<p>The data is very outdated and incomplete. How likely are parents going to have to go for outside funds?</p>
<p>Does the cost of the school matter for families using private loans?
What about the wealth of the student body?
What about personal situations… like the one mentioned by R124687?</p>
<p>I guess if you realize the numbers are old by the time you see them and you take that into account…you can use them as a guide. I like looking at the numbers. But, I think a person’s own situation trumps those numbers. If you need loans… you are going to have to look at schools in more depth. Those numbers from USNWR have a good chance of being irrelevant.</p>
<p>And now with the financial crisis… All bets are off.</p>