Here is what I did to make college more affordable for me:
1) I selected a public university, not a private one.
2) I selected a public university near my house, and lived at home, not in a dorm while earning my college degree.
3) I avoided excessive partying and fraternities.
4) I worked two part time jobs while in college.
5) I kept student loan borrowing to a minimum.
6) I bought only used text books whenever possible.
I still think many students today could avoid massive student loan debt by doing the same things I did to get through college if they wanted to.
I still think many students today could avoid massive student loan debt by doing the same things I did to get through college if they wanted to.
Many of those things would help, of course. Unfortunately the cost of the college has climbed ridiculously high. Once past a certain point, the costs are just ‘put on the credit card’, which when enough people do it, increases the costs for everyone else. If one doesn’t get the big subsidies, it can easily cost each year the equivalent to the median income of workers who are up the chain a bit.
“6) I bought only used text books whenever possible.”
I was working toward my BSEE degree at a large state university. It was rare that my text books weren’t new editions when I took a particular course. I was never able to “buy used texts books” within my major. Occasionally I would be able to buy one for an elective course.
Funny thing though... many of my EE books were written by my prof or one of his associates. I suspect that is the academic equivalent of the football/basketball coach’s “Shoe Contract” (a way to pocket a significant amount of money on the side). Most ‘revisions’ were a joke. But you had to buy it.
1) I selected a public university, not a private one.
2) I selected a public university near my house, and lived at home, not in a dorm while earning my college degree.
3) I avoided excessive partying and fraternities.
4) I worked two part time jobs while in college.
5) I kept student loan borrowing to a minimum.
6) I bought only used text books whenever possible.
I basically followed your approach, especially #1. Although my family lived but five to six miles away, I did want "the college experience" of living in a dorm and socializing with fellow students; so, I did not go along with #2. As to #3, like you, I did not have time to go to parties (of which there were very few on my campus) since I was studying and working my tail off at my part-time job.
I also followed your #s 4, 5, and 6.
I walked away with a nice degree right into a job, too.