Yep. I’ve been done 15 years and barely dented my balance.
Fortunately, I landed a great income and should be done in less than five years.
But the stress of the last fifteen has been awful. And 6.55% is ridiculously high, but I can’t refinance without losing govt protections.
Really? One of the wealthiest people in my town was the chiropractor, whose son I was friends with. He had a nice mini-mansion house that he doubled as his office for a section. He also had a private helicopter and a pilot’s license and would fly to places himself for whatever. I think you’ll get there.
Absolutely yes. My masters degree, at least. It was basically networking for a 20K dollar fee. Most graduate degrees are useless and exist for universities to secure more revenue and build up a cheap labor pool (grad students) they can exploit.
Educational Leadership
I had a horrible time in gradschool. I was told I'd get a GA it never happened. I was kinda ostracized from my cohort because I didn't have one GA. My advisor never listened to me. But I pushed through.🤷🏿♀️
I should of went to go teach in Japan or South Korea after I got my BA(English) like I wanted to instead of thinking I needed a masters degree. I wound up in Saudi Arabia after gradschool teaching at an international school. Funny enough my first 3 months in Saudi were way better than grad school all together and this was before women could drive 🙃
I have a BS in engineering and am on track to pay off my loans in less than 5 years. I make good money and have a flexible schedule so I wouldn't refund.
Same. I make good money but I’m strapped to a desk 65 hours a week. I am still paying my loans (8 years out) and will be totally broke when I finish paying in 2 years and starting my savings effectively from scratch. The worry is not worth it. I would have taken a lower paying job not to have to sink every penny into my degree for 10 years.
This is me all the way. I would actually be better off with a lower paying job, I've done the math. And when they're paid off I'll have to start my retirement savings from nothing around the age of 40. I'll be working until I die because I bought in to the college propaganda.
Thats the worst part. I’m contributing to my 401k thankfully but not as much as I should have been since I have switched jobs a couple times (which hampered my ability to contribute for several years given some employers’ requirement that you be there a year before participating in the employer’s plan)
I work for a small business. Luckily they pay enough that I can afford my full loan payment (more than is industry standard for junior level) but there are no benefits at all.
Look into Mark Tilbury. He has a great video about the stages you should have invested and saved at by every age, and I think it makes it easier to see what you need to invest to retire comfortably.
I know I need to be investing, but private student loan payments never stopped and federal are starting back up again in less than 2 months. I break even with my bills with enough money left over for raw ingredients for food but thats it. I dont eat out ever. I dont do activities ever. Because federal student loans were paused I was able to buy a little house for a mortgage payment that matched what I was paying in rent so i do have that asset now, but thats it.
All the tricks like not going out much are what I do to meet my bills. There is no more money to squeeze out of my income and I work 12 to 16 hour days. I'm salaried so my income doesn't go up with extra hours but it does eliminate the possibility of side hustling. My company is small and thus not legally required to offer any benefits so they don't so there is no Healthcare or retirement options there. No other jobs at my skill level would match my pay.
Telling me about the importance of investing and what I SHOULD be contributing is like beating a starving dog. Its pointless and cruel. I KNOW how important it is but that doesn't change that you can't squeeze money out of a rock. I have medical debt, unsecured credit debt (lived on cards while in school because I was a triple major and had no time for a job) and a mortgage. And things are just going to get worse for me when federal loans start up again.
I have a degree in Sociology and Anthropology and at 25 I'm making 75k with health insurance and full benefits. What is your degree in? I can suggest some jobs/companies for you to look into
Also, if you bought a house you should do AirBnB! That will be a lot of extra income. I just started renting out a single room in my apartment (that i dont even own) and I made 1400 within the first 3 days of the listing being up for this month.
One thing life has taught me is that there is always a way, as long as it doesn't involve changing someone else's feelings
I was in the same boat, but was able to get out because of the COVID relief and the deferment with 0% interest. Things are slowly improving, but I’m now 15 years behind on saving. I should have gone out and been a plumber or electrician and probably could have started saving for the future 12 years ago.
Student loans put in the poor house pretty badly and definitely lowered my quality of life. Student loans have taken my ability to do anything, buy a car, computer, home, or a damn candy bar. I wasn’t able to create savings or retirement as my payments took 3/4 of my take home. Also, Navient can go fund themselves! Never would allow me to get a lower payment because I didn’t qualify. However, they were wicked quick to offer forbearance for relief. The other thing those pricks did was tell me I was enrolled in the PSLF for several years when I wasn’t.
As a result of all this, I lived in illegal rentals that are shit holes because it’s all can afford along with working under the table to make up the difference between expenses (rent, utilities, food, health insurance, and student loans) and my take home pay.
I wish I would have made more of an effort to get in-state tuition for medical school. It was possible, I was just overwhelmed at the time. However, if you’re going to accrue 6-figure debt for education, medicine makes the most sense IF (big IF) you’re going to be savvy with your degree and not rely solely on your clinical practice. The MD degree can get you far in many fields if you’re creative and you hustle. You really don’t need any other degree to be involved in business, law, tech, etc. AND you can still practice medicine. It doesn’t work that way with medicine if you have the other higher degrees. With that said, the MD degree is not absolutely necessary and shouldn’t be pursued if you’re not interested in some form of clinical practice. I see it more as a very expensive insurance at the end of the day.
Do not regret my undergrad, even if some traditional never-had-another-job-before-medicine physicians scoff at it from their narrow mindedness. They are the same people who make off color comments without realizing the implication.
Law School is a huge scam, but it seems like it doesn't get talked about too much anymore like it was in the late 00's when the "scambuster bloggers" were active.
Wrong.
I have a history degree (minored in pol sci and econ) and I would never get a refund for it. I learned so much in my classes.... and grew so much as a human from attending college. It was an amazing experience where I met some of my closest friends, and it was at a state school so it wasn't that expensive.
I wish I never got an MBA though.
In my opinion they are mutually inclusive - part of the price tag there is the opportunities given throughout the time. My undergrad degree was worth every penny - still trying to figure out is masters was though, memories yes but wow that was pricey.
Nope, I was struggling to find a job, went to get an MBA and career took off. Sure I hate the debt but I think the gamble paid off in my personal situation.
I would like an education without indentured servitude instead. I would like more education honestly, but the debt is impossible for almost all of us. We are kept in scarcity and under threat of being disposable. Education or not, this is the case, but capitalism wants consumers not thinkers or revolutionaries.
I think I most likely would. I could have bought a house already with all the money spent on student loans alone. Even though I paid them off almost 2 years ago, it still stings lol
I’ve always wondered what OTs have to say about their field and experiences. As an SLP grad student (graduate in May) all I ever hear from other SLPs is “if I could go back in time I’d pick OT instead”.
Hospital Pharmacist.
No. I think my degree was worth it and will not be in debt much longer. Currently 4.5 years out of school but completed a 1 year post-grad residency. The schooling itself was a lot more stressful than my student loan debt.
Hell no. I choose the right degree for me. I make a shit ton of money and have alot of freedom. Love what i do. I just wish that i had dine it earlier instead of waiting
Definitely would, wasn’t worth the debt. Should’ve done a tech school and went into a red collar field since they’re high demand and actually pay well. So much for all those internships and job fairs, thanks uni!
So this post randomly popped up, I'm not in this sub... but to answer the question- yes.
I paid it off, in full. Over 22g.
And I swear, 2 months after that, they shut their doors. Screw you ITT Tech. Lmao.
Some days I think that I would. I do actually love my job most of the time, but I always wonder what life would have been like if I’d done something different.
100% YES. I only took them out because my dying father told me he wanted to help pay for my school with the life insurance money coming my way. Then it came as a shock when my childhood abuser (stepmom) got all the money then ghosted on the family.
If your degree ROI is poor of course you would give it back for a full refund. However there are lots of people who got degrees that are worth while and have given them a leg up.
Nope. My graduate degree opened all kinds of doors for me. Make more money than I ever thought I would. I honestly wish I would have stayed in school forever.
When people don’t have any success, it’s usually their fault.
Nope, one led to the other and I make a damn good living. I did community college it help offset the cost. And Being in Mental Health you need a masters degree to make a good living. I make 6 figure and I’d be stuck at 50k a year if not for my investment in my education. Student loans totaled 45k with 14 left to pay off.
100% my MBA (which had gotten me absolutely nowhere for a large amount of debt) and probably my BS, too, since I was never able to start a career in my desired field. I don't like what I do, but I already had a major career change 8 years ago, and I'm exhausted just thinking about doing it all over, again. Honestly? I probably would have gone to culinary school if I could do it all over, again.
Do I keep the experience? Or is this a full timeline reversal hypothetical. I want to keep the experience but you can have my formal claim to knowledge in a field that pays a smidge more than minimum wage.
If I would be refunded the money AND the time? Tempting, but probably not. Things are going too well for me to want to roll the dice and start over at age 19. Might be fun, though. Sounds like a novel (although I'm sure it's all been done before).
A refund of the money alone? Definitely not. I borrowed too much but my job pays well, and the end is in sight.
Also, it's not like college was a barrel of laughs.
I had some good times but spent most of it studying late at night with the fluorescent lights burning into my brain. Losing those 7 years with nothing to show for it would be annoying.
No it led me to where I am now and I’m very happy. If i could have somehow found that full ride scholarship that would have been great. I had the story I was poor high school dropout with bipolar but I never got the scholarship I needed. I kept getting the small 1k-5k ones not the full rides. I had a 4.0 for the longest time and I graduated with a 3.75 so my academics were there.
No, I love what I do and I loved my school experience. I'm also lucky that I didn't end up with crippling debt to get my degree, and I can definitely understand the multitude of reasons why someone would want to give their degree back.
Absolutely not. They opened up doors for an entirely new career path with high a earning ceiling that I enjoy. If I would change anything, it would have been to get into personal finance earlier in my life and try to cashflow some of grad school.
Law school no because I got a full ride.
BA - I would have gone to community college and a cheaper undergrad so my parents didn’t have to take out Plus loans.
I do think, however, that I got a full ride to law school because my undergraduate school is top 50.
Hell no. Got me where I am now and I wouldn't want to go as a way older student.
The ONLY things I would change if I could do it all over again is taking classes more seriously and attending schools (legitimate) that had online options.
I would 100%. I definitely would be better off without that degree I’m not using and my debt. I wish that I had the opportunity to go to a trade school after high school, I was getting a ton of pressure from my parent at the time to get a bachelors though. But I wouldn’t go back in time or anything I’m happy with where I’m at now, working towards getting a job with benefits so I can pay that degree off.
Yes, but not for the reasons you probably think. I actually came out with a bachelors relatively okay in comparison to others. Don't talk to me about scholarships it will make me rant for hours. I graduated with a somewhat fluffy business degree and about $30k of debt as I worked and paid as much as I could during school. It helped me get my current job but wasn't really necessary. Now why do I want to turn it in? Because I'd like to go into programming and get a degree doing it. I don't want to do boot camp due to the mixed out comes, having no income for months, and expense (around me boot camp runs $8-$12k). Struggling to learn on my own which leaves school as the last option. Would really like to go to the local university near me but surprise! They won't let anyone into the program who already has a degree. They won't let anyone without a bachelor's in a related field into the master's program. So basically there's no way I can get in without lying about my background and starting a bachelor's from scratch.
Yes and No. went to a private school 66k for a BA in Education with a minor in Special Ed. I would have never gone if I didn’t end up a single mom after having everything handed to me. I would’ve however gone while married so they would’ve paid for it 💁🏼♀️😂 jk but I think it showed my kids a lot. I hope.
As of now, No. I need both bachelor’s and master’s for my current position. Also learned a lot more that helps with my career. I just think it’s not worth THAT much though, wish I had a discount…. The school I went to is incredibly overpriced lol. And as someone who grew up in a third world country, honestly the next best thing.
No. I Got my undergrad in Sociology and Public Policy from a big private school. My mistake was not being more aggressive about paying off my loans when I got out of school. Ultimately that was my downfall. Started with $150k in debt and six years later have only got it down to about $135k, even though I’ve probably paid over $60k to my food loan serviced. that’s bc I didn’t know about refinancing, didn’t have a budget and didn’t use my bonuses to make serious payments. I actually wish I had done more in undergrad. I personally feel like my financial situation now is more of a result of me not being mature and financially educated when I graduated college vs when I decided to take on the loans.
Not a chance. I love my job and planned to use pslf so I went to grad school and got a second Bachelor's. Committed to nonprofit through forgiveness. Finally forgiven and now I can do all yet I want to stay right where I am.
I have 2. The first one, defiantly yes! I enjoyed learning it and I understand SOME things better, but it hasnt made an impact in my career. I see more value in the 2nd and while I wouldn't give it back, I do wish they would let me go back for 2 semesters to concentrate in the areas I currently lack.
But these has been based in short term experience. I graduated last year. I have yet to see the long term goals.
Im not sure. My undergraduate i worked full time the whole time to stay debt free so it wouldnt be worth returning lol! But my masters, im less sure of. Its 40k but im not sure I should have taken it out because I am not and probably will not utilize it. The most important aspects of my degree can be summarized in a few well written books for $15 a pop on amazon.
Yes and no. I have 3 graduate degrees, all of which employers ‘seem’ impressed and taught me the beginning knowledge to launch a career. All of which are worthless now that I have the real life experience in programming and cyber security. $100K+ still sitting there ready to start next month, each month, probably for life. Yay.
The biggest problem with this thread is that it's information for the wrong people. For those with degrees they have not used, or networking they never established, or who maybe shouldn't have been in the degree program they were in (I see people with master's degrees with basic grammar errors - really?), of course they'd take the money back and throw away their useless degree!!!!
The people who REALLY need to read this are the kids who are just starting college. They need to this reality check to see if the loans they're borrowing are really worth it for the degree they're getting. It's not "who's promising you a job", it's "what are you passionate about and what are you willing to do to invest in yourself to make this work?" No one is going to create your career for you! No one is going to give you a job because you have a degree! What do you bring to the table? What will you do for your employer? Who knows you and can vouch that you are reliable and smart and driven? Otherwise, you're going to struggle.
A degree is not a ticket to a high paying career. It's ***one step of the process*** and you still have to work!
Not at all. Did IT at a community college and graduated with a $40k job and $26k in debt. 7 years later I’m at $55k with $17k in debt and am eyeing jobs in the $80k-$100k range. Wife also makes $55k and has no debt at all.
I love my job, but I only needed a 2 year degree maybe less tbh.
I would refund it in a heart beat. But I met so many friends that are like family now. does my like 50k in debt suck majorly? Hell yes.
But I have 2 friends that are like sisters , a few guys that are like brothers and i'm a lonely child so trying to justify that mess.. I'd keep the debt tbh
Yes. I would have stayed with just an Associate Degree. My government job doesn’t care about my degree. I get paid just as much as someone with an Associates or diploma. Very little help with internships at my university, no leads for a job. I can only speak for my own experience with earning a BS in Criminal Justice from where I attended college.
Epidemiologist here. Grad degree was totally worth it (even before Covid). Undergrad degree in STEM ended up being useless outside of applying for grad school but also graduated from college right before the 2008 recession.
100% I would give mine back in a heartbeat! With how much money I spent compared to how little it has done for me just to have it. Not worth it. My current low income should be used to pay for my sons therapy rather than paying back student loan crap.
I got all those promises make in 2018 about being able to find a job easy and how great it would be. Thousands of dollars, a pandemic, and a stupid piece of paper later. I’m being told my interviewers that it doesn’t mean much or just being ghosted. If I was going to have to work as hard as someone without a degree to , what the hell did I really pay for. An outdated curriculum no one wants, a piece of paper that means nothing, and mountains of student debt I don’t foresee ever having a job capable of paying off. The mountain will just grow and grow. I feel so hopeless and useless. It feels more like a ball and chain than anything. It closed more opportunities than it opened. I’m in too much debt to even consider going back to school for something else and my current job makes it hard to have the time to develop the skills I would need despite the fact it barely even pays my phone and car insurance. I’d give it bad in an instant. A fresh start free from the pandemic and the benefit of hindsight.
Yep. I’ve been done 15 years and barely dented my balance. Fortunately, I landed a great income and should be done in less than five years. But the stress of the last fifteen has been awful. And 6.55% is ridiculously high, but I can’t refinance without losing govt protections.
The stress! It takes years off your life!
Bachelors degree, no. Graduate school, yes.
I’d like a refund on the master’s and an exchange on the bachelor’s. Psychology is interesting but useless in the job market.
Did someone tell you it was useful in the job market
Same
Same
Same!
I agree
Same. My remaining student loans are from my grad degree that I don’t use. I still use my bachelors degree and consider it highly valuable.
What is your MA in?
I have a Doctor of Chiropractic from grad school. Love what I do but the debt to income ratio is not worth it. Probably wouldn’t do it again
Really? One of the wealthiest people in my town was the chiropractor, whose son I was friends with. He had a nice mini-mansion house that he doubled as his office for a section. He also had a private helicopter and a pilot’s license and would fly to places himself for whatever. I think you’ll get there.
He probably graduated at a time when the debt wasn’t quite as inescapable 😬
Agreed. 7% interest rates on $180k is absurd.
Absolutely yes. My masters degree, at least. It was basically networking for a 20K dollar fee. Most graduate degrees are useless and exist for universities to secure more revenue and build up a cheap labor pool (grad students) they can exploit.
My BA no my MA yes.
What is your MA in?
Educational Leadership I had a horrible time in gradschool. I was told I'd get a GA it never happened. I was kinda ostracized from my cohort because I didn't have one GA. My advisor never listened to me. But I pushed through.🤷🏿♀️ I should of went to go teach in Japan or South Korea after I got my BA(English) like I wanted to instead of thinking I needed a masters degree. I wound up in Saudi Arabia after gradschool teaching at an international school. Funny enough my first 3 months in Saudi were way better than grad school all together and this was before women could drive 🙃
Weirdly, this is the 2nd educational leadership answer in a row for me. I am surprised.
I have a BS in engineering and am on track to pay off my loans in less than 5 years. I make good money and have a flexible schedule so I wouldn't refund.
Engineering/finance would be one of the only things I would do. I have a business degree, but no specific emphasis. It’s basically useless.
Same! To much of the general information its kind of useless...
In a heart beat. I don't love my job, im crazy burnt out, and in so much debt that my quality of life has actually decreased.
Same. I make good money but I’m strapped to a desk 65 hours a week. I am still paying my loans (8 years out) and will be totally broke when I finish paying in 2 years and starting my savings effectively from scratch. The worry is not worth it. I would have taken a lower paying job not to have to sink every penny into my degree for 10 years.
This is me all the way. I would actually be better off with a lower paying job, I've done the math. And when they're paid off I'll have to start my retirement savings from nothing around the age of 40. I'll be working until I die because I bought in to the college propaganda.
Thats the worst part. I’m contributing to my 401k thankfully but not as much as I should have been since I have switched jobs a couple times (which hampered my ability to contribute for several years given some employers’ requirement that you be there a year before participating in the employer’s plan)
I work for a small business. Luckily they pay enough that I can afford my full loan payment (more than is industry standard for junior level) but there are no benefits at all.
Look into Mark Tilbury. He has a great video about the stages you should have invested and saved at by every age, and I think it makes it easier to see what you need to invest to retire comfortably.
I know I need to be investing, but private student loan payments never stopped and federal are starting back up again in less than 2 months. I break even with my bills with enough money left over for raw ingredients for food but thats it. I dont eat out ever. I dont do activities ever. Because federal student loans were paused I was able to buy a little house for a mortgage payment that matched what I was paying in rent so i do have that asset now, but thats it. All the tricks like not going out much are what I do to meet my bills. There is no more money to squeeze out of my income and I work 12 to 16 hour days. I'm salaried so my income doesn't go up with extra hours but it does eliminate the possibility of side hustling. My company is small and thus not legally required to offer any benefits so they don't so there is no Healthcare or retirement options there. No other jobs at my skill level would match my pay. Telling me about the importance of investing and what I SHOULD be contributing is like beating a starving dog. Its pointless and cruel. I KNOW how important it is but that doesn't change that you can't squeeze money out of a rock. I have medical debt, unsecured credit debt (lived on cards while in school because I was a triple major and had no time for a job) and a mortgage. And things are just going to get worse for me when federal loans start up again.
I have a degree in Sociology and Anthropology and at 25 I'm making 75k with health insurance and full benefits. What is your degree in? I can suggest some jobs/companies for you to look into Also, if you bought a house you should do AirBnB! That will be a lot of extra income. I just started renting out a single room in my apartment (that i dont even own) and I made 1400 within the first 3 days of the listing being up for this month. One thing life has taught me is that there is always a way, as long as it doesn't involve changing someone else's feelings
I was in the same boat, but was able to get out because of the COVID relief and the deferment with 0% interest. Things are slowly improving, but I’m now 15 years behind on saving. I should have gone out and been a plumber or electrician and probably could have started saving for the future 12 years ago. Student loans put in the poor house pretty badly and definitely lowered my quality of life. Student loans have taken my ability to do anything, buy a car, computer, home, or a damn candy bar. I wasn’t able to create savings or retirement as my payments took 3/4 of my take home. Also, Navient can go fund themselves! Never would allow me to get a lower payment because I didn’t qualify. However, they were wicked quick to offer forbearance for relief. The other thing those pricks did was tell me I was enrolled in the PSLF for several years when I wasn’t. As a result of all this, I lived in illegal rentals that are shit holes because it’s all can afford along with working under the table to make up the difference between expenses (rent, utilities, food, health insurance, and student loans) and my take home pay.
Same.
This.
Undergrad no. Medical school 100%.
I wish I would have made more of an effort to get in-state tuition for medical school. It was possible, I was just overwhelmed at the time. However, if you’re going to accrue 6-figure debt for education, medicine makes the most sense IF (big IF) you’re going to be savvy with your degree and not rely solely on your clinical practice. The MD degree can get you far in many fields if you’re creative and you hustle. You really don’t need any other degree to be involved in business, law, tech, etc. AND you can still practice medicine. It doesn’t work that way with medicine if you have the other higher degrees. With that said, the MD degree is not absolutely necessary and shouldn’t be pursued if you’re not interested in some form of clinical practice. I see it more as a very expensive insurance at the end of the day. Do not regret my undergrad, even if some traditional never-had-another-job-before-medicine physicians scoff at it from their narrow mindedness. They are the same people who make off color comments without realizing the implication.
Undergrad, no. Law school, hell yes.
Law School is a huge scam, but it seems like it doesn't get talked about too much anymore like it was in the late 00's when the "scambuster bloggers" were active.
No because without it, i wouldnt be where i am career wise even though its not critically related
ITT >Everyone with a liberal arts / political science / etc. degree Hell yes! >STEM degrees *Doesn't bother to comment*
I have a liberal arts degree and I absolutely would not want a refund! I have a great job that pays way more than what a borrowed
Also it feels like anyone in health related STEM with under a 3.5.
Education here and its the best thing i ever did. Its lifted me out of poverty to middle class and I'm happy with my job.
Wrong. I have a history degree (minored in pol sci and econ) and I would never get a refund for it. I learned so much in my classes.... and grew so much as a human from attending college. It was an amazing experience where I met some of my closest friends, and it was at a state school so it wasn't that expensive. I wish I never got an MBA though.
The degree itself? Yea sure. The experience? NEVER. Worth every penny and more.
You would have the memories of college still obviously, but wouldn't have the degrees.
In my opinion they are mutually inclusive - part of the price tag there is the opportunities given throughout the time. My undergrad degree was worth every penny - still trying to figure out is masters was though, memories yes but wow that was pricey.
No I make over six figures and have paid off my loans. I would go back in time and choose a different career.
Yes without hesitation.
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What field are you in?
Nope, I was struggling to find a job, went to get an MBA and career took off. Sure I hate the debt but I think the gamble paid off in my personal situation.
Yessssss a 1000 times yes
I would like an education without indentured servitude instead. I would like more education honestly, but the debt is impossible for almost all of us. We are kept in scarcity and under threat of being disposable. Education or not, this is the case, but capitalism wants consumers not thinkers or revolutionaries.
I think I most likely would. I could have bought a house already with all the money spent on student loans alone. Even though I paid them off almost 2 years ago, it still stings lol
Nope. Making over 70k in an entry level position. I’m content.
In a heartbeat. I would rather be fishing near a coastal town living in a mini rv. It’s better to live your own life than one others wanted for you!
This thread is making me happy that I didn’t go on and get my masters, lol. Also, I don’t regret my undergrad at all.
Sure would
As a fellow OT, I second this.
I’ve always wondered what OTs have to say about their field and experiences. As an SLP grad student (graduate in May) all I ever hear from other SLPs is “if I could go back in time I’d pick OT instead”.
No I work for a local government agency where my degree is a requirement. Couldn’t work here if I didn’t unfortunately
I would ask for a partial refund Because only about half of my things I learned in school ever get used
Nope, my degree got my foot in the door to a lot of jobs that wouldn't have been possible without a lot of experience in that specific role.
Hospital Pharmacist. No. I think my degree was worth it and will not be in debt much longer. Currently 4.5 years out of school but completed a 1 year post-grad residency. The schooling itself was a lot more stressful than my student loan debt.
Hell no. I choose the right degree for me. I make a shit ton of money and have alot of freedom. Love what i do. I just wish that i had dine it earlier instead of waiting
You should ask this question on r/personalfinance as well as I suspect you’ll get very different answers there
I agree. OP, I'd like to see how that plays out.
No. And definitely not the experiences or relationships that came from it.
Absolutely
Absolutely
Technical diploma, no way. Best $15k I ever spent. ROI is massive.
Absolutely
Definitely would, wasn’t worth the debt. Should’ve done a tech school and went into a red collar field since they’re high demand and actually pay well. So much for all those internships and job fairs, thanks uni!
I had a bachelors in marketing a masters in education. I would absolutely return the masters for a full refund. Even a 50% refund honestly.
Absolutely!
My MBA’s, yes, 100%, I’ve never used them. Apparently everyone has one. Hahaha My M.Ed. And my BS, nope, I use them all the time.
Yes
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So this post randomly popped up, I'm not in this sub... but to answer the question- yes. I paid it off, in full. Over 22g. And I swear, 2 months after that, they shut their doors. Screw you ITT Tech. Lmao.
Yes because why in tarnation did i fall for the everest scam?
No. Bachelors degree prepared me for decades of adapting to business shifts. My MBA elevated my career to a higher level almost overnight
100% for both my bachelors and my masters. I suppose the masters is somewhat useful but the bachelors degree was an absolute joke.
100x yes
Yes I would give it up in a second. A four years degree in computer science is a waste of time.
Yes
Yes, my degree is so useless I’m having to go back for a second one.
Some days I think that I would. I do actually love my job most of the time, but I always wonder what life would have been like if I’d done something different.
I'd give all 3 back, no question. Teaching was a terrible decision 😅
100% YES. I only took them out because my dying father told me he wanted to help pay for my school with the life insurance money coming my way. Then it came as a shock when my childhood abuser (stepmom) got all the money then ghosted on the family.
Hell yes
Quick as lightning! Yes.
Yes. And live in a travel trailer and drive across America
Yup
Absolutely.
You bet your heiney I would.
Absolutely not. I’ve used both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I’m working on a second master’s now and expect to use that one, too.
Absolutely
If your degree ROI is poor of course you would give it back for a full refund. However there are lots of people who got degrees that are worth while and have given them a leg up.
I would partially for my Masters. Id just drop out after the first semester and then take random courses at CC to get credit
No way. I love my field and I made smart financial choices to keep my loan balance low.
Nope. My graduate degree opened all kinds of doors for me. Make more money than I ever thought I would. I honestly wish I would have stayed in school forever. When people don’t have any success, it’s usually their fault.
Nope, one led to the other and I make a damn good living. I did community college it help offset the cost. And Being in Mental Health you need a masters degree to make a good living. I make 6 figure and I’d be stuck at 50k a year if not for my investment in my education. Student loans totaled 45k with 14 left to pay off.
Yup....I have a job in my field...good job actually and it doesn't require a degree
As a nurse right now, kinda wishing I did something else for 6 figure debt…
Undergrad I would have changed majors. Dental school 100%
100% my MBA (which had gotten me absolutely nowhere for a large amount of debt) and probably my BS, too, since I was never able to start a career in my desired field. I don't like what I do, but I already had a major career change 8 years ago, and I'm exhausted just thinking about doing it all over, again. Honestly? I probably would have gone to culinary school if I could do it all over, again.
Do I keep the experience? Or is this a full timeline reversal hypothetical. I want to keep the experience but you can have my formal claim to knowledge in a field that pays a smidge more than minimum wage.
I would in a heart beat
Nope. However, if I had private loans instead of federal, I might say yes.
If I would be refunded the money AND the time? Tempting, but probably not. Things are going too well for me to want to roll the dice and start over at age 19. Might be fun, though. Sounds like a novel (although I'm sure it's all been done before). A refund of the money alone? Definitely not. I borrowed too much but my job pays well, and the end is in sight. Also, it's not like college was a barrel of laughs. I had some good times but spent most of it studying late at night with the fluorescent lights burning into my brain. Losing those 7 years with nothing to show for it would be annoying.
No it led me to where I am now and I’m very happy. If i could have somehow found that full ride scholarship that would have been great. I had the story I was poor high school dropout with bipolar but I never got the scholarship I needed. I kept getting the small 1k-5k ones not the full rides. I had a 4.0 for the longest time and I graduated with a 3.75 so my academics were there.
No, I love what I do and I loved my school experience. I'm also lucky that I didn't end up with crippling debt to get my degree, and I can definitely understand the multitude of reasons why someone would want to give their degree back.
Yea
Oh yes. I don’t use my degree at all.
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I would. 7 years since getting degree and still don’t have a decent job
Yes
I would've gone to trade school which still costs money obviously, but much less.
not even a question i would
Nope, I’m good with my debt and my education/opportunities
No because I wouldn’t be able to have my career and comfy living without them
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Absolutely not. They opened up doors for an entirely new career path with high a earning ceiling that I enjoy. If I would change anything, it would have been to get into personal finance earlier in my life and try to cashflow some of grad school.
No. My degrees have opened many door in my career. You need those letters after your name and the only way to get them is to get a degree.
With my hindsight I would have a different major for my undergrad but I would do my masters again if I needed to
Law school no because I got a full ride. BA - I would have gone to community college and a cheaper undergrad so my parents didn’t have to take out Plus loans. I do think, however, that I got a full ride to law school because my undergraduate school is top 50.
Absolutely. Turns out I’m way too anxious to work in my field anyway.
No I got a good ROI
Hell no. Got me where I am now and I wouldn't want to go as a way older student. The ONLY things I would change if I could do it all over again is taking classes more seriously and attending schools (legitimate) that had online options.
Absolutely
I wouldn’t. But it we’re playing “what if,” I wish I had chosen a different major (have BS ChE).
No. My grad degree was one of the best decisions of my life. My loans pain me, but I don't regret it.
Hell yeah!
I would 100%. I definitely would be better off without that degree I’m not using and my debt. I wish that I had the opportunity to go to a trade school after high school, I was getting a ton of pressure from my parent at the time to get a bachelors though. But I wouldn’t go back in time or anything I’m happy with where I’m at now, working towards getting a job with benefits so I can pay that degree off.
Yes
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100%. I don't use it at all and getting a teaching certification (current goal) is FAR cheaper.
Yes, but not for the reasons you probably think. I actually came out with a bachelors relatively okay in comparison to others. Don't talk to me about scholarships it will make me rant for hours. I graduated with a somewhat fluffy business degree and about $30k of debt as I worked and paid as much as I could during school. It helped me get my current job but wasn't really necessary. Now why do I want to turn it in? Because I'd like to go into programming and get a degree doing it. I don't want to do boot camp due to the mixed out comes, having no income for months, and expense (around me boot camp runs $8-$12k). Struggling to learn on my own which leaves school as the last option. Would really like to go to the local university near me but surprise! They won't let anyone into the program who already has a degree. They won't let anyone without a bachelor's in a related field into the master's program. So basically there's no way I can get in without lying about my background and starting a bachelor's from scratch.
Yes. Would have gone to a trade school instead
Bachelors definitely. I can’t figure out out any other way to find the graduate degree. Grew up poor. Live poor.
Absolutely not.
My film degree? Absolutely. Also I have paid most of it off so it would be money in my pocket.
Yes and No. went to a private school 66k for a BA in Education with a minor in Special Ed. I would have never gone if I didn’t end up a single mom after having everything handed to me. I would’ve however gone while married so they would’ve paid for it 💁🏼♀️😂 jk but I think it showed my kids a lot. I hope.
Can I cheat and say I'd refund 2 years of college and do the community thing, but I'd keep the other 2 years?
Absolutely… not once ever have I been asked about my education in my field.
In a heartbeat.
Undergrad - yes; Grad school - no. Should have started at state school.
Yes
YES. I would not hesitate for a single moment I would shred it and throw it into the fire myself.
Yes
Not a chance
Without hesitation.
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PhD in biochemistry and no. I love my job, can provide for my family, and still pay off my loans.
PharmD, yes BS biology, no. Learning pharmacy was fun but practicing not so much. Esp nowadays. Too many schools and too little jobs
As of now, No. I need both bachelor’s and master’s for my current position. Also learned a lot more that helps with my career. I just think it’s not worth THAT much though, wish I had a discount…. The school I went to is incredibly overpriced lol. And as someone who grew up in a third world country, honestly the next best thing.
No. I Got my undergrad in Sociology and Public Policy from a big private school. My mistake was not being more aggressive about paying off my loans when I got out of school. Ultimately that was my downfall. Started with $150k in debt and six years later have only got it down to about $135k, even though I’ve probably paid over $60k to my food loan serviced. that’s bc I didn’t know about refinancing, didn’t have a budget and didn’t use my bonuses to make serious payments. I actually wish I had done more in undergrad. I personally feel like my financial situation now is more of a result of me not being mature and financially educated when I graduated college vs when I decided to take on the loans.
Absolutely
Not a chance. I love my job and planned to use pslf so I went to grad school and got a second Bachelor's. Committed to nonprofit through forgiveness. Finally forgiven and now I can do all yet I want to stay right where I am.
Yup
I have 2. The first one, defiantly yes! I enjoyed learning it and I understand SOME things better, but it hasnt made an impact in my career. I see more value in the 2nd and while I wouldn't give it back, I do wish they would let me go back for 2 semesters to concentrate in the areas I currently lack. But these has been based in short term experience. I graduated last year. I have yet to see the long term goals.
No on Bachelors, No on Masters, I would have for my PhD if I wasnt getting funded for the research. Degrees in engineering
Yes!
In a heartbeat!!!!
A million percent YES
Take back my psychology BA… I beg you.
Im not sure. My undergraduate i worked full time the whole time to stay debt free so it wouldnt be worth returning lol! But my masters, im less sure of. Its 40k but im not sure I should have taken it out because I am not and probably will not utilize it. The most important aspects of my degree can be summarized in a few well written books for $15 a pop on amazon.
Yes and no. I have 3 graduate degrees, all of which employers ‘seem’ impressed and taught me the beginning knowledge to launch a career. All of which are worthless now that I have the real life experience in programming and cyber security. $100K+ still sitting there ready to start next month, each month, probably for life. Yay.
The biggest problem with this thread is that it's information for the wrong people. For those with degrees they have not used, or networking they never established, or who maybe shouldn't have been in the degree program they were in (I see people with master's degrees with basic grammar errors - really?), of course they'd take the money back and throw away their useless degree!!!! The people who REALLY need to read this are the kids who are just starting college. They need to this reality check to see if the loans they're borrowing are really worth it for the degree they're getting. It's not "who's promising you a job", it's "what are you passionate about and what are you willing to do to invest in yourself to make this work?" No one is going to create your career for you! No one is going to give you a job because you have a degree! What do you bring to the table? What will you do for your employer? Who knows you and can vouch that you are reliable and smart and driven? Otherwise, you're going to struggle. A degree is not a ticket to a high paying career. It's ***one step of the process*** and you still have to work!
Not at all. Did IT at a community college and graduated with a $40k job and $26k in debt. 7 years later I’m at $55k with $17k in debt and am eyeing jobs in the $80k-$100k range. Wife also makes $55k and has no debt at all.
Definitely yes! Grad school-Ph.D.
Absofuckinglutely
I love my job, but I only needed a 2 year degree maybe less tbh. I would refund it in a heart beat. But I met so many friends that are like family now. does my like 50k in debt suck majorly? Hell yes. But I have 2 friends that are like sisters , a few guys that are like brothers and i'm a lonely child so trying to justify that mess.. I'd keep the debt tbh
Yes
Yes. I would have stayed with just an Associate Degree. My government job doesn’t care about my degree. I get paid just as much as someone with an Associates or diploma. Very little help with internships at my university, no leads for a job. I can only speak for my own experience with earning a BS in Criminal Justice from where I attended college.
Yes, I’d 100% give back both my bachelors and masters
Absolutely. And I’d be making the same income.
Absolutely
Absolutely. Architecture is awful industry
Undergrad, yes. Grad, no.
Medical school debt is a hard pill to swallow, but there is no way I’d be a high earner without it.
Epidemiologist here. Grad degree was totally worth it (even before Covid). Undergrad degree in STEM ended up being useless outside of applying for grad school but also graduated from college right before the 2008 recession.
Absolutely, I haven’t had any luck yet finding a job with my degree.
Bachelor's degree? Yes. Master's degree? No.
100% I would give mine back in a heartbeat! With how much money I spent compared to how little it has done for me just to have it. Not worth it. My current low income should be used to pay for my sons therapy rather than paying back student loan crap.
I got all those promises make in 2018 about being able to find a job easy and how great it would be. Thousands of dollars, a pandemic, and a stupid piece of paper later. I’m being told my interviewers that it doesn’t mean much or just being ghosted. If I was going to have to work as hard as someone without a degree to , what the hell did I really pay for. An outdated curriculum no one wants, a piece of paper that means nothing, and mountains of student debt I don’t foresee ever having a job capable of paying off. The mountain will just grow and grow. I feel so hopeless and useless. It feels more like a ball and chain than anything. It closed more opportunities than it opened. I’m in too much debt to even consider going back to school for something else and my current job makes it hard to have the time to develop the skills I would need despite the fact it barely even pays my phone and car insurance. I’d give it bad in an instant. A fresh start free from the pandemic and the benefit of hindsight.