Master's difficult/expensive to get?

[Kev]

I'm  trying to put all possible chances on my side for what I am trying to accomplish and I'm thinking of getting a master's. I've been researching on getting a master's in English, however, my conclusions aren't that positive at all—from the cost, time, difficulty of finding a school, transferring credits and so on.

How have you found getting a master's to be? What has been your experience if you've gotten a master's online?

[Ideas]

Yeah, there are a lot more options for someone who wants an MBA, teaching Masters, or IT Masters. I don't recall seeing anything particularly good for English.

One thing you could consider is getting a more general Masters to have more school options that are more flexible or less expensive. Such as a Masters in Liberal Arts or similar. I'm not sure of actual programs that are less expensive, but there are probably others who know or have already posted.

[RANSOMSOUL]

One approach I wish more would take when searching out their degree path would be reverse-engineering their end game. Here's a couple of key questions:

What do you want to be/do for your career?

-Does your current degree choice create a significant advantage for achieving that goal?

-Can you enter the career field now and establish work experience (leverage) relationships (best leverage) while starting a Masters program?

-Is the least expensive degree enough? If Yes - Easy Choice #1! Does a local school create a greater value in the long run? Easy Choice #2! Do you have access to school tuition through your work? If Yes - Lucky - Use It ASAP - Easy Choice #1/2/3!

If you're checking a box with your Master, there are much easier and more valuable options out there other than an English degree.

[Kev]

One approach I wish more would take when searching out their degree path would be reverse-engineering their end game. Here's a couple of key questions:

What do you want to be/do for your career?

-Does your current degree choice create a significant advantage for achieving that goal?
Yes, definitely. Everything is structured for this.

-Can you enter the career field now and establish work experience (leverage) relationships (best leverage) while starting a Masters program?
Yes, I am currently working as a freelancer, but need the papers (degrees).

-Is the least expensive degree enough? If Yes - Easy Choice #1! Does a local school create a greater value in the long run? Easy Choice #2! Do you have access to school tuition through your work? If Yes - Lucky - Use It ASAP - Easy Choice #1/2/3!
I would definitely prefer cheapest, but I do want to study the English degree courses, which will be very useful for the job and personal projects.

If you're checking a box with your Master, there are much easier and more valuable options out there other than an English degree.
Well, the master's would be for proving competencies/knowledge, but I am actually interested in the material. I think a master's also takes more effort to get, where you need to study the classes more as well? 

Yes, that's the approach I'm trying to take. I replied in bold to your questions in your quoted post.

[Ideas]

Yeah, the Masters degree is generally more writing and reading, and at a higher level, with more in-depth knowledge of the topics.

[sanantone]

I think this list only shows in-state tuition rates, but some public schools have one rate for online programs

https://www.bestmastersdegrees.com/top/a...ish-degree

[DavidHume]

If you're not in a rush and either have Summers off or could take 6-7 weeks off every summer, Middlebury has a summer program that leads to an MA in English. Mostly geared towards teachers and takes 5 years. It's on my possible future pursuits list, if my other plans for graduate study don't come through.

[Kev]

I think this list only shows in-state tuition rates, but some public schools have one rate for online programs

https://www.bestmastersdegrees.com/top/a...ish-degree

Thanks for that. I found an awesome online writing and communications master's at East Carolina University (#3 cheapest university in the list), but sadly the tuition is $230/credit for North Carolina residents and $900/credit for non-residents (for an online degree).

Other than moving there, I don't think there is a way to go around the $900/credit tuition?

[bjcheung77]

Kev, which state are you in? If you're already looking at an online communications degree, which type of communications are you leaning toward? There are so many different options for communications. BTW, what's your undergrad in and where did you get it?

[DavidHume]

I think this list only shows in-state tuition rates, but some public schools have one rate for online programs

https://www.bestmastersdegrees.com/top/a...ish-degree

Thanks for that. I found an awesome online writing and communications master's at East Carolina University (#3 cheapest university in the list), but sadly the tuition is $230/credit for North Carolina residents and $900/credit for non-residents (for an online degree).

Other than moving there, I don't think there is a way to go around the $900/credit tuition?

I was going to suggest checking out the academic common market https://www.sreb.org/academic-common-market but it looks like NC opted out a few years ago. I know someone that used in back in 2004 to get in state tuition at a NC school.