The cost of going to college has been skyrocketing lately, growing faster than the cost of health care, housing and the inflation rate. It’s estimated that total student debt in the U.S. is more than $438 billion and the average senior will graduate with $18,900 in student loans. On Thursday, college students across the country are going to try to change those numbers.
Thursday, January 11 is being called the National Day to Make College More Affordable, an event organized by groups including Rock the Vote, Campus Progress at the Center for American Progress, the National Education Association and the League of Young Voters Education Fund. On Thursday, students will lobby the new Democratic Congress to take steps towards college affordability, including cutting interest rates on student loans in half and expanding Pell Grants. Democrats already declared that one of their plans, but the lobbyists are doing their best to make sure it happens soon, as costs continue to rise across the nation, as recently as a July 1 hike in interest rates.
The lobbying will include phone calls and e-mails sent to Congressmen and an event on Capitol Hill, which will include the grand unveiling of the total number of members in the Affordability Day Facebook group. If successful, they estimate the cut in interest rates could save the average borrower $5,600.
SESP Junior Emily Ross said she felt college affordability was an important issue and had friends with difficulty both applying for and receiving sufficient a financial aid package. One of her friends even had to drop out of school because he could no longer afford it.
“I felt really bad for him, because he had already been here for a year before he had to leave,” Ross said.
Ross’ friend isn’t alone, though. Estimates say that 2 million qualified students won’t go to college this decade because of the costs. It’s not just tuition, either: textbook costs have tripled since 1986, accounting for a good deal of student costs.
Ross said the lobbying on Thursday would help, even if it just called attention to the problem. She even said Northwestern could use some movement.
“I think our students are pretty well aware, but some demonstrations might help,” she said.
To get involved, visit the campus progress website.