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Linda Whitlock

Recent columns

• Seeing racism where it's not
• Sanford could still be a hero
• Skeptics or traitors?
• School freedom is elusive

From the RoundTable blog

She was going through the registration process. I had stopped by Virginia Western to pick up my diploma. We were about the same age -- 40ish -- though she was probably a little younger.

"Excuse me," she said after hearing me ask where the diplomas were. "Would you mind telling me how long it took you?"

She was looking for reassurance. I knew that. Trouble was, it had taken 14 years from the time I took my first class at Virginia Western until I completed my associate's degree. I doubted that's what she wanted to hear.

I hadn't, of course, been actively pursuing a degree all that time. But -- as I could afford it or my employer would pay for it -- I had taken at least one class a year for many of those years.

Most people, including the apprehensive lady who questioned me that day, likely wouldn't be willing to take that long. Still, when I did finally graduate, I didn't owe a penny on student loans. The same was true 2¹₂ years later when I completed my bachelor's degree and four years after that when I finished my master's.

That was just 10 years ago. Graduating with no outstanding student loans was probably unusual even then. It would be more unusual today. College is an expensive proposition and few escape the student loan trap -- not even Barack and Michelle Obama, so I've heard.

That's why I applaud Salem for collaborating with the Virginia Western Foundation to pay tuition costs for qualifying high school students who choose to attend the school. As a Salem resident (full disclosure -- I also teach at Virginia Western), I'm happy to have some of my taxes used to help young people attend college without accumulating piles of debt along the way.

I hope other localities follow Salem's lead and establish similar programs with Virginia Western or their nearest community college.

But even when such opportunities don't exist, it's still possible to get through college without owing your own or your parents' souls to the company store, as the song goes. Or to the bank or the finance company, either.

The key to obtaining a loan-free college education -- as with so many things in life -- is the willingness to work hard, sacrifice and choose what's affordable, not necessarily what's desired. A little creativity doesn't hurt either.

If mom and dad can continue to provide their basic support (and most do, one way or another), students who really want a college education, not just the college experience, have a number of options.

For some, delaying college for a year or two after high school is an excellent choice. Delaying gives students time to mature before going off on their own, as well as time to work and save money for school. If their expenses are few, thanks to mom and dad, even a low-wage job could allow them to sock away $10,000 to $20,000 over a couple of years. Since many employers provide tuition assistance, they might even be able to complete a few courses at their employer's expense.

For others, a community college is a good place to begin. Though no longer cheap, community colleges are still less expensive than their four-year counterparts. Students who plan to transfer to four-year schools can get basic courses out of the way inexpensively and save the cost of room and board to boot. Night, weekend and online classes also make college easier for students who need to work at the same time.

When it's time to transfer, choosing a four-year school within commuting distance can save money, too. Living on campus or in an apartment with friends can be fun, but it's still cheaper to pay for gasoline than to pay for room and board or for rent, groceries and utilities.

Many students will move back home for a time after graduating, anyway, so why not just stay there to begin with and apply the savings to tuition and books?

These are just a few of the many alternatives available to students who want to finance a college education without mortgaging their souls. Most students, unlike me, won't need to take 14 years to earn a two-year degree. They shouldn't need to give up an arm and a leg either.

Whitlock, an adjunct English professor who lives in Salem, is a Roanoke Times columnist.