Net Worth
$385KTop 42%PeakWorth
$4.2M+$182KNet Worth
$385KTop 42%PeakWorth
$4.2M+$182KFI Age
50y 1m-11moAn MBA can add $1M+ to lifetime earnings — or set you back six figures. PeakWorth models tuition, foregone salary, and the post-degree pay bump as one scenario, so you see the FI-Age and lifetime-net-worth swing before you enroll, not after.
Modeled MBA break-even (30%+ bump)
~5–8 yrs
Median MBA cost (top 25)
$180,000
Avg salary bump post-MBA
+50–80%
Federal student loan rate (2026)
~6.5%
A degree is worth it when (post-degree salary − pre-degree salary) × expected working years > total cost (tuition + living costs + opportunity cost of foregone salary). For most professional degrees, the break-even is 5–8 years if the salary bump is 30%+.
Don't compare your post-MBA salary to your pre-MBA salary — compare it to your projected salary if you'd stayed in your current track for 2 more years.
Federal loans give you income-driven repayment and forgiveness options (PSLF for public service, IDR forgiveness after 20–25 yrs). Refinancing to a private loan kills those protections forever — only do it if you're sure you'll pay it off in 5–10 years and the rate cut is meaningful (1.5%+).
Tax-free growth for education expenses, with state tax deduction in many states. Recent SECURE 2.0 rules let you roll up to $35K of unused 529 funds into the beneficiary's Roth IRA, removing the 'over-saved' risk that used to make families hesitant.
PeakWorth runs the degree as a scenario: the up-front cost and any foregone salary hit your cash flow now, the projected pay bump lifts income afterward, and student-loan interest is modeled at its real rate — all inside the year-by-year deterministic simulation to age 95.
The output is the change in your FI Age and PeakWorth (highest projected lifetime net worth), compared against simply staying on your current track — turning 'is grad school worth it?' into a break-even year you can see, not a hopeful guess.
Enter your own numbers below to see a result instantly — no signup required. Then model the full picture against your real income, expenses, and goals in PeakWorth™.
Monthly payment
$340.64
Total interest
$10,877
Total paid
$40,877
Loan term
10 years
| Year | Payments | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,088 | $2,203 | $1,885 | $27,797 |
| 2 | $4,088 | $2,350 | $1,738 | $25,447 |
| 3 | $4,088 | $2,507 | $1,580 | $22,940 |
| 4 | $4,088 | $2,675 | $1,412 | $20,264 |
| 5 | $4,088 | $2,855 | $1,233 | $17,410 |
Estimates only. Excludes fees, escrow changes, and tax effects. For educational purposes — not financial advice.
Generic articles can only go so far. PeakWorth runs every scenario against your real income, expenses, and goals — so you see the dollar-and-year impact of every decision before you make it.
If the rate is above ~7%, prioritize payoff. Below 5%, invest first (especially for the 401(k) match). Between 5–7%, split.
Only when the salary lift × expected years > total cost (including foregone earnings). Run the math before applying — most regret comes from skipping this step.
Yes — recent rules allow rollover to Roth IRA for the child, removing the main downside of over-funding.
If you qualify for PSLF or income-driven forgiveness, don't refinance to private — it kills those protections forever. Refinance only when you're certain you'll pay off in 5–10 years and the rate cut is 1.5%+. PeakWorth models the payoff path against your FI Age either way.
It can — if the pay bump doesn't clear the cost plus foregone earnings. PeakWorth shows the FI-Age impact directly: a 30%+ salary lift usually pays back in 5–8 years, while a lateral degree taken on loans can push FI Age out by years.
Calculators, true-cost pages, and audience playbooks across the PeakWorth network.
Calculator
Student loan payoff
Avalanche, snowball, or refinance — model the FI Age impact.
Cost of
Private school, K through 12
13 years of tuition. The trade-off for your retirement date.
Built for
PeakWorth for new parents
A baby changes the math — childcare, 529s, and your FI Age.
Calculator
Mortgage payment & amortization
Your real PITI + refinance break-even + 30-year wealth cost.
Cost of
Carrying credit card debt
22% APR compounded — the silent FI Age killer.
Built for
PeakWorth for physicians
Late start, high income, six-figure debt — modeled together.
PeakWorth is the financial decision engine for households — your Personal Financial Strategy OS, a real-time engine that calculates every decision's impact on your future. The Decision Hub, an AI advisor, and a live projection that show you exactly how each move shapes your wealth and your FI Age.
