Anthony ONeal - Debt-Free Degree: The Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Kid Through College Without Student Loans

2019 Lampo Licensing, LLC

Published by Ramsey Press, The Lampo Group, LLC
Franklin, Tennessee 37064

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This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering financial, accounting, or other professional advice. If financial advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Editors: Jennifer Day and Cathy Shanks

Cover Design: Chris Carrico and Gretchen Hyer

Interior Design: Mandi Cofer

Ebook formatting: Mark D'Antoni, eBook DesignWorks

ISBN: 978-1-942-121-11-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: ONeal, Anthony, author.

Title: Debt free degree : the step-by-step guide to getting your kid

through college without student loans / Anthony ONeal.

Description: Brentwood, Tennessee : Ramsey Press, 2019.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019023461 | ISBN 9781942121114 (hardcover) | ISBN

9781942121121 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Education, Higher--United States--Finance. | College

costs--United States. | College student orientation--United States. |

College students--United States--Life skills guides. | Parent and

child--United States.

Classification: LCC LB2342 .O558 2019 | DDC 378.3/8--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019023461

Printed in the United States of America

19 20 21 22 23 WRZ 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated to every young

person who has a dream to go to

college and do it the right way.

Not long ago, a high school senior from South Carolina called my radio show. She wanted to know if it was okay for her to attend the University of Mississippi, even though she would need about $50,000 in student loans to cover her out-of-state tuition. After asking her a few questions to dig a little deeper, she finally came clean about why she thought Ole Miss was the school for her.

Its in a really pretty town.

Now, Oxford, Mississippi, is a beautiful place, and the University of Mississippi is a fine school. But the truth is, getting a degree from Ole Miss wont do anything to improve her career prospects or increase the income shell earn after graduation. Instead, shell be at least $50,000 in debt when she could have received the same education with no debt from almost any state school in South Carolina.

The idea that students cant get a quality education without debt is absolutely ludicrous to me. But far too many people are falling for this myth, and its ruining their futures. Theyre carrying a huge burden before they even get out of the gate!

Our culture has become stupid about being educated. Thats a dangerous paradox, and its led to a crushing student loan crisis in America today.

Thankfully, this crisis has produced an overdue wake-up call for many parentsand theyre starting to fight back. Theyre no longer satisfied with letting their kids become student loan statistics. Theyre refusing to accept mountains of debt or encourage careers that sound fun but offer little to the marketplace.

If youre reading this book, youre probably one of these parentsand Im proud of you. Youre taking an important first step toward avoiding the costly traps of pursuing a college degree. And its my hope that more parents follow your lead and start counting the cost when it comes to their childrens education.

Think about this: along with homes and cars, college is one of the largest financial investments well ever make. But when we buy a car or a house, we put in an amazing amount of work. We do research and study options. We analyze every detail before taking that plunge.

But few people perform the same due diligence when picking a school. Somehow college has become an entitlement, and theres no urgency to make intentional decisions or consider the consequences. So families wind up in a financial mess that can take decades to fix!

But heres the truth: You can pay cash for college. In fact, you should pay cash for college. And I believe this book holds the key to making sure education becomes a blessing, not a curse.

Like all of our Ramsey Personalities, Anthony ONeal provides a clear path that will move you from where you are to where you want to be. He offers a step-by-step plan, not some stuffy how-to guide.

Best of all, Anthony knows his stuff. Over the last decade, he has talked to thousands of American teens. So he definitely understands what makes young people tick. Hes also done a ton of research on student loans and college admissions. He knows the most common mistakes people make and clearly explains how you can avoid them.

Unlike a lot of books, Debt-Free Degree doesnt just tell you what to do. It gives you a clear path to help your child earn a four-year degree with no debt. And unlike a lot of students, your child will have confidence heading into the real world because theyve chosen to connect a common sense plan to their passion.

Look, a college education can have an incredible return on investment. The knowledge and experience it provides are keys to finding real success in life. But a diploma is not some magical ticket. And its certainly not worth wasting good years and good money paying off student loans. Debt-Free Degree will guide you and your child toward wise decisions about education.

This process wont always be easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is. But when things get tough, remember that Anthony and I and the rest of the Ramsey Solutions team stand behind you. Were proud of you for starting this journey. And you can be confident that youve got the best map possible for earning a debt-free degree!

All things really are possible through Jesus Christ. If you would have asked me ten years ago if I would ever write a book, I would have laughed and said no. But God had other plans. He guided my steps here, and I want to say thank you to those who have supported me on this journey:

First and foremost, I want to thank God. Im a flawed man saved by grace. I dont deserve this opportunity, but Im grateful for it and I dont take it lightly. Thank you for giving me the chance to love my brothers and sisters.