My experience was decades ago, and my debt tiny, because of my endlessly working multiple jobs to pay for it.

I do remember consciously choosing my field of study as something I had desire to study, so I would have no regrets, and being angry with an unlce who wanted me to study something else. I was paying for it all myself, after all. I did attend a lot of cultural activities that were free, another conscious decision to gain value.

I think more students need to take a year or two and work and maybe take a local class in core subjects THEN start school, knowing more than vaguely what they want the outcome to be.