<p>Nedel,</p>
<p>The second part of the question is more difficult to answer. How much each student or family takes out depends on financial need, creditworthiness, and willingness to take on debt for a college education. You probably will find the whole range from people unwilling to take out any loan to people who have assumed a lot of debt because they are willing to sacrifice for the NYU degree. </p>
<p>It seems to make sense to take out more loans if the degree will pay for itself in a more lucrative field, like business, engineering, medicine and law (maybe more iffy for the latter two since some believe it is better to go to a cheaper state school and save the loans for the professional programs).</p>