<prompt> Human: Hi, I was wondering how much student loans are too much. I was originally going to go to a local university while living with my parents, but now Im thinking about going to a university in the next town over, but I wouldnt have as much scholarships, and I would need to pay for living expenses. I calculated with grants, and using my savings, and after 2 years, I will be in the red for 15k. Is this ok? Im really scared of loans, and I do not want to be in debt at all while going to school.  <response>: I used to be a professor for three years - left because they treat new professors like garbage until they are about 47.All else being equal - stay local. That being said, it really depends on what the two choices and what you what to study are. For instance, I used to teach at University of Alabama Huntsville and for engineering students local to the city, it would have been stupid to go to another in state school further away. But if it were reversed, and you lived in say, the south part of the state and wanted to be an engineercomputer scientist, then going to UAH was worth it over staying local.For undergrad, it also depends on job opportunitiesinternship opportunities local to where you go to school. Going to a rural school to major in business simply does not make sense. If business were your major, or statistics, or just about anything thats in a big city, moving to a big city for college makes a lot of sense. 