<p>I know a few young folks who went to some great engineering schools including CMU. They are making the same pay as kids who graduated from less known schools. If the differential is affordable to the family and school, it’s one thing, but for a kid to go into that much debt really makes this situation one where I think it’s pretty clear what the reasonable thing is to do. If it were the Stafford maximum, or maybe even a bit more, or if the family were in position to help, that would be a whole different story.</p>
<p>Just talked to a friend who has a family member (cousinish) who is over $100K in debt from Tisch. The student was adamant that the Tisch name and connections would be every bit worth it. Hopefully, it will be, but right now he is an unemployed actor who owes 6 figures when he can’t even support himself with the job possibilities he has seen but not even gotten. The mom is sick with worry because she is not able to help out at all–divorce situation and everyone is broke. What in the world is this kid going to be able to do in a situation like that? $100K is a mortgage! He’s going to owe that for longer than you get for murder.</p>