when I went to college, my folks wanted me to stay at home, it made sense, cheaper to live at home, folks were happy I was there, plus I was happier (most part) in finding jobs, etc. all in the community I was already comfortable with/in.

It's a shame perhaps re. the student leaving for the military (qualified w/ a maybe). Maybe the student wasn't able to afford the schooling on an ongoing basis, the school tuition itself and housing, etc.? Thus, the student chose this option willingly and eagerly.

College and associated housing, lodging, etc. have all gone up massively, pricewise, so any way that incoming students can address and handle these high schooling costs is to be applauded.

I only wish the best for such students. It can't be easy to look at these costs coming out of high school (and being a student looking at these ridiculous costs being new to the work force, a newbie too).

It's worse than the airlines overbooking. UT accepted way more students than they could house, then had a lottery for housing, including even freshmen, which is unheard of. My granddaughter got caught up in the lottery as a junior with a 3.59 and is currently out of school working 2 jobs so she can go back. My grandson is working construction to save up money so he can even go. And the school is demolishing 3 res halls to make way for a business school expansion, but new res halls won't be ready for 10 years. Poor planning much?

Poor planning is the GOP way.

And why old apartment complexes thrived.

It’s frustrating to me that the topic is not front and center in these discussions. Congress definitely should get a handle on school costs. I still say it’s BS for Cornell to cost 67,000 thousand dollars a year. I’d make the president of the school come in and breakdown the costs and justify each dollar and if refused, no financial help for the school. Drastic? Yes. But I believe this is the biggest problem with student debt.

insured loans became easily available. I grew up in Gainesville, Florida home of UF. My Dad tracked the ration of non-teaching staff to teaching staff and watched the ratio explode as tuition got more and more expensive while financial aid got easier and easier to get. Needless to say, it truly pissed him off. The solution isn’t increasing aid it’s getting rid of the deadwood.

No reason to remain cost-effective when the money will be there.

the loan is paid off has no impact on it.

that college got more expensive when students couldn’t default on loans?

knowing you'd get paid in full and didn't have to worry about quality, what would you do?

college got more expensive when students couldn’t default. What your saying supports what I said that college tuition increased when loans became easy to get.

Not enough housing compounded with the fact that housing within walking distance to campus has become outrageous. It's frustrating that the state has done essentially nothing to address this issue. A similar problem is ongoing here in Nashville with housing at TSU. The issue with TSU is made more difficult due to years of the state legislature ignoring the HBCU's upgrade and modernization needs.

You can get training in several fields through the military that can sometimes transfer to college credits.

Do your military time, take advantage of the training they offer, save money while living on base, then attend college as a (hopefully) more mature student.

Sure, it will take a few years, but less than a lifetime of paying off college loans.

And military service looks good on a job resume.

as long as we don't have some fool like Darth Cheney getting us involved in some war we don't need to be in.....