<p>
</p>
<p>Um, no. Money is money. It’s the same analysis. Figure out the aggregate future value in 2060 or whenever of the your loan payments on the $100k in loans. These loan payments are coming out of whatever salary you’ll earn, and it’s money you’re not able to put in the bank and save. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is probably right. $10k a year is a huge difference if you have an entry level job (i.e., $55k vs. $65k as opposed to $250k vs. $260k), and also $10k every year over your working life is going to amortize very well. </p>
<p>However, the comparison isn’t Columbia versus Schmuck University. If you’re good enough to get into Columbia, you can probably go to other decent schools on scholarships. And I’m not at all convinced that the Columbia name will get you 10k more for every year of your working life.</p>