The number of college students taking out loans is highest in nine years

This women has just seen her student loan bill.

According to an annual nationwide survey released today, about two-thirds of incoming students said they had “some” or “major” concern about their ability to pay for their education.

The percentage of those with “some” concern — 55.4 — was at its highest level since 1971. The number of students taking out loans was at its highest in nine years, at 53.3 percent. The number whose fathers were unemployed — 4.5 percent — was the highest in the history of the survey. The number of students whose mothers were unemployed was higher — 7.9 percent — and at its highest since 1979.

“What all this points to is that they are going to be graduating with a larger debt burden than students in the past,” Mr. Pryor told the NYT. More fun stats below!

10 colleges you should avoid unless your last name is Rockefeller

This is the sweet little image of academia that cost me over 100K.

The Chronicle of Higher Education released a report of the priciest colleges and universities this year.

My alma mater was #6 on the list with a 4.5% increase in total cost reaching $51, 544 (versus last year’s not very encouraging $49,306).

But if anything, that was the only Ivy school in the mix. Most other renowned, private institutions are charging just as much.  (Maybe I should change the name of this blog to Privately Schooled and Unemployed).

A list of the most expensive schools after the jump!