In-state University of California, Riverside tuition is roughly $13k/year. This isn't mind-bogglingly expensive IMO. Less than 25% of student debt is from publi

In-state University of California, Riverside tuition is roughly $13k/year. This isn't mind-bogglingly expensive IMO. Less than 25% of student debt is from public colleges, with the majority due to expensive private schools. Most of my friends also worked part-time during undergrad, to further lower their loan burden. You aren't making this point directly, but I think it's worth pointing out: not everyone is entitled to attend Harvard, Princeton, (etc.) any more than they are entitled to a Maserati. There are, and should always be, affordable public options, so that anyone who wants a college degree can get one. We need to stop romanticizing elite universities, and acknowledge that you can get a great education, with hard work, at almost any university.