College students have long immersed themselves in books, computers and notepads. But in recent years it seems students have been swimming in something else – red ink.

Between student loans, housing costs and the increased use of credit cards, today’s college students are heading into the working world with more debt than ever. The average student in the U.S. graduates with nearly $20,000 in student loans and more than $3,000 in credit card debt, according to statistics from several national research firms.

Those are daunting figures for the future of both students and the economy at large. That’s why DePaul University has launched a Financial Fitness program, designed to help students take charge of their money management.

The program is intended as both a proactive educational platform to help students make informed decisions about their finances and as a counseling program to assist students who seek individualized attention on a variety of fiscal issues. It’s also part of a larger university initiative to help students achieve their educational goals while managing their expenses, keeping college accessible.

The main emphasis of the program is to get students to understand the necessity of good financial skills and the impact that even the first financial decisions they make as freshmen can potentially have on their lives after graduation.

“The premise is that this is an essential life skill that everyone should be taught,” said Brenda James, associate director of Financial Fitness at DePaul. “We want to impart this information so students can make the best financial decisions possible.”

Four different workshops (see schedule below) are offered to DePaul students free of charge at the university’s Loop and Lincoln Park campuses during the winter quarter. They cover a broad array of topics, including financial aid, credit card basics, loans, investments, credit reporting and scoring, financial decision making and wealth management. More workshops will be added during the spring quarter. In addition, the program trains peer educators, who make presentations on financial topics to their fellow students in freshman-level classes.

Students also can take advantage of free, confidential, one-on-one counseling services from the program’s financial advisors. Later this spring, the program is scheduled to launch a Web site with resources devoted to helping students’ financial well-being.

With an enrollment of 23,149 students on two Chicago and four suburban campuses, DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the nation and the largest private, not-for-profit university in the Midwest. DePaul is an innovative and diverse university offering pragmatic educational programs that instill values, including a commitment to community service.

DePaul Financial Fitness Workshop Schedule --Winter Quarter

Feb. 21 – “Credit Card and Loan Basics,” Noon, DePaul Center, Room 9500, 1 E. Jackson Blvd.

Feb. 27 – “Making Sense of Financial Aid,” 4 p.m., Richardson Library, Room 400, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave.

March 7 – “Building Wealth and Making Money,” 4 p.m., Richardson Library, Room 400

March 13 – “Get the Most Out of Your Money,” 4 p.m., DePaul Center, Room 9500