Seriously, did I write the kid could buy a house just because she paid off the student loan?
The OP could afford the $15K. The OP asked whether it is worth getting the kid to take out loan, hence I pointed out, as I have heard in a workshop, it could help building credit history even the kid does not need the loan. Obviously, there is no single way to build a credit history (As an aside, I would not get the kid to work during the first year of college unless it is necessary and the kid used to work during HS.).
Here is the context on what the guy told us. He said many kids just wanted to go out of state, but then there was no good reasons to go out of state (I think he was referring to state colleges) as we have good colleges in state. Immediately he said his DD went to Drexel because of scholarship (i.e. good grades helped), but he asked his kid to take out loan anyway, and she paid back upon graduation. The kid quickly got a job and bought a house (forgot how many years later, but as I recalled it was about 2, 3 years after graduation). He contributed to the good credit his DD had. (I have over 800 in my credit score, I got my first credit card while I was in college, but is it THE factor or even a small factor, obviously not, but it helps to be mindful of building up good credit, I bought my first house shortly after graduation).
I have no reason to believe he did not give sound advice. He also explained why we shouldn’t pay off the second home but keep the mortgage of the primary home and I was a parent who took out loan from the primary house to pay for a vacation home. I wish I knew earlier.