Cheap Public Vs. Expensive Private

[SenorChuy]

I am seeking some assistance from the collective wisdom of this board. I have a situation that is all too familiar around here.

School A) Local public university. Cut and dry education. Very cheap. I can keep my job as all the classes are at night. Easy to finish in 2 years. The degree would help me with my current job by slightly increasing my pay and making me more competitive for better positions, and possibly help me break into my target field.

School Private, research oriented, Top 50 school. Very expensive, limited funding. I could swing keeping my job for a year or two but I would most likely have to quit eventually to finish off the courses not offered at night. Estimated ~3 years to finish part time. The degree would help me in my current position in the same way as School A, but the difference is it would make me very marketable to my target field.

Bottom line....School B is a dream school, but is the dream worth an extra ~$60,000 worth of loans?

[TKassis]

I assume you are talking about a graduate degree.

Well, with the little information you supplied I would have to say that unless that private university you are talking about gave you a very great advantage in terms of future opportunities, high salary... then it is not worth it. By the end of the day, an employer is going to look at your degree, your grades and your past experiences. Only in few instances is he really going to base his/her decision on the name of the university you graduated from. So no it is not worth the 60,000. Go to a cheap university, study well, earn good grades, publish something and that is all you need.

[fuzzylogician]

I assume you are talking about a graduate degree.

Well, with the little information you supplied I would have to say that unless that private university you are talking about gave you a very great advantage in terms of future opportunities, high salary... then it is not worth it. By the end of the day, an employer is going to look at your degree, your grades and your past experiences. Only in few instances is he really going to base his/her decision on the name of the university you graduated from. So no it is not worth the 60,000. Go to a cheap university, study well, earn good grades, publish something and that is all you need.

Seconded. From what you wrote, it doesn't sound like the private U degree will make itself worth the investment compared to your potential income with a degree from public U. Save yourself the money and go to public U.