I want all these young people to be getting a higher education, and I don’t want them loaded up with tens of thousands of dollars of debt just to get an education. That’s how we make America great.

Of course, that means all of you all have got to hit the books. I’m just saying. Don’t cheer and then you didn’t do your homework.

Because that’s part of the bargain—America says we will give you opportunity, but you’ve got to earn your success.

You’re competing against young people in Beijing and Bangalore. They’re not hanging out. They’re not playing video games. They’re not watching “Real Housewives.” I’m just saying. It’s a two-way street. You’ve got to earn success.

That wasn’t in my prepared remarks. But I’m just saying.
President Obama today, keeping it real (via barackobama)
For the first eight years of our marriage, [Michelle and I] were paying more in student loans than what we were paying for our mortgage. So we know what this is about.

And we were lucky to land good jobs with a steady income. But we only finished paying off our student loans—check this out, all right, I’m the President of the United States—we only finished paying off our student loans about eight years ago.
President Obama in North Carolina today on why Congress has to act to prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling (via barackobama)