In today's paper, a big story about the rising cost of college and the impact legislative decisions may have, in particular, on financial aid and debt levels.

In reporting the story, I ran across an interesting student at N.C. Central University, William Anyu. He didn't make the story, but his tale is worth telling here. A version will likely also appear in the Durham News at some point soon.

William Anyu is so tuned in to his finances that he can  tell how much he spent on the clothes he’s wearing.

That gray cardigan was $15 from the clearance rack at J.C. Penney.  The sweatpants? Ten bucks at Walmart.

The N.C. Central University sophomore is proud of his financial  smarts. But ask him about the rising costs of college, and a brief  storm cloud shadows his sunny disposition.

“It’s a depressing thought,” he said one recent evening during his  graveyard shift manning the front desk of a NCCU residence hall.  
“I can’t do anything about it.”
 

The legislature will consider a bill this year that would greatly expand the availability of federal loans to students at community colleges.

As Ben Niolet reports in today's News & Observer, North Carolina is one of just four states that does not make federal loans available to most community college students.

About 55 percent of students have no access to federal loans, which offer lower interest rates than other financing plans. Just 21 of the state's 58 community colleges offer access to the loans.

 So is this extra financial aid necessary?

According to the chart you can open by clicking the attachment below, 15 credits at a state community college will run a North Carolinian $750 this year. That's $1,500 a year in tuition if you follow the traditional, 2-semester system. There will be other costs - fees, books, etc to factor in. But it still seems a good deal.

What do you think?

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