The Ramsey Show Highlights $120,000 For A Ministry Degree?
Nov 12, 2025
Emma, an 18-year-old high school senior, seeks advice about her acceptance to the University of Northwestern St. Paul, where annual tuition is $38,000. With limited financial support from her parents and a scholarship that still leaves her with a hefty debt, she grapples with her future in pastoral ministry. The hosts emphasize maturity in budgeting and exploring alternatives like community college, cautioning about the challenges of student loans in her chosen field. They also highlight the value of experience over costly degrees.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Confirm Family Savings First
- Ask your parents for clarity about any savings they've set aside for you before making college decisions.
- Figure the real dollar gap and use that number to guide whether to accept a costly offer or choose alternatives.
Partial Scholarships Can Still Leave Huge Debt
- A partial scholarship can still leave students with six-figure debt at private colleges.
- Dave and George warn that $100k+ in loans can derail early-career choices and lifestyle freedom.
College Name Rarely Guarantees Success
- Employers usually care more that you have a degree than which school you attended.
- The prestige of a private college rarely guarantees career advantage sufficient to justify extreme debt.
