(WSYR-TV) – College students are graduating with more debt and fewer job possibilities in 2012.
A recent study out of Rutgers shows the average student debt now tops $25,000.
At the same time, the study says that only half of college students who have graduated since 2006 now have a full time job.
Briana Lemon, who graduated from Syracuse University on Sunday, is left to pay off $30,000 in student loans.
"Of course I have loans. It's SU," said Lemon, an Information Technologies major. "I have an internship with National Grid this summer. Hopefully after interning with them they'll give me a job offer. We'll see."
Lemon’s friend, who has a job lined up in Rochester with Wegman's, is still worried about her own debt.
“Luckily I was blessed to not have as many loans as a lot of other people, but it's still a lot,” said SU graduate Salina Bega. “So hopefully I'll be able to keep up with the payments and stuff. But I will have a job so that will help.”
According to the Rutgers study, almost 30% of college graduates with student loans put off continuing their education, or moved in with family members to save money. Many parents realize they aren’t off the hook come graduation day.
“Your kids are never on their own. When they're 50 they'll still be calling; ‘Time to buy a house dad. Can you lend me money to buy a house? I need some help,’ said John Foust.
Some other findings from the Rutgers study:
- Students who had an internship in college have a starting salary of nearly 15% higher than their fellow graduates who did not have an internship.
- The average starting salary for students out of college is $28,000 a year.
- Almost 25% of graduates with full-time jobs say their job is not related to their college degree.
