Texas Border Business
Laredo College has nabbed another top ranking that establishes its undeniable position as the best value institution of higher education across South Texas.
LC tops a Community College Review list comprised of over 100 private and public community colleges in Texas ranking the average amount of debt its graduates accrue during the span of their college careers. Community College Review is a website that provides free, detailed profiles of community colleges across the nation. It also allows users to compare colleges within their state and learn more about how community colleges work.
According to the site, the average debt for community college graduates in Texas is around $9,500. Public community colleges fare slightly better, with students racking up approximately $9,355 of debt in comparison to their private college counterparts, who owe an average of $14,233 upon graduation.
In stark contrast, Laredo College graduates average $2,332 in debt. This is a significant difference from both the state average and the public community college category average. The next college with the lowest graduate debt does not even come close to Laredo College’s figure. Paris Junior College comes in at $4,500 average debt per student, almost double the amount of LC.
A ranking of this caliber is the result of decades of work and strategic efforts on behalf of our Board of Trustees, college administrators, faculty and staff. Year after year, new programs and initiatives are proposed and implemented to enhance student success, tuition affordability, campus life and other aspects of students’ daily lives. One prime example of these initiatives is the Fall Momentum Program, which offers students a free class in the fall if they take two classes during the summer and meet all the eligibility requirements.
Moreover, with the exponential increase of student loan debt in the past years as well as the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a revived consciousness to offer additional financial help and opportunities for students.
“Making a college education affordable and accessible to all those who wish to pursue it is our ultimate goal,” Laredo College President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis said. “Financial means should not be a determining factor in someone’s decision to go after a degree or certification. Laredo College aims to help every single student that comes to our institution find a way to fund their college career and turn their academic dreams into a tangible reality.”
Laredo College’s low student debt average is partly because the college does not participate in federal or private student loan programs. Rather, it mostly relies on federal grants and private donors to offer additional or alternative financial aid options to students. This minimizes the chances of students amassing exorbitant debt due to high-interest student loans.
Emergency loans to pay for a semester or session are offered with limited availability, and must be repaid before the end of each term.
Additionally, since community college classes are more affordable than four-year college or university classes, students can have more money at their disposal via their financial aid refunds. These funds can help alleviate the financial burden of the costly college experience with related expenses such as books, transportation, childcare, program and testing fees, room and board and other financial obligations.
Starting off at a community college or pursuing one of the in-demand, well-compensated short-term degrees or certifications affords students the opportunity to get out into the workforce sooner and improve their financial situation.
Laredo College is also expanding its career offerings with attractive new programs such as the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. This first four-year degree offered by LC sets a precedent for the college to diversify even further in the future.
Rather than borrowing and getting further into debt, students at Laredo College receive the same high-quality education as they would at another larger institution, and they are able to make the financial decisions that are best for their individual situations.
