<p>I would argue that it’s your parent’s financial decision whether $48k would be too much or not. They know their own priorities, constraints and future goals best, so trust them. It is however good to let the know that you are concerned about this, and about their well-being. If they have already said that any debt you acquire is yours to pay off, then that’s a different story and you will have decide for yourself if you are willing to make the sacrifices required to pay off this loan.</p>