Jim Willminton

"We have to face the facts," says Jim Willminton, a financial aid officer for Equity Alliance."Twenty years ago college graduates were able to earn more money at a faster rate.Paying back their loans, as a percentage of their annual income, was easier for the most part.Today, the gap between the dollars most of our students owe versus the dollars they are able to make is much larger."In short, it will take kids longer to pay-off their loans at a higher rate than most of their parents.

Still, as discouraging and maddening as this process is, don't let it sour you on the value of a college education.

"We have to face the facts," says Jim Willminton, a financial aid officer for Equity Alliance.