Good points, @juillet. The forgiveness program is interesting, but would seem to carry a fair amount of risk, including tying the individual to limited employment options they may end up not liking. And, if the requirements are loosened, it could become another boondoggle in which taxpayers transfer money to high-tuition schools. I agree, too, about the family income bit… I was envisioning a scenario where the individual chooses lower-paying positions but could readily earn a higher income if personal circumstances demanded it. (E.g., a grad who chooses a part-time teaching position or opts to pursue random performance gigs because they don’t have to worry about paying the rent/mortgage.) But, if the person is already near the max for their field, there’s a definite risk of financial pain if the partner’s high income goes away for any reason.
I wonder how many respected music (or other arts) programs would fare if evaluated this way…