BME Masters - Johns Hopkins or Northeastern?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

So… I am pursuing a Masters at either Johns Hopkins or Northeastern (decision deadline is fast-approaching). There are several factors to consider here, the major one being FINANCES. Hopkins (can either be a 1-year or 2-year program) is roughly $80k a year… meanwhile, Northeastern (a two-year program) I received a $40k scholarship for and since the annual cost is probably roughly $75k I would only pay $35k the first year and then I would be in a co-op the second year, so I would pay half the annual cost and have a salary. Overall, Northeastern is probably a decent bit cheaper; I am also going into graduate school with $35k in loans.

For the programs, it looks like Johns Hopkins has exactly what I want. I am looking to pursue the integrated area of comp sci/data science and BME, and hopkins literally has a BME data science program. Northeastern does not; they have medical imaging/devices, biomechanics, and cell and tissue engineering. None of those are necessarily what I am exactly looking for, but I would still get a decent degree.

There is also the difficulty factor. From what I am aware, Hopkins is MUCH more difficult and I am not certain I would be able to handle that (University of Rochester sorta wiped me). Maybe I could but it seems like a big challenge - also I have friends who live in Boston, not Baltimore.

Following my Masters I cannot honestly say what I want to do (pursue a PhD? MD? Industry? Research? idk) but I would like to keep my options open.

And now I am supposed to make a decision, but I honestly have no idea. What do you guys think?

2

$160K for a MS ?!? This seems like a pretty straightforward decision. Have you calculated the debt service on a $160K? At 6% and 10 years, that’s over $21k a year. Let’s say you start ay $100k, which is probably generous for BME, and you’re in Oregon (we need to pick some state to get after tax numbers and OR is where I live…welcome to Oregon!). Your monthly after tax pay will be $2848. Subtract your loan service and you’re left with just over $1000 for ALL of your other expenses (rent, food, travel, car, entertainment, undergrad debt, etc.). This performa assumes no contribution to 401k which is a major mistake as starting early is a HUGE advantage. You’ll be in that hole for a long time. If you’re thinking PhD, why didn’t you apply to funded programs? I’m not sure with your uncertainty that I’d take either of those options. What about wading into the job market and testing the waters until you have a better idea what you want to do? Even the smaller debt from NE will hurt when coupled with medical school debt.