SoFi Blog

The “should I go to grad school?” question is a lot different today than it was just a few years ago.

Between 2000 and 2012, graduate programs were the fastest growing segment of the higher education market, with the annual production of master’s degrees increasing 63% during that timeframe, according to federal data. In particular, enrollments spiked after the 2008 global financial crisis, when many people returned to school to bolster prospects in a depressed job market.

If you’re thinking about going to graduate school, you’ve probably got a lot of questions – things like which program to pursue, what schools to consider, and whether to attend full- or part-time. You’re probably also wondering how to measure whether the investment in another degree will be worth it in the end.

While there are many non-monetary things to consider, like impact on professional development and job satisfaction, it’s important to keep the big picture in mind. Given the high cost of grad school (often accompanied by student loan debt), having a sense of the financial outcome the degree will provide can help you make a more informed decision about making such a big investment.

Whether you’ve recently graduated from college or completed a master’s or professional degree, chances are good that you have student loans to repay.

When was the last time you took a hard look at your student loans?

If you’re like many borrowers, you probably try hard not to think about them.  That monthly deduction from your bank account might be an aggravating reminder, but one that you’ve grudgingly come to accept over time.  After all, what’s the point in dwelling on your loans if there’s nothing you can do to change them?