I expect to graduate with about 300k minimum. Right now, we are living off of about probably 40k (with federal assistance programs+ loans) and we are doing fine. Although, I'm very much excited to finally be done in a couple years and make some money. If we can live off 40k now fairly comforably, why wouldn't we be able to live off 50k and divide the rest into loans? I just hope I have the courage to live this plan when I graduate.