Sensible borrowing cannot only help you pay for college, but also helps you establish a good credit history. Similarly, not making your regular payments can result in a poor credit rating or even default. Valpo students have been responsible borrowers. Here are a few facts:
For the past six years, Valpo's default rate has been less than 3% compared with a national average of 8.8%.
Just under three-fourths of Valpo students borrow while in school. Valpo undergraduate borrowers graduating in December 2010 and May 2011 had an average debt of about $33,100, resulting in a 10-year monthly payment of about $370/month at today's interest rates. (These averages are based on federal, private, and institutional loans borrowed.)
The average debt based on Academic College is as follows:
| Undergraduate College |
% who borrowed |
Average Debt |
| Arts & Sciences | 74% | $31,427 |
| Business | 67% | $41,413 |
| Engineering | 61% | $31,205 |
| Nursing | 81% | $34,680 |
To try out specific loan payment scenarios, use this link:
Loan Payment Calculator