Pay Dirt

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Pay Dirt is Slate’s money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Kristin and Ilyce here . (It’s anonymous!)

Dear Pay Dirt,

I am starting a two-year master’s degree in the fall, and navigating all of the options to pay for it is making my head spin, particularly when it comes to a certain offer from my parents.

Tuition is $25,000 a year in a medium cost of living area, so I estimate my total yearly budget to be $60,000 to $65,000. I personally have about $16,000 in savings. I will be quitting my job for this program, but plan to find part-time work. The only student loans I qualify for are un-subsidized direct federal loans.…