How to Get a College Degree Debt-Free

By considering alternatives to the standard "four years and graduate" routine, you can find ways to cut costs and leave college with a degree debt-free.

The credit crisis has been a mixed bag for students seeking loans. The federal government has increased lending by 18.6% to $65.2 billion in the year through November. Private student loans, on the other hand, have fallen by as much as 25%, with 39 lenders having stopped making those types of loans during the same period. But ask yourself first: "Do I really need a student loan?"

Let's assume you are like most people who have little, if any, college funding from parents. And let's say you have taken steps to get financial aid. Even if you are mainly on your own in funding your college education, you can still graduate debt-free. ...