Where do you guys draw the line (Debt)?

IMO everyone's goal should be to take out the absolute minimum possible in loans. Living expenses can add easily 100k (or more!) onto the total cost of attendance to your education, don't just look at the tuition/fee numbers. For me, going to Iowa would be the cheapest option because as a child of a veteran, Iowa gives in-state tuition/fees and the cost of living is FAR cheaper than my state school (Minneapolis). Alas, I haven't gotten into Iowa at this point. If you are still single, rent a house and get 2-3 professional school roommates and save a PILE on rent/utilities. Once you are an old guy, married with children (like me) your ability to do those things basically disappears and your living expenses go up exponentially. Get yourself on a hardcore, LEAN, written budget and stick to it and you will do fine. Or just go take Dave Ramsey's financial peace course before you go into school. Speaking from experience, having the anchor of debt payments hanging around your neck whether it's a mortgage, cars, or anything else, you quickly learn that you are just working for the bank, not yourself, and it makes life miserable.

FYI, every 100k you borrow @6.8% will be about 1150/mo payment on the 10-year repayment plan. Average debt is close to ~250k if I'm not mistaken, so make that a nearly 3000/mo payment for the "typical" borrower for dental school, and it will likely be over 30% of your annual income coming right out of school! Food for thought.

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Where do you guys draw the line (Debt)?