i have a friend who took the loan to pay for his graduate school (top private program). and he has been complaining the loan system, how bad the loan is, how bad government is.....while just intentionally ignoring the fact that it was HIM made the decision to take the loan for graduate school.
so what i want to say is, if you are totally fine with the loan, maybe go ahead, Chicago is apparently a great place. If you are purely talking about the financial rate of return (no one can guarantee you a 80K job right after your graduate school, and no one know how quick you could have your salary increased to 100K, and am not sure about your life-style either. Therefore it might take 5 years or 10 years to pay off the loan?). EVENTUALLY. Eventually, you will be able to pay off the loan. Just your choice to live shouldering the loan shadow or still live happily with 60K to 80K loan without knowing when you could pay it off.
I, personally, am not comfortable of taking so much loan, though i am confident that i will get a good job after graduate. (i actually did get a good job after graduation from one top private school)
sorry that i do not want to sound hush. I got very annoyed by the guy who took loan and being unhappy person and affected EVERYONE around him. -- just because he choose to take the loan HIMSELF.
But Chicago is great place for study. Good luck!!