How to Finish College with No Debt

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Financing your own way through college is not as realistic as this article portrays. Even if the author had found a dream opportunity to earn an extra $55k in after tax income while in law school - which is what, $130k in pre tax income today? - earning that money takes time away from study. As grades are very important in securing that first job, why sacrifice earning potential to avoid student loans, the most manageable form of personal debt?
I followed advice to avoid student loans and work as much as possible. I lost scholarships and barely scraped by. I wound up unable to enroll in my final semester as I owed the state university money. Eight years later, I am completing a degree online for a fraction of the cost of a brick and mortar institution.
The author is also out of touch on state tuition rates. State schools are still far too expensive to pay as you go with a part-time or even full-time job. Also, state schools tend to be large, which means a saturated labor market and low wages.
My advice is to consider an online degree program like WGU. The single biggest factor determining how much you will learn in school is you. If you are truly interested in a subject, there are enough accessible resources for you to become an expert on your own. The prestige of a brick and mortar school is not worth twenty years of debt.
If you really want the traditional college experience, simply take your online courses while living in a college town. You can pay a few grand every six months while your friends and their parents take out a mortgage for an inefficient, 18th century model of education.

Kevin Ryan of IL 4:51PM July 30, 2012

I am in college right now and I agree with all of these points. I went to the local community college for 2 years and earned my associates degree before transferring to a state university. I live at home to save money and work as much as I can to pay my way through school. I work 25-30 hours while taking 15 credits. It keeps me busy, but going into my senior year at a state university debt free makes it totally worth it. I will graduate in the spring of 2013 debt free!!! It is possible, people. I think its crap to tell your kid to major in whatever they want if they don't have an idea of the job field they are going into. It is also crap to complain that your kid can't possibly graduate debt free unless someone else is paying. There are so many ways to earn a degree. The movies and media tell us that the only way is to live on campus at a university and graduate in four years. Break away from that stereotype!

Bree of MI 1:05AM July 13, 2012

I need 5,000 to recieve my college diploma on July 16, 2012

Christine Burton of GA 6:59PM June 26, 2012

The only way to finish college with no debt is have someone else pay. There is no way an 18 year old student is going to pay for college. My daughters in-state (CSU Ft Collins) tuition plus room and board is about $21,000 this year. That works out to about $11 an hour after taxes. Unless I want my daughter taking off her cloths for a living there is no way she will make that kind of money.
People who write this kind of stuff are out of touch with reality.

Fleeced Parent of CO 9:59PM May 20, 2012

Well, for those that want to live within their budget and keep track of their spending there is Purchases Tracker, an iPhone app by Suburbia Apps, is a great way to keep track of spending. A great tool for “Road Warrior" to those on a tight budget. Also, you’ll never a need to look for your receipt again; if you have your iPhone then you have your receipt!

RicBSr of CT 11:27AM May 07, 2012

These are just basics and almost every student knows that. The truth is just like health care, education is messed up too. It's outrageously EXPENSIVE. Please accept that fact, unless you do not identify the root cause the problem will never be fixed.

Martin of TX 7:30AM May 06, 2012

Have someone else pay as the Obamas had. Obama has #Julia lying for him as he dose his wife Michelle. Both Obama and his wife Michelle lied in Election 2008 as they never did have ANY student loan debts; (2:32) into this video Obama At LinkedIn Town Hall, September 26th, 201[1], Obama engages with us " I went to school on scholarships and Michelle's father paid for her education - http://www.therightscoop.com/question-at-obama-town-hall-would-you-please-raise-my-taxes/ (00:39:07) into this, Full length video: of Obama's reply to “Would you please raise my taxes?”, - Live from Mountain View: LinkedIn Town Hall with President Obama http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/09/26/obama-town-hall-live/ - Election 2008, Michelle Obama claims her and Barack have empathy, her and Barack took out student loans and just paid them off 3 years ago - Michelle Obama speech Delaware part3 http://youtu.be/QT8pdbJB8bk - Barack Hussein Obama II, answer to the first question to Sway at MTV - Obama, "Look, this I can relate to. I went to college having to take out student loans, went to law school having to take out student loans. Michelle took out student loans." - Barack Obama Answers Your Questions -- Check Out The Full Interview Here! - Music, Celebrity, Artist... http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598409/barack-obama-answers-your-questions.jhtml

Lorraine Conley of AZ 5:41PM May 04, 2012

I wholeheartedly agree with these suggestions...except for #1. I say if you're going to put the time, money and effort into earning a degree, you should earn one in a subject you're passionate about. The idea that a degree is your ticket to the job you want is no longer the case, and employers who actually care whether or not you've received a college education are not so concerned about what you studied...more the fact that you followed through on a major goal. These days, college is more about personal development than gaining an edge in the job market. I went ahead and got my degree in English for just these reasons, even though everyone said I'd end up living in a box (which miraculously, I am not!).

Casey of CA 4:38PM May 04, 2012

Your point #1 is spot on. The only requirement I had for my kids in college was that they researched the job market for the degree that they wanted to get. We keep saying everyone should be able to go to college but to what end? The job market can only hire so many history majors but we are going to need a lot more engineers as the boomers start to retire.

Bob of MD 11:58AM May 04, 2012

It frustrates me that anyone should expect to have student loans forgiven. Really...when I started school I knew my parents did not have a lot of money. So I had to make a plan to graduate with a job. I actually chose a school we could afford, and a major that would give me real job skills. So if you choose to major in something like Women's Studies do not expect me to pay enough in taxes to absorb your student loans. There is no free ride for irresponsible consumers.

s brown of NY 11:26AM May 04, 2012