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Message
Paying for Grad School
Posted on 2/9/26 at 8:31 pm
Posted on 2/9/26 at 8:31 pm
So I just learned that the deferred interest loans we got in undergrad (subsidized loans) aren't offered to grad school students. My employer offers to reimburse tuition up to the $5250 tax-free IRS limit per calendar year. This will leave me with about $12k out of pocket. It appears that interest-deferred loans are not an option, and I'd sooner just pay out of pocket than get strapped with an 8% interest loan. Are there any other ideas I'm missing? Any way to pay to with pre-tax income like an FSA or something?
This post was edited on 2/9/26 at 8:34 pm
6
Posted on 2/9/26 at 8:52 pm to Yeti_Chaser
Do you need to go to grad school?
Posted on 2/9/26 at 9:22 pm to Yeti_Chaser
How long have you been working? How long is grad school?
Not a good idea but if you have a 401K you could take a loan out on it.
Not a good idea but if you have a 401K you could take a loan out on it.
Posted on 2/9/26 at 10:04 pm to Yeti_Chaser
Per the other post
What kind of masters are you getting?
What kind of masters are you getting?
Posted on 2/9/26 at 10:42 pm to dkreller
Not taking a loan out of my 401k. I can afford to pay it out of pocket just don't want to miss out on any tax/interest advantages that might be out there.
It's for an MBA. No, I don't need it. But the timing is perfect right now and if I can get it cheap enough I'll just do it. I don't really expect it to increase my income in the future but it will give me some more flexibility to live where I want
It's for an MBA. No, I don't need it. But the timing is perfect right now and if I can get it cheap enough I'll just do it. I don't really expect it to increase my income in the future but it will give me some more flexibility to live where I want
Posted on 2/10/26 at 12:11 am to Yeti_Chaser
quote:
I don't really expect it to increase my income in the future
If you had shareholders, and you wanted to allocate some of the firm’s resources for negative IRR or NPV < 0, you must be in green energy business? Kidding.
No new insight to offer on paying for grad school. However, if you expect nil return for significant cost / time / effort, you sure this is the ONLY route to greater work flexibility in future?
The world of work will change rapidly and dramatically with AI. Nothing is certain.
My advice is focus on unlocking your full potential. MBA may (or may not) be the way. Whatever is the way, be clear on the value you will create for you very significant investment.
Good luck!
This post was edited on 2/10/26 at 12:16 am
Posted on 2/10/26 at 5:25 am to Yeti_Chaser
If you have the cash to pay out of pocket just do that.
I assuming you have done your research on MBAs and already realize that value of the vast majority of them are worthless in today’s job market especially if you are not getting one from a top school?
I assuming you have done your research on MBAs and already realize that value of the vast majority of them are worthless in today’s job market especially if you are not getting one from a top school?
Posted on 2/10/26 at 6:13 am to masoncj
Yea I understand that. The thought is that I want to break off from my current employer and get into independent consulting at some point and this will give me a bit more credibility. If I do it now then the time and effort will not be a factor and it's literally just the cost. So I'm trying to see how much I can minimize the cost before deciding whether or not to pursue it
Posted on 2/10/26 at 7:23 am to Yeti_Chaser
Independent consulting on what topic? I don’t see a MBA being a difference maker going that path.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 7:51 am to Yeti_Chaser
MBA would be a very poor decision
Posted on 2/10/26 at 7:55 am to lynxcat
Cost, Schedule, Risks for defense projects
Or maybe into owners rep/advisory roles
Or maybe into owners rep/advisory roles
This post was edited on 2/10/26 at 7:59 am
Posted on 2/10/26 at 8:02 am to Yeti_Chaser
Are you sure it will even matter? What’s your income and are you not using the standard deduction anyway?
Posted on 2/10/26 at 8:35 am to baldona
No I'm not, which again, I'm only doing it if the out of pocket cost is very minimal. Combined household income is $220k and yea we use the standard deduction
This post was edited on 2/10/26 at 8:36 am
Posted on 2/10/26 at 8:40 am to Yeti_Chaser
quote:
Paying for Grad School
The school payed me to go to gradschool
Posted on 2/10/26 at 8:48 am to The Baker
quote:
The school payed me to go to gradschool
I'm guessing they didn't "payed" you to get a Master's in English.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 9:01 am to reds on reds on reds
quote:
I'm guessing they didn't "payed" you to get a Master's in English.
Damn
I was driving. No not English
Anyways, the best advice I received about this decision was from one of my undergrad professors: dont go to graduate school unless its paid for.
This post was edited on 2/10/26 at 9:04 am
Posted on 2/10/26 at 9:04 am to The Baker
quote:
dont go to graduate school unless its paid for.
100%
There's too many companies that will pay for grad school to pay for it out of pocket.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 9:11 am to The Baker
quote:Sound advice and you’re not following it.
Anyways, the best advice I received about this decision was from one of my undergrad professors: dont go to graduate school unless its paid for.
Echoing others’ advice here: the vast majority of folks in 2036 or 2046 will care very little about the difference between a person with or without an MBA in the vast majority of applications.
It matters to the world less every minute.
You’re contemplating investing in a depreciating asset.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 9:11 am to reds on reds on reds
quote:
100% There's too many companies that will pay for grad school to pay for it out of pocket.
This or get a fellowship or a fully funded assistantship. In my case, I was funded by an NSF grant. Full tuition, stipend, health care. This is the norm for STEM.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 9:12 am to soccerfüt
quote:
Sound advice and you’re not following it.
I did follow it. Not sure what you mean.
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