JetRx, I would rather see these college kids do work in exchange for a "free" college education. Six thousand is not much. One of my daughters who is a Nurse Practioner who owes 80,000.00 in student loans. I am proud she came back to Alaska instead of living in the lower 48.  I think every young college educated people should have to volunteer at least one year because it gives them the opportunity to see the "real" world and not  be stuck in academic only thinking. It could be volunteering as a  VISTA or enlisting in the military.  A chance for them to "pay-back" some of the educational grants (not loans) they may have been given. It helps them to grow-up and get serious about what they want to do in their future. Not all use it to go back to college. In 22 years, I can remember 22 VISTAS, 10 of them stayed to make Alaska home. Of those 10, two went to work for the State.  The other 8 became teachers, fishermen, police officers, and private business owners.