The rising cost of a higher education

It's no secret, the cost of college can be expensive ... REALLY EXPENSIVE. According to student loan site, studentloanhero.com, the average 2016 graduate is shouldering approximately, $37,172 in debt - and the startling stats don't end there.

• Americans owe $1.3 TRILLION in student loan debt
• There are 43.3 MILLION Americans with student loan debt
•  The median monthly payment for people between the ages of 20 & 30-years-old is $203.

Here's a breakdown of tuition costs for the University at Buffalo, Canisius College and Cornell University for students attending in 2016-2017. 

For New York State residents enrolled at U.B., you'll pay approximately $25,560 this academic school year. 

Canisius College, which is a private institution, it will cost you approximately, $33,948 

For New York residents attending Cornell University, you'll pay approximately $50,869.

You can also weigh-in on our @WKBW Twitter Poll.

Is cutting back on college professors going too far in the quest to cut college tuition costs? One Wisconsin lawmaker says no. In fact, Senator Ron Johnson thinks it’s a good idea to replace professors with video recorded lectures. 

Buffalo State College Freshman Ben Garcia is excited to begin his college career. But his decision to pursue a higher education doesn't come debt-free. “I got subsidized and unsubsidized loans. But I still had to take out a loan for basic tuition.”

Garcia's one of 1,700 incoming freshman at Buff State who will pay more than $6,000 in tuition this year. That's before room and board.

College officials said that cost remains flat compared to last year. “It's hard on a flat budget to continue to provide the outstanding education that our students deserve and we want to provide,” explained Buffalo State College President, Kate Conway-Turner.

Still, students like Garcia don't think eliminating college professors is the solution to cutting costs. “I really don't support that because I feel like it's better for the teacher to engage with the students and be there to help them.”

“I would like that because it would be not as expensive as it is but the other side to that is if you do that, you're not going to get the whole experience of a teacher being there teaching you,” added fellow classmate, Jose Feliz.

Conway-Turner said that concept isn't being considered here. “The way they mentor students, the way they connect you to your first job, and continue to reconnect you after you leave, there's nothing more powerful than that,” she said. 

If you're struggling with college debt, there are places you can turn to help make your payments more manageable. 

Those include:

• Student Loan Hero
• Nelnet
• Federal Student Aid

To lean more about the New York State's, "Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness Program" - click here.