{"id":85528,"date":"2018-10-02T16:35:40","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T02:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=85528"},"modified":"2019-04-10T16:15:12","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T02:15:12","slug":"hawaii-student-debt-among-lowest-in-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2018\/10\/02\/hawaii-student-debt-among-lowest-in-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawai\u02bbi student debt among the lowest in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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Thanks to the affordability of the 10-campus University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> System<\/a>, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> is ranked ninth in the nation when it comes to low student debt, according to the latest annual report by The Institute for College Access and Success<\/a>. The report looked at debt carried by students at public and nonprofit colleges and universities. Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> was among the lowest in the country for the amount of debt students carry, and the percentage of students who graduate with a bachelor\u2019s degree with debt.<\/p>\n

The average debt for a Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> student after graduating with a bachelor\u2019s degree is $25,125, $3,500 below the $28,650 national average. Connecticut had the highest student debt at $38,510 and Utah the lowest at $18,838. About 65 percent of college students nationally graduate with debt. Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> is tied for 6th lowest in the country at 49 percent. Utah is the lowest at 38 percent, followed by Alaska and the District of Columbia at 46 percent.<\/p>\n

The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise scholarship program is one example of how UH<\/abbr> and state leaders are working to keep the cost of higher education affordable. The program provides assistance to qualified community college students for any financial needs not met by financial aid, federal grants, benefits and scholarships. Those costs can include tuition, fees, books, supplies and transportation.<\/p>\n

“We are extremely grateful for the warm reception and strong support we received in establishing the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise program for our community college students,” said UH<\/abbr> President David Lassner<\/strong><\/a>. “Extending the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Promise program to UH<\/abbr> Hilo, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa and UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> is one of the best ways we can move forward together to reduce the college debt burden for Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> university students as well.”<\/p>\n