Loans Repaid

摘要

We at Bates College are disappointed that in "I Owe U," Time reported that Bates doesn't "offer the generous grants the elite [colleges] do" [Oct. 31]. More than 40% of our currently enrolled students receive Bates grants totaling more than $27 million. Over the past five years, average cumulative federal-student-loan debt among Bates graduates has ranged from $11,572 (in 2006) to $12,301 (in 2010). Even when alternative loans are factored in, average cumulative debt among Bates students was $18,699, compared with the national average of more than $24,000. Only 38% of the Bates class of 2010 graduated with any type of education debt. Finally, Bates students repay their loans. Its most recent cohort's default rate was 0%.