To be honest, I don't understand why anybody would choose to pay for university outright when they you can get a student loan. Maybe if you have a lot of money, but not if it involves a limited amount like in this situation. Use it to be comfortable as hell whilst studying, live well, eat well, go on trips abroad during university breaks.... anything but throwing it at tuition. Paying for your tuition outright doesn't seem to have that same satisfaction as paying for something like a house, or a car outright would, just because you gain so little by doing it.