When you graduate or graduated from college, how much debt had you amassed? This is not a public poll.
I graduate in May, and looks like I will have about $20k to pay back. I'm definitely going to have to look for some cheap living for a while when I get out. I'll be paying the loan back, paying for a new car (don't have one yet, but it'll be time for one in May), full coverage insurance on that car, on top of other things. Fortunately I'm pretty good with money. I've got a nice chunk in the bank (for a college student) since I don't go blow every paycheck I get. I'll be lucky if I make $25k that first year out in my field though.
I was really fortunate how much my parents and grandparents value education so I've had a college fund that's been growing since I was born, I have one more year to go and should have no debt. A great feeling!
Paid my way as I went. Worked full or part time, sometimes two jobs, skipped a semester here and there to save and kept plugging. Took longer than a parental free ride or loans/grants, but I owed no one a penny when I was done.
the ranges are too large imo. i had a small debt coming out (less than 2k) and was able to pay that off already luckily for me I was able to get enough scholarships to take care of my first two years and I did everything possbile to save money, living at home for a year and taking a carpool to save on living costs. i know some guys who are in their late twenties still paying off undergrad loans.
Stay away from credit cards. I didn't when I first got into school and got into trouble. I will finish paying this last one off in February and I will be credit card debt free. If you sign up for financial aid, sign up as early as possible. The sooner you sign up the better chance you have at grants snd subsidized loans. Buy your books on the internet. I found a book on half.com for $5 that my bookstore was selling for $110. Save any extra money you have left over from work, scholarships, financial aid, etc. for future use when you leave school.
I just graduated and have roughly $5k to pay back. My ex girlfriend (who was on her way to being my wife at some point) has about $32k to pay back. So when she decided to screw around behind my back and the relationship ended, I basically made $32k. At least it makes me better to think of it that way
I graduated in May and I have $15K. I was somewhat lucky in that I didn't have to take out any loans my first few years. I was also an older student and qualified for Pell Grants so I got about $2,500 a year I didn't have to pay back. I'll be going into the military and with their various education programs, that'll wipe out what I owe in loans.
guys if you get a forebarance (sp?) on your student loan make sure you start paying when you start getting bills even if they are for $0 after your forebarance period is over. it probably cost me a grand not doing that. I've got around 25k left on my loans. trying to make sure I pay a grand a month on them cause I want this crap gone asap.
I still owe $425 in parking tickets from my year at Iowa State - does that count? They wouldn't transfer my transcripts until I paid it so I couldn't bring my 0.9 gpa down to UofH. Basically thats my $425 guarantee that no one can look at my "Summer of George" file.
Zip, but college was waaaay less expensive when I went than it is now. I graduated college last century, ya know!
I have about $4500 left, which I'll finish paying off in about five years. Coincidentally, I think this is about the time I'll be debt free on my credit cards if I don't use them any more. I'm looking at the bright side of things...In a few years, I'll get about a $250 per month raise.
