<p>I would also like to second the idea that you contemplate your future salary when deciding to take on loans. D1 is about to graduate from her scholarship school as a communications disorders major and is applying for audiology grad school. An AuD degree is four years and depending on the market your starting salary may only be $65k (could go up to $100k, but average salary is $65k). D1 has been working in the field summers for four years and loves it. This is what she wants to do and she is really glad she's going to be debt free going to grad school, esplly since this type of grad school does NOT come with the stipends and funding that a PHD in Physics would, for example. In fact I worry about her taking on debt for this, but if you want this job, you're kind of stuck. Anyway, don't take on more debt for ug than you think your future job can comfortably pay off. In some cases this will mean zero debt.</p>