Leland Page graduated from Utah Valley State College this spring and said many of his peers didn't know about other funding options besides loans. The Student Academic Senate is working to educate students on those alternatives, he said.

"There's sources out there, but the availability on Pell Grants is becoming more and more difficult," Page said. "They need to become educated on where the money is available. They just don't know where to go."

To prevent students from getting to that point, Church said he hopes education officials can start students thinking about scholarships as early as middle school. Many academic awards require a focused effort throughout high school to qualify, he said.

Leaders in the Utah System of Higher Education are also working to prevent sole reliance on loans, added David Feitz, associate executive director of the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority. A Web site, www.utahmentor.org, helps students and parents navigate through federal grant applications and scholarships.

"Definitely you want to get all the scholarships and grant aid before you borrow," Feitz said.

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