<h2>*IMO for the majority in the middle of the bell curve, the prospective $100,000 would be a nominal inconvenience requiring what are minor sacrifices relative to the benefits. And for the right hand side of the bell curve the debt load would be inconsequential. *</h2>
<p>Wow. I’ve never heard of a $100k debt that is not disolved through bankruptcy as a “nominal inconvenience” or “inconsequential.” I thought I lived in a nice neighborhood but I want to live in yours!</p>
<p>If one person goes to Duke and incurs $100k in student loan debt and the other goes to UNC-CH or UVA and is debt free, who do you think will accumulate wealth faster? Education is a means to an end. It’s used for social mobility as well as the intrinsic value of being a learned individual.</p>
<p>We need to stop believing the brochures coming from the marketing departments of private universities. Duke is an amazing school but there is a price point that doesn’t make fiscal sense. Some will write checks on behalf of their children for the privilege of attending Duke. Others are not so fortunate and to use prestige as the reason to amass crippling debt while their contemporaries are not is** just bad financial advice**. Is it fair that some can take advantage of a school and others can’t because of cost? No but, that’s a socioeconomic discussion for another post.</p>
<p>And the OP is taking the debt on instead of the child which is what any parent would do. But there are choices. And taking on debt means that retirement and other investments are not being made. </p>
<p>Duke is a great school with merit and need based aid. ANY school is a terrible choice if your only option is borrowing against the next 20 years of earnings.</p>