The title alone caught my attention  ” Colleges Offer to Pay Tuition for Part of Grads’ Future Salary”  and left me wondering- why not just make college affordable for all? Yes, I know the term “affordable” is subjective, but does one really need to pay tens and hundreds of thousands for a college education? Is a college education still even worth it these days? Why not trade schools or apprentice programs? More students balk at the debt loads they face after graduation; some colleges are offering an alternative. “We’ll pay your tuition if you offer us a percentage of your future salary.” I found myself asking, “How is this different from a student loan?” Students with income-share agreements pay back a percentage of their salary, which can be as much as 8% for a set period. Just imagine if a student could store that away in a 401K or another type of retirement account- how much better off would they be? I was annoyed reading “Norwich’s program is starting small, mainly with … those who are taking longer than the traditional eight semesters to finish their degree.” Who says one must finish school in eight semesters? What if that individual is smart and paying as they go along? Shouldn’t they be celebrated for that instead of pressured into a loan that will cost them a percentage of their salary? Isn’t that the point to go to college (to better yourself)? Those touting the programs say they give colleges greater incentive to help students find high-earning jobs after graduation, because a higher salary means the school may recoup its investment in a shorter time. To me this sounds like the loan forgiveness programs I am hearing all about in the news. Has anyone taken one of these loans? How is it working out for you?