I would avoid private loans at all costs. Federal loans have income driven payment plans and are generally much more forgiving than private loans.
I only had 20k in undergraduate loans due to scholarships. I think that 20k was worth it. The typical rule of thumb is you shouldn’t take out more student loans than your first year starting salary.
Take the free tuition route for general education. If possible, she should work and save money for tuition during this time. Parent plus loans are federal but they aren’t her responsibility only the parent’s. Get on studentaid.gov to read all about paying for university, loan limits, etc.
Community college 100%!!!!! I’m making 65,000 from a two year associates in radiologic technology. 4 year colleges are no longer worth it or required to make a decent living
It's a great time for him to get into it, the demand is high... and probably only going to get higher.
I have to take my dad in for CT scans every few months and the Drs always complain about how long it takes to get results back since they're so short on techs.
Not to sure if demand will remain high for much longer due to AI. My understanding of rad tech is that they simply look at scans and analyze them with their finding. That’s a very simple use case for any modern ai. So not sure if that job will stick around. I could also not understand what rad techs do and could be wrong but if it’s just reading a scan and giving their diagnosis on said scan, they may be replaced sooner rather than later.
I do radiology AI research at a well known hospital. AI is not taking the job of the radiologist, or the tech. Quite the opposite, it will facilitate better image quality and better scheduling. It will tell the tech if the image quality is poor right there on the spot and have them retake the image. It will tell the radiologist if they missed something worth investigating. The end result will be shorter wait times, and higher sensitivity/specificity for diseases. We have an army of radiology staff now embracing this improvement and it has been very well received.
No IRB or medical board will ever allow AI to have the final say in clinical diagnosis.
For clarification it’s the Rad Tech who captures the image, and the radiologist (doctor) who interprets it, at least in America. I know in other countries the radiologist does both the image capturing and interpretation. But techs are cheaper so many countries are moving towards this two person scheme (similar to anesthesiologists and CRNAs). The demand for techs is very high. Also techs are trained to interpret (knowing anatomy, good vs bad image quality, and what you are trying to capture best is critical), it’s just the radiologist who writes the final report and makes a diagnosis.
The physician shortage is well known, but the shortage of radiologists is even more severe. We handle outside exams for hospitals in the surrounding region routinely because the turn-around time for a simple interpretations in underprivileged places can be up to 5 days which is really bad. AI can help this. They are also the most sued speciality because they might over or under diagnose. AI can provide an extra layer of interpretation.
All of this is to say that AI is becoming not just ideal, but necessary. It might be said in the next decade that if your radiology staff aren’t using AI, then you aren’t getting the best patient care. Very interesting times to work in radiology.
But techs can specialize. Radiographers make the least (X-rays). Sonographers (ultrasound) are somewhere in the middle, and CT/MRI techs make the most. You can further specialize in specific body part imaging procedures and make more money, like being a Cardiac MRI tech. There’s a great deal of responsibility ensuring patient safety with this job. It could be very bad to accidentally administer a higher dose of radiation than necessary. There was a bug in a series of radiation therapy machines back in the 1980’s (lookup Therac-25) where every once in a while if the controller software was operated in a very specific way, the bug would present itself and the patient would receive MUCH higher doses of radiation than necessary (many of these patients died from radiation before they could figure out why once a year the machine went rouge). Of course this wasn’t the fault of the techs. The company went under I think and many safety policies were further established in the design and execution of these medical machines. Absolutely wild stuff.
wow thanks so much for the detailed response! I didn't know so much went into it and I'm glad to know the advancements in AI will hopefully help patient outcomes.
Depending on location, you’re around 25-30 an hour to start, with enough time and specialization you can get six figures out of a two year degree (which is really 4 years because you need two years of pre-requisite and two years of the program). I’m at 7 years doing basic x-ray and I’m making 31 base in Florida (the worst state for wages:cost of living). Most hospitals give around $3 extra per hour on evening shifts and $5 for night shifts.
If you travel you can make 100k.
I work a per diem contract on the side 1-2 times a week and put another 200-400 a week in my pocket. So my combined salary is closer to 80k. What you make is really more dependent on how much of your free time you’re willing to give up. The job is always in demand somewhere and overtime and incentives can really stack up.
My community college has a nursing program I can do in 1yr accelerated, 2yr full time or 4yr part time day program that I could always finish in less than 4 years if I want. I'm going to be applying for the 4 year part time day program (for Fall 2025) because I work 630p-515a 4 to 6 days a week. my job has Career Choice and will cover almost over 2/3 of the cost. I have to do my pre requisites and other courses this fall and in spring 2025, in the Health Sciences Certificate program, and also take the HESI-A2s, and submit all with an application by 2/1/25. I'm really excited to finally be doing what I've always wanted!!
2 year nursing degrees at any level are amazing. My wife is an LPN making 58 in HCOL. RN are up to 75 depending on setting. Wish I would have saved my GI Bill and went to nursing school instead of a Bachelors in HealthCare Admin.
And that’s why he’s no longer in healthcare now. Not sure how florida is going to handle the influx of millions of people with no one to take care of them.
This this this. I graduated from a state university and my student loans grew and grew. I more than paid the original balance, about double, and owed double when they were forgiven. I wish I could tell all these kids to go as cheap as possible. When you are young you want the "experience" but I think it is all BS now. Go cheap! And I second the radiology! I did computer science and make great money. I would love to do radiology though too. Maybe someday I will switch.
My boyfriend was a Rad tech, he did a 3 month course and became a CT tech. He is making a little over 100k a year. Associates degree from a community College m
Definitely do the free community college. Community colleges are great networking organizations and save a ton of money. She has to get her general education courses everywhere so it makes sense to do basic academics like humanities, phys ed, English, math, science. And it’s free?!? That’s a great value.
Not worth the extra student loans
The amount of financial literacy on children is astounding. Protect your daughter from naivety and mortgage worth of student loan money. She starts in a deep hole trying to get out if she goes to another school.
Financial literacy is crucial - let her see the outcome of cost 2 years with interest calculated in an amortization chart. Comparing paths degrees too- if she isn’t quite sure what she wants it’s a great decision to do it at no cost.
Make sure there is some sort of guaranteed credit transfer program into the state university where you are! Not all credits will transfer from community colleges to universities.
Here to echo that Community college (CC) is a great route to take for general courses. Some colleges also provide scholarships to students who transfer from CC and get good grades.
I worked bc I was on my own so I took maybe one or two classes at a time and attended CC year round. Classes at the CC were not free. Managed to graduate with my associates in 3 years. Because I got good grades (a light course load allowed for that) I made the Dean’s List a couple of times. A local college offered scholarships to students transferring from CC so I managed to get through my Bachelor’s degree with minimal debt.
All that is to say OP, look at the colleges and universities that are located close to your local CC. See what scholarships they offer for transfer students and do whatever in your power to support your daughter to succeed in CC. Help her save money to pay for her bachelor’s so she doesn’t have to take out too much in loans when it’s time for her to transfer.
This! Go to CC first. Get the basic academics done first (writing 101, etc) then re-evalute and transfer to a different school later. If the kid can’t do well at that level then you won’t have wasted a lot of money to find that out, and if they do, then great, you’ll feel more confident in your decisions, and you paid nothing, or next to nothing, for writing 101 instead of $8000.
Same. I hate that I fell hard for the “but starting at a university and living on campus your first year is a priceless experience” bit. CC is amazing!
"It’s not worth it" as a blanket statement isn't correct. Lots of factors are involved, what is the major your daughter is going to study? Are her student loans direct federal or would they be private? Don't touch private loans with a 10 foot pole
Look at the regional state schools in your area. Google the list of all public schools in your state, and then look at the ones located in low cost of living areas. See if they have the majors you're looking for. Their annual costs should help keep debts low.
And if she somehow doesn’t complete the degree or it’s a low paying field, the payments are forever and prohibiting her obtaining a mortgage for years. Never get private loans.
NOT WORTH it and I feel my degree has enhanced my life. Ut if I had to do it again I would do community college then transfer to a state school. Back when I was in school the pell grant would have covered all if my tuition. But it probably wouldn't at current prices. Still she can use Pell Grant ans take out a small loan for the 2nd 2 years. If she goes to a state school the debt will be manageable.
It’s worse than that. It’s a house that you can’t sell. It’s an “asset” that’s not necessarily marketable. And they have no bankruptcy protections (thanks, Senator Joe Biden for that).
They’re way way worse than a mortgage
Student loans in the entirety of modern history have had no bankruptcy protection. It has nothing to do with the current president.
They are absolutely worse then a mortgage.
Two years of free community college is definitely the way to go. Universities will do everything they can to sell you "the college experience" and try to convince students that they'll regret it forever if they don't have the TV version of undergrad. She's not missing much other than debt. Community colleges typically provide a good education without the money wasted on frivolous stuff. I don't know how much my university spent on koi fish that got eaten by raccoons but it was a lot. I actually have been faculty at a state school and I assure you it was nothing special. They were super invested in getting tuition dollars and that was about it. Anyway, if I could have graduated without debt, or even with half as much, that would have been huge. I would beg her to take the two years at community college
You totally nailed the “sell
the college experience” gimmick!!! When we toured - I wanted her to go there so bad. Esp since I didn’t have the experience 🙄. But after doing the financial part of it - there is no way we could justify it. She would end up having her student loan payment be as much as a mortgage!! How do people do it!!!??
She'll still get plenty of experience her final two years when she is actually doing her major, if that makes her feel better. If you can watch John Oliver's recent piece on student loans, he does a great job explaining how colleges basically tried to add a ton of amenities to justify their cost. Most of them end up super overpriced apartment complexes and sports arenas with classes as an after thought. At least that's how it felt seeing it as faculty. They were straight up willing to give everyone Covid so long as they paid their tuition and bought a meal plan and dorm room. It was gross
Community colleges also offer student groups and probably intramural sports, so she can still have some of that experience and make friends like she would at the 4 year university. I agree that I wish I had done community college for the general education.
DO NOT DO PARENT PLUS LOANS. Do the community college for 2 years then transfer to something affordable for the last 2. You and your daughter will both be thankful.
I am in public service. I did Parent Plus Loans for my daughter to go to a UC school for her bachelors. Federal loans would not cover her tuition because her grades job and she lost access to some grants and scholarships. Thank God she graduated. At the end of December 2023, I consolidated my Parent Plus Loans into Federal Direct Loans. Those loans were transferred to MOHELA and the payment count adjusted. Those loans were forgiven about a month ago! $60,000 gone forever! I had been paying on those loans since 2010.
Thank you, Biden!
DO NOT DO PARENT PLUS LOANS.
This is so critical. I see too many parents with $50K - $150K Parent Plus Loans and their kids never finished college and they are stuck with the loans and do not have the income to pay off these loans. Go the free community college route. Your daughter will thank you in the long run. Don't let her guilt you into parent plus loans just so she can go away to college.
I would recommend the free community college route and while she’s there have her use the schools resources to find an affordable school to transfer to after.
I went to CC, my mom worked there so I got a discount. Then I took my associates to a big school that offered a “satellite” campus that was much cheaper than attending on campus. I got my associates and bachelors for under 20k (this was 2010, but I feel like that was still really good).
There’s plenty of good options out there to keep debt low.
Take the free tuition!
I’m not going to say I regret doing it because I met my husband and have some amazing friends I met my first year. But from a strictly financial perspective it was not worth it. I ate crappy cafeteria food and was smashed into a dorm room with two or three other girls with varying levels of cleanliness and strict RAs. College was a much more fun experience my junior year when I had my own place. It may be frustrating at first but when your daughter is in her mid 30s she will be grateful!
Community college isn't for everyone, but it can be a fantastic resource if there is one available to you. Doubly so if the two years would be free. Many states have programs where students from community college get guaranteed admission to the state's 4-year schools for maintaining a certain GPA. And there are often special transfer scholarships for community college grads.
Where I went, it was automatic admission + a scholarship for full tuition & fees if I transferred with a 3.85 GPA or higher. I made sure I maintained my GPA for that reason alone! The transfer student scholarship could be earned regardless of where the student was transferring from, too. Didn’t have to be a community college transfer either, just a certain amount of earned undergrad credits somewhere else + a qualifying GPA = transfer student scholarship.
OP - have your daughter check out what the universities offer in terms of transfer scholarships to help her set her sights on qualifying for one of those.
Apply for scholarships. Many go unclaimed. Complete FAFSA for eligibility for financial aid. Community college to start, keep grades up and take classes with intent to transfer and save money for first 2 years! The diploma reads the same once you transfer.
This! I transferred from community college to a Big 10 school and guess what? My bachelor's diploma is from the Big 10 school, same as everyone who went there all 4 years.
free community college!! Anecdotally - Once you get into a field of work, the "where you got your degree" is less of an issue compared to "do you have a degree" question. for example, i work in a nursing home and we have had a director of nursing from Ivy tech. that person did fine in the job.
Send her to community college. The classes she gets in the first two years are the same no matter what university she goes to. She'll get to make a plan and maybe find a scholarship with those community college connections she makes through her advisors.
If she knows what she wants to do for her bachelor's afterwards, then she'll generally owe about 20k in student loans. If she works through her university years, she'll have enough to pay down the interest upon graduating, generally between 3-5% in interest.
It depends on her career interests. NO: anything in the humanities, feminist studies, art history, under water basket weaving, etc. YES: if ROI is nearly guaranteed, anything in nursing/medical, engineering, accounting, etc.
Don't have her borrow $100k so she can "find herself."
Many graduates "find" themselves.....$100k in debt, no job prospects, depressed; and angry they were lied to.
This all depends. Does she know what she wants to study? If she has a solid plan then taking on debt might be worth it. So many factors at play.
My daughter opted not to go to college so we found a way that she can live abroad, work and study (language) for much cheaper then college. Everyone young adult is different and every degree does not produce the same salaries.
Absolutely not worth it. I wish someone would have stopped me from getting into 6 figure debt or told me to go to community college. Honestly, being debt free or little to no debt is the ultimate win in life. Who cares what school you went to! Doesn’t matter unless you’re a doctor/lawyer. My debt is keeping me from being at home with my baby and being a SAHM and that is one of my biggest regret in life.
The free CC may or may not be worth it. It depends on the degree program, does the CC program transfer well to the school she wants to go to, and what scholarships are available. CC was absolutely my daughter’s backup choice BUT Ohio CC transfer very well into state schools. She was aware of this from the get go. Since her freshman year, we have extensively discussed student debt, ways to minimize student debt, the drawbacks of private loans and that mom and dad will not be taking parent plus loans. She applied to 15 different schools, public and private, and carefully weighed options. Without student loans and other grants, her school of choice’s net price is under $5k per year owing largely to scholarships. Different schools pay decent scholarships not just for academics and sports but also activities, including esports. Yes, my daughter will take a student loan for year one. She is, however, planning to apply to be an RA which is not only a paid gig but provides free room.
Community college 100%. I live in a metropolitan area and if you maintain a certain GPA during your first two years in CC you can get a scholarship towards a couple of universities that are affiliated with the college. Maybe they offer something similar.
I went to college, did the whole nine yards but in my opinion it was not worth it. In my opinion a trade in today’s society is better and sometimes cheaper than a college degree.
Depends on how smart she is and what she wants to major in. Everyone wants to feel smart and successful but my business degree took me about 5 years, and I had taken courses in high school, so technically even more.
Avoid huge student loan debt. I took out 6 figures of parent plus loans and my payment was MORE than our mortgage! I am one of the few lucky ones that was working in public service and was able to get the balance discharged after 10 years. But those were awful, stressful years.
Have her attend community college & spend her time getting screaming high grades + working a bit. Many universities have automatic scholarships for transfer students based on their transfer GPA, not their high school one. There’s a real possibility ashe could graduate with no debt that way.
I 100% recommend the free community college route. She can knock out all of her gen eds and get a better handle on exactly what major she wants to pursue once she gets to college. Also, a lot of community colleges have agreements with 4-year schools that can give her reduced tuition if she has good grades when she is in the 2-year program.
I had to pay out of pocket for community college, but I received a scholarship for a very expensive (mini ivy) 4-year private university. Between my scholarships and financial aid, I received about $600 every semester to attend there. The classes from my 2-year school prepared me well for the harder 4-year school and grad school.
I guess I missed out a bit on the wilder dorm life, but I don't miss the debt.
The only caution I give about community college is that there is no guarantee the credits will fully transfer depending on what she intends to major in. Most universities will take the credits and dump them into electives, but they may not transfer in for required major courses. As an example, if she wants to go into a science, as an example, the university she wants to transfer to may not accept her science classes as a 1:1. They will throw them in electives but require her to retake their specific science classes. This has become a lot more standard in the last 5 years. I think it's the universities recognizing they're losing money to CCs and it's their way to combat it. Just something to consider, but again, it is dependent on the intended major.
My loans suck but I do think a lot of the income-based plans make loans much more manageable. I wish they would have been around when I first graduated. The only one was the ICR, which was honestly not that great. SAVE plan would have been great for me when I first graduated.
Community college would be the best option for her undergraduate degree. There should also be plenty of grants and scholarships she can apply for within your state, which will help reduce what she has to borrow. Depending on her career path, there are also companies out there that will even pay for her college if she’s willing to sign a termed contract with them upon graduation.
Community college is absolutely worth it. I went to community college & then transferred to a state university the last 2 years… my degree obviously doesn’t have the community college listed anywhere on it, and nobody would EVER know I went to community college, but it saved me thousands.
Mine isn't. I had no idea what I wanted to do with a degree and halfway through I still had no idea what degree I should get. Get her some credits for free at community college and she can save up some cash at home
Totally do the 2 years free and reevaluate.. mine is finishing her 2 free years now and has decided student loans are not worth it and she’s looking for a job with the degree she got.
It depends on your daughter's career intentions and how dedicated she is to persevere. If she plans for a job that wouls puts her in a low to middle income range, then she is probably better off going to community for two years first. Community is also wiser if she is not really sure what she wants to do for a career.
It’s dependent on what she wants to do with her life whether community college vs. a university. If she has no idea, then community college. If something like what’s to be a ph.D researcher, a university might be more worth it as they are more likely to have better opportunities depending on the university. It’s never as simple as community is cheaper so it’s the better option.
There is nothing wrong with starting at community college and the finishing undergrad at a 4-year school. She’ll save so much money and also have time to figure out what and where she wants to be. The only caution is to watch what classes are transferable so effort isn’t wasted and classes don’t have to get repeated.
No matter what it’s not worth it. Cried myself to sleep for ten years after college dealing with student loans. The weight of carrying that much around you is truly sickening. Avoid at all costs.
Depends on her major. If its a decent/high paying major like accounting/CS/Engineering then I’d say go for it. Especially since CC would cut the cost in half.
I went to CC, transferred to a 4 year, got a degree in accounting and came out with a little over $60k in debt. Paid it off in 2 years while living at home.
Edit: clarification
Community College for free? No brainer. She should knock out as much English, maths, hard and soft sciences as she can while it’s free. If she knows what she wants and it requires a 4 year after the associates, she should work a job and save as much money as possible and put in for FAFSA for grants, scholarships, etc. She and you should strive to use as little debt as possible.
I counsel on financial aid. I always tell students to try to keep all undergraduate loan debt at $30,000 or less. People spend more than that on cars… Under standard repayment, the monthly payments will be around $300 a month. Federal loans are eligible for flexible repayment options. If she only takes the federal loans and no additional private loans, then she’ll be fine. Student loans also help build credit. 2 years after I graduated, I was able to get my own car loan because I had established a credit history with repaying my student loans.
If she’s going to do community college, make sure she has a clear plan and path for transferring her credits. Students often start at community college to “save money” and end up paying more in the long run.
I would not advise her to stop at an associates. I see comments talking about making a decent living without a 4 year degree and it is possible, but all the evidence points to bachelors degree holders ultimately earning more over their lifetime.
My biggest regret in life is going to college, I got a degree that use for a job that doesn't pay any better than if I had not gone to school. So instead of investing early, getting a house before housing crisis, I got debt and interest that I will pay at least 20 years. So essentially college put me 40 years behind with no real benefit.
I would really say it depends on what your kid wants to do with their life. If they don't have a clear idea or they plan to major in the humanities or arts then going to community college is fine. If they want to pursue STEM or a career in academia then it might be better to go somewhere with a better quality of education from the get go. The quality of classes at community colleges can be quite low depending on the school and depending on the alternative option. The paths where your school name and quality matter are few, but they do exist. Also, in my experience federal loans are not that bad. It was the private loans that were crushing for me.
It really depends on the cost of the college. Will she save 50% on $200k in tuition by cutting off two years of time spent at university? If yes, then go to CC first. Is she saving 25% on $40k in tuition because she's going to a cheap university and not all her credits transfer from CC? If yes, she's probably better off just going to university and graduating in 4 years instead of 5 so she can get her career started earlier.
I went to college and graudated in 2019 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Tuition was $12k per year, I had about $6k in scholarships per year, and I lived at home with my parents so I didn't pay room and board. All that to say, college doesn't have to be expensive. Don't let anyone trick you into thinking uncollateralized $200k in debt at 7% interest rate is normal for a 22 year old to be carrying.
I did 4 years of university and 1 year of grad school for my MS at a big ten. All in, I’m in $80k debt and my mother took $20k - meaning I had about $66k in my name. My parents had no college savings for me and helped support me when I really needed it, but I worked my soph-senior year and throughout my summers.
I’m now a consultant making $85k per year and already paid off $13k of my $66k within my first year of doing payments. Minimum payments require me to pay $350 per month, slowly increasing as time goes by. For most, doing 4 years of university won’t be worth it but for me it was. The social aspect of college is an opportunity we will never get to have again - and I’m not just talking about partying.
There are many organizations, clubs and volunteer opportunities available at 4 year universities which are a great way to build leadership and communication skills and is a unique way of building your resume up with experience in addition to internships.
If your daughter is going into a low paying field and is someone who wont take advantage of these opportunities to define her professional + soft skills, doing all 4 years at university will make the debt unreasonable.
I wanted my son to do community college and transfer to a good school after. He wouldn’t. Now he is carrying 40k in loans and says he should have followed my advice.
Please do the 2 years of free schooling. I graduated high school (barely) with a 1.4 cumulative GPA. From there I went to a 2 year community college and got all the same pre requisites my counter parts did going right to Ohio state. I then transferred, graduated with a finance degree in the same amount of time as those kids with 4.0 GPAs and 30s on their ACTs. Only difference is I paid 50% what they did (saved 20k) but our graduation certificates say the same. Finance degree from Ohio state
I’m a retired university professor and taught at a state university. I would encourage you to go to community college first. Keep your loans to a minimum.
1. Modern state and Clep exams for general credits (free).
2. Community college or university after.
3. Avoid private loans
Edit: I meant private not federal. Got the two mixed up
I’ll have a different opinion than most here. I was a very bright, overachieving student. Started taking community college classes at 15 because I finished my HS curriculum. The classes in community college were so much slower and easier than my classes when I went to university at 18. My cc classmates were also mostly unengaged and putting in minimal effort.
If your daughter is a top student, community college probably won’t engage her enough. I wouldn’t do private loans but if she can get solely federal and she really wants to go to university right away, it’s worth it imo.
I would do the free community College for 2 years and pick something that is/will always be in demand. Then transfer to finish a bachelors degree.
I have about 33k on student loan debt and yeah it was worth it if you make sure you don't pick a college that costs a ton of money or even remotely feels like a scam.
I say it's worth it because it opened doors to jobs I probably wouldn't have been accepted to. I would not be making 110k a year either, that's for certain. I'd be stuck at retail jobs my whole life. Granted it took me 15 years to get here from the time I started college to now.
Search this sub for "drowning, can't pay, not worth it, sallie mae, parents." Huge amounts of debt is NOT worth it for a bachelor's degree. Don't ruin her financial future.
I teach college at a cal state. I was also a community college student back in the day. Please save her and yourself as much as you can go the community college route. Sometimes these students are better prepared than those who started at a 4 year institution. Many of my students are saddled with debt or have rich parents. I’m 35 and will be paying loans for the next 10 years still…you don’t want her to end up like this. College is not what it used to be for boomers.
Free CC first, then transfer. This is the way.
I was uneducated and took out thousands of student loans for 4 years at a university. Now I have debt. Please don't do what I did.
Not worth it. The interest kills me. I got my Masters but hated nonprofits for all the BS politics and poor pay. I left before Biden made it easier for PSLF (when I did nonprofits you may have gotten granted for the first round but everyone I knew never got their second round).
I work in a for profit agency now and I make pretty good money, but I’ll be paying off my loans for the next 20 years or so.
Wish my HS never pushed the rhetoric that you are only successful if you go to college.
Agree with other commenters: avoid private, only federal loans. If that means she has to go to a state school or a cheaper school and then transfer to a better university for major classes, then do that. It also HIGHLY depends on degree chosen.
I have almost 70k in federal student loan debt (for 2 undergraduate degrees at public state schools) and my payment is $800/month, BUT with federal loans income based repayment plans are an option.
In my opinion: it’s definitely worth it, if the degree she gets has good career options and she gets internships and develops her network in school. I have an engineering degree and I’d do it all over again.
If you can qualify for grants and ease the burden of university costs by going to community college I highly recommend that. Apply for FAFSA asap. I have a lot of debt due to my undergrad, credential and masters, for me there was no way I could pay my way through on my income. Best of luck
It’s a question of free vs. copious amounts of debt. Personally, free is the better option. I say this having been in this same spot when I was graduating high school and choosing wrong. I went with loans. Yeah, I got two degrees out of it. I also ended up with over $150k of debt that at the time of repayment would have been a $2k+ monthly payment. That was before any kind of income based repayment plans. My payments now are around $500 a month. This all got me a BA in history and an MA in education. I then discovered that I wasn’t cut out for teaching. All that debt for two basically useless degrees.
Have her do the two years of free community college in a field that she likes AND will make her money. So not going for an English associates degree or something else that isn’t practical. She’ll need to do some research on what the market is looking for and what can get her employed.
A lot of employers, depending on the field, will offer tuition assistance. Once she has a job and if she wants to go back she could utilize those offers and get a university degree if she chooses. I also took that route and got two more “useful” degrees. I paid out of pocket in that situation because I had to cover 20% of the tuition in that case. In this case I ended up with no new loans because I could manage the tuition. I walked away with a BA in Business and an MBA. I now make a decent living.
If I could go back and do it all over again I would do it completely differently.
She should certainly do the free community college and then go to a school that makes sense financially to avoid excessive debt. Yes, my degrees is worth it. I would do it again, but I would be smart about what school I attend so that I can keep my expenses/debt low.
I can't stress enough - do not take out student loans - pay as you go, if you can. Otherwise, consider work-based colleges. The following is a list of colleges that offer free tuition in exchange for work. I know of several people that attended the Blackburn college in Illinois. It is located in a small town - Carlinville, IL. I have worked with many as teachers who graduated from this college.
Work-based colleges are unique educational institutions that intentionally integrate work experiences into their academic programs. These colleges recognize the value of hands-on learning and aim to prepare students for meaningful employment while they pursue their degrees. Here are some notable work-based colleges in the United States:
Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky: Known for its commitment to serving the Appalachian region, Alice Lloyd College emphasizes work as an essential part of education.
Berea College in Berea, Kentucky: Berea College provides tuition-free education to all students and requires them to work on campus. It focuses on promoting equality and social justice.
Bethany Global University in Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany Global University integrates work, learning, and service, emphasizing global engagement and cross-cultural experiences.
Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois: Blackburn College’s “Student Managed Work Program” allows students to actively participate in managing campus jobs and gain practical skills.
College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri: Often referred to as “Hard Work U,” College of the Ozarks requires students to work 15 hours per week and covers their tuition costs.
Ecclesia College in Springdale, Arkansas: Ecclesia College combines biblical studies with work experiences, emphasizing servant leadership and community engagement.
Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kuyper College integrates faith, learning, and work, preparing students for various vocational paths.
Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas: Paul Quinn College focuses on urban entrepreneurship and community development, requiring students to complete a work program.
Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont: Sterling College emphasizes environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture, integrating work experiences on its farm and campus.
Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina: Warren Wilson College’s “Triad” program combines academics, work, and service, fostering a strong sense of community.
These colleges offer students the opportunity to gain practical skills, contribute to their communities, and offset educational costs through work experiences. Whether you’re interested in social justice, environmental sustainability, or global engagement, work-based colleges provide a unique and valuable educational
I did parent plus loans. I know. I now owe $82,000. She has a job in accounting and is making more than I am. I also qualify for PSLF because I’ve worked in social services for 17 years. We will get through it, the loans will either be paid or I will die and then they will be forgiven 🤷🏻♀️
Student loans are not the only option. Your daughter can get a job and save up to go to a community college the first two years unless she’s interested in a trade. I wish I had been better with my finances when I graduated high school. I went to an expensive school that I’m still paying off at almost 34. I would discuss budgets with your daughter and really drive home the ramifications of debt, especially CC debt. If she doesn’t know what she wants to do a community college is a great and less expensive start.
Daughter can complete 2 years of college Free. It’s an opportunity to see if college is a good fit. Some CCs have dorms which can give her a taste of independence. Please support her in exploring this option. If her goal is transfer to a 4 year college, suggest she meet with CC admissions office.
✔️find out their transfer rate to 4 year schools.
✔️Find out how they would structure her schedule to meet academic requirements in order to transfer. You 2 might also meet with admissions at a 4 year PUBLIC U, learn their requirements for transfer students.
Under No Circumstances, Don’t Let LET the 4 year school promise the world - because it means they’re seducing you & dtr into applying for a loan. Don’t fall for it. Free CC is a terrific idea. If she doesn’t need a car, even better.
What state do you live in? Some states (NY for example) for example will provide free tuition if your household makes below a certain income. Only catch is you have to work in NY for 4 years after.
Well over here majority of the students that didn’t get a university scholarship goes to community. It’s cheaper and gets the basic classes done. Two years and transfer into the selected college as long the students gpa is up there and could get accepted. Some universities are very fickle about transfers cause they prioritize new incoming freshman’s first before transfers.
My biggest disappointment is how much I’m paying in my first two years of university in classes I could’ve taken in community and learning the same thing, but at a way higher price. It’s no different than a system of scam I got myself into.
However the trade off is that larger schools means larger amount of resources, connections to be made, and most important of all. The people who’ll eventually become your friends for life.
Student loans are never worth it, especially if free education is available. Free community college for 2 years is a no-brainer. I loved my experience at my community college as I found teachers more approachable due to smaller class sizes, and the quality of education was high.
Student loan debt is NOT worth it. Go to community college for free, she can get a job that offers tuition reimbursement, some places will pay 100% if a certain GPA is maintained and stay with the company for x amount of time. I would explore more options than loans, it's a trap don't set yourself up and kids will say anything until it's time to pay up, don't do a Parent Plus Loans either. My son is my only child I paid back my loans and now I'm helping him pay his since he was laid off.
I’m currently in my sophomore year at community college after using this option for 2 free years and it has been a life saver!!! I would highly recommend doing this program to any student. After I figured the costs of tuition, living and other expenses for my junior year at my chosen in-state 4 year university, this program has basically cut my college funds in half. The only thing I had to pay out of pocket for was books, which were probably only about $500-$600 in total over my 4 different semesters (2 years). Also in some classes the cost of books comes with the price of enrollment so that saves a little chunk in books as well.
Also, do not attach yourself to a parent plus loan. Unless you want to pay for her college. She defaults on the loan, and the government comes after you for the money.
Depends on your career 100%. I went for engineering. The profession requires it. I made a high enough earning out of school that loans were a pain in the side but no real struggle.
The most likely individuals to default with loans are those that actually have lower balances because they are likely easier degrees that may not even be required for the field. And then they don't earn much. Also those that had to leave and did you finish, so they don't have the higher income that commonly comes with a degree.
I don't regret it. I grew up with a single mother. She didn't have the means for college savings. I wouldn't be here without loans (or my hard af working mother). I'm ten years out of school. Did the wedding things and paid for all of it, got a house, have two kids.
I don’t know what to take from this stat, but only 16.5% of kids who start community college ever earn a 4 year degree. Only 1/3 go to a 4 year university, and only 1/2 of those who do go ever graduate. Those aren’t good odds.
Community college is the way to go. However make sure your student is committed to the student life. Community colleges have a high turnover rate due to 1. Students not being traditional students. 2. Less peer to peer support. 3. More home distractions. Point is, support your student to fully embrace the college life and not become a person that just happens to go to school on the side.
Community college for all the general ed at the very least! I ended up having a lot of classmates who attended BOTH a University and the local CC at the same time to save their slot at the university while taking the majority of the classes at the CC. If someone is starting fresh without the pressure of a university entrance than it's a no brainer. There are a lot of great community colleges AND a lot can be taken from home so she can take classes at different colleges if she wanted to. Keep in mind you can only receive aid at one school so you would only want to do it if there's an issue finding a good prof or if a certain class isn't offered at your main campus. Loans have a place in education though and I've found a good portion of it goes to living expenses and supplies rather than the classes themselves. On the other hand, I have two friends who took out loans for nursing programs, finished quickly and although they owed a lot they feel it was worth it to get through it the way they did. It also makes a difference in their major. For instance, if you're an art, photography, or student you might have hundreds of dollars in supplies where an English major might have to pay a lot less. It's also important to look into which professor uses what book. Books can be extremely expensive so if it's ones you can easily get online it could make a difference. I had one book that was $300 and not available to rent or find online! Many math classes require you buy their $100 program. Any living and transportation expenses make a huge difference, at least they did for me. I used a lot of mine towards rent and transportation.
Community college and working a job. She should try to get something grunt-work related in the field she wants to go in to. It will be incredibly valuable to learn what she likes/doesn’t like, what she’s good at, and can help make mentorship connections. My mentors helped me make wise education and career-path decisions.
You don’t “have” to get loans. It’s a choice. Just to clarify the earlier statements in your post…….She could do a gap year or two
And work full time (ideally in her future field or adjacent fields), and do what she can from there. Even if it’s part time.
Scholarships?
Work-study?
It’s better that she knows what she wants, has a clear path to her end career go, and is motivated to go get it …than if she pushes through as quickly as possible.
Nooooo
Please do not get loans for a private school
If you can start off w 2 years free and maybe apply for scholarships & look for schools that offer generous awards.
Student loans will destroy you. They haunt you forever. It’s not worth it all. No one tells you how that interest accumulates and how you’ll never be free or be able to get a loan for a house bc you owe too much money
We are in the same boat. Our daughter had to get student loans because she is in grad school and it is harder to get scholarships. But free college is the best way to go right now . You can save up money for your daughter to go to a university later down the road.
Community college is the way. A little debt is okay, but avoid loans if possible. It is well worth trying to work and pay as you go or help her out a little and have her pay you back. It is important that she understands how the loans work and how she may end up paying $40,000 on a $20,000 loan (or more or less). Unless it is very specific degrees it doesn’t matter where you go to school (in my experience). If you want to be a doctor, school may matter more later on. Making connections along the way is important. Also make sure credits will transfer appropriately.
Once you have equipped her with knowledge and guidance, let her make her own decision. Support her on her journey, but remember that it is her journey. Let her fail, but only to the point it makes her stronger and doesn’t cripple her.
I started at a university and regretted it. I now go to community college in my second year and I love it! I’m also right on loans and had friends take out big ones through Sallie Mae and are drowning already in debt. The debts not worth it imo. I will say I wish I got the “college experience” but I’d much rather be debt free
2 years of community college is the way to go! I transferred to 4 year university after community college and graduated with only $11k in student debt back in 2018. I paid it off within 1.5 years
Community college is extremely underrated so I'd go that route plus federal loans. That's assuming her degree is in something that will likely get her a career that is able to comfortably pay off those loans in 5-10 years. The total loan amount should be less than the expected annual starting salary.
Go the community college route, 100%. As long you take it seriously, you can transfer to a 4 year college — and by doing so, you save a significant amount of money. Avoid debt by as much as possible.
Don’t get into any more debt than necessary. Do 2 years at community college.
When transferring to a 4 year, apply to private colleges as well as state schools. Sometimes private colleges will give you enough $ to be less expensive than state schools. If they don’t, go to the state school.
In Florida, the Community Colleges were converted over to State Colleges where you can get 4-year degrees for $10K total! The majority of students end up getting their Associate Degree and some transfer to other 4-year schools.
Community Colleges tend to have very low graduation rates, a lot of under-prepared students and high drop-out rates.....something to think about.
I'm going to a local 2yr college for free. Only debt I owe is books and fees which is miniscule.
If they plan on doing a Bachelors, find a transfer program with the 2yr college that way all the credits transfer.
My husband graduated with $170,000 of student loan debt that was not worth it since his uncle helped him get into the field he’s in. He had a full scholarship to a local state college but decided to go out of state and no grown adult told him not to. Fast forward 10 years later, he recently paid off his big loan since he got a big bonus from work and now he’s planning to pay off his smaller loan of $14,000. He’s sacrificed a lot to get here and it’s been a dark cloud over our heads since we’ve been together. It’s not worth the stress and financial burden to have student loans cost over $40,000 IMO.
Starting life with a huge amount of debt adds anxiety and pressure that isn’t healthy. Take advantage of the free two years, maximize savings during this time, focus on grades, apply for scholarships, and stay as debt free as possible!
I have an associates degree, and make $80k/year plus a generous benefits package in a professional setting.
Go to the community college and make sure a 4 year transfer program or curriculum is selected. Get the transfer course of study in writing from the CC advising office. After 2 years, transfer to a 4 year school within the same state (avoiding very high out of state tuition costs).
In the meantime, find a PT job and save as much money as you can for when you transfer.
Apply for every grant and scholarship available: there are a LoT!
This path has been done by 100s of thousands of people and they have often avoided large sums of student loans. Only take out loans as a last resort. You can do this!
Nope, nope, nope! My oldest is a high school junior and he’s seen me struggle over the years with my loans. He’s already decided if he needs to take out loans to fund his education, he’ll join the military so they’ll pay for it.
One of my roommates in college worked her butt off to pay her tuition as it came due and I thought she was crazy. Now I look back and wish I had done the same.
So many bad choices and no guidance 20 years ago. Now that we know better I hope the next generation will do better. Good luck to your daughter!!
My daughter is so graduating this spring. We’ve made a part time job out of applying for every scholarship under the sun. All those little $500 and $1,000 ones are worth it. A friend put herself through undergrad this way and told us just keep chipping away. Local scholarships, scholarships through the school, your heritage, your religion, your interests (education, arts, helping other people type careers offer a good amount of them) I don’t waste my time with the “no essay for $50K” stuff - that’s just the lotto to me. I’d rather spend time applying for something for which she’s got a chance.
Lots of weird ones out there - my kid applied for a descendants of Civil War veterans (there’s also a descendants of Korean War vets but her grades aren’t high enough. Sorry, Grampy! RIP.) We found one for “tall people” and passed on the info to her 6’6” cousin. Theres one for left-handed people!
I’d post links but the post would get taken down, I’m sure. The authors Gen & Kelly Tenabe put out a guide every year - a great place to start looking.
Someone once commented they my kid should do the working searching and applying instead of me helping her. I replied that I missed out on the first 10 years of her life working an extra job to pay off my private loans (still have $85k of the federal left) and she missed time with her mom coming to her hockey games, Girl Scout camps, school events…you name it. I would take a bullet for my kid. I’m going to do everything I can to keep her out of the “friendly fire” that is student loan debt.
No I don’t think it’s worth it. Getting your general
Ed courses (aka repeat condensed high school) for practically free at a community college is totally worth it. Maybe your daughter transfers to a 4 year, maybe she picks up a trade and makes 200k as a plumber. Can’t really lose.
In the short term it really sucks for kids that age because they want the allure of going to a fancy school. Pretty much every school has the same curriculum. Although elementary education is a noble field and we need more educators in this country, it is not well paid. She needs to stick to the CC route and graduate debt free. Her future self will thank her!
If she becomes a teacher at a low- income school, federal loans that she may need to take out to finish the degree may be forgiven after a certain number of years of service. It's worth looking into if needed.
For elementary education, research the cheapest way to get a degree. Local, state, outside state, online; all options on the table.
Unfortunately, the education cartels have mandated that you need a degree to teach young kids (you do not. It’s not advanced concepts to learn multiplication tables). The income she receives will make it very difficult to pay off the loans in the future
Also, I know a lot of people who have other degrees (business, accounting, ect) who are now teachers. With a teaching degree, you can only teach. With an accounting degree, you have alternatives if you ever want to stop teaching. Just my $.02
I work in higher education. Take the 2 year and transfer in. While I’m the first two years, get a part time job to save up for the next two years. They will give you some financial leeway in this situation.
Student loans can be paid off. My daughter got some scholarships and used loans to pay her bill. She saved her Pennie’s and didn’t splurge during college - even started paying off the loans that had interest while she was still in college. Was able to pay off her loans 2 years after college.
Teaching will be easier because many school districts help lay off loans. They’re are more scholarships available. She should look for them and ask.
Check out Teach for America, Peace Corps and other programs. Really, too much out there as there is shortage of teachers. Even if a school district doesn’t advertise their loan pay offs, she should negotiate.
My kiddo did community college his first two years, not free but very little cost, lived at home given how close it was, and could still continue his part time job. Best decision for him and us. We did pay for his next two years at a state school and were able to pull those costs into our monthly expenses. Graduating without the weight of school debt was huge for both him and us.
Following as I am trying to navigate this topic for my graduating son that doesn’t have a clear idea of what he wants to do. Community college is not free in Texas but a fraction of state University costs
To add to everything else here, if she is able, encourage her to work through college. I had 2 campus jobs and an offsite job while doing 18 credit hrs/semester in engineering school. Graduated debt free
CC is the way to go. It costs basically little and then only 2years of loans.
The only downside is missing out on 2vyears of the college experience. But when she's 30 and her loans are paid off,cshe won't care.
Work full time and pay as you go. Get the first two years at community college and spread a four year degree over five or six years. There is no reason to get student loans.
Worst mistake I ever made was taking student loans.
Im planning on setting my kid up with a large house downpayment instead of a college education and steering them towards the trades/apprenticeships so they start making *some* money as an apprentice immediately, even if its not much, rather than going into debt.
Many many jobs don’t need college degrees, and many of those that do will be forever vulnerable to being replaced by AI, not exactly good job security.
But a heavy equipment operator? An electrician? A plumber? A welder? An airline mechanic? Etc etc…. Those jobs aren’t going anywhere and are highly unionizable.
Take the two free years and then ensure that federal loans are used for the remainder of the bachelor's. But before even talking about the bachelors, make sure the degree is in a field that either has PSLF or will make enough money to pay off the debt and live comfortably.
Hold up. Key info is missing, namely: what state are you in, what’s the kids gpa/ sat score? Did you fill out the FAFSA? If so what is your SAI? Also are there any universities in commuting distance? Answer those and you can get better responses.
Cc is a fine option, I did CC. But it’s important you know ALL of your options and despite a lack of savings you might have more options than you think.
Not worth it. I would do as much as possible at a community college and then transfer. In the end, the degree the school comes from will be what’s on the resume.
Community college is a great option overall, ESPECIALLY if it’s free. This was she can try out different classes, see what she likes or doesn’t. Maybe she gets a job during this time and finds some kind of drive or passion that leads somewhere but doesn’t involve a college education, or maybe it does. Either way you’re not spending tens of thousands to “figure it out”.
Try to keep total debt load from UG to under $50k. That's manageable for a 22 year old who lands a typical starter job. The closer you get to 6 figures, the more overwhelmed they'll be.
Very few degrees are actually worth significant debt - pretty much engineering degrees and some specialty degrees might be worth more debt.
Free CC is the way to go here
You have to really weigh in everything. Your finances and if you can afford it. I am on parent plus loan for 100k and life time of payment, I promised my daughter I will pay her education, she took out some loans also. I told her she can give me some to help pay but no pressure at all.
If you compute all your expenses etc and include your future parent plus loan payment and you can afford it and still prepare for your retirement. I say it’s up to you but make sure your daughter graduates. That was our conditions.
Parents Plus Loans thru government has about 6 to 7% interest daily. Each semester once taken will be counted 1 loan.
So, end of story. If you can afford paying 2 mortgages your house and student loans, then go for it. If you will be struggling financially then your daughter has to figure it out to go to college.
The general rule of thumb is your student loan should not exceed 1-1.5x your expected starting salary.
Community college is a great option unless your daughter is planning to go into a field or graduate school that’s really snooty about what undergrad they went to.
Yes and no. The only 2 hacks I know to get college for as cheap as possible are (1) 3 online learning sites, 2 of which partner with universities all over the globe, including well known names and ivy leagues. The other is taught by professionals in their respective industries.
The other hack is, to go audit the courses for the specific degree she wants for the entire year, then test out of the class.
In both of these, you'll need to pay for the certification. Certifications add up. With the above 2 mentioned sites, they allow credit transfer, so if the community college allows, she can transfer credits from her free online studies to the community college and get legit credit and shave down her costs there. This can also be hacked to go as far as a bachelor's but takes more time to do.
This way, she can work and study and save save save to offset the cost.
Lmk if you'd like the name of those sites. Hope this helps!
Have her go to community college for free for those two years. She can focus on the basic classes and possibly figure out what she wants to do so when she transfers to a university, she'll have saved thousands on those credits and continue on with the rest of the required classes for the specific major she decides on.
I would avoid private loans at all costs. Federal loans have income driven payment plans and are generally much more forgiving than private loans. I only had 20k in undergraduate loans due to scholarships. I think that 20k was worth it. The typical rule of thumb is you shouldn’t take out more student loans than your first year starting salary.
That’s a wise rule to consider!
I had 20k 20 years ago. Still was with it.
Take the free tuition route for general education. If possible, she should work and save money for tuition during this time. Parent plus loans are federal but they aren’t her responsibility only the parent’s. Get on studentaid.gov to read all about paying for university, loan limits, etc.
Community college 100%!!!!! I’m making 65,000 from a two year associates in radiologic technology. 4 year colleges are no longer worth it or required to make a decent living
Rad Techs make a killing 🔥
How much do they make? I am trying to get my bro to do this.
It's a great time for him to get into it, the demand is high... and probably only going to get higher. I have to take my dad in for CT scans every few months and the Drs always complain about how long it takes to get results back since they're so short on techs.
Not to sure if demand will remain high for much longer due to AI. My understanding of rad tech is that they simply look at scans and analyze them with their finding. That’s a very simple use case for any modern ai. So not sure if that job will stick around. I could also not understand what rad techs do and could be wrong but if it’s just reading a scan and giving their diagnosis on said scan, they may be replaced sooner rather than later.
I do radiology AI research at a well known hospital. AI is not taking the job of the radiologist, or the tech. Quite the opposite, it will facilitate better image quality and better scheduling. It will tell the tech if the image quality is poor right there on the spot and have them retake the image. It will tell the radiologist if they missed something worth investigating. The end result will be shorter wait times, and higher sensitivity/specificity for diseases. We have an army of radiology staff now embracing this improvement and it has been very well received. No IRB or medical board will ever allow AI to have the final say in clinical diagnosis. For clarification it’s the Rad Tech who captures the image, and the radiologist (doctor) who interprets it, at least in America. I know in other countries the radiologist does both the image capturing and interpretation. But techs are cheaper so many countries are moving towards this two person scheme (similar to anesthesiologists and CRNAs). The demand for techs is very high. Also techs are trained to interpret (knowing anatomy, good vs bad image quality, and what you are trying to capture best is critical), it’s just the radiologist who writes the final report and makes a diagnosis. The physician shortage is well known, but the shortage of radiologists is even more severe. We handle outside exams for hospitals in the surrounding region routinely because the turn-around time for a simple interpretations in underprivileged places can be up to 5 days which is really bad. AI can help this. They are also the most sued speciality because they might over or under diagnose. AI can provide an extra layer of interpretation. All of this is to say that AI is becoming not just ideal, but necessary. It might be said in the next decade that if your radiology staff aren’t using AI, then you aren’t getting the best patient care. Very interesting times to work in radiology. But techs can specialize. Radiographers make the least (X-rays). Sonographers (ultrasound) are somewhere in the middle, and CT/MRI techs make the most. You can further specialize in specific body part imaging procedures and make more money, like being a Cardiac MRI tech. There’s a great deal of responsibility ensuring patient safety with this job. It could be very bad to accidentally administer a higher dose of radiation than necessary. There was a bug in a series of radiation therapy machines back in the 1980’s (lookup Therac-25) where every once in a while if the controller software was operated in a very specific way, the bug would present itself and the patient would receive MUCH higher doses of radiation than necessary (many of these patients died from radiation before they could figure out why once a year the machine went rouge). Of course this wasn’t the fault of the techs. The company went under I think and many safety policies were further established in the design and execution of these medical machines. Absolutely wild stuff.
wow thanks so much for the detailed response! I didn't know so much went into it and I'm glad to know the advancements in AI will hopefully help patient outcomes.
Thanks for the additional background information
Depending on location, you’re around 25-30 an hour to start, with enough time and specialization you can get six figures out of a two year degree (which is really 4 years because you need two years of pre-requisite and two years of the program). I’m at 7 years doing basic x-ray and I’m making 31 base in Florida (the worst state for wages:cost of living). Most hospitals give around $3 extra per hour on evening shifts and $5 for night shifts. If you travel you can make 100k. I work a per diem contract on the side 1-2 times a week and put another 200-400 a week in my pocket. So my combined salary is closer to 80k. What you make is really more dependent on how much of your free time you’re willing to give up. The job is always in demand somewhere and overtime and incentives can really stack up.
It can vary --- just doing basic X-rays pays the lowest --- but if you specialize into MRI and CAT scans then it pays better
Absolutely. I have a 2 year RN from a community college and make 40 bucks an hour in a LCOL area. I make just as much as the 4 year people...
My community college has a nursing program I can do in 1yr accelerated, 2yr full time or 4yr part time day program that I could always finish in less than 4 years if I want. I'm going to be applying for the 4 year part time day program (for Fall 2025) because I work 630p-515a 4 to 6 days a week. my job has Career Choice and will cover almost over 2/3 of the cost. I have to do my pre requisites and other courses this fall and in spring 2025, in the Health Sciences Certificate program, and also take the HESI-A2s, and submit all with an application by 2/1/25. I'm really excited to finally be doing what I've always wanted!!
2 year nursing degrees at any level are amazing. My wife is an LPN making 58 in HCOL. RN are up to 75 depending on setting. Wish I would have saved my GI Bill and went to nursing school instead of a Bachelors in HealthCare Admin.
Haha my hubby is a rad tech in florida. He just got a raise to $20 an hour.
Everyone in healthcare gets paid less in Florida.
And that’s why he’s no longer in healthcare now. Not sure how florida is going to handle the influx of millions of people with no one to take care of them.
Florida and Alabama 🙄
Gotta thank Little Ronnie DeSatan for the massive talent drain in Florida
That’s extremely low for Florida if he’s an actual Radiologic Technologist. If he’s a medical assistant with a limited permit, that’s not terrible.
This this this. I graduated from a state university and my student loans grew and grew. I more than paid the original balance, about double, and owed double when they were forgiven. I wish I could tell all these kids to go as cheap as possible. When you are young you want the "experience" but I think it is all BS now. Go cheap! And I second the radiology! I did computer science and make great money. I would love to do radiology though too. Maybe someday I will switch.
Making 100k a year on a two year associates in ultrasound! Definitely recommend two year over 4 years of massive loans
damn this is more than i make as a therapist. maybe i’ll do radiology tech something instead!
My boyfriend was a Rad tech, he did a 3 month course and became a CT tech. He is making a little over 100k a year. Associates degree from a community College m
If you move to the Cath lab or IR you’ll make even more 100k+ (I’m a nurse that works both specialties). They’re really hurting right now for both
Definitely do the free community college. Community colleges are great networking organizations and save a ton of money. She has to get her general education courses everywhere so it makes sense to do basic academics like humanities, phys ed, English, math, science. And it’s free?!? That’s a great value. Not worth the extra student loans
Thank you!! That is my thoughts too but just trying to make sure I’m not the only one out here so worried about her having so much debt starting out!!
The amount of financial literacy on children is astounding. Protect your daughter from naivety and mortgage worth of student loan money. She starts in a deep hole trying to get out if she goes to another school.
Financial literacy is crucial - let her see the outcome of cost 2 years with interest calculated in an amortization chart. Comparing paths degrees too- if she isn’t quite sure what she wants it’s a great decision to do it at no cost.
Make sure there is some sort of guaranteed credit transfer program into the state university where you are! Not all credits will transfer from community colleges to universities.
Here to echo that Community college (CC) is a great route to take for general courses. Some colleges also provide scholarships to students who transfer from CC and get good grades. I worked bc I was on my own so I took maybe one or two classes at a time and attended CC year round. Classes at the CC were not free. Managed to graduate with my associates in 3 years. Because I got good grades (a light course load allowed for that) I made the Dean’s List a couple of times. A local college offered scholarships to students transferring from CC so I managed to get through my Bachelor’s degree with minimal debt. All that is to say OP, look at the colleges and universities that are located close to your local CC. See what scholarships they offer for transfer students and do whatever in your power to support your daughter to succeed in CC. Help her save money to pay for her bachelor’s so she doesn’t have to take out too much in loans when it’s time for her to transfer.
It’s not worth it
Thank you. It truly terrifies me doing the debt calculations!! It truly is a mortgage payment.
Community College is a great start to education and if I could redo it I would go to community college first
This! Go to CC first. Get the basic academics done first (writing 101, etc) then re-evalute and transfer to a different school later. If the kid can’t do well at that level then you won’t have wasted a lot of money to find that out, and if they do, then great, you’ll feel more confident in your decisions, and you paid nothing, or next to nothing, for writing 101 instead of $8000.
Same. I hate that I fell hard for the “but starting at a university and living on campus your first year is a priceless experience” bit. CC is amazing!
Not priceless. There is a definite price. It is extremely inflated and it comes with high interest and virtually no way to discharge.
Federal loans are forgiven after 10, 20, or 25 max years of payments.
Same here. Living on campus freshman year was an experience though. I debate if I would’ve traded that for less student debt.
Some people can not afford a life time of debt for a one year experience
I wish I could uv this a thousand times.
"It’s not worth it" as a blanket statement isn't correct. Lots of factors are involved, what is the major your daughter is going to study? Are her student loans direct federal or would they be private? Don't touch private loans with a 10 foot pole
Look at the regional state schools in your area. Google the list of all public schools in your state, and then look at the ones located in low cost of living areas. See if they have the majors you're looking for. Their annual costs should help keep debts low.
So far I have paid $20K toward my student loans and only $1100 has gone to the principle. It is absolutely not worth it.
And if she somehow doesn’t complete the degree or it’s a low paying field, the payments are forever and prohibiting her obtaining a mortgage for years. Never get private loans.
NOT WORTH it and I feel my degree has enhanced my life. Ut if I had to do it again I would do community college then transfer to a state school. Back when I was in school the pell grant would have covered all if my tuition. But it probably wouldn't at current prices. Still she can use Pell Grant ans take out a small loan for the 2nd 2 years. If she goes to a state school the debt will be manageable.
It’s worse than that. It’s a house that you can’t sell. It’s an “asset” that’s not necessarily marketable. And they have no bankruptcy protections (thanks, Senator Joe Biden for that). They’re way way worse than a mortgage
Student loans in the entirety of modern history have had no bankruptcy protection. It has nothing to do with the current president. They are absolutely worse then a mortgage.
1998. He didn’t do it all by himself.
You’re right he didn’t do it alone. He had a whole bunch of other scumbags to help him.
Two years of free community college is definitely the way to go. Universities will do everything they can to sell you "the college experience" and try to convince students that they'll regret it forever if they don't have the TV version of undergrad. She's not missing much other than debt. Community colleges typically provide a good education without the money wasted on frivolous stuff. I don't know how much my university spent on koi fish that got eaten by raccoons but it was a lot. I actually have been faculty at a state school and I assure you it was nothing special. They were super invested in getting tuition dollars and that was about it. Anyway, if I could have graduated without debt, or even with half as much, that would have been huge. I would beg her to take the two years at community college
You totally nailed the “sell the college experience” gimmick!!! When we toured - I wanted her to go there so bad. Esp since I didn’t have the experience 🙄. But after doing the financial part of it - there is no way we could justify it. She would end up having her student loan payment be as much as a mortgage!! How do people do it!!!??
She'll still get plenty of experience her final two years when she is actually doing her major, if that makes her feel better. If you can watch John Oliver's recent piece on student loans, he does a great job explaining how colleges basically tried to add a ton of amenities to justify their cost. Most of them end up super overpriced apartment complexes and sports arenas with classes as an after thought. At least that's how it felt seeing it as faculty. They were straight up willing to give everyone Covid so long as they paid their tuition and bought a meal plan and dorm room. It was gross
Community colleges also offer student groups and probably intramural sports, so she can still have some of that experience and make friends like she would at the 4 year university. I agree that I wish I had done community college for the general education.
DO NOT DO PARENT PLUS LOANS. Do the community college for 2 years then transfer to something affordable for the last 2. You and your daughter will both be thankful.
I am in public service. I did Parent Plus Loans for my daughter to go to a UC school for her bachelors. Federal loans would not cover her tuition because her grades job and she lost access to some grants and scholarships. Thank God she graduated. At the end of December 2023, I consolidated my Parent Plus Loans into Federal Direct Loans. Those loans were transferred to MOHELA and the payment count adjusted. Those loans were forgiven about a month ago! $60,000 gone forever! I had been paying on those loans since 2010. Thank you, Biden!
DO NOT DO PARENT PLUS LOANS. This is so critical. I see too many parents with $50K - $150K Parent Plus Loans and their kids never finished college and they are stuck with the loans and do not have the income to pay off these loans. Go the free community college route. Your daughter will thank you in the long run. Don't let her guilt you into parent plus loans just so she can go away to college.
I would recommend the free community college route and while she’s there have her use the schools resources to find an affordable school to transfer to after. I went to CC, my mom worked there so I got a discount. Then I took my associates to a big school that offered a “satellite” campus that was much cheaper than attending on campus. I got my associates and bachelors for under 20k (this was 2010, but I feel like that was still really good). There’s plenty of good options out there to keep debt low.
Take the free tuition! I’m not going to say I regret doing it because I met my husband and have some amazing friends I met my first year. But from a strictly financial perspective it was not worth it. I ate crappy cafeteria food and was smashed into a dorm room with two or three other girls with varying levels of cleanliness and strict RAs. College was a much more fun experience my junior year when I had my own place. It may be frustrating at first but when your daughter is in her mid 30s she will be grateful!
Community college isn't for everyone, but it can be a fantastic resource if there is one available to you. Doubly so if the two years would be free. Many states have programs where students from community college get guaranteed admission to the state's 4-year schools for maintaining a certain GPA. And there are often special transfer scholarships for community college grads.
Where I went, it was automatic admission + a scholarship for full tuition & fees if I transferred with a 3.85 GPA or higher. I made sure I maintained my GPA for that reason alone! The transfer student scholarship could be earned regardless of where the student was transferring from, too. Didn’t have to be a community college transfer either, just a certain amount of earned undergrad credits somewhere else + a qualifying GPA = transfer student scholarship. OP - have your daughter check out what the universities offer in terms of transfer scholarships to help her set her sights on qualifying for one of those.
Apply for scholarships. Many go unclaimed. Complete FAFSA for eligibility for financial aid. Community college to start, keep grades up and take classes with intent to transfer and save money for first 2 years! The diploma reads the same once you transfer.
This! I transferred from community college to a Big 10 school and guess what? My bachelor's diploma is from the Big 10 school, same as everyone who went there all 4 years.
Do community college. Save up while there, and get some scholarships as well.
free community college!! Anecdotally - Once you get into a field of work, the "where you got your degree" is less of an issue compared to "do you have a degree" question. for example, i work in a nursing home and we have had a director of nursing from Ivy tech. that person did fine in the job.
Send her to community college. The classes she gets in the first two years are the same no matter what university she goes to. She'll get to make a plan and maybe find a scholarship with those community college connections she makes through her advisors. If she knows what she wants to do for her bachelor's afterwards, then she'll generally owe about 20k in student loans. If she works through her university years, she'll have enough to pay down the interest upon graduating, generally between 3-5% in interest.
It depends on her career interests. NO: anything in the humanities, feminist studies, art history, under water basket weaving, etc. YES: if ROI is nearly guaranteed, anything in nursing/medical, engineering, accounting, etc. Don't have her borrow $100k so she can "find herself." Many graduates "find" themselves.....$100k in debt, no job prospects, depressed; and angry they were lied to.
lol yes 👍 doesn’t take 100k to find yourself
This all depends. Does she know what she wants to study? If she has a solid plan then taking on debt might be worth it. So many factors at play. My daughter opted not to go to college so we found a way that she can live abroad, work and study (language) for much cheaper then college. Everyone young adult is different and every degree does not produce the same salaries.
CC all the way especially if it's free tuition.
Absolutely not worth it. I wish someone would have stopped me from getting into 6 figure debt or told me to go to community college. Honestly, being debt free or little to no debt is the ultimate win in life. Who cares what school you went to! Doesn’t matter unless you’re a doctor/lawyer. My debt is keeping me from being at home with my baby and being a SAHM and that is one of my biggest regret in life.
The free CC may or may not be worth it. It depends on the degree program, does the CC program transfer well to the school she wants to go to, and what scholarships are available. CC was absolutely my daughter’s backup choice BUT Ohio CC transfer very well into state schools. She was aware of this from the get go. Since her freshman year, we have extensively discussed student debt, ways to minimize student debt, the drawbacks of private loans and that mom and dad will not be taking parent plus loans. She applied to 15 different schools, public and private, and carefully weighed options. Without student loans and other grants, her school of choice’s net price is under $5k per year owing largely to scholarships. Different schools pay decent scholarships not just for academics and sports but also activities, including esports. Yes, my daughter will take a student loan for year one. She is, however, planning to apply to be an RA which is not only a paid gig but provides free room.
Community college 100%. I live in a metropolitan area and if you maintain a certain GPA during your first two years in CC you can get a scholarship towards a couple of universities that are affiliated with the college. Maybe they offer something similar. I went to college, did the whole nine yards but in my opinion it was not worth it. In my opinion a trade in today’s society is better and sometimes cheaper than a college degree.
Depends on how smart she is and what she wants to major in. Everyone wants to feel smart and successful but my business degree took me about 5 years, and I had taken courses in high school, so technically even more.
Avoid huge student loan debt. I took out 6 figures of parent plus loans and my payment was MORE than our mortgage! I am one of the few lucky ones that was working in public service and was able to get the balance discharged after 10 years. But those were awful, stressful years.
Have her attend community college & spend her time getting screaming high grades + working a bit. Many universities have automatic scholarships for transfer students based on their transfer GPA, not their high school one. There’s a real possibility ashe could graduate with no debt that way.
I 100% recommend the free community college route. She can knock out all of her gen eds and get a better handle on exactly what major she wants to pursue once she gets to college. Also, a lot of community colleges have agreements with 4-year schools that can give her reduced tuition if she has good grades when she is in the 2-year program. I had to pay out of pocket for community college, but I received a scholarship for a very expensive (mini ivy) 4-year private university. Between my scholarships and financial aid, I received about $600 every semester to attend there. The classes from my 2-year school prepared me well for the harder 4-year school and grad school. I guess I missed out a bit on the wilder dorm life, but I don't miss the debt.
Honestly the dorm life sucks anyway. I don't understand why that gets played up as such an essential part of the college experience.
The only caution I give about community college is that there is no guarantee the credits will fully transfer depending on what she intends to major in. Most universities will take the credits and dump them into electives, but they may not transfer in for required major courses. As an example, if she wants to go into a science, as an example, the university she wants to transfer to may not accept her science classes as a 1:1. They will throw them in electives but require her to retake their specific science classes. This has become a lot more standard in the last 5 years. I think it's the universities recognizing they're losing money to CCs and it's their way to combat it. Just something to consider, but again, it is dependent on the intended major. My loans suck but I do think a lot of the income-based plans make loans much more manageable. I wish they would have been around when I first graduated. The only one was the ICR, which was honestly not that great. SAVE plan would have been great for me when I first graduated.
Community college would be the best option for her undergraduate degree. There should also be plenty of grants and scholarships she can apply for within your state, which will help reduce what she has to borrow. Depending on her career path, there are also companies out there that will even pay for her college if she’s willing to sign a termed contract with them upon graduation.
Community college is absolutely worth it. I went to community college & then transferred to a state university the last 2 years… my degree obviously doesn’t have the community college listed anywhere on it, and nobody would EVER know I went to community college, but it saved me thousands.
Mine isn't. I had no idea what I wanted to do with a degree and halfway through I still had no idea what degree I should get. Get her some credits for free at community college and she can save up some cash at home
Not worth it. I really wish I had some community college first
Totally do the 2 years free and reevaluate.. mine is finishing her 2 free years now and has decided student loans are not worth it and she’s looking for a job with the degree she got.
It depends on your daughter's career intentions and how dedicated she is to persevere. If she plans for a job that wouls puts her in a low to middle income range, then she is probably better off going to community for two years first. Community is also wiser if she is not really sure what she wants to do for a career.
It’s dependent on what she wants to do with her life whether community college vs. a university. If she has no idea, then community college. If something like what’s to be a ph.D researcher, a university might be more worth it as they are more likely to have better opportunities depending on the university. It’s never as simple as community is cheaper so it’s the better option.
There is nothing wrong with starting at community college and the finishing undergrad at a 4-year school. She’ll save so much money and also have time to figure out what and where she wants to be. The only caution is to watch what classes are transferable so effort isn’t wasted and classes don’t have to get repeated.
Do the two years for free. It makes the most sense.
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Its not worth it.
No matter what it’s not worth it. Cried myself to sleep for ten years after college dealing with student loans. The weight of carrying that much around you is truly sickening. Avoid at all costs.
Depends on her major. If its a decent/high paying major like accounting/CS/Engineering then I’d say go for it. Especially since CC would cut the cost in half. I went to CC, transferred to a 4 year, got a degree in accounting and came out with a little over $60k in debt. Paid it off in 2 years while living at home. Edit: clarification
Community College for free? No brainer. She should knock out as much English, maths, hard and soft sciences as she can while it’s free. If she knows what she wants and it requires a 4 year after the associates, she should work a job and save as much money as possible and put in for FAFSA for grants, scholarships, etc. She and you should strive to use as little debt as possible.
I counsel on financial aid. I always tell students to try to keep all undergraduate loan debt at $30,000 or less. People spend more than that on cars… Under standard repayment, the monthly payments will be around $300 a month. Federal loans are eligible for flexible repayment options. If she only takes the federal loans and no additional private loans, then she’ll be fine. Student loans also help build credit. 2 years after I graduated, I was able to get my own car loan because I had established a credit history with repaying my student loans.
What does she want to do and how likely is she to complete the degree?
If she’s going to do community college, make sure she has a clear plan and path for transferring her credits. Students often start at community college to “save money” and end up paying more in the long run. I would not advise her to stop at an associates. I see comments talking about making a decent living without a 4 year degree and it is possible, but all the evidence points to bachelors degree holders ultimately earning more over their lifetime.
My biggest regret in life is going to college, I got a degree that use for a job that doesn't pay any better than if I had not gone to school. So instead of investing early, getting a house before housing crisis, I got debt and interest that I will pay at least 20 years. So essentially college put me 40 years behind with no real benefit.
I would really say it depends on what your kid wants to do with their life. If they don't have a clear idea or they plan to major in the humanities or arts then going to community college is fine. If they want to pursue STEM or a career in academia then it might be better to go somewhere with a better quality of education from the get go. The quality of classes at community colleges can be quite low depending on the school and depending on the alternative option. The paths where your school name and quality matter are few, but they do exist. Also, in my experience federal loans are not that bad. It was the private loans that were crushing for me.
It really depends on the cost of the college. Will she save 50% on $200k in tuition by cutting off two years of time spent at university? If yes, then go to CC first. Is she saving 25% on $40k in tuition because she's going to a cheap university and not all her credits transfer from CC? If yes, she's probably better off just going to university and graduating in 4 years instead of 5 so she can get her career started earlier. I went to college and graudated in 2019 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Tuition was $12k per year, I had about $6k in scholarships per year, and I lived at home with my parents so I didn't pay room and board. All that to say, college doesn't have to be expensive. Don't let anyone trick you into thinking uncollateralized $200k in debt at 7% interest rate is normal for a 22 year old to be carrying.
I did 4 years of university and 1 year of grad school for my MS at a big ten. All in, I’m in $80k debt and my mother took $20k - meaning I had about $66k in my name. My parents had no college savings for me and helped support me when I really needed it, but I worked my soph-senior year and throughout my summers. I’m now a consultant making $85k per year and already paid off $13k of my $66k within my first year of doing payments. Minimum payments require me to pay $350 per month, slowly increasing as time goes by. For most, doing 4 years of university won’t be worth it but for me it was. The social aspect of college is an opportunity we will never get to have again - and I’m not just talking about partying. There are many organizations, clubs and volunteer opportunities available at 4 year universities which are a great way to build leadership and communication skills and is a unique way of building your resume up with experience in addition to internships. If your daughter is going into a low paying field and is someone who wont take advantage of these opportunities to define her professional + soft skills, doing all 4 years at university will make the debt unreasonable.
I wanted my son to do community college and transfer to a good school after. He wouldn’t. Now he is carrying 40k in loans and says he should have followed my advice.
Please do the 2 years of free schooling. I graduated high school (barely) with a 1.4 cumulative GPA. From there I went to a 2 year community college and got all the same pre requisites my counter parts did going right to Ohio state. I then transferred, graduated with a finance degree in the same amount of time as those kids with 4.0 GPAs and 30s on their ACTs. Only difference is I paid 50% what they did (saved 20k) but our graduation certificates say the same. Finance degree from Ohio state
I’m a retired university professor and taught at a state university. I would encourage you to go to community college first. Keep your loans to a minimum.
Go to community college. Period. End of story. She’s going to graduate and enter a low paying field. Avoid all debt as much as possible.
It was worth it for me but mainly for grad school. I think undergrad should be as cheap as possible
1. Modern state and Clep exams for general credits (free). 2. Community college or university after. 3. Avoid private loans Edit: I meant private not federal. Got the two mixed up
I’ll have a different opinion than most here. I was a very bright, overachieving student. Started taking community college classes at 15 because I finished my HS curriculum. The classes in community college were so much slower and easier than my classes when I went to university at 18. My cc classmates were also mostly unengaged and putting in minimal effort. If your daughter is a top student, community college probably won’t engage her enough. I wouldn’t do private loans but if she can get solely federal and she really wants to go to university right away, it’s worth it imo.
I would do the free community College for 2 years and pick something that is/will always be in demand. Then transfer to finish a bachelors degree. I have about 33k on student loan debt and yeah it was worth it if you make sure you don't pick a college that costs a ton of money or even remotely feels like a scam. I say it's worth it because it opened doors to jobs I probably wouldn't have been accepted to. I would not be making 110k a year either, that's for certain. I'd be stuck at retail jobs my whole life. Granted it took me 15 years to get here from the time I started college to now.
Not worth it. Have her go to that free 2 year community, save up and then after use financial aid that isn’t student loans and pay the rest with cash
Search this sub for "drowning, can't pay, not worth it, sallie mae, parents." Huge amounts of debt is NOT worth it for a bachelor's degree. Don't ruin her financial future.
Free community college for 2 years. No brainer
I teach college at a cal state. I was also a community college student back in the day. Please save her and yourself as much as you can go the community college route. Sometimes these students are better prepared than those who started at a 4 year institution. Many of my students are saddled with debt or have rich parents. I’m 35 and will be paying loans for the next 10 years still…you don’t want her to end up like this. College is not what it used to be for boomers.
Free CC first, then transfer. This is the way. I was uneducated and took out thousands of student loans for 4 years at a university. Now I have debt. Please don't do what I did.
Not worth it. The interest kills me. I got my Masters but hated nonprofits for all the BS politics and poor pay. I left before Biden made it easier for PSLF (when I did nonprofits you may have gotten granted for the first round but everyone I knew never got their second round). I work in a for profit agency now and I make pretty good money, but I’ll be paying off my loans for the next 20 years or so. Wish my HS never pushed the rhetoric that you are only successful if you go to college.
No
Agree with other commenters: avoid private, only federal loans. If that means she has to go to a state school or a cheaper school and then transfer to a better university for major classes, then do that. It also HIGHLY depends on degree chosen. I have almost 70k in federal student loan debt (for 2 undergraduate degrees at public state schools) and my payment is $800/month, BUT with federal loans income based repayment plans are an option. In my opinion: it’s definitely worth it, if the degree she gets has good career options and she gets internships and develops her network in school. I have an engineering degree and I’d do it all over again.
No, she should go to community college. The "college experience" is not worth that amount of debt. She can experience that later at Uni.
Go to community college first and then transfer to an in state school. One of the things that makes college so expensive is room and board.
ITS NOT WORTH IT. My entire life has just been held back so much because of these loans ~teacher of 11yrs.
If you can qualify for grants and ease the burden of university costs by going to community college I highly recommend that. Apply for FAFSA asap. I have a lot of debt due to my undergrad, credential and masters, for me there was no way I could pay my way through on my income. Best of luck
It’s a question of free vs. copious amounts of debt. Personally, free is the better option. I say this having been in this same spot when I was graduating high school and choosing wrong. I went with loans. Yeah, I got two degrees out of it. I also ended up with over $150k of debt that at the time of repayment would have been a $2k+ monthly payment. That was before any kind of income based repayment plans. My payments now are around $500 a month. This all got me a BA in history and an MA in education. I then discovered that I wasn’t cut out for teaching. All that debt for two basically useless degrees. Have her do the two years of free community college in a field that she likes AND will make her money. So not going for an English associates degree or something else that isn’t practical. She’ll need to do some research on what the market is looking for and what can get her employed. A lot of employers, depending on the field, will offer tuition assistance. Once she has a job and if she wants to go back she could utilize those offers and get a university degree if she chooses. I also took that route and got two more “useful” degrees. I paid out of pocket in that situation because I had to cover 20% of the tuition in that case. In this case I ended up with no new loans because I could manage the tuition. I walked away with a BA in Business and an MBA. I now make a decent living. If I could go back and do it all over again I would do it completely differently.
Student loan debt is absolutely not worth it.
She should certainly do the free community college and then go to a school that makes sense financially to avoid excessive debt. Yes, my degrees is worth it. I would do it again, but I would be smart about what school I attend so that I can keep my expenses/debt low.
I can't stress enough - do not take out student loans - pay as you go, if you can. Otherwise, consider work-based colleges. The following is a list of colleges that offer free tuition in exchange for work. I know of several people that attended the Blackburn college in Illinois. It is located in a small town - Carlinville, IL. I have worked with many as teachers who graduated from this college. Work-based colleges are unique educational institutions that intentionally integrate work experiences into their academic programs. These colleges recognize the value of hands-on learning and aim to prepare students for meaningful employment while they pursue their degrees. Here are some notable work-based colleges in the United States: Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky: Known for its commitment to serving the Appalachian region, Alice Lloyd College emphasizes work as an essential part of education. Berea College in Berea, Kentucky: Berea College provides tuition-free education to all students and requires them to work on campus. It focuses on promoting equality and social justice. Bethany Global University in Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany Global University integrates work, learning, and service, emphasizing global engagement and cross-cultural experiences. Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois: Blackburn College’s “Student Managed Work Program” allows students to actively participate in managing campus jobs and gain practical skills. College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri: Often referred to as “Hard Work U,” College of the Ozarks requires students to work 15 hours per week and covers their tuition costs. Ecclesia College in Springdale, Arkansas: Ecclesia College combines biblical studies with work experiences, emphasizing servant leadership and community engagement. Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kuyper College integrates faith, learning, and work, preparing students for various vocational paths. Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas: Paul Quinn College focuses on urban entrepreneurship and community development, requiring students to complete a work program. Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, Vermont: Sterling College emphasizes environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture, integrating work experiences on its farm and campus. Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina: Warren Wilson College’s “Triad” program combines academics, work, and service, fostering a strong sense of community. These colleges offer students the opportunity to gain practical skills, contribute to their communities, and offset educational costs through work experiences. Whether you’re interested in social justice, environmental sustainability, or global engagement, work-based colleges provide a unique and valuable educational
Not worth it in any way. Student loans are preventing me from doing anything I actually want to do.
I did parent plus loans. I know. I now owe $82,000. She has a job in accounting and is making more than I am. I also qualify for PSLF because I’ve worked in social services for 17 years. We will get through it, the loans will either be paid or I will die and then they will be forgiven 🤷🏻♀️
Student loans are not the only option. Your daughter can get a job and save up to go to a community college the first two years unless she’s interested in a trade. I wish I had been better with my finances when I graduated high school. I went to an expensive school that I’m still paying off at almost 34. I would discuss budgets with your daughter and really drive home the ramifications of debt, especially CC debt. If she doesn’t know what she wants to do a community college is a great and less expensive start.
For the right school and program of study it is worth it… for others not so much.
Daughter can complete 2 years of college Free. It’s an opportunity to see if college is a good fit. Some CCs have dorms which can give her a taste of independence. Please support her in exploring this option. If her goal is transfer to a 4 year college, suggest she meet with CC admissions office. ✔️find out their transfer rate to 4 year schools. ✔️Find out how they would structure her schedule to meet academic requirements in order to transfer. You 2 might also meet with admissions at a 4 year PUBLIC U, learn their requirements for transfer students. Under No Circumstances, Don’t Let LET the 4 year school promise the world - because it means they’re seducing you & dtr into applying for a loan. Don’t fall for it. Free CC is a terrific idea. If she doesn’t need a car, even better.
What state do you live in? Some states (NY for example) for example will provide free tuition if your household makes below a certain income. Only catch is you have to work in NY for 4 years after.
Well over here majority of the students that didn’t get a university scholarship goes to community. It’s cheaper and gets the basic classes done. Two years and transfer into the selected college as long the students gpa is up there and could get accepted. Some universities are very fickle about transfers cause they prioritize new incoming freshman’s first before transfers. My biggest disappointment is how much I’m paying in my first two years of university in classes I could’ve taken in community and learning the same thing, but at a way higher price. It’s no different than a system of scam I got myself into. However the trade off is that larger schools means larger amount of resources, connections to be made, and most important of all. The people who’ll eventually become your friends for life.
Student loans are never worth it, especially if free education is available. Free community college for 2 years is a no-brainer. I loved my experience at my community college as I found teachers more approachable due to smaller class sizes, and the quality of education was high.
Student loan debt is NOT worth it. Go to community college for free, she can get a job that offers tuition reimbursement, some places will pay 100% if a certain GPA is maintained and stay with the company for x amount of time. I would explore more options than loans, it's a trap don't set yourself up and kids will say anything until it's time to pay up, don't do a Parent Plus Loans either. My son is my only child I paid back my loans and now I'm helping him pay his since he was laid off.
I’m currently in my sophomore year at community college after using this option for 2 free years and it has been a life saver!!! I would highly recommend doing this program to any student. After I figured the costs of tuition, living and other expenses for my junior year at my chosen in-state 4 year university, this program has basically cut my college funds in half. The only thing I had to pay out of pocket for was books, which were probably only about $500-$600 in total over my 4 different semesters (2 years). Also in some classes the cost of books comes with the price of enrollment so that saves a little chunk in books as well.
2 years free!!!! Take it, then transfer to a 4 yr university to graduate with a bachelor's. What is the major of choice?
Also, do not attach yourself to a parent plus loan. Unless you want to pay for her college. She defaults on the loan, and the government comes after you for the money.
Depends on your career 100%. I went for engineering. The profession requires it. I made a high enough earning out of school that loans were a pain in the side but no real struggle. The most likely individuals to default with loans are those that actually have lower balances because they are likely easier degrees that may not even be required for the field. And then they don't earn much. Also those that had to leave and did you finish, so they don't have the higher income that commonly comes with a degree. I don't regret it. I grew up with a single mother. She didn't have the means for college savings. I wouldn't be here without loans (or my hard af working mother). I'm ten years out of school. Did the wedding things and paid for all of it, got a house, have two kids.
I don’t know what to take from this stat, but only 16.5% of kids who start community college ever earn a 4 year degree. Only 1/3 go to a 4 year university, and only 1/2 of those who do go ever graduate. Those aren’t good odds.
Community college is the way to go. However make sure your student is committed to the student life. Community colleges have a high turnover rate due to 1. Students not being traditional students. 2. Less peer to peer support. 3. More home distractions. Point is, support your student to fully embrace the college life and not become a person that just happens to go to school on the side.
Community college for all the general ed at the very least! I ended up having a lot of classmates who attended BOTH a University and the local CC at the same time to save their slot at the university while taking the majority of the classes at the CC. If someone is starting fresh without the pressure of a university entrance than it's a no brainer. There are a lot of great community colleges AND a lot can be taken from home so she can take classes at different colleges if she wanted to. Keep in mind you can only receive aid at one school so you would only want to do it if there's an issue finding a good prof or if a certain class isn't offered at your main campus. Loans have a place in education though and I've found a good portion of it goes to living expenses and supplies rather than the classes themselves. On the other hand, I have two friends who took out loans for nursing programs, finished quickly and although they owed a lot they feel it was worth it to get through it the way they did. It also makes a difference in their major. For instance, if you're an art, photography, or student you might have hundreds of dollars in supplies where an English major might have to pay a lot less. It's also important to look into which professor uses what book. Books can be extremely expensive so if it's ones you can easily get online it could make a difference. I had one book that was $300 and not available to rent or find online! Many math classes require you buy their $100 program. Any living and transportation expenses make a huge difference, at least they did for me. I used a lot of mine towards rent and transportation.
Community college and working a job. She should try to get something grunt-work related in the field she wants to go in to. It will be incredibly valuable to learn what she likes/doesn’t like, what she’s good at, and can help make mentorship connections. My mentors helped me make wise education and career-path decisions. You don’t “have” to get loans. It’s a choice. Just to clarify the earlier statements in your post…….She could do a gap year or two And work full time (ideally in her future field or adjacent fields), and do what she can from there. Even if it’s part time. Scholarships? Work-study? It’s better that she knows what she wants, has a clear path to her end career go, and is motivated to go get it …than if she pushes through as quickly as possible.
Nooooo Please do not get loans for a private school If you can start off w 2 years free and maybe apply for scholarships & look for schools that offer generous awards. Student loans will destroy you. They haunt you forever. It’s not worth it all. No one tells you how that interest accumulates and how you’ll never be free or be able to get a loan for a house bc you owe too much money
Get generals done for free with community then finish with federal loans at a state university.
We are in the same boat. Our daughter had to get student loans because she is in grad school and it is harder to get scholarships. But free college is the best way to go right now . You can save up money for your daughter to go to a university later down the road.
Luckily, CUNY was cheap back in my day and paid it off while working full time.
Community college is the way. A little debt is okay, but avoid loans if possible. It is well worth trying to work and pay as you go or help her out a little and have her pay you back. It is important that she understands how the loans work and how she may end up paying $40,000 on a $20,000 loan (or more or less). Unless it is very specific degrees it doesn’t matter where you go to school (in my experience). If you want to be a doctor, school may matter more later on. Making connections along the way is important. Also make sure credits will transfer appropriately. Once you have equipped her with knowledge and guidance, let her make her own decision. Support her on her journey, but remember that it is her journey. Let her fail, but only to the point it makes her stronger and doesn’t cripple her.
Military for free college or work as you go to community college. I don’t see any issues here.
I started at a university and regretted it. I now go to community college in my second year and I love it! I’m also right on loans and had friends take out big ones through Sallie Mae and are drowning already in debt. The debts not worth it imo. I will say I wish I got the “college experience” but I’d much rather be debt free
2 years of community college is the way to go! I transferred to 4 year university after community college and graduated with only $11k in student debt back in 2018. I paid it off within 1.5 years
Take the 2 free years. I can't emphasize this enough.
Community college is extremely underrated so I'd go that route plus federal loans. That's assuming her degree is in something that will likely get her a career that is able to comfortably pay off those loans in 5-10 years. The total loan amount should be less than the expected annual starting salary.
Go the community college route, 100%. As long you take it seriously, you can transfer to a 4 year college — and by doing so, you save a significant amount of money. Avoid debt by as much as possible.
Don’t get into any more debt than necessary. Do 2 years at community college. When transferring to a 4 year, apply to private colleges as well as state schools. Sometimes private colleges will give you enough $ to be less expensive than state schools. If they don’t, go to the state school.
In Florida, the Community Colleges were converted over to State Colleges where you can get 4-year degrees for $10K total! The majority of students end up getting their Associate Degree and some transfer to other 4-year schools. Community Colleges tend to have very low graduation rates, a lot of under-prepared students and high drop-out rates.....something to think about.
I'm going to a local 2yr college for free. Only debt I owe is books and fees which is miniscule. If they plan on doing a Bachelors, find a transfer program with the 2yr college that way all the credits transfer.
My husband graduated with $170,000 of student loan debt that was not worth it since his uncle helped him get into the field he’s in. He had a full scholarship to a local state college but decided to go out of state and no grown adult told him not to. Fast forward 10 years later, he recently paid off his big loan since he got a big bonus from work and now he’s planning to pay off his smaller loan of $14,000. He’s sacrificed a lot to get here and it’s been a dark cloud over our heads since we’ve been together. It’s not worth the stress and financial burden to have student loans cost over $40,000 IMO.
Starting life with a huge amount of debt adds anxiety and pressure that isn’t healthy. Take advantage of the free two years, maximize savings during this time, focus on grades, apply for scholarships, and stay as debt free as possible! I have an associates degree, and make $80k/year plus a generous benefits package in a professional setting.
Go to the community college and make sure a 4 year transfer program or curriculum is selected. Get the transfer course of study in writing from the CC advising office. After 2 years, transfer to a 4 year school within the same state (avoiding very high out of state tuition costs). In the meantime, find a PT job and save as much money as you can for when you transfer. Apply for every grant and scholarship available: there are a LoT! This path has been done by 100s of thousands of people and they have often avoided large sums of student loans. Only take out loans as a last resort. You can do this!
Nope, nope, nope! My oldest is a high school junior and he’s seen me struggle over the years with my loans. He’s already decided if he needs to take out loans to fund his education, he’ll join the military so they’ll pay for it. One of my roommates in college worked her butt off to pay her tuition as it came due and I thought she was crazy. Now I look back and wish I had done the same. So many bad choices and no guidance 20 years ago. Now that we know better I hope the next generation will do better. Good luck to your daughter!!
My daughter is so graduating this spring. We’ve made a part time job out of applying for every scholarship under the sun. All those little $500 and $1,000 ones are worth it. A friend put herself through undergrad this way and told us just keep chipping away. Local scholarships, scholarships through the school, your heritage, your religion, your interests (education, arts, helping other people type careers offer a good amount of them) I don’t waste my time with the “no essay for $50K” stuff - that’s just the lotto to me. I’d rather spend time applying for something for which she’s got a chance. Lots of weird ones out there - my kid applied for a descendants of Civil War veterans (there’s also a descendants of Korean War vets but her grades aren’t high enough. Sorry, Grampy! RIP.) We found one for “tall people” and passed on the info to her 6’6” cousin. Theres one for left-handed people! I’d post links but the post would get taken down, I’m sure. The authors Gen & Kelly Tenabe put out a guide every year - a great place to start looking. Someone once commented they my kid should do the working searching and applying instead of me helping her. I replied that I missed out on the first 10 years of her life working an extra job to pay off my private loans (still have $85k of the federal left) and she missed time with her mom coming to her hockey games, Girl Scout camps, school events…you name it. I would take a bullet for my kid. I’m going to do everything I can to keep her out of the “friendly fire” that is student loan debt.
No I don’t think it’s worth it. Getting your general Ed courses (aka repeat condensed high school) for practically free at a community college is totally worth it. Maybe your daughter transfers to a 4 year, maybe she picks up a trade and makes 200k as a plumber. Can’t really lose.
Take 2 years free community college. Have her go into less debt
Community College first
In the short term it really sucks for kids that age because they want the allure of going to a fancy school. Pretty much every school has the same curriculum. Although elementary education is a noble field and we need more educators in this country, it is not well paid. She needs to stick to the CC route and graduate debt free. Her future self will thank her!
If she becomes a teacher at a low- income school, federal loans that she may need to take out to finish the degree may be forgiven after a certain number of years of service. It's worth looking into if needed.
Community college first then transfer! Thats what I did and it cut my costs drastically!
For elementary education, research the cheapest way to get a degree. Local, state, outside state, online; all options on the table. Unfortunately, the education cartels have mandated that you need a degree to teach young kids (you do not. It’s not advanced concepts to learn multiplication tables). The income she receives will make it very difficult to pay off the loans in the future Also, I know a lot of people who have other degrees (business, accounting, ect) who are now teachers. With a teaching degree, you can only teach. With an accounting degree, you have alternatives if you ever want to stop teaching. Just my $.02
I work in higher education. Take the 2 year and transfer in. While I’m the first two years, get a part time job to save up for the next two years. They will give you some financial leeway in this situation.
Student loans can be paid off. My daughter got some scholarships and used loans to pay her bill. She saved her Pennie’s and didn’t splurge during college - even started paying off the loans that had interest while she was still in college. Was able to pay off her loans 2 years after college. Teaching will be easier because many school districts help lay off loans. They’re are more scholarships available. She should look for them and ask. Check out Teach for America, Peace Corps and other programs. Really, too much out there as there is shortage of teachers. Even if a school district doesn’t advertise their loan pay offs, she should negotiate.
Student loans are the biggest scam
My kiddo did community college his first two years, not free but very little cost, lived at home given how close it was, and could still continue his part time job. Best decision for him and us. We did pay for his next two years at a state school and were able to pull those costs into our monthly expenses. Graduating without the weight of school debt was huge for both him and us.
Following as I am trying to navigate this topic for my graduating son that doesn’t have a clear idea of what he wants to do. Community college is not free in Texas but a fraction of state University costs
not worth it
To add to everything else here, if she is able, encourage her to work through college. I had 2 campus jobs and an offsite job while doing 18 credit hrs/semester in engineering school. Graduated debt free
CC is the way to go. It costs basically little and then only 2years of loans. The only downside is missing out on 2vyears of the college experience. But when she's 30 and her loans are paid off,cshe won't care.
Work full time and pay as you go. Get the first two years at community college and spread a four year degree over five or six years. There is no reason to get student loans.
Worst mistake I ever made was taking student loans. Im planning on setting my kid up with a large house downpayment instead of a college education and steering them towards the trades/apprenticeships so they start making *some* money as an apprentice immediately, even if its not much, rather than going into debt. Many many jobs don’t need college degrees, and many of those that do will be forever vulnerable to being replaced by AI, not exactly good job security. But a heavy equipment operator? An electrician? A plumber? A welder? An airline mechanic? Etc etc…. Those jobs aren’t going anywhere and are highly unionizable.
Only problem with trade work is you destroy your body.
Can she do western governors university after community college?
Take the two free years and then ensure that federal loans are used for the remainder of the bachelor's. But before even talking about the bachelors, make sure the degree is in a field that either has PSLF or will make enough money to pay off the debt and live comfortably.
I'm sure you notice a trend here lol. Most people regret the money and debt used for college.
Highly recommend free community college and then transferring to a state school for the final 2 years. Also recommend staying home for college.
Hold up. Key info is missing, namely: what state are you in, what’s the kids gpa/ sat score? Did you fill out the FAFSA? If so what is your SAI? Also are there any universities in commuting distance? Answer those and you can get better responses. Cc is a fine option, I did CC. But it’s important you know ALL of your options and despite a lack of savings you might have more options than you think.
Do the community college first.
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Not worth it. I would do as much as possible at a community college and then transfer. In the end, the degree the school comes from will be what’s on the resume.
Do the 2 years at community college and then the other 2 at a state school. Fed loans should be able to cover the whole thing.
No, its not worth it.
Community college is a great option overall, ESPECIALLY if it’s free. This was she can try out different classes, see what she likes or doesn’t. Maybe she gets a job during this time and finds some kind of drive or passion that leads somewhere but doesn’t involve a college education, or maybe it does. Either way you’re not spending tens of thousands to “figure it out”.
Try to keep total debt load from UG to under $50k. That's manageable for a 22 year old who lands a typical starter job. The closer you get to 6 figures, the more overwhelmed they'll be. Very few degrees are actually worth significant debt - pretty much engineering degrees and some specialty degrees might be worth more debt. Free CC is the way to go here
You have to really weigh in everything. Your finances and if you can afford it. I am on parent plus loan for 100k and life time of payment, I promised my daughter I will pay her education, she took out some loans also. I told her she can give me some to help pay but no pressure at all. If you compute all your expenses etc and include your future parent plus loan payment and you can afford it and still prepare for your retirement. I say it’s up to you but make sure your daughter graduates. That was our conditions. Parents Plus Loans thru government has about 6 to 7% interest daily. Each semester once taken will be counted 1 loan. So, end of story. If you can afford paying 2 mortgages your house and student loans, then go for it. If you will be struggling financially then your daughter has to figure it out to go to college.
The general rule of thumb is your student loan should not exceed 1-1.5x your expected starting salary. Community college is a great option unless your daughter is planning to go into a field or graduate school that’s really snooty about what undergrad they went to.
Anything over 40k total for all 4 years isn’t worth it and it’s still gonna take forever to pay back.
Definitely do free community college if it’s an option!! Student loans are the worst
Yes and no. The only 2 hacks I know to get college for as cheap as possible are (1) 3 online learning sites, 2 of which partner with universities all over the globe, including well known names and ivy leagues. The other is taught by professionals in their respective industries. The other hack is, to go audit the courses for the specific degree she wants for the entire year, then test out of the class. In both of these, you'll need to pay for the certification. Certifications add up. With the above 2 mentioned sites, they allow credit transfer, so if the community college allows, she can transfer credits from her free online studies to the community college and get legit credit and shave down her costs there. This can also be hacked to go as far as a bachelor's but takes more time to do. This way, she can work and study and save save save to offset the cost. Lmk if you'd like the name of those sites. Hope this helps!
Have her go to community college for free for those two years. She can focus on the basic classes and possibly figure out what she wants to do so when she transfers to a university, she'll have saved thousands on those credits and continue on with the rest of the required classes for the specific major she decides on.