Listen to the borrowed future podcast. that will give you better insight on the student loan crisis and options that are afforded to you. The simple facts are that the "average" graduate earns more but that's taking in stats of those earning a ton more due to the degree as well as those earning $0 more due to a degree and then just spitting out a number because they're all in the same pool of population. There are ways to do college and do it for cheap but trade options can pay just as well with drastically reduced prices. HVAC techs can make 80k a year and cost $2000 in education. learn about your options before you jump into any decisions. Student loans took my 20s and flushed them down the toilet. I'm blessed to be in my 30s and debt free. Most of my fellow graduates are still in debt up to their eyeballs in student loans and will probably have them hanging around until they're 50.