I’m a 33-year-old painter living in New York City who makes a living as an art handler. I have about $30K in loans, plus credit card debt. I’m thinking about applying to Yale, Columbia, and Hunter to do my MFA. I want to have the option to teach, make better art, and expand my community. However, I could be spending more than $200K if I go to the Ivy League. Do I need an MFA? —Dazed and Degreeless
If aliens with basic math skills came down from space and were informed of this scenario, they’d say you were nuts for even considering getting an MFA. And yet, in this industry, we spend a lot of time waxing poetic about how important art is to the culture and how capitalism shouldn’t decide its value. So, of course we need art schools, whatever they cost.
But let me ask you this: Do you want to spend the rest of your life in crippling debt? If it’s a price you’re willing to pay, then sure — that MFA is a great idea. If not, maybe it’s time to let go of the hope that the education you get is going to pay off financially.
