Then I did the impossible 6 years ago. :) In Alabama, no less!

I worked through high school, saved several thousand, had a little pay-as-you-go flip phone, an old $1500 car, and rarely ever saw the inside of a restaurant.

All I know is, it worked for me.

That said, costs have been going up... so sure, it does cost more now. If I didn't have the money for a semester, I'd have just had to take less credit hours. Not optimal, but not the end of the world. And much better than paying thousands in interest for a loan.