If you thought grad school would guarantee a great job and a solid pathway to paying off your student loans, think again.

The unemployment rate in 2012 was 4.5 % for undergraduate degree holders and 3.5% for those with graduate degrees, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But beyond employment stats, here are three other reasons grad school may not be worth the price.

1. You could be limited yourself by focusing on one subject matter

You went through undergraduate school for four years, maybe even five or six. You changed your major a couple of times before figuring out the course of study that fit you best. Grad school seems like the next logical step to deepening your knowledge of that subject.

Of course, if you’re studying to be a doctor or lawyer, it’d be beneficial to you and your future clients to hone in on your specialty. But for other fields, could be limiting yourself by investing all your resources into one area of expertise.

The U.S. Census Bureau shows that 73% of graduates have jobs unrelated to their major, while almost 40% of recent grads have jobs that don’t require a degree at all.

Read more