Master's after 40, is it worth it?

No. Enjoy life before you go senile.

I sure hope it is (I say as I begin going for my bachelor's well after 50).

Depends on why you are doing it. If you're doing it because you think you will earn significantly more money, well it depends on what you're taking the master's in. You may or may not earn tons more cash and it may not be worth it from a financial perspective.

If you want to earn a higher degree because it will give you a sense of personal fulfillment, increase your knowledge base and make you ultimately a better professional (hopefully) then I would say it is absolutely worth it.

What's up with questions like this? It is not like you want to get pregnant: your brain, unlike your ovaries, never stops working. I'll be (God willing) starting my masters when I'm 50. My friend, who is 57, is just starting law school. Money, also, need not be a hurdle: most hospitals I've looked at will partly pay for your tuition. Stop pondering, just go do it.

Goooo for it.....If it's in your heart then do it...if not, you will always wonder "if"....and that's the worst part....

I will go for it. It depends what you want to specialize. And the school interest you. Learning is a beautiful thing.

What's up with questions like this? It is not like you want to get pregnant: your brain, unlike your ovaries, never stops working. I'll be (God willing) starting my masters when I'm 50. My friend, who is 57, is just starting law school. Money, also, need not be a hurdle: most hospitals I've looked at will partly pay for your tuition. Stop pondering, just go do it.

I have to agree....what IS up with questions like this? 40 is hardly ancient! I started my Masters Degree at 39, and had a baby (with my own equipment) at 42! Now I'm 50, mother of an 8 year old, and have had my Masters degree for 7 years. I work in Nursing Education (academic) and just got a promotion and raise (yes, in this economy), so..... yeah, it's worth it. I imagine I'll be teaching another 15 years or so, Lord willing.

Why not? I'm over 50 in a LPN/BSN bridge. If I was 40 something I'd sure like to do the MSN route.

If you are not dead, it is not too late to learn.

Part of answering this question depends on your goals. Do you want to do so for personal satisfaction? For a raise? A change in job? If so, those are all great reasons.

If you are only doing it because you feel you "should," that is a different matter. I have a good friend who just finished her doctorate. She is 67. I think she's fantastic! Have another friend who just finished her masters in mid-50s.

There is nothing more invigorating than learning something you find interesting. 40 is the new 20 :)

I have to agree....what IS up with questions like this? 40 is hardly ancient! I started my Masters Degree at 39, and had a baby (with my own equipment) at 42! Now I'm 50, mother of an 8 year old, and have had my Masters degree for 7 years. I work in Nursing Education (academic) and just got a promotion and raise (yes, in this economy), so..... yeah, it's worth it. I imagine I'll be teaching another 15 years or so, Lord willing.

^^This^^. I am a brand-new RN of one month and five months shy of my 46th birthday, but after reading a few posts like this, I can start to feel like I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. I intend to begin a Master's program, God willing, when my son finishes high school, four years from now, just before I turn 50.

If you want to do it, go for it!

Huh? Think of it this way: you have at least 27 more years of career ahead of you; why shouldn't you go for it? A Masters from a good school can open all kinds of doors for you. (I would be carefuel though about an online degree from a for-profit school.)

When I was in grad school, one person was in her 20s, about 4 in their mid 30s, and the other 9 of us were 40 or older. I was 45; two of my classmates were 50 and 54.

Please be aware although that teaching pays badly, but depending on the state, you may be able to get your loans repaid. Some NP and CNM jobs, depending on the population served, also qualify for loan repayment. Look into this before you enroll.

There is a lot of $$ out there for graduate degrees. Ask the program. Nearly everyone in my class (1996) got some grant money.

Good luck with your future education and career!