Matthew W. Burr: "The ROI of a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations"

We recently asked an MHRIR 11 alum, Matthew W. Burr, to look back on his time at LER and assess the outcomes of deciding to pursue his MHRIR degree at LER. In his words, the return on investment has been immense and worth every tuition dollar. Read more below to hear his story and why he considers the degree a sound investment.

Is the degree worth it?

I graduated from LER in 2011 with roughly $74,000 in student loan debt, $60,000+ was from the program, and the remainder was left from my undergraduate degree from Elmira College (a private school in Upstate New York). Before attending the school, I was an HR Generalist at a manufacturing facility in Upstate New York, earning under $50,000 per year. I had the pleasure of working as an intern at GE Aviation in Cincinnati. I had offers from Microsoft, Cummins, Pepsi, and a few other organizations, but I accepted GE’s offer because of its commitment to working with the team during labor contract negotiations.

Fall 2011: It’s time to find a job

I did not accept a full-time role with GE Aviation after the internship, but I needed to find a full-time role after completion of the program in December 2011. I applied for an HR Manager position with NewPage Corporation, specifically for a role in Wickliffe, Kentucky. The recruiter discussed a role in Escanaba, Michigan (most of you have no idea where this is). It’s in the Upper Peninsula, above Green Bay, Wisconsin. I accepted a position with NewPage in late November 2011 with a start date of Mid-January 2012. A very remote location, cheaper cost of living, and a challenging work environment. I walked on the first day and was handed 400+ open grievances.

You’re Asking Me About Salary

Was the degree worth it? My answer is simple: yes. I doubled my salary and negotiated a large signing bonus and relocation package, all of which went towards my student loan debt. With the signing bonus, I paid off my undergraduate loans with the first paycheck, done. I was under a 24-month agreement with the company, and I could not quit within 24 months without paying back my loans; that was my goal: 2 years. I set a goal to have the remaining balance on my student loans paid off in under 2 years and move on. Did it happen? Yes, it did. I paid off the loans in 23 months and accepted a job in March 2014 as a Regional HR Manager for more money.

Yes, but Matt, this is a unique situation; not everyone is going to double their salary with a master’s degree. I agree, but you will be making more money in a leadership development program or HR role, which provides the foundation to make more money in the future. I have used the same process with an MBA from Syracuse University and an MJ-LEL from Tulane University. Just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, I recently paid off my mortgage in January 2026 in 55 months and 14 days (yes, I count the days). In fact, I’m so obsessed with debt repayment, I count the interest down to the penny. I knew each week after finishing the LER degree, interest was accrued at a rate of $100 every 7 days. Focus on improving 1% each day, throw additional money at all debt and interest, and it will pay off. Remember, short-term sacrifice for long-term results. I’ve repaid my debt quickly through discipline and by making more money with each degree (and experience). One of the best quotes I’ve heard: “If you hit an oak tree 1,000 times in 1,000 different spots, what happens? Absolutely nothing. If you hit an oak tree 1,000 times in the exact same spot, you’re going to bring it down.” Approach debt repayment the exact same way, hit it in the exact same spot, I guarantee you will bring it down to zero.

The degree is worth it, but with anything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. I recommend applying to the program and using all resources available through the school, the business school, and the law school. I took many classes at the law school. I participated in the student SHRM group, I networked, and I traveled to interviews. Hard work, discipline, and consistency pay off. The degree was worth it in 2012 and will be worth it in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Understanding this is a short-term sacrifice (student loans) for long-term career gain is the only way to look at the student loan debt and the 18-month graduate program. Once you graduate, set extreme goals, live responsibly for 2-3 years, and you will be debt-free. If you want more information on student loan repayment, buy my book or the articles written about it.

Good luck with your decision; it’s your life, shape it or someone else will.
Matthew W. Burr, MHRIR 11, MJ-LEL, MBA, MHRIR, GPHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, CPHR, Chartered CIPD
Burr Consulting, LLC/ Talentscape, LLC/Labor Love, LLC

Matthew W. Burr: “The ROI of a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations”

Is the degree worth it?

Fall 2011: It’s time to find a job

You’re Asking Me About Salary

Read more on Matthew’s work:

Books:

Articles