Originally Posted by Sly

When I was at the college age... every single one of my friends was broke, worked at least 30 hours a week, went to school full time, studied part-time, and partied the rest of the time. I have absolutely no idea why college kids of today (only eight years later) should get off any different. This is how life works.

I've seen proposals about a gradually increasing loan payback program. At the beginning you pay a little because odds are you make little with your first job, overtime you pay more. This is not a bad idea, though the interest would definitely need to be figured out. Paying such a low amount at the beginning could really jack up the overall price long-term in a huge way.