EDUCATIONAL COST AND RETURN TO MASTERS AND DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES IN UNIVERSITIES IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The study analysed educational cost and return to masters and doctoral programmes in universities in Anambra state, Nigeria. Three research questions guided the study while 3 hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population comprised 2432 respondents who are holders of Masters and Doctoral degrees, from the two universities in the state- Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwo University, have worked for a minimum of 4 years and resident in Anambra state. The sample of 337 respondents was drawn using Yamane’s formula with a confident level 95% and an error 5%. Checklist was developed by the researcher. The checklist was use to collect data on costs. Data was analysed using mean, standard deviation, ANOVA. The finding revealed that the mean cost of Masters and Doctoral education in Nigeria universities differ significantly based on the programme of study, and the mean cost of Masters and Doctoral education in Nigeria universities differ significantly based on course of study and the returns to Masters and Doctoral education in Nigeria universities differ significantly based on the programme of study. It was recommended that the institutions of higher level should possibly review some fees charged on postgraduate education in the state to reduce cost of the programme among others.