Should I go back to school?
A degree buys credentials, time, and a socially acceptable pause. Work out which of those you are actually buying — because only one of them needs tuition. Then price it honestly against the years it costs.
What to actually weigh
Which of the three are you buying?
Credentials open specific doors. Time buys a reset. A pause buys permission to stop. Naming which one you want tells you whether school is the cheapest way to get it.
What does the door actually require?
Look at ten people doing the job you want. Count how many took this route. If most did not, the degree is buying something other than the job.
What is the real cost line?
Tuition is the small number. Foregone income, momentum, and the version of your career that would have compounded meanwhile are the large ones.
Frequently asked
Is going back to school worth it?
It depends entirely on whether the field gates entry on credentials. In regulated professions the degree is the door. In most others it is an expensive proxy for a portfolio you could build faster.
How do I decide between a masters and work experience?
Ask what the next role screens on. If job listings ask for the degree, study. If they ask for a portfolio, build one. If they ask for a network, neither — go where the people are.