StudentDebt

Last week, a Reddit user posted a photo of a $114,000 student loan bill-paid in cash-that elicited thousands of comments. Since then, the anonymous alum has stepped forward as Alex Kenjeev, a 2009 law school graduate of the University of Toronto.

With so many young adults struggling with college debt, maintaining the current low 3.4% interest rate on Stafford loans sounds like a no-brainer. But former Education Secretary William Bennett thinks low rates will only lead colleges to become more expensive.

The economy seems to be turning around for recent college grads, so members of the class of 2012 may have the cash to make a dent in their massive student loans. Now all they need is a plan.

College tuition just keeps rising, and student loan debt is at an all-time high, leading to hefty loan payments that can overwhelm earners early in their careers. But a group called FixUC has a radical proposal to re-think tuition that could make everyone happy.

Surging above $1 trillion, U.S. student loan debt has surpassed credit card and auto-loan debt. This debt explosion jeopardizes the fragile recovery, increases the burden on taxpayers and possibly sets the stage for a new economic crisis.

With college costs high and rising, more students are putting themselves deeper into debt than ever. But those huge debt loads don't just pressure graduates to find high-paying jobs: They're also making it nearly impossible for many of them to get mortgages.

With student loan default rates rising due to persistently high unemployment rates, it's easy to vilify the seemingly endless monthly payments that follow graduation. But take a closer look, and you'll find that the news about student loans is more good than bad.

I know what a daunting task it is to pay for college. But it's not impossible -- even on a paperboy's income. I did it, and hopefully some of what I learned on the route to college graduate will help inspire you, your kids, or your local paper carrier.

With unemployment high and wages stagnant, now's a rough time to be entering the job market. Historically, when a harsh economy awaits, young people tend to run for cover in grad school. It's a smart strategy -- unless you pick the wrong field of study.

Unemployment among recent college grads is at 9.3% -- but not for every major. The good news is, you can follow your skills and passions and still find a job. The highest-unemployment majors are often related to options that use the same skills, but offer much better odds of a job.