So do you think a MPP is worth 50k+ in debt? American U

[bball3212]

First off, does anyone know much about the MPP at American U, as in do most people go full time, work during, etc.

Second, should I be considering going (I am accepted) if I dont get any scholarships and may go 50k+ in debt? My other serious one I am considering if I get in is the Monterey institute of international studies getting an international policy studies masters, and learning Arabic is a part of that. That would require about the same amount of debt.

I just dont know if I should bite the bullet and do it, MPP sounds perfect for my interests but the low salary and paying of debts for 30 years doesnt.

[lbjane]

I think that 50K of debt for a public policy or IR job is a lot, especially if you plan to work in federal government and stay in DC where the cost of living is relatively high. There are any number of loan calculators out there that can tell you what your monthly loan payment would be with a variety of amounts and interest rates. Take a look at that and see if you can manage 50k debt with your current budget and projected income after your degree. There are some public service loan repayment programs, but they may not be around indefinitely and you might not always work in public service. A person's interests can change or you may find that, after starting a family, a private sector salary is more appealing. So, while those programs are there, I wouldn't necessarily count on that alone to take care of your loans.

I also don't think that you necessarily have to take out 50k of debt. You might consider taking a year, working on improving your resume, and applying again, but also to a wider range of schools. If you got in to American and Monterey, odds are good you might get in to some other schools with some financial aid if you widen your net. You might also look at programs located in places with a lower cost of living. I think that applicants generally put more emphasis on the prestige of an public policy program than most employers do. In my experience, where you get your public policy or IR degree matters a lot less than where you get your MBA or law degree. If you want to work for the federal government, they don't really care where you got your degree. Most non-profits aren't uber-name conscious either. Talk with the career offices at a variety of schools and you'll see lots of the same employers come up over and over.

Hope this helps a bit.

[avocado9]

I think one of the main advantages of going to AU is the location - I know a lot of students who worked during the day for the federal govt or at a nonprofit, and then took classes at night. It takes longer to graduate, but at least you'll be making some money and getting relevant work experience. I've heard that most of the full-time (day) students in the AU MPP are younger (went straight to grad school from undergrad).

In regards to $ - since a MPP is a professional degree it'll probably cost at least 50k unless you get scholarships.