Vet School Debt Swamps the Degree's Earning Power
50 posts across 16 communities in the last 30 days; 36% from r/ApplyingToCollege.
“Everyone I know on my scholarship is either A: getting money from their parents, B: maxing out scholarships with things like Pell, or C:, in horrible debt [re: How do I pay this off?]”
“Fortunately I am a very hard worker and very reliable, and have no problem with the bootstraps approach. The reason I chose this program is because it allowed me to use transfer credits from my schooling in my early 20s. This is allowing me to get the degree faster, but yes I am…”
“all that is ok but where would i get the money for dorms and shared house etc. they will definitely help me with collage but the problem is they wont let me choose what i want (major) so if i could pay for it on my own then i would be able to choose it but ya they are going to…”
These complaints highlight the significant financial burden and stress experienced by students pursuing higher education. Many express gratitude for scholarships but find themselves grappling with unexpected costs, debt, and the pressure of maintaining a facade of financial stability despite facing economic hardship. The system often feels unfair and overwhelming, leaving students feeling exhausted and unsupported.
SOURCES (60)
“So I’m a junior (20F) in college. First generation, double major in two different fields, main one being Accounting. I’m severely underpaid and overqualified for my student work job at college that I’ve had since freshman year. The overqualified part is really important- I have…”
“Yeah I'm not doing it with a clear goal in mind - I just decided I was going to try it before my bachelor wasn't worth anything (up to 10 years you get credited your courses). I'm doing fairly good at work, not looking for any promotions anytime soon, but I know having my CPA could help me in the long run. Thanks for your output, I appreciate. [re: CPA or family?]”
“I don’t have anything in my name I’ve been in school this whole time and my parents have pretty much funded everything. Can’t really remember what happened with the card nor do I really care it was a while ago [re: Need advice for good credit card poor credit]”
“I'm proud of her. Good for her! I'm a Bio and chem tutor and I've helped a metric ton of nursing students. These students work so hard! If she's rich, then thank goodness she's spending it on a career that actually helps people. She deserves support, not mockery. I have tons of respect for the nursing profession, and if she makes it, then y'all will be one more nurse richer. <3 [re: How do u guys feel about bhad bhabie becoming a nurse 😭]”
“Got my first A today and realizing I'm not letting myself enjoy it because of financial uhh... stuff. Given federal loan cap I'm going to need private loans, my credit score is sitting at lower bound of good, not a chance for co-signer. With the cost of the school it will be in the ballpark of 20k/yr. Haven't talked to banks yet but pretty anxious despite not having heard any stories where anyone didn't end up matriculating at all because of something like this. Reassurance? Lol”
“After dropping out of my return to college due to unforseen life events, I was unemployed, homeless, and flat broke, surviving on the generosity of friends for five months. My application numbers may seem low to some of you, but all were direct applications through employer websites -- given the accounts of others here, I avoided applying en masse through Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, etc., as I felt others were competing on the exact same ground, and I needed to try to find some ki”
“This is a good point. It is much worse in certain sectors. I used to regret not getting that degree in Journalism, that ended up being a not too terrible choice. Still have those massive loans, but at least I’m not seen as completely irrelevant, yet. [re: Is the job market bad? This is specific to Marketing roles; I haven't heard a single callback in the last 4 months!]”
“Everyone I know on my scholarship is either A: getting money from their parents, B: maxing out scholarships with things like Pell, or C:, in horrible debt [re: How do I pay this off?]”
“like hypothetically if I got into college and was paying then got outed/came out to my family and got disowned would I get more financial aid grants or would I have to drop out. Need to figure out how tight lipped I need to be about this 😭 submitted by /u/Frosty-Cat1572 [link] [comments]”
“After bills I'm left with $180 in my pocket. I was approved for up to $20,500 of FAFSA (amount pending), and I need $40k more. Not eligible for Grad PLUS Loan because Trump. My credit is bad because my mom opened two credit cards under my name, maxed them, and didn't pay them, and I've been fighting with the bureaus over it since December 2025. I applied for grad school to elevate my career because my field is plummeting and it's keeping me broke. I worked very VERY hard to get i”
“i’m in my second year of grad school and i’ve been paying around 30,000 per year out of pocket. i don’t wanna take out loans and i work full time:/ all my checks go to school which i know is an investment in my future but im wondering if there’s any legit scholarships i can apply for? i go to the uni of oklahoma for clinical mental health counseling submitted by /u/props-mayhem [link] [comments]”
“Hello, I’m trying to pay for college but in my current situation I might have to take out loans. I’ve applied for scholarships but haven’t won any, and I'm looking for tips and advice. submitted by /u/CreepoWasTaken [link] [comments]”
“Fortunately I am a very hard worker and very reliable, and have no problem with the bootstraps approach. The reason I chose this program is because it allowed me to use transfer credits from my schooling in my early 20s. This is allowing me to get the degree faster, but yes I am fully aware it's not going to lead to the most lucrative careers. The debt accumulated because of poor decision making in my 20s, but I do have a strong handle on my spending habits now and I live within my means. I”
“1) I said I don't have specific plans. I'm not studying in the void. I am aware of what's commonly available for my degree. Teaching is an option but requires more schooling and more debt. One potential path would be finding a job within government, potentially working on policy. I am a very strong academic writer and there's still much time at my school to get career counselling and find opportunities. Although I am worried, of course, I am not just studying this degree blindly.”
“Hey, thank you for the response. I would love to get a student loan but OSAP (the provincial organization) only ever gives me grants, and the grants aren't enough to take care of everything. I would love to be able to get both grants and loans but that doesn't seem to be happening for me. Do you mean take out a student loan from a different kind of organization? Where would I go looking for more information on that? I think your advice here might be the best way to go about it. If I can”
“Field: humanities. Funding: very limited. It barely covers housing and a cheap, potato everyday kind of diet. The funding will end in 6 months. Background: International student from a marginalized group here and back home. I wrote 2 terrible chapters and I have 2 more to go. I have not heard from my supervisor. He said it read well, but did not give me real feedback. I am sure it is terrible. I am about to give up. I write and revise and edit and it gets worse and worse. I don't even know a”
“Only that comparison is the thief of joy and a very small number of people share their unusual success while a far greater number of people are in similar boats to you Most college students are broke; 40% of people can’t cover a 1k emergency or have retirement savings But the good news is things don’t have to stay the way they are and you are working on betting your financial standing through education and future earning prospects Don’t beat yourself up for being a broke student [re: Is it reall”
“Need advice on this. I’m an international student from Pakistan, my school counsellor said that most US colleges basically do smth close to auto rejecting when they see you ask for full financial aid, so to get a scholarship they said I should say I can pay maybe about $20-25,000 usd and then once I get admitted I should keep renegotiating to maximise the aid I get. Does this actually work or is this just terrible advice? submitted by /u/Recent-Ground-1704 [link] [comments]”
“I’m a 19F with a 2.68 GPA, and I graduated from a competitive, top international school in London, England, in 2025. To put it bluntly, I had an extremely hard time in HS due to mental health issues and some medication withdrawals in junior and senior year, which I explained and shared how much I’ve improved in my challenge and circumstances essay. I had a lot of incompletes I was bedridden a lot of the time, but my grades were always a B, and I never took the SAT/ACT. Trying not to give away to”
“So a lot of universities have this policy where if your family income is under a certain value, you will receive a full-ride/full tuition scholarship etc. How does this work if I am applying as an international student? Does my EFC even matter anymore if my family's income is under a certain value? Would I be almost guaranteed a full-ride/full tuition scholarship if I get accepted (I know it's harder but assuming I do get accepted)? Would there be a difference if I need say $10k in finan”
“I have been admitted into a t15 school's emba program with a 35k merit scholarship with the balance being self funded. I am a current healthcare provider looking to pivot to management; currently having some second thoughts on ROI as there would be a material difference in the cost of a lower ranked MBA. I am trying to wrap my head around the process, using this as a sounding board for different opinions as I do not have anyone in my immediate circle who has done an MBA. Any and all opinions”
“all that is ok but where would i get the money for dorms and shared house etc. they will definitely help me with collage but the problem is they wont let me choose what i want (major) so if i could pay for it on my own then i would be able to choose it but ya they are going to pay for it most likely it is just that i wanna know if there is any other way (they dont know that i want to move out) [re: i am 16, how do i move out at 18]”
“Hey I’m applying ed and will probably not receive a lot of aid. If I’m accepted would it be worth it to pay full price? submitted by /u/Warm-Change4609 [link] [comments]”
“Advice / serious post I have no money for college and I don’t have the stats for free ivy league. My parents are extremely strict and never let me go out, volunteer, do internships, or even have a job because they thought “focusing on school” and having good grades guaranteed a full ride or some shit. We are also low income and they didn’t save a dime for me for college. So I can’t get into ivy leagues that give free tuition for low income because my parents never let me build up stats and I hav”
“I received a SAI of ~8000, I am not eligible for the pell grant but would I still receive need based aid? submitted by /u/FIA_453 [link] [comments]”
“You need to talk to them and probably have the one who makes the least claim you. Your financial aid is based on what they made 2 years ago. [re: FAFSA as a 19 year old 'dependent']”
“One of my dreams is to study in the USA, but I feel quite hopeless about it. I am 17 years old and will graduate from high school in 2028. I try to volunteer for extracurricular activities, earn free certificates, and enter competitions whenever I can, but I don't have much experience yet. I don't know exactly what my average translates to in terms of GPA, but I think it corresponds to a 4.0? I plan to take the SAT in May and am studying for it. However, my family earns less than $20,000”
“People said the same when I graduated 10 years ago, yet tuition at the public state school I went to has almost doubled in that time. [re: Prioritize brokerage account for child instead of 529?]”
“Hi guys I really wanna go to DePaul, but can’t really afford an expensive school. Would I get more money is I did early action with mid act and mid gpa. I do have good ECs. Or would it be better to increase my ACT and take December ACT, and then submit to DePaul? Or just any school in general. I dunno what to do. I assume take ACT in December and just submit regular decision right.. Thanks guys I really appreciate you guys submitted by /u/Normal_Stress_9973 [link] [comments]”
“For context: I'm currently a freshman at a US college majoring in psychology. Because of the political situation in the country, I'm not entirely safe here and am making a backup plan in case continuing college in Canada would be the better option. I live relatively close to the border and I'm wondering How difficult would it be to transfer? What universities in Ontario and Quebec have good psych and sociology programs? submitted by /u/unholy_gremlin69 [link] [comme”
“She should research SNAP student eligibility rules in her state before deciding to quit her job. Most college students without a minor dependent child don't qualify for SNAP if they're not working at least 20 hours a week. Alternately, she should see if she's eligible for an on campus federal work study job. It counts as a SNAP student exemption and the income isn't countable for SNAP. Remote jobs are highly competitive and usually require a college degree and experience. Unskill”
“imo the value only kicks in when your life gets complex enough that you start dropping things. 4 courses and 7 exams a year is pretty manageable without any system at all, so yeah it makes sense you dont see the point right now [re: Am I missing something about Notion for students, or is it just overhyped?]”
“Short story long last year I got into dental school. Unfortunately the only two schools that accepted me cost 650k for tuition and living and fees. I thought this was absurd and declined. Even under the best plans I would still be paying 20k for 30 plus. years just to repay it all. I decided against it since dentistry is getting harder and harder in terms of profitability and I can’t really predict the future for 30 years if that makes sense. This year I worked really hard to find a backup and I”
“I just ran numbers through the PNW calculator as out of state. For 18 year old, no financial aid, living on campus, it is estimating $29,527 total. I would like to think other states have similar colleges somewhere! $40k is ridiculous”
“I too was in a similar position where my family was decently well-off but not poverty level to where I'd get a full ride from financial aid or grants Basically I had to work a part time job and take out a few federal loans to afford my 4 years, but at least I made it out with under 20k in student debt Just try your best not to take on any private loans, I heard those can be a nightmare to deal with after graduating”
“No, because even countries that have free tuition don't include room & board. Since OP's parent's didn't save, OP may have to consider online or local community college if they don't end up with merit scholarship.”
“Gotta find a different school. That's ridiculous. Purdue University Northwest (one of their satellite campuses) is currently ~$8,672 for in-state tuition and ~$13,376 out of state.”
“i chose an instate public school but largely due to the fact that the more expensive schools i got into were ranked below or at par with it for my major, which it is already a top 5 uni for. if i was out of state i probably would have still leaned that way but at that point it would depend on if my career would bring me a lot of money and if so, how much could i spend on college. for engineers, i recommend doing co-ops so you can pay for school while getting internship experience”
“Hi everyone. I’m 17 and a high school senior in NYC, and I’m honestly really stressed about paying for college right now. FAFSA just opened, and I recently found out that my mom made around $87,900 on her 2025 tax return . However, her income has dropped significantly in 2026. She is currently making around $40,900 , which is less than half of what she made in 2025. My mom is basically my only parent. My dad hasn’t really been involved in my life or financially supported me, so I don’t really ha”
Hi, I have a pell grant and the rest are direct loans, I get some of the loans refunded though as they both cover more than my cost. But I read that…
“I recently found out that I don’t qualify for a state scholarship that would’ve covered all of my tuition for college. I’d been working towards said scholarship since I started ninth grade, and now I’m a senior in hs/freshman in college (I did early admissions) and after all the work I put in, all the courses I took, keeping my gpa up as high as it could be, getting 100+ volunteer hours, it doesn’t mean anything. I didn’t qualify because of citizenship reqs I wasn’t aware of until the actual app”
“I'm an International student. I'm thinking of applying to some LACs in the US (Swarthmore/Amherst/Bowdoin probably). I thought it was pretty viable for me to receive 20 to 30% aid, so we can only pay around 70k out of pocket at max. But, Gemini estimated otherwise that I'll not be receiving any aid most likely. I'm not sure how accurate it is tho. I tried using the college board aid calculator, but it didn't work for me because I'm international. Please let me know if the”
“i'm pretty sure i cannot qualify for most need-based financial aid, whether it's through the fafsa or the colleges as a whole. but my family's financial circumstances changed greatly in the past year, and they make way less now. they are not willing to pay for most of my tuition. i've applied to a few private scholarships and still plan to continue, but they just feel like the lottery. i know i can contact the colleges personally but does that even guarantee reconsideration of my”
“If you become a psychiatrist and make 350k a year, you will keep 230k after taxes in a state with average tax. Even if your debt is 600k, you can spend three years paying that off and reduce it to like 50k. You can then spend the rest of your life making 350k while only having 50k in debt. The realest concern is how late you are to investing. submitted by /u/moe_34567 [link] [comments]”
“The family's of kids at my school are rearranging their assets to get much more aid. Like they are going from full pay to full ride. Is this okay?? Idk how they are doing this, but I am assuming it is pushing funds into their 401ks and then pulling them out via 401k loans or something?? This sounds illegal or possibly a grey area. Or I know others who are sending funds back to the countries they emigrated from via illegal channels to get full rides. They are also sending out their money to r”
“This is my third semester in grad school and I have taken out student loans. In the previous semesters, my tuition was paid by the drop/add period and I received the remaining amount (meant to cover additional school related expenses) directly after. I just saw my account still has a balance for tuition when the drop add period was two weeks ago. So the business office charged me a late fee and a payment plan fee. I called them and they said if it’s an issue with financial aid disbursement call”
“please, why can’t I be that audacious? I’m working for a year to save money and planning to get roommates and wait tables throughout my degree to minimize my loans LIKE A LITTLE BITCH. submitted by /u/just_sunflower100 [link] [comments]”
“I understand this is very privileged but at top schools that are 95k a year it would still be difficult so would I get any aid and in the end even if it is an ivy or somewhat equivalent is it worth it? (Again my parents are paying for my college and I’m super super lucky and they are fine with wherever I go and however much it is but I don’t want to be a giant financial burden for the foreseeable future) submitted by /u/_sparkly_beans_06 [link] [comments]”
“I recently found out that I won a scholarship! I’m incredibly grateful, and the application process was quite intense. Context the scholarship was a dual scholarship to partner school abroad. During the process I asked my senior who won last year. Tbh I did get some "help" they would give me vague answers, the one thing they did help was review it this one time before almost dateline. It was sleepless nights for me with all the research I have done from the university partnership, all”
“I’ll try to keep it short/concise: - had to leave grad school for Library/Info Science 9 credits short in 2011. Was laid off and had to move to obtain new employment. The degree program was on-campus only, so I was never able to finish since I was now 5 hours away after looking for work for nearly a year. Credits expired eventually. Even if I’d transferred, I didn’t have the time/financial support to return to school then, either. Also, both my wife and I would go through additional layoffs betw”
“I've been accepted but i definitely dont have a way of paying for my tuition myself. I filled out the FAFSA but i know for a fact that my parenst make too much yearly for me to qualify for much or any financial aid. I'm getting so confused with scholarships and grants and have no idea how I'm going to tackle the cost, or even how paying it works. If you guys have any good scholarship or grant websites, or any tactics you know, please let me know. Also if anyone can explain how paying”
“I'm a recent graduate and I'm currently searching for funded Master's and PhD opportunities myself. I've spent quite a lot of time going through university websites, scholarship databases and program requirements, and I've realized that one of the hardest parts isn't finding opportunities — it's figuring out which ones actually fit your profile. I'm curious: what's the hardest part for you when searching for funded opportunities? submitted by /u/on”
“I'm from a country that doesn't have much of a hierarchy when it comes to universities, so take what I say with a grain of salt but... For what you want to study, can it be done at a community college? Do you need to university immediately after school, or would you feel comfortable moving out of home and working for a couple of years first? Is your field of interest something that can be achieved through joining airforce, military, navy etc? If you NEED it to be a university, then consi”
“Maybe it’s a generational thing. But my parents did not pay for my college. They helped me apply for scholarships and financial aid, and I worked through college to pay for rent groceries car etc. They definitely footed some bills but the ball was mostly in my court. I dont think it should be an expectation for you to put yourself in the poorhouse for your kids college. At 18 you’re supposed to be figuring out how to be independent and a huge part of that is financial independence. I saw so many”