I notice a lot of people have posted about this topic, both this year and in the past, but it's all very specific about their programs or someone is talking about PhDs, which is really a differently entity entirely. Of course, this issue is one I am dealing with, but I think it's also a good topic to explore more hypothetically as well, so I've amended the information to make it more generic, and perhaps more helpful for the GradCafe community at large.
So, here's the question:
Is it worth paying for a Master's degree?
The (hypothetical) situation: You have been accepted to a Master's program at your top pick. Funding is more rare for Master's in most fields(this one included), and no offer has been (or is expected to be) made. The school is high-ranked, there are several professors in the department doing relevant and interesting research, and the courses are also relevant and interesting. The cost to attend until degree completion would be around $50,000 USD, and would be born almost entirely by loans, private and government. There is already undergraduate debt, but less than $15,000. Other schools have also offered acceptance, but with similar funding issues.
Is it worth paying for this degree?
Would you consider the situation differently if there were a full funding offer from another school, but with lower-ranking, only 1 or maybe 2 professors doing relevant work, less-relevant coursework, and possibly, less opportunities?
Is paying for a good Master's degree and getting the name recognition, networking potential, and opportunity potential worth the amount of debt incurred?
What do you think?