[k-mcgrady]

I can see how you thought I was advocating loans for only vocational degrees. Something like Computer Science I think would be fine as a job path is very clear and well paid. I can't speak for Maths of Physics because I don't know much about jobs paths from those. I was more talking about degrees that have no clear job path and which could don't need to be studied at an institution where you are largely paying for the name. If someone wants a loan to study history - fine, give them enough to study in-state or at a community college.

>> university is a place where people should go to learn about things that interest them and inspire them in the company of other like-minded people whilst simultaneously growing as an individual

This is the problem. That all sounds great but it is not worth $100k and there are many other ways to have that experience that do not cost that much.

[whyenot]

> it is not worth $100k and there are many other ways to have that experience that do not cost that much

You can get an excellent education at a state school for less than $6k per year.

The person who gets a degree in music theory, philosophy, or art history may not get a job that ties in to their major, but these people all leave college with skills in critical thinking, writing, the ability to meet deadlines, skills in communicating complex ideas to others, public speaking, etc. Most importantly, they leave with proof that they know how to learn and improve themselves. There are jobs for people with these skills, and they will likely be far more rewarding than gutting chickens on the line all day or waiting tables at the Cheesecake Factory.

[crush_xc]

what state does that exist in? No state school here in NJ is under 10k a year, and none of them are ranked decently except for maybe Rutgers, Stevens, and NJIT's architecture program.

[v64]

The University of Texas has in state tuition for below 6k a year, and in some cases out of state tuition can come in at below 10k as well. [1] This is just tuition and administrative fees and doesn't include housing and textbooks.

[1] https://admissions.utexas.edu/tuition/cost-of-attendance

Edit: Sorry I misread. These stats are by semester, not year.

[cmurf]

Right and also tuition doesn't mean cost of attendance where there are all kinds of additional fees, books, room and board, etc. Cost of attendance is easily double that of tuition. So it's actually in the vicinity of $25K per year for a state university.

State college and community college in particular can be a lot less, and it's possible to even split the difference and do 2 years community and then graduate from the university by transferring credits. Of course, you have to have your ducks in a row to pull that off.

[refurb]

room and board

You're paying for room and board regardless if you go to college or not. Or you can just live with your parents.

[pilom]

In reply to jazzyk, very few community colleges require that and even if you don't include those, most state schools will waive that requirement if you are over a certain age I.e. you went back to school.

[jazzyk]

Most colleges require on-campus residence for at least 1 year (usually 2 years)

[k-mcgrady]

Room and board is just a cost of life. You're paying it whether you go to college or not and it's easily affordable with a part-time bar job (obviously it'll be a crappy room and you won't be having steak for dinner but still not something you should need loans for).

[pilom]

Colorado you can do two years in community college for less than $6k per year and then two years at a state school for just over $6k per year if you don't count room and board which you'd have to pay anyway.