Iowa ranks sixth in the country for student loan debt. The average debt is almost $30,000. Tera Pickens, Director of the Kirkwood Washington Regional Center, states area students have the opportunity to avoid some of the debt by taking concurrent courses. The regional center has established partnerships with area high schools. Pickens explains these academies are at no cost to the high school students.

She adds most of Iowa’s college students across the state graduate with debt, about 72% leave college with debt and about 11.6% of Iowa students are defaulting on their student loans. To help area students, the Kirkwood Washignton Regional Center is establishing scholarship programs.

For more information regarding the scholarships listen to today’s Washington Page.