<p>^^ I agree, it’s preferable to graduate debt free. However, there is often little alternative. If the parents haven’t saved and the child doesn’t qualify for need or merit based money, debt is often the only way to put oneself through school. That’s certainly why I had debt - it was to go to school period, not to go to an elite school. My point is that debt is not necessarily bad or something to be afraid of. In an ideal world, students wouldn’t have to borrow to go to school (and in fact, my own child will graduate debt free - she’s going to an OOS public with a full tuition scholarship and we’re paying her room and board). But the post-secondary education system in this country is such that a lot of kids DO need to borrow, even to go to community college. And I would certainly advise my own children to incur $27,000 in debt to attend an Ivy vs. a free ride at the directional state U. Rarely is the issue so clear cut, though.</p>