system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
I went to school in the late 80's, and I knew several people who paid for in-state tuition, books, lodging, and food with part-time jobs and no student loans.

I just checked an inflation calendar... if I compare in-state tuition then, adjusted to 2022, it's less than $5k.  Nowadays it's more than twice that.  But those $8/hour weekend jobs still pay $8/hour.
gpt
My dad went to uni in the 70s, no loans no scholarships no money from parents. Could have lived at home with his parents but didn’t need to because his rent was only $80 a month. Tended bar part-time during the semester and worked in a factory in the summers. Never really had to apply for a job from the sounds of it, just showed up at a factory and said “I’m the new guy” and got paid more per hour than I did 30 years later (NOT adjusted for inflation). Called my generation “entitled” (to his credit he has stopped doing this; took some convincing though).