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Comment by fifnir | Hacker News Reader

> In practice, lack of support means students who come from more affluent, educated backgrounds have a large advantage over first-generation college students.

I'm pretty sure poor students would prefer no support and no debt over a bit of support for huge debt.

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Without support, I could not have gone to university, and the debt is taken as a tiny fraction of my salary (currently 0, as I don't earn enough). I absolutely would not have preferred no support and no debt.

Some would. But if you come out of it with no degree because of a lack of support, "at least it was free for you to get nothing" may be cold comfort.

Well, it's still better than having gone into debt to not get a degree. The support is only worth the money if it was the difference between you making it and not making it. That will be true for some people. Others won't make it even with the support. For them, "support but expensive" is worse than "no support but free".

They do incur debt. Or work part time, or both, because they have to live while studying.

What's this support that German students don't get?

There is a state support program for Students (starting at High school age if necessary, covering higher education and apprenticeship programs) whose parents combined income is below the threshold.

It‘s called Bafög (if I recall correctly that’s for Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, Federal Apprenticeship/Study Subsidary Law)

Depending on financial background it‘s partly paid as loan / gift. With low interest and payment schedules linked to the actual income after exiting the program.

Norway has a similar program. Students have a stipend that doesn't need repaid: It is just enough to live a very frugal life (and in some cases, not quite enough). I'm pretty sure repayment is dependent on what you earn afterwards.

And as a bonus, if someone is willing to live and work up north for some years (5 or 10, I can't remember), you won't have to repay the loans.

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