A number of colleges have pledged to limit or eliminate student loans through generous financial aid packages. The schools represent a wide swath of institutions – public and private. Their financial aid packages vary, and many offer aid regardless of family income. Some schools, such as the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and the University of Virginia, offer free tuition for families making less than $20,000. "These schools are sending the message that 'You won't have loans if you come to this school,' or at least, 'Your debt will be limited here,' " says Edie Irons, with the Project on Student Debt, a nonprofit group in Oakland, Calif., that helps students find affordable ways to attend college. (See projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php.)
Peter Aaron/The Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary/PRNewsFoto/File