<p>Very true beth’s mom. The Stafford limits (whether by design or happenstance) are usually enough to cover tuition at a local CC, and in some cases maybe even a directional U. That’s where the bias against these types of schools I spoke of earlier comes in to play. We’ve all read the posts with the “I’ve worked too hard to go to a CC/directional/state U/IS school” and it frustrates me to no end. In a perfect world everyone would live next door to an Ivy and COA would be $0, but the world never has and never will work that way. Families need to face the realities of their own particular situation and find the best education their family can afford. If that means going to the local CC, then so be it. Take the opportunity and make the most of it, but those that choose to borrow (note I didn’t say were forced to borrow) more than they can afford are starting off their post-grad lives in a hole they might not be able to dig out of.</p>