My dad worked over thirty years at the Ford plant and he and my mom saved for years to put my sister and me through college. When the time came they gave the same deal to each of us. They would pay 100% of the first year tuition and fees to any college we wanted, 75% of the second year, 50% of the third year, and 25% of the last. We were expected to work and save and fund the rest. My dad’s favorite expression, well one of them anyway, was that quote from Thomas Paine “What we obtain too cheap we esteem too lightly.” If they just paid our way he thought we’d not realize how important it was. By working and having to invest in our own education he thought we’d appreciate it more. And I have to say he was right. So through work, scholarships and grants, and my folks I didn’t have to get any student loans either.