University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook and Decorah Rotary Club President Ashley Klocke
 
The average University of Northern Iowa (UNI) student now leaves college with just over $22,000 in debt.  While that's still a large sum of money, it's $4,000 lower than the figure from ten years ago and $10,000 lower than the national average.

UNI President Mark Nook spoke Tuesday, April 3rd, to a meeting of the Decorah Rotary Club.  He gave much of the credit for the lower student debt among UNI graduates to a program at UNI called "Live Like a Student."  UNI students are given a free, three-week non-credit course that includes financial planning that helps them examine their spending habits.  The school also requires students who take out a private loan to meet one-on-one with a financial counselor about their expenses and financial aid package.

Nook says financial literacy is an important skill for college students to have.  He calls "Live Like a Student" a "remarkable program" that is now drawing national attention.
Photo Credit: Paul Scott
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