I am currently working part time on a Print Masters. Deciding to return to school wasn’t difficult for me, but for many people in the industry, the decision is a tricky one. If you have thought at all about returning to school—or are considering postsecondary education for the first time—the following are some good questions to ask yourself.

“Is it worth it?”

In addition to the obvious monetary investment you will be making, there is also a time investment. I am currently investing roughly twenty hours a week in my schooling, and that is on a part-time basis, doing one course at a time. It is worthwhile to me because I hope that my increased knowledge will give me an advantage in advancing my career.

I must warn you that you should never count on your place of employment to assist you in your education. Companies may change management and you might change companies. If you can barely afford schooling with their assistance, you might be up a creek if that assistance stops for any reason.

“What is the cost?”

If additional schooling makes sense, you must then examine the costs. There are the obvious costs (tuition, transportation) and the ones that are not so obvious (books, supplies, software or hardware that might be required). I even purchased a laptop computer for one of my courses. The best way to determine costs is to talk to a current student or recent graduate. One of my professors from Ryerson was finishing up his Masters just as I began mine, so I had a ready resource.

In addition to materials, you must also put a price on your time and your freedom. You’ll get a better understanding of how much time is required for something by talking to a current student, but everyone works differently. Your weekly time investment may be fixed, as well—which may mean giving up much of your freedom or recreation. Courses with a floating time commitment, which you can complete at your leisure, are often easier to work into your schedule.

“Full time or part time?”

Part-time schooling allows you to work full-time while completing your studies. If you’re dealing with a pricey American school (as I am) part time makes things much more affordable. Part time study also allows you to continue to gain industry experience as you gain classroom experience. You are also able to move at your own pace, taking one or no classes in certain semesters. The disadvantage of part-time schooling is that you really do max out your days and nights, and some employers still don’t value an “online” or part-time degree as highly one done full-time.

Full time takes you out of the working world, but allows you to complete your degree much faster, though most students in a full-time program are very young. Are you comfortable being the “old” one?

There are a variety of courses you can take at Ryerson that relate to print, and there are also certificate programs that some employers equate with a degree. If you’re willing to spend the money, America and even many parts of Europe do courses and degrees online. As the print world continues to change rapidly, your knowledge will be one of the few things that differentiate you from the rest of the pack. No matter how much you know there is always something new to learn.

As always I would love to hear your take on the subject. Email me directly at johnathonanderson@graphicartsmag.com