Yeah, it's a private school and is notorious for being $$$.
For me - I was brought up in a very low-income household. I've been on my own and 100% financially independent since I was 18. So, having to live simply (not in a cardboard box, just also not in a mansion) after graduation does not bother me. My boyfriend is a chiro and his education was twice as expensive as Marist is going to be, and he owns our house (well, HIS house that I live in.....LOL), his practice, and can afford to enjoy himself, go on vacations etc within reason. I do not ask him questions about his income and loan costs per month, but I do know his total DC loans are twice that of Marist DPT (fun fact, chiros take about twice as many credits as DPTs, therefore much more expensive education).
It is a VERY fair question. I've never used them but I know financial calculators exist that tell you if your income is X and you pay back every month Y, your gross income will be Z and you'll pay off your loans in whatever number of years. Also factor in the cost of living of wherever you think you may want to settle. Scott in financial aid is a really helpful person to talk to, if you want someone to run thoughts by. He helped me out a ton.
I'd rather pay more money to a good school that I vibe with, that has a faculty I get along with and believe in, than try to save some money on a school/location/faculty I don't care for. That's just me. I am not saying more money automatically = a better school. For me, the more affordable schools I looked at, I did not like as much for a variety of reasons. DPT school is already stressful, so I wanted to mitigate as many stressors as I could, and actually liking my school is a stressor I can try to control for.
After I graduate.....I'm going to try to chuck as much money as I can at my loan payments, within reason. Versus paying the minimum. Interest is a real and painful thing.....
I don't know if that helps at all. I find it scary too. But I don't regret my decision.
