Learn how to manage school debt

To the editor:

A full year's tuition with room and board can cost families and students over $15,000 a year at most state universities.

In a society with easy access to credit cards and federal student loans, many students don't realize what kind of debt they are taking on. While the interest rates are considerably low, if the debt becomes too outrageous, it is not clearable by bankruptcy, making it one of the worst debts to carry.

People may be denied mortgages, have important income skimmed for their paychecks as repayment, or have serious action taken toward their credit. No matter which side of the political spectrum you sway - local, state and federal government should focus on passing legislation to help individuals wishing to pursue postsecondary education more affordable. Nobody should carry debt like that their whole life. We should all be looking forward.

If the tuition hikes continue at the same rate they have been we will either have a serious decline in students attending postsecondary education or an even more serious problem with the student debt bubble.

Alex Stalkfleet

Cedar Rapids