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Locals Say College Education is Worth the Cost

Student loan debt rising, stats still show college graduates earn more.

By Nancy Lockwood

Channel 2 News

6:31 PM AKST, November 30, 2012

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

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Outstanding student loan debt continues to rises according to a new national report. 

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit estimates America's outstanding student loan debt at $956 billion.  

That total is expected to exceed one trillion soon.  Despite the rising cost of college tuition and related expenses, educators say a degree remains a good investment. 

UAA Associate Professor Paola Banchero said Friday that two-thirds of jobs in America require a college degree and that number is expected to rise to 3 out of 4 by 2020. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that college graduates earn, on average, more than $20,000 more than those with a high school degree or GED. 

A study by The College Board found that a degree comes with more benefits than the bigger paycheck. 

College graduates are more likely to maintain a healthy weight and less likely to smoke.