Show students rank I 1 in loan defaults j i. i Zachary Whitney Campus Editor The term poor college student is becoming more of a reality than a cliche The cost of higher education is continually increasing and the amount of federal grant money is decreasing yearly Students are forced to look elsewhere to pay for education Many students turn to p time part time rt-time jobs or student loans During the 2005 06 school year over students at borrowed more than million in student loans according to Cristi Easton director of Financial Aid Private loans are the fastest growing form of student financial aid They are also the most costly This leaves the average Utah student approximately in debt according to The Project on Student Debt a profit non-profit organization with goal to keep students educated on student debt The Associated Press also recently reported that has the highest loan default rate in JC the state The cost of education is too high In a world where a college degree is needed to get a better- better paying job colleges are not oi giving everyone a fair shot s sai said id J student Spencer BarloW Barlo j I think many students dont don't realize the consequences that th that i come with loans said student Jenny Crane who said she wouldn't recommend student loans as a way to pay for college colleg Students are better off ofT looking for alternative means means- she said Loans are way too easy easy to i to th default on on Utah students are doing better than stud students in other state stat states however According to the ih Project on Student Debt Ut Utah h I ranks last in average student debt I New Hampshire ranked first at at atan an n average of of debt per P student To avoid student debt Easton suggests students take a 10 look at their financial options while only using student loans as asa a a. a I secondary alternative She d said that there are several ditTer different nr federal financial aid programs programs available as well as scholarships scholarship It seems s ms like ike th ere isa ca l scholarship L for bus f SiW about Debt I Continued d on I 1 Student Y Debt i Continued from Al Ai AJ i 4 J everyone nowadays Aside Aside Asid from the traditional academic and ethnic scholarships the Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership Award i ia is isa is isa a scholarship available to undergraduate students T Tapply To apply for this scholarship students must make a commitment to raising awareness of organ donation and transplantation in the their r community One or two two to 1000 I scholarships are awarded yearly j I The National Mak Makit Maki it Yourself with Wool Competition is a yearly yearl scholarship offered t to students for knitting wool garments The winner is based on appropriateness appropriateness coordination presentation and creativity 1 Despite rising tuition costs and added college expenses being a p poor or college student can b be less miserable by looking for alternative funds and ana avoiding debt whenever possible J-i J J 3 1 I I j I l I |