Unpaid College Tuition Bills Rise, Survey Finds

Reader Comments
Back to article

I am a mother of 3 in college. I had ovarian cancer in 2008 and quit my job as a teacher the last month of school to recuperate from surgery and treatment,and to avoid getting too many absences, which I was being docked daily for. After 5 months of no work, used up my savings and my retirement, bad credit for a repo, I am in such debt. I am ok now, but I was unable to get a teaching position so I had to take a job that paid 15,000 less annually. I have too many years teaching experience and the schools want new graduates so they can save money on salaries. I am still working and haven't recuperated from our financial downfall. We have cut expenses everywhere. I thought having 3 in college would qualify us for more financial aid. Was I mistaken, the portion I owe my son's school is still at over 4,000 for this semester. I'm still paying for a $3,000 loan from my brother for last semester. I have applied for numerous second jobs, transportation is an issue. My children work part time and I still do not know how I am going to pay for the balances of my children at the junior college and at the university for my son. I have great kids who I know will pay it forward if they could get help. My son writes for the school paper at $10 an article, mentors young children at a local elementary, and plays on the football team Div. III, no athletic scholarships or academic scholarships since he was a late new transfer this year. My car went out completely, sold it for junk and paid towards one balance. Cannot afford to replace car so I carpool with my husband 30 miles each way, and an additional 60 miles for him to get to work each way. Education is so important, please someone direct me somewhere for help. I don't want my children to not be able to register next semester. It is too hard to go back, I know because that happened to me.

Dinah Garcia of TX 5:21PM October 20, 2010

I was left with a 6,000 bill that was placed in my student account. The fin aid office first stated it was left over tution form the previos semseter. This was untrue because they would not of let me start and complete the next semester if the previous one was not paid in full. I attended a private university that will not work with me at all. The bill must be paid for in order for me to get my offical transcripts. I am unemployed and my credit is not in good standing to apply for a loan. I need help with other options of paying for this bill. Are there other programs or grants that i can apply for that will help with a previous bill. It has been a couple years now and i want to finish my college education but unable to do to this large amount placed in my student account. I currently have 100 credit hr and very close to finishing. "Please help" Thanks in advance

farrah of NC 3:08AM August 12, 2010

it is unfortunate that igraduated last november from the LPN Programme Ilost my job during the programe so iwas not able to pay my tuition balance of &760 my school school refused to give me my certificate even when itried to explain to them my situation and offered to pay them as soon as i get the job . it is sad for me knowing that ifinished college but sitting out here because of the unpaid tuition any body out there to help?

jessica of AZ 7:09PM July 29, 2009

erNnkq

Bzutcvtw of MO 8:33PM July 15, 2009

Talking to a friend whose husband just permanently lost his job in November, wife upgraded her hobby to full time work for the 2 of them and it's working out... except for paying for the son's college bills. So The son decided to drop out after having taken on his first personal loan ever (he is 19) and is working on a film crew and getting his credits a few per semester while working during the day. The parents admit, if they had looked at what thywere spending his 2 first years, in hindsight they see how sending him to a local Community College would have cost a fraction of the bill they paid for local university first two years and the university has a standing agreement with local community college to accept/transfer credits. I think this might be the way of the way of the future.
Ines Q Compton
girlgrants.com

Ines Q Compton of OR 1:05PM May 30, 2009

The students I know can get loans for education, but when they graduate, they can't find anyone anymore who will consolidate them into an affordable payment. It seems to me that a consolidation loan is preferable to a default or a two year or longer deferment if the student is working and wants to begin paying off his or her loans, but can't afford the total of multiple payments that numerous loans require. The way banks are handling credit, just doesn't make any sense. They are throwing potential revenue out of the window.

S. Remy of CO 7:49PM January 28, 2009

This is a bit off topic, but I have been out of college and a teacher with a master's who is still trying to pay off my school loans. Any advice on how to do this, short-cuts or discounts I could get? I realize that the old fashioned way, one month and a time, is probably my answer, but it seems impossible!

Rebekah of CA 1:53PM January 12, 2009

Boston College sent all of their students a letter over Winter Break basically saying that any student/family having problems paying their tuition due to recent economic troubles, to please call the Financial Aid Office and Bursar's Office immediately and that Boston College would do everything in its power to keep all of their students in school.
I wish the same could be said for other schools. Schools like Lehigh University should be taking note of how some schools like Boston College and Spellman really care about the future of their students.

Fran of NJ 11:23AM January 12, 2009

If you are having trouble making a large lump sum tuition payment, check with the Bursar at the school to see if a monthly payment plan is available. Payment plans allow you to break up that single payment into smaller more manageable amounts. There is ususally a small fee to sign up - but there is no interest accruing.

Brenda of OH 10:45AM January 12, 2009

And I am not talking about recent troubles, but ongoing, systemic problems. The Byzantine tax code stifles entrepeneurship and initiative, but in that tax code there are all kinds of breaks for the big guys who have politicians in their pockets. The same is true of other regulation.
The problem is in Washington. And "Change We Can Believe In" is appointing all these long-time Washington insiders -- the only change is who is feeding at the public trough.
The good-paying jobs we used to have in industry are now being done essentially by slave labor overseas. "A penny saved is a penny earned" is no longer the thinking process; rather, but we have a government beholden to special interests, that tells us to go farther into debt, even as they accumulate trillions in debt in our name, with their latest venture to bail out con men who wanted to make money by moving other people's money around.
What do you expect under these circumstances?

The Hunter of CO 9:53AM January 11, 2009