Difference between government loans and private loans. Once the GOVT money is exhausted, people starting turning towards the 11% interest private loans. Of course you can eliminate those in bankruptcy, the GOVT loans not so.

I was a stupid 20 something in college that over-borrowed and used the money for things other than school (I'm sure I'm wasn't the only one).
However, mine totaled 26K for a four year degree at Western Michigan University and flight training outside of the aviation dept. I got a degree in psychology and did all my training at a mom and pop part 61 school (Private to ATP). Didn't hurt me a bit that I didn't have the aviation dept pedigree. The cost these days is absurd through the university. I could go to Law school at the University of Michigan for the same price.

As to the art degree it's not just that - I see a lot of people getting sociology degrees with 60K in loans that have career prospects in the 35K range. My B.S. in psychology would be basically minimum wage worthless outside of aviation had I not leveraged it into human factors work and entered graduate school.