@psyguy

I acknowledged that this program is way more expensive than other options and that that's a huge factor to consider. I can double count credits for this degree so it would take me two years of full time classes and then one semester with one course. I've been talking with financial aid, and the cost is $49k tuition + books with no help (and I am already expecting a couple of grants). I have enough to cover living expenses (living humbly).

And yes, perhaps I wasn't more clear. I am pretty sure I can save more in IE than I can in the US teaching positions that I am in now (even saving 43% of my current salary is only $12000). So in essence, I was mainly fact -checking if I could save enough to pay off the potential debt in a few years. You confirmed that I can. I still don't know where I'm going to school, but this has definitely given me something to think about and I appreciate your input as someone who has tons of experience in the international community. I plan on having most of my career in the US in Science Education and Curriculum (thus my prospective degree choice) and most of the jobs I'm seeing in that field require a hard science masters, but like to see education masters as well. I guess I'd rather live like a monk in a foreign country while paying off debts than feeling stuck in one place in the US. Just a different perspective I suppose.

Not sure I could morally skip out on my loans even if it were still an option.

Thanks for your input! It was the first that I'd heard of University of the People. Truly interesting concept! Most schools in the US don't recognize it though so I'm not sure that it's much of an option for those who want to use a masters to move up the pay scale if they return to teaching in the US, but awesome that it exists and that it's helping people around the world obtain an affordable degree.

Thanks for your response! Yes, UofM ain't cheap! However, I do live in-state and actually am likely to get a teaching assistantship so my degree(s) would only cost around $35k and take me 2 1/2 years (though I understand that that is still much more than other masters programs). I'm definitely still considering all of my options and looking at the return on investment side of the debt/degree. I guess I was hoping that because UofM is frequently ranked as one of the top 30 universities in the world that it might hold a bit more clout, but I totally understand that in many foreign countries Harvard, Stanford, etc. will be the only ones that are really recognized.

I have a question about your mentioning of your student loans because I didn't quite understand it. When you say "leave your student loans behind" do you mean just walking away from them and not paying them? Since I'm planning on returning to the US after not too long of a stint abroad I'm not sure that that's an option that would work for me.

Hello, I have a BS in Environmental Studies and an elementary certificate. I taught at an international school (using that term loosely...) in Albania for one year and have taught 2nd grade in the US for the past two. I am looking to go back to school to dive deeper into science education and have been accepted to a dual masters program for Natural Resources and Education at the University of Michigan. I am really excited about diving into academics again, but will need to take out some loans to pay for it. I assume that with my experience and adding a relevant degree on top of that I would be more marketable to international schools. Do you think so? I can live frugally and would be teaching abroad after my degree with the intent of paying off the debt faster. Does anyone have experience with this? I'm just trying to look at all my options and right now this seems like a good one for me! I appreciate all input!