COLUMBUS, Ohio – Researchers at OSU say student loans do more to inspire women to graduate from college than men, probably because of a wider choice of job options awaiting male college dropouts.

The findings of a new nationwide study showed that, on average, taking out loans actually makes graduation more likely for all students.

But the debt becomes less effective at boosting chances of graduation at a certain point and that men reach that point about $2,000 earlier than women.

“Women will go deeper in debt to finance college because they need the degree more than men if they want to earn a good living. Men will drop out at lower levels of debt,” said Rachel Dwyer, co-author of the study and associate professor of sociology at Ohio State University.

Dwyer says one reason loans help women more may be tied to job prospects for college dropouts – which are much better for men than for women.

“At least early in their careers, women suffer more than men if they don’t have a college degree,” she said.