Have any of you seen this phenomenon? Where people in decent jobs/careers get bored or whatever, so they pay for 2 - 4+ years of college education, only to stay put when they graduate?

I know one guy who decided to stay put after finishing off a degree to become a liscensed substance abuse counselor when he realized that starting over on that field from scratch in his 40's was going to suck because he'd probably be taking a pay cut for 5+ years, as well as having way less vacation time/etc. Another example is a woman I know who went to nurisng school to become a liscensed RN in her early to mid-30's. She wound up staying put despite missing out on a substantial pay increase opportunity to be an RN somewhere, because she realized starting over after having like 15 years in at her old job and the benefits that came with it, for a job that would probably require a lot more real work from her, was gonna suck.

Imagine spending $20k - $40k+ to obtain a new degree that isn't in any way required for the job you currently have, then bail on changing careers/jobs at all once you actually graduate when you realize the grass isn't always greener. Do they think people are going to give a crap about the wall decoration degree they earned that they literally made zero attempts to use when they could have used that cash to buy a nice new car, pay down a house loan, save or retirement, etc. instead? It's one thing when some idiots who are 18 - early 20's do it, but how are people in their 30's and beyond that short sighted?

Know a few people that are perpetually in school. One guy is a successful software engineer. Also tutors youngsters looking to get into programming etc. He went back to school to get a law degree. He admitted that it was just for the lulz srs.

I know someone who has "went back to school" to get his MBA 3 separate times. He just recently quit again. LOL

This. I’d even say the same for Ivy League MBAs. If you’re capable enough to get into one then you’re capable enough to not need it.


The opportunity cost of missed 3 years of working for the 2 year program, plus tuition and living costs (80 - 100k) will more times than not put you in the red long term. That’s several hundred thousand dollars you will be costing yourself long term, if not more.

And the job you end up after the program is likely the same caliber if you just had those 3 years of experience + networking.


There are obvious exceptions. If your background is like teach for America or something and you want to jump into high finance, or if the school is paid for. But even if you get a 60k - 100k salary increase with your shiny new MBA - likely wasn’t worth it

With the GI bill, I’ll probably go back to school for the lulz too. Might as well use the rest of it up for the housing allowance.

I went for the first time in my late 20s after an injury ended a different career.

No regrets so far. Did actually join the field I then studied though.

**** school did two semesters after I left the military I don’t see the point in it unless you are trying to become a doctor or something

Cannot confirm, went back a little over a decade ago for a two-year technical diploma (aka associate's degree) and went from making $35k/year to high $200s right now with more room to run

That sounds like bullchit. I know you can do a lot with the right associate's degree, but there is no way in hell that any 2-year degree was the make or break between $35k /year to $275k+. If your story is true, then the increase was more about work experience, moving, willingness to apply for new kinds of work, etc. than just the degree itself.

Well I obviously didn't start at that, I started at $60k salary right out of school and have gradually worked up to this point over the last seven years.

Didn't move permanently but I travel constantly for work. Right now I'm essentially doing a more advanced version of what I started doing six months after graduation, but more years of experience and more ability = more pay


Going back to college was legit one of the best decisions I've ever made


Edit: Just realized you’re specifically talking about people who already had good jobs. That wasn’t me, I went back to school to get out of dead end jobs.

Ignore me

I do not know this.

I do disagree with people acting like no difference exists between top Ivy degrees and grinding like it's all about the mentality and individual. More than half of 'elite' work is political b.s.ing.

if people earn their own money and spend it on education i won't fault them. i agree it's odd to not attempt a move upward after attaining a degree, but some people lack drive even when educated.