I've softened on this with age. At a fundamental level, we're giving people who we determine to be too young to drink "free money" to establish their future while also steadfastly NOT pointing out that they're never gonna make that $80,000 investment in an anthropology degree pay off. The system is designed to separate the fool from his money. There's a whole lot more to this than "get an engineering degree and shut up." I got an engineering degree, mostly on grants, and graduated with zero debt. My wife got a full ride for her undergrad. For her doctorate? $200k in debt + 18 months of forbearance = $250k in debt. Here's the amazing thing - if we keep paying income-adjusted for the 360 payments necessary to get that debt forgiven, she'll owe the government approximately $2.2m by the time they retire it. The system is complex.On the other hand this guy went through a whole lot of expensive education racking up debt to enter a career where he won't be able to pay it off.