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With student debt at a staggering $1.3 trillion, many families are facing a huge financial dilemma: Their final springtime decisions about college enrollment and acceptance. The NPR Ed team teamed up with 

 to answer some listener questions about debt and degrees.


Marcy, from Union City, N.J. has twin girls going off to college in September.


This is a common complaint. Colleges are increasingly practicing what's called "enrollment management." They are trying to assemble an incoming class that is as talented and high-achieving as possible, to ensure the college's prestige, but also the one that will contribute the most revenue. In addition, colleges have to predict how many of the students they accept will actually enroll, which is more difficult these days since many students are applying to more colleges than ever. When it comes to private colleges, 

nearly 90 percent of incoming freshmen get some kind of discount

But this lack of transparency in pricing is especially hard for families who are feeling the pinch economically.

Abby Goldfarb of Dallas has a daughter about to enter college this fall. And here's what she thinks of the financial aid landscape:

Almost everyone has trouble paying for college. It is true that middle-class families are less likely to qualify for need-based Pell Grants, and can't pay out of pocket the way the wealthiest families can. But, a mitigating factor is that middle-class students are more likely to finish their degrees and pay off their loans, compared with low-income and first-generation college students.

New York state's recently announced free-tuition plan

 has been pitched quite consciously at the middle class. It is designed to cover families earning up to $100,000, rising to $125,000 once fully phased in.


It's true that there's a relationship between college major and your projected earnings after graduation. Engineering grads top the list.


But it doesn't necessarily follow that everyone should rush into technical fields, or choose any college major based on earnings alone. For one thing, economists will tell you that the right "fit" between a person and a job is a key driver of success and productivity. One example: When people graduate in a recession year it drags down their earnings long term, and one reason is because of 

 — people are desperate and take the first job they can find.
Plus, recent research by the 

Association of American Colleges & Universities

, a trade group, found that humanities and social science majors closed earning gaps with their business-major classmates by mid-career.


Aaron Smith, of Akron, Ohio, teaches English composition at a four-year college.

, some of the fastest-growing occupations in the whole economy fall into the non-bachelor's-degree category. This includes the single fastest-growing job in the country right now, wind turbine technicians. They earn over $50,000 a year, no college degree required. Other fairly well-paid examples are health care trades requiring a two-year degree, such as occupational therapy assistants and physical therapist assistants.
Got questions for us on student loans or the cost of college? Tweet us at 

Education News

The Associated Press

Author

Is trade school the ticket? Does the middle class have the worst debt woes? Listeners weigh in with burning student loan questions.

Student loans: You've got questions, we've got answers

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