How to Guarantee You Won't Live in Your Parents' Basement.

• Author: Schneider, Lindy
• Position: EDUCATION - Life after college

TOO MANY students graduate from their college or university only to discover they cannot afford the cost to rent an apartment and end up moving back in with their parents. They have college-loan debt that they must begin to pay back and cannot land a well-paying job that will cover their living expenses.

The Economic Policy Institute reports that 44.6% of college graduates aged 21-26 are underemployed, working in low-wage service jobs or in positions that do not require a college education. This statistic does not include the number of college graduates who are unemployed, still looking for a job--any job.

"Every job offer in my field requires three years of experience. I've been working on my degree for the last four years. How am I supposed to have experience, too?" says Craig, a college graduate. It is not an uncommon story.

College graduates are considered under-qualified for a job in their field because they have no experience on the job. They are considered overqualified for jobs that do not require a degree. When they turn back to their college to ask for career advice, they often are told to pursue a master's degree, which will bury them further in debt.

The average student is graduating with $30,000 in loan debt with monthly payments averaging $325 or more, according to data compiled by Studentaid.ed.gov. With housing costs also soaring, it is no wonder young adults who would like to be starting their own households instead are putting their future on hold and moving back in with mom and dad.

As parents who have had a taste of the empty nest, it can be frustrating to have your adult child move back home. Yes, you love your offspring and want to help out, but you have plans of your own that might include making that spare room into an office or hobby room.

The best way to make sure you do not have to move back with mom and dad after college is to have a plan:

Keep expenses low. This is obvious advice when it comes to searching out which college to attend. Tuition costs are vastly different, whether you select a state or private school.

Take AP courses. These are more rigorous than the average high school class but, if you pass the AP test, you earn college credits for it. You do not have to take the course first, but you have a better chance of passing the test if you complete the coursework before taking the test. Ask your high school counselor about these courses.

Take CLEP tests. There are no required courses to be able to take...