Response to 6 Reasons Not to Save for Kids' College http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/SavingForCollege/6ReasonsNotToSaveForKids.aspx
You might want to look back into your figures. College is far more expensive than that in the metro area of DC. Some community colleges cost about 12,000 a year and state colleges cost between 25-30k a year. Most kids cannot afford to pay off the loan since minimum wage is incredibly low compared to our current economic state and the interest is high.
Brian - DC Metro area
Yes, I pointed out how little it costs to go to community and state colleges in California. Unfortunately, many states are much more expensive. I live in Washington State, where community college tuition is still under $1,000 per quarter, and the minimum wage is high. The rates you describe in the DC area would be discouraging!
If a person has to take time out to work and save for college, they may want to consider moving to a state with cheaper tuition before they start work. Once they work for a year in the new state, they may be able to attend at resident tuition rates. Check the rules for the new state before you pull up stakes.