Also think of college prices as buying a car - those are "list prices" and can be less. How? My son is an example.
1. Take AP classes in high school. He cut one semester off and graduated in 3-1/2 years with Bachelors degree.
2. Be an RA - he did two years and saved $2000 per year.
3. Dump and/or cut the food plan ASAP. He cut the 21 meals immediately down to 14 meals. Then he bought his own food his junior/senior year. He felt he saved $1000 a year from the food plan.
4. Work hard for good test scores. His School cut his tuition $10,000 a year because of his ACT score.
5. Work like a dog every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer break at a part time job and save like nuts. He worked At our local Target and saved enough to pay one semester (his last one).
6. In the end he owes $20,000 and is paying down as he attends grad school. Grad school is no cost as he receives a stipend.
I got lucky. I went to a college that, at the time, didn't have a football team - UNC Charlotte. Tuition was $800 or so my first semester and increased to what I thought was super expensive to around $1600 per semester when I graduated. This was 2003-2007. My parents paid my way as I went including rent. I worked all summer for pizza and beer money. Left debt free with a civil engineering degree. Again I say. I got lucky. I can't even imagine what tuition is now.
Maybe I'm a jerk. Maybe I'll change my mind, but I'm not paying for a 4-year underwater basket weaving degree for a college that looks good on a high school graduation announcement. I'm already tapped out living in one of he best school districts in the state so I hope that counts for something. With the opportunities to make so much money outside of a 4 year degree, it's not a necessity anymore imo.
Sorry to go so far off topic, but as others have stated, taking a non traditional path these days seem to make the most sense.
