Should you go back to school if you’re still in debt?
This is one of those questions that can be tricky to answer , right?
We are going to break it down in this post and attack the question from many angles.
Here we go.
Should you go back to school if you dropped out of college and still owe on student loans?
If you dropped out of college for one reason or the other and have made the decision to go back and you intend on borrowing money to do that, it is important that you would have kept up with the payments to be eligible for more money.
In other words, if you have not kept up with paying your previous loans and you plan on going back to school, now is the time to get your loans back in good standing.
Until your loans are back in good standing, unfortunately, your decision to return to school and pay for it with student loans will have to be delayed.
Action Steps to Getting Your Student Loans Back in Good Standing
While it varies from lender to lender, in general you will have to:
(Note: Take a look at the different income-based repayment programs available to you under the federal program or maybe look into side hustling to pay them off faster?)
It is also possible for you to apply for a deferment if you are studying at least half-time at an accredited college.
You can call up your lenders, show proof of the fact that you are attending school and fill out the necessary paperwork for a deferment.
Your chances of getting a deferment increase if your previous loans are in good standing.
Should You Back To School If You Graduated But Are Still In Debt?
This situation can be argued for and against on several levels.
There are instances where going to back to school even though you are in debt is the right decision.
If you are going into a professional vocation like medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, education or engineering, going back to school after you have incurred debt as an undergraduate can be a smart move.
The skills in this profession are very specific and there tends to hardly be a shortage of high-paying positions.
The ability to snag a job almost immediately after graduation and high-income earning potential of these professions - thus increasing the chances of paying off loans quicker would therefore be the argument for going back to school in this instance.
If you are not in a professional vocation like the ones named above, it might be beneficial for you to further your education if a higher degree significantly increases the chances of you getting into a better position.
The truth is that, sometimes a master’s degree or doctorate might be the barrier to entry for a particular field.
If there is no getting around that and there is indeed an assurance of better income opportunities after you have graduated , then going back to school while you are still in debt is not a bad idea.
If your education is completely paid for. This is a no-brainer. If your company has agreed to foot the bill for furthering your education, or you have won a grant or scholarship that covers all your educational expenses, there is no reason not to take up the opportunity even if you are in debt.
When Is It Not A Good Idea?
Hardly will you read on this blog a suggestion to simply quit your education.
This is a blog geared toward helping you excel in your financial life while getting an education after all.
However, there does come a time when furthering your education while you are still in debt will put further stress on your financial situation.
We want to avoid that.
Closing Thoughts
Like I said at the beginning of this post, there is no simple answer to this question.
At the end of the day, you will have to take stock of your overall life situation and determine if going back to school makes financial sense in the long-term.
The points raised in this post are intended to be guideposts in helping you reach those decisions.
Would you consider going back to school if you're still in debt? Your thoughts are welcome in the comments.
Shiane Wiley says
Can you take on-line classes if your in loan default ?
Robert Farrington says
You can always take classes, you just won’t get any financial aid or student loans to pay for it. You’ll have to pay for it 100% out of your own pocket.
You really need to get your student loans out of default: https://thecollegeinvestor.com/22174/student-loan-default/
Brittany Benning says
Quick question,
My loans were in default, but the government took my tax return and now my loans are completely paid off. Am I eligible to get another loan?
Robert Farrington says
First, are you sure your loans are completely paid off? It’s rare for that to happen via a tax refund offset. Usually, the offset covers collection costs and accrued interest. Honestly, you’d be the first person we’ve ever seen that had their loans paid off this way.
Second, if that’s really the case, you likely aren’t eligible for more financial aid since the loan was paid via the collection agency.
If you loan is still out there, you have the ability to regain access to Federal aid by getting your loan out of default.
Angela says
I’m in the process of getting my loans out of default. I was unemployed for a time due to medical reasons that have semi resolved in the last year. I still have medical debt nothing that has hit my credit, and I’m making minimum payments on. I’m two months away from getting out of default. I’m currently employed through Starbucks as a shift leader, and am eligible for the tuition reimbursement program. I am trying to see if going back to school would be a good step for me. I’m hesitant to take out more loans to help cover the 50% cost of tuition I need to cover. Any advice, I have been researching the program and trying to understand, and plan to call the school for more information. Ideally I’d like to pay that out of pocket to avoid loans. Advice would be appreciated.
Robert Farrington says
I would only go back to school if you think it would help you make more money. What are your plans? Will spending that money earn you more?
What’s the career you want? Do you enjoy Starbuck/retail? Do you want to change fields?
My initial gut is no – wait a few years and get your money sorted out. But maybe you have plans?
Steff says
When I was fresh out of high school I was scammed into taking online courses at a technical school (which at the time wasn’t even properly accredited) which put me in a significant amount of debt ($30Kish.) I never had enough to pay any of it off and honestly was entirely uneducated on how debt and credit work. Now here I am seven years later (after the loans have defaulted) checking my credit reports and I see that the debt has been sold to collections. My current debt is rounding up to $10k and everything will be off my reports by 2022. I’m thinking about ways to rebuild my credit in the mean time. Should I wait until at least 2022 to even consider going back to school? Will I even be able to?
Robert Farrington says
You need to get out of default by rehabilitating your student loans ASAP. Not only will this help you financially, but you’ll never be able to get more financial aid and student loans as long as you have the default: https://thecollegeinvestor.com/22174/student-loan-default/