The other student loan problem: too little debt

Even as college prices and average student-loan debt rise, educators in some sectors of higher education report they're also seeing plenty of students who are determined to avoid loans no matter what.

Educators aren't sure that's always such a good thing. Students who take extreme steps to avoid debt may encounter something much more damaging: They may wind up without a college degree.

"If you can take out a little bit of loan you're more likely to complete. If you can go to a more selective institution that gives you more resources and support, you're more likely to complete," said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and vice president for policy research at the group Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit advocacy group.