This is almost a perfect description of my time in college and university. I got rid of the car in year 1 for public transit. I was made fun for being broke by many of my relatives. Looking back over those lean years, the best lesson I learned was how to live with less. It is a lesson that is now ingrained in my DNA.
I don't know about this one. I mean, from the outside looking in, these may seem like pretty bad outcomes, but in some places/areas, maybe some of these students are actually subjectively doing "better" than their traditional degree path would normally dictate...?