Sitename
The True Cost of Your Degree
Tuition is only part of it. The years you are not working, the rent you still pay, the wages you give up - that is where the real number lives. Plug in your own figures and see what each path actually costs.
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Associate's Degree - 2 Years
Total tuition
$9,000
Total living costs
$36,000
Total lost wages
$66,560
Grand total
$111,560
Compare both paths
Associate's Degree
2 years
Grand total$111,560
Bachelor's Degree
4 years
Grand total$223,120
Break-even on the Bachelor's
If a Bachelor's earns you $5,000 more per year, you break even in 22.3 years.
I did not quote salary figures here - those are your own numbers to research. Check the Bureau of Labor Statistics or ask working sonographers in your area what new grads actually make. The difference between paths varies a lot by region and specialty.
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