> If anything, the predominant messaging today is the exact opposite of that. It also doesn't matter because public loans qualify for income based repayment, so it doesn't matter. If you end up stuck working at McDonalds for the rest of your life, you'll never pay back a dime.

Unless you do get a job in your field, with enough income that you're supposed to pay it back, but can't. This probably will be less common with the current rates, but as recently as 2012 the interest rates were at 6.8% .

> Current undergrad rates are fixed at 3.73%.

Indeed. I was operating off of the rates from those who took loans in 2012 or before, the current rate is much more reasonable.

> Interesting, (as an American myself) I've never heard an American use uni outside of conversation with Europeans.

I probably picked it up from the internet and spread it to the group, I like saying less syllables :P