Degrees of debt: Soaring college costs hobble a generation

Video: Nation’s college debt exceeds credit card debt

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   >> there's a staggering new number out tonight from the federal government . student loan dent in the country has reached $1 trillion. that's a record. it's also more than americans owe on credit cards . and the implications here, like the numbers, are enormous. our report from our chief education respondent, rehema ellis.

   >> maria recently got a masters in education to improve her job prospects, but at 31, married with one child and another on the way, she said the cost of her degree is a burden.

   >> it's a terrible way to start a marriage with someone, to have those extra stresses on you.

   >> with $50,000 in student loans , a stack of other bills, and a teacher's salary of $35,000, she said she barely makes ends meet.

   >> it's scary.

   >> two thirds of the class of 2010 graduating lowing an average of $25,000 in student loans . more than a quarter of those students are behind on their payments where.

   >> my credit was shot because of defaulting on payments and defehring loans.

   >> the cost of a public school education is nearly $21,000 a year. private college , $36,000. unlike other debt that can be forgiven in bankruptcy, student loans for the most part, cannot. that in fact, not just the borrower, but the national as well.

   >> if you could discharge the student loan , you could rebuild your credit and get back to someone who does buy a house, that helps the housing economy.

   >> experts say there are ways to manage the debt. talk with your lenders. work out a repayment plan that fits your budget.

   >> if your dent to income ratio is a certain percentage, your payments can be as little as $45 or $15 or zero.

   >> she's paying interest only.

   >> that's the scary thing. we're just buying time, but we're prolonging the inevitable that you have to pay it.

   >> a lesson she hopes her children will learn before they're old enough to go to college.

   >> what do you want to draw a picture of?

   >> rehema ellis, nbc news wroorb.

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