I had to fund my own college costs. Six years in the Marine Corps got me the GI Bill. The rest I worked for, except two small student loans near the end, and they were paid off a long time ago. I also took my studies much more seriously than I did high school, because I knew how much this was costing me.
I put myself through college with about $11k in loans. Paid off in less than 4 years.
I did it the same way.