I think I'd pay now if I felt certain I could entirely graduate in 9 months. Then I would try to finish courses faster, as if I were graduating in 6 months, so that if some unexpected thing came up in my life, I could push the date back twice and still graduate in 12 months. Over the course of a year, I would expect more than one "unexpected" thing to come up, but not necessarily big enough things that it forces me to push back the date.
I think it depends on someone's life and obligations more than anything.
I think it depends on someone's life and obligations more than anything.