Average Cost of a Master's Degree

I received an MS in chemistry at a B&M in 1993. I had a teaching assistantship the entire time, just under three years. Tuition was waived plus I received a stipend around, as I recall, $800 per month. I was able to tutor (not students from the classes I taught) on the side for some spending money.

I recognize that not every subject offers assistantships. However in chemistry it is usually required to teach at least a year. The lucky ones then get a research assistantship. I wasn't that lucky but really can't complain either. I feel like I did OK walking out with an MS and financially breaking even.

 

It IS still possible, as perrymk noted above, that your cost for a graduate degree could be zero. A friend of mine just last week finally completed her master's degree in music through a traditional B&M school in Toronto and paid basically nothing for it due to assistantships (she was a TA). Now I assume that this sort of arrangement would be much less common in an online/distance learning environment, and is intended for research degrees not professional degrees, but it's worth at least inquiring with schools around you to see if this would be an option.

 

I know of MBA students that got full tuition waivers in their programs through assistantships. Normally, they aren't available until the 2nd year and they are very competitive.

 

Don't worry about that. I think this thread worked itself out nicely. I believe "average" depends on what type of program you choose, school reputation, and length of the program (hours). In other words there really is no true average cost. I think the important thing to note is to weight your ROI and make a decision based on that.

For me I'm moving forward with Penn State or St Louis without hesitation now. I really like both programs and they seem to fit what I'm looking for now. The next thread I post will be which one if I get accepted to both...

 

Did you check out the Ed site.
They have lots of data such as that contained in this table:
Table A-48-3. Average annual tuition and fees, aid, and net tuition after grants for part-time graduate students, by degree program and institution type: Academic years 2003–04 and 2007–08