Ph.D’s on Food Stamps?

It isn’t easy these days making it out on your own.  And in this tough job market, there’s one route that many college graduates are turning to: going back to school.  
But, according to a recent report from The Chronicle of Higher Education, students pursuing or who have obtained masters degrees and Ph.D.’s are struggling quite a bit financially; more so than ever before, in fact.  The number of these students on food stamps or public assistance has tripled in the past two years, according to government data.  
Joining us is Stacey Patton, the reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education who brought national attention to this overlooked issue. Also with us is Elliott Stegall, a 51-year-old married father of two who teaches in the English department at Northwest Florida State College. He is currently finishing his dissertation in film studies at Florida State University and he and his family receive public assistance, including food stamps and Medicaid.
This week we’ve been taking a hard look at the financial realities for students graduating from college, the difficulty of finding a job, and the wisdom of choosing a major.