"The Law School has put in a program called the Low Income Protection Program which helps...students to go into law-related but historically low-paying jobs. The law school will provide assistance for these students to pay their loans. Some other law schools have similar programs," Miller said.

Undergraduates who take out loans almost always choose federal loans instead of private loans, Miller said. Government loans tend to have lower interest rates and gentler repayment terms, he said.

Since the 1994-95 school year, students have been able to borrow through the government under the Direct Loan program, which has looser repayment deadlines than older programs.

Jim P. Manley, a press officer for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56, said that the senator--who authored the bill which set up the Direct Loan program--is currently looking for ways in which the federal government can alleviate students' financial problems.

Manley said that Kennedy plans to address rising student debt in an upcoming education bill.

"Senator Kennedy feels very concerned about this trend, and this will be part of the discussion and debate of the Higher Education Act which will take place next year," Manley said