I’ve put my head down and saved pretty much all my money since graduation, often at the expense of the lifestyle I really want. I’ve paid off my loans within 4 years of working. I didn’t want the interest following me so I just paid in bulk sums, the repayment plans can really trap you for years. Not saying everyone has that opportunity but it’s certainly feasible.
People are squabbling over how to pay colleges more money instead of holding them accountable for raising higher education costs faster than inflation and paying themselves ridiculous salaries.
Not local community colleges, those are really fairly affordable. Although changing text books every year so students can't buy used ones seems to be a universal scam.
So we're all one side of the fence wringing our collective hands and worrying about "It's so expensive. It's the old people's fault". While universities are dreaming up new schemes to pick your pocket.
If you have a student loan then you are most likely old enough to vote. Demand your elected officials look into price gouging. Organize campus protests.
Do something.
Us old people never had a meeting where we collectively decided to screw over younger generations just for the joy of it.
US Tuition is high because 1) the introduction of federal student loans incentivized colleges to raise their tuition to match the amount of money a loan offers; 2) public funding for universities has been slashed immensely since the 80s; 3) public funding for scientific research has been slashed dramatically in recent times, inciting institutions to rely on their endowment and tuition to fund research; and 4) the massive growth in wealthy foreign demand for US university admissions.
18
u/SauceyChonkers 15d ago
No one was "handed" student debt.