Rick Karlin is reporting for the Times Union the number of  people ages 60 and above with college debt in New York has risen 44 percent between 2012 and 2017, according to a study out this month. Some have co-signed loans for their children or grandchildren. Some have simply forgotten or ignored the loans until a debt servicing firm or debt collector take action. The study on student debt was conducted by the Student Borrowers Protection Center. Researchers found there is $90.6 billion in student loan debt in New York with an average bill of $38,477. “Seniors find themselves with student debt for a combination of reasons, either they are still paying off loans from their own education, or they cosign loans or take loans out in their own name for their children or grandchildren’s education,” said Kara Ferguson, a spokeswoman for the survey’s authors. Student loans represent the second largest credit debt for Americans, trailing behind mortgage loans, and women are carrying the bulk of this debt. Women comprise 56 percent of U.S. college students, but they often take lower-paying jobs than men and may have taken time off to raise their families, giving them a lower lifetime earning stream. Read the full story in the Times Union.