Guidance and Counseling Approved: Two (2) Semester Credits

Three out of four college students agreed that the reason they enrolled in college was to earn more money after graduation. While it is well known that a college diploma may increase the earning potential and employment opportunities, what many college graduates don't know was they were also more likely to graduate with more debt than the non-college graduates. Many college graduates used credit card purchase to help pay for tuition, books, and related college expenses. Those same students may also have purchased luxury items including music downloads, party items and fast foods that also contributed to their debt. While convenience tops the list of why students use a credit card, a lack of knowledge of the long-term impact of credit debt may impact students in ways they hadn't previously considered. Employment opportunities may be limited for those carrying large amounts of debt. It may take years to payoff student loans and even more years to pay down high interest credit card debt. What can be done to prevent more III students from graduating from college with substantial credit card debt? Students can take action to minimize the impact of credit card purchases. Education plays a key role in helping students make informed decisions. Budgets also insure students live within their means and make it to graduation with a diploma and manageable debt. I