We have scholarships, grants, student loans, and certain types of school sponsored funding like work study courses.
The amount of money a grant gives you depends on your familys income and what the government deems they can afford to pay for your college. A grant won't take up all of the slack though. If you don't have a sholarship, your usually looking at a student or parent loan.
Student loan: For Dependent Undergraduate Students: Year 1 - $2,625 Year 2 - $3,500 Years 3, 4 and 5 - $5,500

For Independent Undergraduate Students: Year 1 - $6,625 Year 2 - $7,500 Years 3, 4 and 5 - $10,500

So you can see even then, depending on your choice of school. You could still be hurting. Although most students have jobs.

True WW, my stepmom had students loans and she hasn't paid off any of them.