I suppose that's a risk we have to take, though being willing to forgo $10k of income for two years ($20k) in order to avoid paying $20k seems a little silly; all you'd gain are the taxes, but you'd also have a hard time getting a raise, etc.

Unless they form a contract with their employers saying they will take 49,999 for 2 years with a guaranteed raise to 60k at the end. Employer saves money, employee saves money, school gets screwed...

If that's how you want to optimize your life, congratulations. You cheated the school that gave you a chance out of a few thousand dollars.

Might be smarter to just get paid more :)

The way I read it you collect 17% once they start earning $50k+. Do you really collect nothing if their first two years are below?

If they make <$50k we wait until they're making more, for up to five years. We will keep trying to get them a high paying job the entire time.

But then the student is caped at $49k for life, when they should be able to double or triple that salary over 20 years, which will easily pay off the loan.