@CA2020 Assuming you want to go to MIT and the only thing that’s holding you back is the cost:
- Each person values money differently, so none of us can tell you whether it's "worth" the cost or not. Obviously graduating with significant debt may present a hardship later. But with a degree in CS from MIT, providing you work hard, you're likely to be making 100K+ a year. So unless things go south, you will be able to repay your debt. So the question is, are you willing to give up a % of you salary for some years (maybe put off buying that house for a few years or sacrificing some other things), in order to attend MIT? If not, then go to UCSD. If so, then go to MIT. You either get what you want now but have a harder time later, or you give up what you want for an easier time later. You'll get a fine education at UCSD, though MIT offers opportunities that UCSD does not.
Just like some people would rather save up and spend $100K to buy a Porsche while others would prefer to spend $25K on a Civic and use the $75K for something else. Either gets you from point A to point B, but the experience is different.