So my family prioritizes debt over every thing else. If it isn’t a full ride, I cant go there. In my opinion, I feel like the college for where you get your degree matters too. I want to major in computer science, and I believe that a degree from UT Austin in CS massivley outwieghts the debt accumulated vs a degree from UNT in CS. Can a degree from UNT or UTD do the job at a fraction of the cost or if you get a chance from UT Austin to major in CS should you take that offer?
If the debt you refer to is more than $6K/yr, this question is probably moot. Basically, there are two loans, ones you can take out as a student without your parents’ co-sign, and loans you can take out in a greater amount if your parents co-sign. If your parents don’t co-sign, the most you can get is approximately $6K/yr.
To me, it looks like your options will be a full-ride college, or a college you can attend for $6K/yr.
Yes, UT CS will bring different opportunities than UNT (in terms of funding, internship opportunities, and companies that recruit there).
But as a student you can only borrow 5.5k for Freshman year (which is what a college graduate can reasonably expect to be able to pay back).
Are we to assume that your parents can afford to pay for college but won’t contribute? Or are you a lower income student whose FAFSA form indicates they qualify for Pell?
If you don’t qualify for Pell nor state grants (Pell& state grants don’t have to be repaid) you can borrow 5.5k, in your name, period.
Your parents wouldn’t have to borrow for you.
In terms of full rides and excellent CS, the best combination would be UTDallas. Make sure you apply there.
Programmer here - for a degree in CS or any technology field, it doesn’t matter where you graduate from. Computers is a high demand market with an almost infinite amount of specialties and micro-specialties. The degree only teaches you enough basics to get an entry-level position. The real education is learned on the job. In about 3 years, employers won’t even ask where you graduated from, because they’re going to be too busy trying to find qualified candidates for a job that’s been sitting unfilled for 5 months. That’s the fun with tech job hunting. You’re always the qualified candidate that saves the day. I graduated from UTSA. In my last job search, I interviewed for Google, Amazon, Ga Tech, and USAA to name a few. None of them asked where I graduated from. I eventually took a job with the State of TX because of the job security and stable retirement. I promise, you’ll be fine going to UNT, or UTD. Plus these schools aren’t ridiculously hyper-selective in CS like UT-Austin.
Another programmer here 
Concur with coolguy. Got my master’s degree at TSU. Learned a lot in a very friendly, personal environment. Later got a PhD; currently teaching at community college (6 figure salary) and run my own software company. Can’t complain.
A far more important question: Do you have fun programming?
I have taken 2 programming classess, and I believe that programming is what I want to do. I don’t usually do homework for classes, but AP cs was the only class that I consistly looked forward to do. I like to create things and solve problems, and I think persuing cs would allow me to persue those things. However, I am still uncertain. I am afraid the corporate world is different then the ambitions I have in mind. I have heard the industry is cuthrout and I am not sure if thats something I want to deal with.
It’s not cutthroat at all. The opposite is actually true. There are some corporations that like to make you think that way (Google, Amazon), but that’s the nice part about computers. You don’t have to work at those places. Companies have every incentive to treat you well, because they know you can find another job quickly. Big corporate jobs tend to be a different story, and generally, you would do well to avoid them.