Ninety-five percent of students should simply work their way through, with community and online classes for the first two years, then just the last two at a four-year school they can afford—if it makes sense for them to move on. Those racking up the debt shouldn’t be bailed out by taxpayers.
I worked while going to college at night. I did have to take out a loan. Back in ancient times, the 70s, my loan amount was almost exactly 1 years worth of my after graduation salary. I paid it off in 5 years. I paid for my graduate degrees, electrical engineering and later political science. That worked because I was taught useful skills (EE) and why my government sponsors thought the way they did (political science). Most importantly, the cost was reasonable for what I got from it. Skills and no politics.