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+--- Thread: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc (/Thread-Advice-needed-Tier-1-Masters-or-Doc)
Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - irvineboy - 09-09-2026
Looking for some advice and different perspectives.
Career advancement isn’t my goal. This is primarily about learning and, admittedly, personal fulfillment. I already have multiple master’s degrees, including one from UMPI.
I’ve been accepted into several doctoral programs, as well as a master’s program at a more prestigious university. Here’s what I’m weighing:
- Master’s at a well-known, prestigious university: Approximately $60,000 and one year to complete with transfer credits.
- Doctorate at a lesser-known university: Approximately $30,000 and one to two years to complete.
If career advancement weren’t the deciding factor, which would you choose? Would you place more value on the higher degree or the stronger university name and network?
I’d especially appreciate hearing from anyone who has faced a similar decision.
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - ss20ts - 09-09-2026
I'm in a similar situation. I have 2 master's degrees and 2 graduate certificates. I'm debating between completing a third master's which would only be 4 more courses because of 1 of my certificates or going into my DBA. The master's I could start in November and be competed in April then worry about my DBA. I'm heavily leaning towards completing the master's because if I don't do it now, I never will. It's only 4 more classes and I'm more than halfway done with it. I also get a tuition discount due to being an alumni. I keep hoping Amberton begins a DBA now that they have a doctoral degree.
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - Maltus - 09-12-2026
(09-09-2026, 05:09 PM)ss20ts Wrote: I'm in a similar situation. I have 2 master's degrees and 2 graduate certificates. I'm debating between completing a third master's which would only be 4 more courses because of 1 of my certificates or going into my DBA. The master's I could start in November and be competed in April then worry about my DBA. I'm heavily leaning towards completing the master's because if I don't do it now, I never will. It's only 4 more classes and I'm more than halfway done with it. I also get a tuition discount due to being an alumni. I keep hoping Amberton begins a DBA now that they have a doctoral degree.
Well the big question is: What is it, you're trying to archieve and what helps you more on the way: A Master's or a Doctorate?
So what do you need the degree for?
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - SteveFoerster - 09-12-2026
Since you say you don't need it for anything professional, I'll vote for the the doctorate simply because it's cheaper and that will cut the cost of your hobby in half.
And I say that as someone who did a Master's through a school with a pretty big alumni network and never gotten anything out of it other than requests for donations. To be honest, I think this one of those things that people cite as some sort of amazing benefit only because the actual marginal value is rarely scrutinized.
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - Charles Fout - 09-12-2026
Have you a mentor?
Conversation[s] with your mentor and/or someone who is incumbent in the sort of position you aspire to will serve you well.
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - irvineboy - 09-13-2026
(09-12-2026, 03:42 PM)SteveFoerster Wrote: Since you say you don't need it for anything professional, I'll vote for the the doctorate simply because it's cheaper and that will cut the cost of your hobby in half.
And I say that as someone who did a Master's through a school with a pretty big alumni network and never gotten anything out of it other than requests for donations. To be honest, I think this one of those things that people cite as some sort of amazing benefit only because the actual marginal value is rarely scrutinized.
That's great insight. One of the main reasons I originally wanted an additional MA was the school name, alumni network, and association with the university. I wonder how much benefit there is with their Tier 1 schools for individuals later in their careers with multiple degrees versus someone just starting out.
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - ss20ts - 09-13-2026
(09-12-2026, 03:42 PM)SteveFoerster Wrote: Since you say you don't need it for anything professional, I'll vote for the the doctorate simply because it's cheaper and that will cut the cost of your hobby in half.
And I say that as someone who did a Master's through a school with a pretty big alumni network and never gotten anything out of it other than requests for donations. To be honest, I think this one of those things that people cite as some sort of amazing benefit only because the actual marginal value is rarely scrutinized.
Being an alumni has never helped with anything except a tuition discount and a discount on school merch. And man some colleges really do beg alumni for $$$$.
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - DegreeNerd - 09-26-2026
A doctorate that can be completed in just one year is screaming red flags??? Why do you want it?
Is there a higher tier Masters you can go for which is *not* $60K??
In whats subject area is this?
RE: Advice needed - Tier 1 Masters or Doc - SteveFoerster - 09-26-2026
(09-26-2026, 12:19 AM)DegreeNerd Wrote: A doctorate that can be completed in just one year is screaming red flags??? Why do you want it?
Is there a higher tier Masters you can go for which is *not* $60K??
In whats subject area is this?
If someone has enough doctoral level credit to qualify for a completion program, then one to two years isn't outrageous. (If it's from scratch, then okay, one year seems pretty dubious.)
Yes, there are well regarded schools that offer Master's degree programs for less than sixty grand—in some cases a lot less. Georgia Tech leaps to mind, but there are others.