Yes, in America you either pay for college, qualify for scholarship(s) or grant(s) or you get student loans. Considering the cost of a college education can easily climb into the six digits and interest rates into the double digits, along with low stagnant wages, these loans can, and do, last a lifetime. And since there is zero guarante you will even find a job remotely relating to your degree after you graduate that allows you to both live and pay off your loans you end up double fucked. And and you can't just not pay because then they will garnish your wages so you're still fucked.

Education and the job market are total and complete shit in the US. I encourage all my nieces and nephews to look into union based trades work instead of higher education. Hell, as much as I hate the police union I even encourage them to go there because damn are the benefits and pay good.

Sadly, it's not just the US. A whole generation of students here in The Netherlands were made to take loans. They did change it back, but it was in place for 7/8 years. And, as a cherry on top, there was no interest initially. Then a small (~0.5%) interest was added, and now a few days ago they announced that the interest would be five-folded. It sounds too American to be happening here, but sadly it is the truth.

I for one have student loans. It's about 2-3k by my estimation. No interest, it's only half of what I got as loan (you only pay half of it back) and if I can't pay it, they will eventually just let me off the hook. I will actually financially recover from this.