AFFORDABILITY STORIES
“I was killing myself trying to pay for school, and it severely affected everything from my mental health to my physical well being. I was never fully able to indulge in my academics because I, like so many others, was always struggling to pay for something. I wish I could have focused on being a better student like I know I could of been. Instead, I was focusing on surviving off of nothing, after everything I had was gone to tuition.”
Ashle,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
“The cost of college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania has made it affordable for me to earn my bachelor’s degree, yet I will still graduate with student-loan debt. I think that for the financial success of students, we need to reduce the student-loan debt among students and provide more affordable options, especially for families with multiple college students. I have a twin sister who attends Lock Haven University, and it has been a huge financial burden for my mother to help both of us through college.”
—Kirsten,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
“The cost of attending college has left me in so much debt that I found myself taking a job outside of my field of study to pay my bills. I am unable to pay my full student-loan payments, so I will be paying back more money in a longer period of time. In my senior year, my financial aid was cut, so it wouldn’t cover my tuition, so the private loan I had to apply for to cover my rent went straight to the school, leaving me without money to pay for my housing. I moved out of that apartment two years ago, and I owe my landlord double of the rent because I had no way of paying him. I am stuck living at home because I cannot afford to be on my own, let alone my credit does not allow me to be approved for anything.”
—Mary,
Kutztown University
“It has stressed me out for my future and made me think about how much money I actually need to make to even pay my loans and tuition back. I also have hesitated taking summer classes because of the cost.”
—Madison,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
“It has prevented me from finishing my master’s degree, paying off other debts — such as car loan and mortgage, and more idealistically, taking a vacation or working on quality of life improvements. Student loan debt for me, is more manageable than most, but it’s still an albatross for trying to achieve the American Dream.”
—Andrew,
Lock Haven University
“(The cost of college) opened my eyes to the tons of fees that open up once you’ve been enrolled into school. When I first came to campus, I thought the campus owed me money, but at the end of the day, I ended up paying out of pocket. … Paying the difference for college has made me way more motivated, as I’m paying for it.”
—Elijah,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
“I joined the military between my freshman and sophomore years at IUP to help to fund my education. Back then (late ’80s), all we got was a very meager GI Bill that barely covered the cost of my books. My military weekend paycheck once a month bought me food, and my part-time job at the dining facility helped a little with bills. I relied heavily on loans for my education that took me at least 15 years to repay. I paid cash for my master’s degree at Cal U, and I took out more loans to earn my doctorate at Robert Morris University. As a matter of fact, the very day I paid my last payment on my undergraduate degree, I got my first student loan bill for my doctoral degree. Basically, I’ve spent 30+ years funding my education. I feel for students today. It’s even worse for them.”
—Michele,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, California University of Pennsylvania, Community College of Allegheny County
In the time since you graduated, what could you have done
with the money you paid in tuition and student loan interest?
“I didn’t start until I was about 30, I still defer occasionally to catch up with other bills. … Invested in a 401(k), not been in debt 10 times over, actually finished college and gotten my master’s.”
—Julia,
West Chester University
“I would have been able to save and would pay more in taxes instead of using taxpayer money to be on food stamps while I serve in AmeriCorps.”
—Rachael,
West Chester University
“In six years since graduation, I admittedly have yet to make one student loan payment, due to a combination of career changes, physical moves, unemployment, and unexpected financial emergencies. I will have to begin to pay soon, still cannot really afford to, and my loans feel like a ticking time bomb.”
—Timothy,
West Chester University
“If I hadn’t needed to spend so much on my undergrad, I would have more in retirement savings, be able to pursue additional education, and have more in my kids’ college savings.”
—Theresa,
West Chester University
“If I could have spent less in undergrad, I would have been a home owner ten years sooner. I also would have the money to go back for a Ph.D.”
—Mary,
West Chester University
“Not be in debt up to my ears, put a down payment on a condo, pay off my car, travel.”
—Jenn,
West Chester University