1. Saved up money by working before going to Masters.
2. Lived with 3 others in a two bedroom to save money.
3. Chosen less prestigious institution in a smaller town which is significantly cheaper than one of the bigger schools to which I got admit to.
Graduated with no debt.
1. Did well in high school to qualify for merit scholarships
2. Chose a top 10 college for my field
3. Get a job starting at >100k per year
Graduated with debt paid off in less than a year
(this is comment is intentionally snarky to point out that "I did X and this is how I avoided loans" stories are usually unique to a person and circumstance, and ignores the very real problem that student loans are opaque, confusing, and intentionally manipulative for young borrowers, which was the point of this article.)
I’ve known about what works in the American education system since the 1990s and before. When I was in my early teens.
Meaning that if you were one of the people in the know, you knew the path that made you the most money.
Strangely, This is a privilege, one not enjoyed by most Americans.
2) Refinanced at 1.25%
3) Sat back and watched inflation erode the debt away
(thank you economics degree)