Education Report - Congress Debates Interest Rates on Student Loans

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Experts	For	Lawmakers	On	States	add	are	at	attend	could
economist	for	hold	in	it	loans	on	rates	report	say
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in Washington are debating education issues, including the interest that students pay for loans. College students who take graduate owing an average of $26,000. But some economists the real issue is controlling the cost of college. say these high costs are hurting the whole economy. the past 30 years, college tuition has been increasing twice the rate of inflation. Universities say decreasing financial from state governments forces them to charge higher tuition. average, private colleges now charge more than $30,000 a . Terry Hartle is a spokesman for the American Council Education, which represents thousands of colleges across the United . He says funding for education has been shrinking for . Experts worry that the high cost of education makes less likely that good students from poor families can college. This means fewer scientists, engineers and others who help increase economic growth. Also, a survey shows that students concerned about repaying thousands of dollars in loans delaying marriage and children. Many cannot afford to invest a house or buy a car. Georgetown University labor Anthony Carnevale says the current system cuts economic growth the whole country. And the effects are important. He meeting the demand for workers with higher education could $500 billion to the American economy. A new government says one-third of Americans age 25 to 32 now college degrees ---- up from one-fourth in 1995

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