In the 1980’s I attended my state’s flagship university and at that time tuition and fees were $400.00 for a 15 credit hour semester and rent $150.00 per month.
Today, my son attends the same school, The cost is $5,000.00 for a semester and rent is $1,200.00 per month.
As a student in the 1980’s I could work and finance my entire undergraduate degree.
Today, it would be impossible for a student to work his way through college.
My parents helped a little bit, largely free room and board for living at home my sophomore year, also paid my car insurance for that year, though I still had to work the entire time. However, the situation at home was extremely bad so that perk didn’t last. I had to get an apartment. Went to the local state college.
I worked full time Junior/Senior years and graduated in 1975 with about $3000 in debt. Not a petty sum at that time, but nothing compared to now.
Biggest negative about the debt was I wanted to get a nice touring bike and bum around the country for a year or two before settling down. Couldn’t afford to do that. I still have a tinge of disappointment about that. OTOH my father always bragged on me working my way through and paying off my debt. I never stuck anyone for a dime.
Putting yourself through was doable in those days, I don’t see that as the case now.
Our daughter worked and garnered scholarships (home schooled kids pay off!) Over the course of 4 years (graduated in 2004) I seriously doubt we went out of pocket even $5k tops. Most of that was offered on our part. She did her sophomore year as an exchange student in Korea, so we chipped in a couple of grand on that, but she still paid for most of it with grants and saved money.
Not impossible but hard. My granddaughter who has chosen to pay for most of her graduate degree is doing it. She works 20 hours a week, does Practicum 21 hours a week and has 15 hours and all the homework that goes along with it.
She has a job that pays $22 an hour not many students can get that kind of job.
She also lives in a 4 bedroom home that belongs to her parents and only pays $200 a month plus 1/4 of the utilities and food because she has 3 housemates.
Rent: $0
Tuition: Approximately $1,500/semester ( in my state). At the closest state university the tuition is about twice that.
Working one’s way through college is entirely possible. People do it all the time and graduate from respected colleges with degrees leading to good jobs.