After the first few years at a university, students groan at the thought of advanced degrees — master’s or Ph.D. programs — that would ensure another two to seven years of hitting the books and sitting in lecture halls or lab spaces. Ask a younger undergraduate during finals week if they’d consider applying to graduate school, and you’re more likely than not to be met with an emphatic “no!” Now, try asking a graduating senior of the class of 2026 if they’re considering more school, and you’re more likely to hear a wavering “yes.” One can’t blame them. In the face of a shaky economy with unemployment rising to 4.4% in February, it seems like common sense to delay the inevitable while gaining an edge in the bottomless pit that is the job market. And yet, finances cannot be ignored. With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) signed into law in July 2025, those seeking graduate degrees are left at a serious disadvantage as the loan landscape grows dim. Personally, I fall into both categories above: A graduating senior who is pursuing job opportunities while also weighing graduate school. The decision has me — and other graduating seniors — wondering: For those who can afford it, do graduate programs act as a security blanket? Or do they really provide an innovative edge to cope with an uncertain future? I asked several students about this. At UC Berkeley, fourth-year media studies major Danielle Frank will attend Columbia University in the…
