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.