I've been offered an assistantship for graduate school, which pays 80% of tuition plus $7000 a year stipend. Problem is this is not enough to live on. I will have to get a job on top of master's level course-work (basically 60 hrs/week total workload), and still have to take out loans to cover the tuition difference. And I'll still be struggling to put food on the table. I've already got 10,000 in loans from undergrad. Meanwhile I can't save money or start a family while I am in school and my husband will have to get a new job (he's a warehouse laborer). If I take this route I will ultimately become a professor of musicology (my field), which means another 6 years of school, plus 7+ years to get a tenured position (assuming I can even get hired).
If I move back home my husband and I will have a free place to stay, and I will have my bachelors. Also, I will be closer to family/support network (the graduate school is over 12 hours drive away). Plus less stress since I won't be at work/school simultaneously. This is assuming I can get a job. I've been told the area I majored in (music and culture) won't make that much difference and I can just start at entry level and work my way up. I was thinking about a warehouse supervisor position (after getting some experience).
What should I do? Is it worth the extreme stress, extra debt, and delaying/moving away from family to get a PhD? Will I be able to get a job if I stay?
ps I am a 21 y/o female, married no kids yet.