Should I go back to school to get my CPA license?

I'm a 23F who is currently working as an accounting manager at a small manufacturing company. I'm hourly but converted to salary it comes out to $87,000/year. Because I'm hourly though, between OT and bonuses, I'm just clearing 6 figures. I've always been a high achiever and career focused. I've achieved everything I have on my own. After highschool, I got my associates done in one full calendar year( I took ap classes in high school, 18 credits during the fall and spring semesters and then also took classes in the summer and winter too). But I burnt myself out and decided to quit school after my associates degree and go right into the workforce. I started as an AP/AR assistant and worked myself up to where I am now. I've been talking about going back to school for years now to get my bachelor's and/or masters, but never had the money and didn't want to take out debt. Since I got my raise, my husband and I have enough money to be able to cash flow school for me. The problem is, I'm married, with a house, work on average 50 hours a week and don't have time to go back to school without risking burning myself out. However, i know my earning potential without a degree will cap real quick and if I went back to school and got my CPA license, I could really do well for myself. One thing to note is that if I did get my CPA, I wouldn't go work at a big 4. I would want to continue to work at local companies. I want to be home for me and my husband. Is it worth going back to school, or would I be better off staying where I'm at and continue to work my way up? Is it hard to go to school part time and work full time? We want to have kids in a few years and I probably wouldn't be done with school by the time we have them too.

Posted Aug 3, 2026, 10:46 AM UTC

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