There are many different programs available in the US to help make college affordable.
First, as mentioned, are the guaranteed student loans, called Stafford loans. Not sure how they work now, but I had these for school years ago. The loan was from a private bank but backed by the federal government. Interest was reasonable, and no interest was charged until post-graduation.
Second, there are many scholarship programs, federal, state, and private. Private scholarships are difficult as the competition can be extreme, and the amounts are often very small. Pell grants are a federal program based on need and other criteria. I qualified for Pell grants when in college, but it was a minor offset to the overall cost. By far the biggest grants I received were from the state, the Illinois State Scholarship Commission, or some such. These state grants were based on need and ACT scores, at least in my situation.
Third, the inherent savings at certain colleges. Since public universities are usually partially funded by the states, students can save significant $$ by going to a college in their own state. New Mexico, for example, has free college tuition for qualifying students who graduated from a New Mexico high school.
Fourth, some students have their fees partially paid by private companies through a variety of agreements. X Inc. will pay for college if you agree to work with them during summers and for X years after college, for example.
There are also government-encouraged savings and investing programs. There's the 529 Plan, money invested through a specific state's program with limited investment choices (similar to 401K). Or there's the ESA (Educational Savings Account) which are self-managed and most similar to a Roth IRA. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but my 4-year-old has an ESA. Some states (Texas?) may still have pre-paid tuition plans, pay for tuition at today's prices for a child's future education.
And of course there are work study programs, private bank loans, and gifts from family.
(Sadly) there are still some kids who try to pay for college on their own as they go, working full-time jobs and attending college simultaneously. Not sure why someone would do that, as it ends up costing more in the long run. Six years of part time college is LOT more expensive than 4 years of full time college, not to mention two years of missed/delayed post-graduation salary.
-------------------------
Can you explain something about education in Australia, something a mate was telling me once but I wasn't in a position to pay full attention or ask followup questions. He was saying that only Australian kids going on to college graduate high school; the remainder take only two years of high school then go on to trade school. Sound right?
