Suppose you just graduated from UCLA and have 2 offers. The first is a job offer at Macy's with a fixed salary schedule which paid S45,000. You will expect to hold this position for 40 years and then retire. The second offer is acceptance to a 2 year master's program which will cost S35,000 a year. After you earn your master's degree, you expect to earn $70,000/year for the following 38 years, at which point you will retire. The discount rate is 10%
All salary payments are made at the end of the year while tuition is paid at the start of the year.
Compare the net present value of each option. Which should you take?