DENVER -- For Christine Russel, a 47-year-old single mom, going to college wasn't always an option.
“I raised my kids alone with no benefit of child support so I had to have a job that could afford me to raise them decently,” said Russel.
Her two children who are now in their mid-twenties decided to show their gratitude by paying for some of Christine’s Metro State University’s expenses.
“It's so generous of them to give up this part of their life so I can follow my dream, yea, I raised them alright I guess,” said Russel.
Russel’s daughter isn't attending college full time until Russel graduates and gets a job due to the high price of paying off student loan debts.
“I have currently about $25,000 student loans but unfortunately I have another year and a half left, so that number will get higher."
Based on a new report by the American Association of University of Women, women will take longer to pay off their student loans. The report shows women take an average of two years longer than men to pay off their debt, mainly because 57 percent students getting degrees are women.
The report adds when women finally get out into the workforce, they make 26 percent less than men.
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