[legion]

We lucked out with student loans. We both went to the same state college, graduated in four years, and majored in things that had direct application in the job market.

My wife's parents paid most of her education, and they only applied for aid one year when they were transitioning careers. She graduated with $1200 in student loans. I think her balance right now (6 years later) is around $400.

I got several grants as my father's business was in a steady decline and finally folded my junior year of college. They had zero or negative income most of the time I was in college. I got student loans from my sophomore year on, but managed to graduate with only $12,000 in student loans. My balance is around $4,000 right now.