[quote name='Koggit']Figures.[/QUOTE]
Those figures go beyond straight tuition and fees, and include things like rent, groceries, and strangely, gas and entertainment, all of which are overestimates and could logically be funded by non-loan income especially beyond the first year. Plus, the majority of these schools are located outside of major cities which, as you say, lowers COL by a good bit. Add into that slightly higher median grant offers and you'll arrive at numbers a good deal under the straight $120k in tuition and fees Boalt is going to ask for.
Even Boalt does the same thing, just
look.
[quote name='"Boalt Fin. Aid"']Personal (maintenance, clothing, recreation, etc.) $2,338.00
Transportation $2,680.00[/QUOTE]
I guarantee that, unless you're going to commute to Berkely from San Francisco, that's five grand that you're not going to need to spend.
Here's a more direct list, which has numbers similar to those I was seeing while applying last fall. Though I would ignore its assertions that the Universities of Michigan and Pennsylvania among others are, in fact, in New York.
As for actually finding a job after school, that depends almost entirely on performance in school, though you'll be able to get away with more coming out of a T14 or even a T1.
I'm going to go to Boalt if accepted, in which case I fully expect to have ~100k in debt by graduation.
Good luck to ya. The whole holistic approach drives me batty.
EDIT: Whoops, I meant grant offers up there. Fixed.