Is it worth the money (int'l student)?

<p>I hope you guys can help me with the probably most difficult decision in my life so far!
I got accepted to AU with a 22K scholarship. I’m currently life in the DC Area as an Au Pair and fell in love with the city and I have a better relationship with my host family than I ever had with my family at home (even though I still love them, too, of course).
I visited AU and I know that it is the right school for me! I want to major in International Studies and AU is just the perfect school in the perfect place.
But even with the scholarship I still would have to pay 26K per year.
I’m from Germany, our education is almost free and in general it is not that bad. I could study political science with hundreds of other kids in one class and would fight with them over one good internship opportunity in the country. I really want to stay here but my mum would have to get a loan in germany (since the Euro is so strong at the moment taking a loan here would make no scene and I don’t have a co-signer anyway) and she would start paying it of right away until I’m done with school and have a job so I can pay of the rest.
What do you think? Is it really worth all the money? I’m so scared that I’m gonna end up with the loan and that I won’t be able to pay it of…</p>

<p>Every opinion is appreciated! Thank you so much!</p>