How much should you expect to have in college loans for a 4 yr degree?

I went to jr college and graduated with a nursing degree. I paid my books and tuition every semester and drove to the local jr college. I never had any loans. Welfare paid for my books and a babysitter because I was a single mother.
A girl I work with says she has $40 thousand dollars in student loans to pay off and expects to have 90K in loans when she graduates. She had a scholarship that paid for her tuition and she still lives at home. What did she spend 40K on? Am I old fashioned or is that excessive?

Expensive apartments -- fun---party-- expensive clother-- car -- furniture--- and boy friends. $40,000... When you get a loan you can spend the money on what ever you want---loan is a loan...you have to pay the money back...

Sounds fortunate that you lived in a state or county w/a welfare program that paid for your childcare and books. Must be back east or CA. No one does that in most states, especially not in Utah, probably the worst for getting help. If you check the cost of attending a 4 yr. university (major difference than most 2 yr. colleges) average loan debt for students is 30-40K. That's students who live independently w/o children and spend no more than 6 wks at home during an academic year.

After graduating this past spring with a bachelor's degree from a private Catholic college, I have approximately $40,000 in student loans (federal and private), even though I carried three scholarships all four years, an additional scholarship my junior and serior year, and my parents pitched in $7,000/year. I went to college out of state and therefore lived on campus (room and board were added to tutition). Books were bought with money I saved from my summer jobs and with a little help from my parents. My younger brother will have at least $5,000 more in loans once he graduates and he will not be taking any private loans out his junior and senior years.

Going to a private school, you're going to pay more. Going to an out-of-state school, you're going to pay more. Going to a junior college in your city, you're going to pay MUCH less. It's amazing that you graduated without any student loans and I envy you for that, but I would never trade my college experience for anything, even though I'm going to be paying it off for the next 15-20 years.

$40,000 is excessive and I'm scared what my (unborn) children are going to be paying when they finally get to college in 20-30 years. But it's the way things are when you go to a 4-year university.

When I was done with my 4 year degree I was $30,000 in debt... I was fortunate to have my first 2 years paid for through money my parents had set aside while I was growing up.. But my private collage cost $22,000 a year between class and room & board. (I was able to save a little living off campus & I had some scholarships).

Dont believe the commercials on TV. Borrow as little as possible. Work part time if necesary. Private schools are not necessary or even a guarantee of success. It starts with your desire, fire and appropriate direction and mentoring. I worked as a guard, night office receptionist where I copuld study almost the entire night. The sacruifice was definitely worth it. For that matter, suck it up and live less expensively. Do y ou really need a car??? Better yet, how wold yo live if you didnt have the burden of a car. In the words of Thoreau, "Simplify."