Debt-free college grads: How do they do it?

The article used the University of Missouri as an example, which is way more expensive than the max Pell Grant award and is not a community college. The study that the article is referring to looked at 6-year graduation rates at 4-year colleges. The well-known reason is that economically-disadvantaged students, in general, are less likely to graduate.

 

I'm touched that you always make time to help me get my facts straight.

 

I just want whoever is reading the board to get the facts, but anyone can by reading the article.

 

Undergraduate degree was funded through an ROTC scholarship; there would have been no way to have gone to my alma mater without a scholarship. IMO, this is singularly the best way to get through undergrad and have a good career on the back end. Master's degree was fully funded by U.S. Army; I was paid to go to school. Current doctoral studies, though paying out of pocket, are not financially burdensome.

 

Thirty years ago, I had a combination of a Pell Grant, scholarship and work study. Then life happened my senior year and I dropped out with 10 credits left. Five years later, I saved up money to take the remaining 10 credits and finished debt free.

 

1) Self-funded my baccalaureate (tuition was pretty inexpensive back then re Texas Public colleges /universities).
2) Clearly, the US Army sponsored my Command and General Staff College schooling.
3) Graduate degrees, along with, my required educator certification university courses (teaching and administration) were funded via the Hazlewood Act (e.g., "…education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas.”) TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION - Hazlewood Act
4) all post-secondary education was debt free and I'm very thankful ... there was no need of/for the added liability of student loans.

Note: In retrospect—regrettably I didn’t take advantage of the Vietnam-Era GI Bill federal education benefits after my ETS date. If my memory is correct … I believe the opportunity to use the education assistance benefits ended after 10-years following my release from active duty; that particular opportunity window passed some time ago …