9:48 PP here - Also, OP, see if he can go at night and keep his FT job. That's how I did mine. It was hard, but at least I had income coming in instead of taking out $100K in loans and maybe not finding a job.

I think I'd be in the same place career-wise without the MBA that I am with it. I'm not sorry I got it - I really enjoyed learning the material and met some people who are still friends - but I don't think it's brought me any more income. I only spent about $40K on mine from a second-tier school and it's mostly paid off.

Depending on what he does, a certification like CFA might be a better use of his time, and much cheaper. As soon as I finished my Finance MBA, I was getting pressure to get the CFA instead, which would have been helpful information BEFORE I got the MBA.

Anonymous wrote:I asked this once...I am still leaning towards...if you can't get in a top school...you better not pay a lot for it or pay for one at all. I still struggle with the decision to get more education.

Same here. At 34, not sure it is worth my time. MBA's are the new liberal arts degree. I am looking into practical certifications instead.

Only if its a top 10 program:

Before I started: $90K
Year 1 Post: $105K + $25K sign on = 130K
Year 2 Post: $115K + $100K sign on + $12K bonus = $227K
Year 3 Post: $125K + $30K bonus = 155K
Year 4 Post: $140K + $50K bonus = 190K

I'm pretty happy overall with that, and frankly I'm way behind my peers (most of them are at $250K to $300K at this point).

FYI there's been LOTS of research on this topic done in the past. I'll spare you the hundreds of pages of research. The tables below are from Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) research.

I asked this once...I am still leaning towards...if you can't get in a top school...you better not pay a lot for it or pay for one at all. I still struggle with the decision to get more education.

Anonymous wrote:OP here... It's not a top 5 school that he's going to and he's 34. Work is paying a measly $10k of it, I shouldn't complain...but I still am.

Keep complaining! My DH insisted getting an MBA was crucial for him. I complained, but there was no stopping him. He finished a year ago, and he's currently making the same salary he had before starting. He's had a lot of bad luck with layoffs, furloughs and salary freezes. He's still mid-career and I keep reminding myself there's still time for it to pay off, but sometimes I feel like we just flushed tens of thousands of dollars down the toilet.

I started an MBA program a year after my DH, but the only reason I did was because my company paid 100% for the degree. It's actually done wonders for my career and created many opportunities.

Good Luck, but once he goes back hold your tongue whatever happens. I know my DH appreciates me not bringing up the lack of financial return, but boy does it tick me off sometimes when I think about it (like now ).

Only if it's a top 5. Maybe top 10. Or you are making a big career change into finance, strategic consulting, etc.

DH went to Harvard for grad school. Granted it was for a MPP. He accrued a ton of debt.

Before going to grad school he was making 40K in 1999. When he got out in 2001 he got a job paying 120K.

Now, he makes a ton more than 120K. Much more than double.

Totally worth it IMO.

OP here... It's not a top 5 school that he's going to and he's 34. Work is paying a measly $10k of it, I shouldn't complain...but I still am.

Depends on where he gets it from.

Absolutely was for me. Huge ROI on my degree. I did get a reasonable amount of grant based aid, and went to a top 5 school, so both of those factor in. I was also leaving a low paying job so the opportunity costs were not a real factor for me as they were for some of my classmates coming from I-banking. And I definitely would not be doing what I am doing, or earning what I am earning, without the MBA.

Depends on the school, your age and your goals.

Where does he plan to apply?

pay as you go and there would be no debt.

To put on a resume he is planning to send out to the world for a job thats not lined up already - NO WAY. Just more debt.

My DH is sure of it. I have my doubts but hoping he's right as he just started.