A Q&A with Two Debt-free Engineering Grads
Scholarships, internships and family helped avoid need for loans.
Through its four departments, NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology offers students a variety of degree and career paths. And scholarships, financial aid and other cost-saving measures enable many to graduate without any student loan debt.
We connected with two recent CEET graduates to learn the details of their unique debt-free journeys:
- Natalia Knutsen, a 2021 graduate (biomedical engineering)
- David Gavin, a 2025 graduate (biomedical engineering)
What were the key decisions or strategies that helped you avoid taking on student loans during college?
Knutsen: I took advantage of any opportunities that I came across, such as NIU scholarships and by researching external scholarships.
I also worked as a lab attendant in CEET and as the Honors House Leader through the Honors Program. During my senior year, I had a part-time internship at an engineering firm, too.
Gavin: I received a full merit scholarship totaling $7,000 per year, which cut my yearly cost to about $7,000. I paid for those expenses by living at home and working 20 hours a week from freshman year to the beginning of senior year.
What kinds of sacrifices or trade-offs did you make—if any—to stay debt-free?
Knutsen: Working at my jobs often meant missing time hanging out with my friends or other events on campus. Ultimately, it was a sacrifice well worth it to graduate from NIU debt-free.
Gavin: It became a trade-off due to the hours I worked from Monday through Friday, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Although this mostly avoided conflicts with my school schedule, it limited my participation in clubs and hanging out with friends. Overall, I think the trade-off was worth it, but I wish I would have put extra effort into seeking out more ways to get involved in the NIU community.
Who or what played the biggest role in helping you navigate college without debt?
Knutsen: My mom has always made many sacrifices to provide the best life and care for me and my sister. While she provided financial support, she also helped guide me to make responsible financial decisions and pushed me to apply for multiple job and scholarship opportunities.
Gavin: My family letting me live at home and giving me the resources to focus on school and work allowed me to save money in areas such as housing and food. Those savings helped me pay for my college tuition and books.
How has graduating without debt influenced your choices and opportunities after college?
Knutsen: Graduating without debt has allowed me to travel post-grad; continue my education at NIU and pursue my MBA; have my dream wedding; and purchase my dream home. Financial stability is something I am beyond lucky and grateful to have and graduating debt-free helped me achieve it.
Gavin: Graduating without debt has given me the opportunity to start my career a step ahead of the curve financially and allows me to live without worrying about money. Honestly, the best part is the freedom that comes with it. I can spend money on fun things I enjoy. I have also been able to save up to purchase a car.
What advice would you give current or future students who want to follow a similar path?
Knutsen: I highly encourage you to explore all opportunities available to you.
Gavin: Living from home and working 20 hours a week is ideal for saving money but is not feasible for many people. The best advice I could give is to make your money work for you. There are liquid money markets as well as CDs that give returns of 4-5% without tying your money down in long-term investments. If you have any extra money, consider starting a Roth IRA. Even if you are taking on student loans, you can still maximize the potential of your money to pay those loans when the bill is due.
“Graduating without debt has allowed me to travel post-grad, continue my education at NIU and pursue my MBA, have my dream wedding, and purchase my dream home.”
“Honestly, the best part is the freedom that comes with it. I can spend money on fun things I enjoy.”
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