I’m 28F and I’ve decided to go back to school. I’m starting at the community college in my city. I completed my FAFSA and qualified for a full Pell Grant and some state grants, so my associate’s degree and books are fully covered.

I’m considering going on to get my bachelor’s degree, but I really don’t want to take on student debt again. My partner paid off a $2,000 loan I had in default from when I first tried college at 18. I dropped out after one semester because I wasn’t ready, and I was pushed into it by my parents. I’m incredibly grateful that he helped me clear that debt.

I do have a specific school in mind for my bachelor’s, but the total tuition would be around $40,000. I’m trying to figure out if it would be better to stop at an associate’s degree and build a career from there, or if a bachelor’s is necessary.

Right now, I’m planning to go into either radiology or health information management. Any positive advice is appreciated.