As a potential employer, I am interested in how the candidate financed their education. All things being equal, I would pick the candidate who at least paid for at least a part their own education.
Sarah Palin said that of all the things she didn’t expect as a candidate, it was to be criticized for paying for her own college education through work and loans. That it took her 5 years instead of 4, never occurred to her to be an indication of anything but hard work.
She said if only she had been a trust fund baby like the eastern Democrat candidates, she could have completed college easily in four years.
For what it’s worth, she paid back her loans.