When you start to seriously consider business school, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the price tag. Furthering your education doesn’t come cheap and the idea of shelling out tens of thousands of dollars and taking on debt can be really intimidating. The factors and, ultimately, the decision to attend business school will be different for everyone, but taking some time to think through the potential investment will ensure you’re making the best choice for you. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether you should invest in an MBA education:

1. Evaluate Your Apprehension
If you are unsure about attending business school, first consider what may be causing your anxiety. For some, it’s simply the dollar figure that seems overwhelming; for others, it’s the fear that you’re not making the right decision for your personal or professional situation or the fear of being able to succeed in an MBA program. Identifying exactly what is worrying you will help you to better devise a plan, and a pro-con list, to make your decision and make business school a viable option.

2. Think About Return on Investment
We tend to think about the return on investment in terms of the skills, relationships, and knowledge that come with earning an MBA, but it’s valuable to expand that definition and think about how you will put your degree to use. You may want to develop skills to be more effective in your work, enhance your knowledge to pursue a new industry or field, or build relationships to broaden the impact of your work. The true value of your degree is not the three letters behind your name (don’t put MBA after your name – one of my little pet peeve), it’s in how you put the knowledge, skills and relationships to work in your career.

3. Reflect on Your Worth
This is also a good time to think about how you value yourself and whether investing in business school is the right choice. Are you worth the investment? I hope your answer to that question is emphatically ‘yes’, even if you ultimately don’t attend business school. You may decide in the end that business school isn’t the right decision and you may uncover another path that is right for you — a different advanced degree or another way to advance your career. Still, it’s important to be sure that you aren’t limiting yourself due to insecurity or lack of confidence in your ability to achieve your dreams.

4. Consider All Options
Business school doesn’t have to be a strict yes or no decision. You can weigh the benefits of a part-time or executive program that may be more practical for you at the moment. You can also get help, in the form of grants and loans. There’s no shame in asking for assistance in financing your education. Cost is certainly an important factor in whether to attend business school, but don’t let the dollar figure stand in the way of chasing after your dreams.

When thought-out and handled wisely, investing in your education and in your future is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.