Show Student Loans on the Rise By Geoff Dupaix Contributing Writer Since the 95 1994 school year more students are turning to loans to pay for school Although Pell Grant money is still used more than loans the amount has dropped by nearly 1 million from the 94 1993 school year according to the Financial Aid Office Gayle Norman director of Financial Aid Services at said federal money is being cut back forcing lower-income lower students to either drop out of school or seek student student student stu stu- stu- stu dent loans Ive seen students graduate from here with a to debt Norman stated At during the 94 1993 school year student loans increased to over 3 million while Pell Grants climbed to 64 million However the money used from Pell Grants during the 95 1994 school year plunged from 64 million million million mil mil- mil mil- lion to 56 million At the same time Pell PeB Grants dropped student loans jumped from 36 million to over 51 million according to the Financial Aid Office But what affect is this having on students students Many any students student students are are dropping drop ping out of school for a quarter to work to get enough money to attend the following quarter Norman said She added that students are increasingly being forced to bury themselves in debt just to pay for school Also students are switching to other options to pay for school Last year students paid close to 2 million for tuition through the SIPP program here at the college This payment allows students to pay tuition in monthly y installments for an added fee of 10 or 20 Michalina Allen a student at has had to drop her classes for k Fall Quarter because she cant can't get any grant money My parents make too much money to qualify for a grant but my grades arent aren't high enough for a scholarship either Allen said Erick Cloward a marketing major is avoiding any type of student stu- stu stu-I stu Z dent loans Luckily his lUs work is helping helping helping help help- ing to pay for his schooling If 11 I 1 had to pay for school myself it would probably set me back six years Cloward added Norman also said that students who dont don't qualify for financial aid look at loans as an easier way to get money for school Its like buying a car and not having to pay any money on it for three years You may enjoy it now but somewhere along the way youve you've got to pay it back Norman said |