public service careers, the report stated. Student loan debt is hindering some graduates from pursuing careers in teaching and social work, SOU officials said. "Our challenge is we need to make sure the amount of debt students incur doesn’t become so burdensome that they are not able to obtain their career goals," said Jonathan Eldridge, SOU vice president of student affairs. That would likely mean restoring and increasing funding to federal financial aid programs, Cordner said. In the next decade, the U.S. is expected to need 2 million new teachers. The combination of student loan debt and the high cost of housing in Jackson County depletes the pool of candidates for teacher recruitment, said Medford Schools Superintendent Phil Long. Burdensome debt is "a concern for any organization looking for college-trained graduates," Long said. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail Student debt is piling up in Oregon, OSPIRG study finds ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos GMAT Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Email Security Advertisement s Advertisement