In Alabama, a student graduating with a bachelor’s degree from either a state or nonprofit college will enter the workforce saddled with an average of $31,275 in student debt. This is the ninth-highest average in the country, according to a recent report published by The Institute of College Access and Success.

Despite these seemingly bleak numbers, there are ways for up-and-coming Alabama college students to avoid some of the pitfalls that lead to excessive student debt.

Steps to slashing student debt

• Knowledge is power. Janet Knight-Spencer, director of Student Financial Services at Calhoun Community College, said they have programs in place that help high school students understand the repercussions of student debt. Additionally, schools that accept federal loans require that all borrowers go through student loan counseling.

• Start mining scholarship money early. “There is so much money that goes untapped in scholarships each year,” said Mary Chambliss, director of Financial Aid at Athens State University. Athletic and academic scholarships are just the tip of the iceberg. Links to awards ranging from Money for Moms to a $2000 Zombie Apocalypse scholarship can be found on www.unigo.com.

• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Aid. Spencer said that this is a key first step. The FAFSA determines how much financial aid a student qualifies for. This aid can come in the form of a Pell Grant or subsidized federal loan. Grants are free, but loans must be paid back.

• Take the community college route. A full-time student can save around $22,000 per year by choosing to go to Calhoun, as opposed to starting out at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where yearly tuition is $25,680. According to Spencer, Calhoun has partnerships with most state colleges that allow students to easily transfer their credits and scholarships to a four-year school. She also pointed out that upper-level institutions will often extend scholarship offers to community college students because they have a “proven track record.”

• Understand the different types of loans. Subsidized loans are interest-free. Unsubsidized loans have a fixed interest rate whereas the interest rate on a private student loan varies according to fluctuating credit interest rates.

• Only take what you need. An independent college junior or senior can borrow up to $12,500 per year. The tuition at Athens State is less than half that number. Chambliss said that “students who live off of their students loans are in much worse shape when they graduate as opposed to someone who only borrows what they need to pay for tuition and books.”

• Get a part-time job. A student who qualifies for federal student aid automatically qualifies for on-campus work study programs. Calhoun pays $9 per hour to students who work in areas ranging from admissions to the drama department.

• Keep up with how much you owe on the National Student Loan Data System at www.nsids.ed.gov.

• Start a crowdfund, such as a GoFundMe account. Spencer said this is becoming a very popular option for students trying to raise money for college.

• Pick a viable major. “Students should know what they are getting into,” Chambliss said. “What we often see is a student who chooses a major, and there just isn’t a market for that field, so they have to either take a lesser paying job or get their master’s degree, which leads to even more debt.”

Unless a student graduates from one of the top 20 universities in the country, majors matter most to employers. In a report by Gen-Y researcher Millennial Branding, 69 percent of managers said that relevant coursework is important when evaluating job candidates.

Fields in science, technology, engineering, and math consistently dominate Top 10 best college major lists. On the flip side, anthropology, culinary arts, music, radio and television, graphic design and art history consistently pop up on lists that rank the least lucrative majors.