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Judge pauses deadline for federal workers to accept Trump's resignation offer; CA state lawmakers take action to enact safeguards against federal immigration enforcement; Study shows air quality disparities from industrial ag in NC.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

NH student loan debt grows along with costs of graduate degree

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Wednesday, October 2, 2024   

The cost of a graduate degree in the U.S. tripled between 2000 and 2020, according to a new report.

People with master's degrees, law, medical or doctoral degrees still earn higher incomes than those with other credentials but decreasing state investment in public higher education has led many schools to pass their costs onto students.

Catherine Morris, senior writer and editor at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, said as more federal aid becomes available, some universities are increasing tuition.

"Meanwhile, the median debt held by graduate students has increased from $34,000 to $50,000 over the same time period," Morris reported.

Still, Morris pointed out graduate enrollments are growing. The report offers a debt-to-earnings test students can take to help them better understand the financial implications of going to graduate school. New Hampshire has the sixth-highest rate of student loan debt in the nation.

For some groups, the data show graduate education worsens existing earnings disparities. Morris noted earnings among Black and Hispanic workers with graduate degrees are $16,000 less than the earnings of all graduate degree workers. She added graduate degrees do not buffer women from the wage gap, either.

"Median earnings among women with graduate degrees is $85,000. For men, it's $119,000," Morris outlined. "This is particularly significant because women currently make up the majority of graduate degree holders."

Morris emphasized it has become increasingly difficult for graduates to pay off debt with their expected earnings while still working toward traditional markers of success, including homeownership or starting a family. Roughly 70% of Gen Z and millennial student loan borrowers said they have delayed a major financial life decision as a result of their debt, according to a survey by Bankrate.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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