I still think many students today could avoid massive student loan debt by doing the same things I did to get through college if they wanted to.
Many of those things would help, of course. Unfortunately the cost of the college has climbed ridiculously high. Once past a certain point, the costs are just ‘put on the credit card’, which when enough people do it, increases the costs for everyone else. If one doesn’t get the big subsidies, it can easily cost each year the equivalent to the median income of workers who are up the chain a bit.
I still think many students are selecting universities waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond their means. Not working. And spending vast amounts on living expenses which could be greatly reduced if they could live at home.