“An education is for a lifetime,” said Cathy Fuller, director of financial aid at Marlboro College. “The family has to find the balance between the right (institutional) fit and net cost.”
Cathy was quoted as a financial aid expert in and article titled “2015 Best and Worst States for Student Debt” on WalletHub, an online financial resource, along with authorities from other colleges and universities. Vermont is right in the middle of the pack, ranked 29th out of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia for student debt across seven key metrics. The better news is that Vermont was ranked #1 for the lowest percentage of student-loan borrowers in past-due or default status.
“Start saving early,” said Cathy. “Even little amounts can add up over time. Apply for scholarships in January, as some are allocated on a first-come first-serve basis, and apply for as many as you can…Pay attention to your grades in school, and work hard to maintain them.” Thanks to Cathy’s good guidance, more than 90 percent of full-time students at Marlboro receive some form of financial aid, and as of 2013 the average student debt is $22,461, far below the national average of $28,400.
