How much did undergrad matter? Was it worth the loans?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

I would like a different perspective here, as many others on CC tend to be very undergrad obsessed, but I would like to know the opinions of business professionals who have been in the field and have dealt with the reality of life after undergrad and any of the student loans (if taken) that came with it.

To give you a picture of my situation, I am choosing between University of Southern California (30k upon graduation) and Arizona State (no debt upon graduation). My family makes 28k per year. I would like to become a marketing manager of Apple or Google (DREAM JOB of course, but goals be goals). Tbh career paths matters way more to me than a pretty campus or anything else, but I am just wondering if the 30k is worth it, since Marshall is ranked higher than ASU’S WP Carey. I would like to try to get a business MBA from the best of the best (Uchicago, upenn, etc), but thats very far away from my 18 year old perspective now, so I can only say so much.

So does it really matter? Can I just work my butt off at ASU and see where it goes? I don’t know anymore.It’s hard to know what matters anymore when college seems to be a form of bragging rights now…and ASU is just not as sparkly as USC.

Thank you so much!

2

There are certainly benefits to USC, especially if you want to end up in California at a place like Google or Apple. In the end though it’s not the name of the institution on your diploma, but what you do with your education.

$30k isn’t bad at all though (that’s like 2 years at an instate public school), but obviously it’s $30k more than $0.