To date, the schools have cleared out a combined total of more than $25 million in student debt. About 78% of bachelor's degree recipients have a debt less than $30,000, according to a 2015-16 study by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities"My parents are still paying off student debt to this day," Byrd said. Byrd said having her debt cleared "feels like a burden lifted off of my shoulders" and it shows HBCUs "want to see us succeed as both students and as people." She's now returning after NSU cleared her student debt. She said the clearing of her debt just emphasized how HBCUs "are really looking out for students."

Source: CNN August 03, 2021 13:30 UTC