<prompt> Human: I am currently half way through my masters program. I got a bachelors degree in math worked a year as a teacher and went back to get my masters in statistics. I have zero student loans from my undergraduate but 13k from my masters, and expect to have to take 2-3k more. I am 24 and soon to be married, with a 5000 loan on a car and no personal assets. My question for you guys is this: Is a phd in biostats worth it? The programs are hugely bloated needing 72 hours thats 4-6 years on top of a masters degree. The pay is over 100000 per year, but you have to pay for 4-6 years of school and likely forego income you could make working with a masters degree making 60,000 a year.  <response>: Dont do a PhD unless you get full funding tuition stipend. Its not worth it and any reputable science PhD program in the US will fund admitted students. Generally you should be able to do a PhD without taking out student loans provided you live reasonably frugally.Its not too bad a deal provided that you actively want to spent 4-6 years doing research. If youre just in it for the money you will struggle to stay motivated. 