How is average indebtedness determined?

[Dropbox1]

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http://grad-schools.usnews.rankings...ate-schools/top-medical-schools/debt-rankings

From there, it ranks schools based on average indebtedness, but do the numbers include people who graduate with no debt since it says "Average indebtedness of 2012 graduates who incurred medical school debt", so wouldn't people who incurred no medical school debt not be included in those numbers?

 

[miszfifi820]

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankings...ate-schools/top-medical-schools/debt-rankings

From there, it ranks schools based on average indebtedness, but do the numbers include people who graduate with no debt since it says "Average indebtedness of 2012 graduates who incurred medical school debt", so wouldn't people who incurred no medical school debt not be included in those numbers?

i was told that those numbers can be skewed because it DOES tend to include individuals who received full rides, parents paid for everything, and so on.

 

[LizzyM]

It says "who incurred medical school debt" meaning that those who have not incurred debt should not be included in the denominator. (The numerator would be total debt of the entire cohort, the numerator would be all debtors.) However, keep in mind that even those with a "free ride" may borrow for living expenses or borrow over and above a stipend because of extraordinary circumstances.