Probably the worst Christmas present I ever got was a bill for $31,000 in student loans from Uncle Sam in December 2015. A few weeks earlier, I’d received my master’s in mass communications.
I’ll be honest: My decision to pursue an advanced degree was made more out of fear than foresight. I was placing my bets on a career in an industry not known for six-figure salaries or job security. During my final semester as an undergraduate, I worried that a bachelor’s in journalism wasn’t going to cut it in the real world, so I made what seemed like a safe bet: incur debt now for a better future later.
Certain professions, such as medicine and law, require advanced training. Many others—including mine—don’t. In these fields, consider whether a graduate degree is worth the cost, especially if you have to put your career on hold while you’re in school.
The average annual tuition for a graduate degree at a public college or university is $30,000; for a private school, it’s $40,000, according to Peterson’s, a college information company. (If you get a doctorate, it will take several years, and you’ll spend much more.)
Bu hikaye Kiplinger's Personal Finance dergisinin June 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Kiplinger's Personal Finance dergisinin June 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
FREE HELP FOR COLLEGEBOUND STUDENTS
This program’s mentors assist applicants as they fill out the FAFSA, write essays and more.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SPOUSAL IRAS
You typically need earned income to contribute to an individual retirement account, but a spousal IRA provides an important exception to this rule.
SELLING SHARES? HERE'S HOW TO MINIMIZE TAXES ON YOUR GAINS
ET'S say you've been regularly buying shares in a booming tech company over the past few years, but now you want to start taking some of those profits, perhaps to rebalance your portfolio.
Strategies for Novice Investors
AS part of a lifes kills program for young, single mothers, I was asked to teach a class on how to get on top of your finances.
ANSWERS TO YOUR 529 PLAN QUESTIONS
Thanks to recent policy changes, families have more options for what to do with money sitting in these tax-advantaged accounts.
Rate-Cut Winners and Losers
NOW that the Federal Reserve has cracked the interest rate ice, the next development will be to separate winners from losers.
SHOULD YOU BUY THESE RED-HOT FUNDS?
Covered-call ETFs are popular but come with plenty of caveats.
DIVIDEND STOCKS ARE READY TO REBOUND
Our favorite dividend payers are poised to benefit as falling interest rates lure investors back.
IS A 55+ COMMUNITY RIGHT FOR YOU?
These age-restricted developments appeal to older adults seeking abundant amenities and an active lifestyle.
AT LONG LAST, RATES ARE DROPPING
Consider these portfolio moves now that the Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate.