• ColdWater@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Can someone explain to me as a non American, what is the student loan? Is it college fee? In my country it’s only costed 300-1500$ a year unless you take extra classes then it’ll cost a bit more, you can also get groceries from the local market for months worth of food for really cheap and room for rent is 150$-300$ a month or you can live in pagoda for free

    • Nurgle@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      College is very expensive in the US, with the average “in-state” school costing $26K/yr for someone who lives on campus and $56K/yr for a private institution. Since a majority of undergraduates are teenagers with virtually no savings, they take on loans to pay for college. Also unlike traditional loans where you can declare bankruptcy, these loans are very difficult to get forgiven.

      There obviously a lot more to it, but that’s the gist in three sentences.

    • graham1@gekinzuku.com
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      1 year ago

      It’s a way to force an 18 year old into a life of indentured servitude under the guise of “financial assistance” by simply clicking accept on a couple online forms, only for 40% of them to end up working jobs that don’t require a college degree in the first place.

    • Jessvj93@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s a loan made of public money that universities seem to think is an open faucet and upcharge a ridiculous amount for tuition.

    • itsgroundhogdayagain@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      the average US public university is about $11,700 for tuition. that doesn’t count room and board if you are staying in a dorm in campus. private universities are much more.

      • Pseu@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        This is per year. And most degrees are 4 years, though it’s not uncommon for them to run to 5. So by the time a student graduates they have on average ~$37k in debt.

    • mommykink@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Lots of Americans are insecure and are convinced that they need to go to a $7,000/semester University or they’re a failure. For many, it’s entirely possible to get a good education without ever paying a dollar through scholarships (provided either through the state or private parties). I graduated with two bachelor’s last year and was paid about $12,000 per semester in scholarships refunds for attending a lower-cost, but still accredited, university.