The burden of student debt continues to weigh heavily on graduates, with personal stories illustrating the lengths some go to manage loans. One millennial details paying off $80,000 in debt through extreme frugality and multiple side hustles. Nationally, rising tuition costs and financial aid challenges complicate access and affordability. Personal finance experts advocate simple wealth-building strategies emphasizing investment over homeownership. These narratives emphasize ongoing concerns about higher education’s economic barriers and the need for practical financial literacy support.