My student loan in Sweden (I maxed it out at over $30k total for 5 years) had an interest rate of below 2% for the whole period. Currently it's just above 1%. The student loan interest rate is fixed to a small amount above the interbank rate. The key is 1) I didn't have to borrow for tuition, just the books and noodles. 2) the state lends me the money, I don't have to fish around the loan market.