So I’m an incoming senior at a CSU. This coming year, I will be taking graduate courses. If I stay at this CSU school for Grad school, the graduate courses I took in undergrad will transfer over and I’ll get my Master’s Degree in the Spring of 2018. These graduate courses may also transfer to other CSU schools. However, if I go to a UC, none of my graduate courses will transfer over, and I’ll have to wait till the Spring of 2019 to get my Master’s Degree. Would the second choice, in the long run, be better? Will staying in the CSU system for Grad School limit the kinds of jobs I could get? Which path will earn me more money in the long run? Thanks!
In general, less time in school, (spending money) and more time in the workforce (making money) the better.
Say that extra year at a UC costs $40k including living expenses - (could be high or low depending what you plan to study and where). You are also forgoing a salary that could range from $50 to $80k. So, in round numbers, it costs another $100k for the UC masters. If you think you’ll make $15k-$20k more per year with the UC pedigree, then it is probably worth it. If the salary gap is more like $5k, it probably isn’t. Ten years after graduation, it won’t matter much where you got your degree, you will earn what you are worth in the job market.
Clearly, this isn’t true for all fields of study at all CSUs an UCs.
What are you thinking of studying and where?
I’m in STEM. I’m thinking of looking at all the UCs.