<p>Why is this thread generating so much discussion? I don’t think there is any way you will ever get 6 figures in debt if you go to columbia. that means that somehow you dont qualify for ANY financial aid at which point you can (most likely) afford the 52k/yr. even if you qualify for fin.aid, since columbia doesnt give loans, you will be taking them out privately but you still shouldnt need to pull ~30-40k/yr or else, again, you can (most likely) afford it.</p>
<p>there are of course the exceptions: people whose parents refuse to pay at all even tho its well within their means, people who have a lot of non-liquid assets who get screwed by fafsa (even tho these people still technically have the money..), etc…</p>