You give up a full-time salary of \( \$ 45,000 \) a year to go to school for 2 years. The total cost of going to school is \( \$ 30,000 \). I you want to be able to recover your investment in 5 years or less, what is the minimum salary you would need to earn upon earning your degree? a. \( \$ 51,000 \) b. \( \$ 60,000 \) c. \( \$ 69,000 \) d. \( \$ 75,000 \)

Let the minimum salary after degree be \( S \). You give up a salary of \(\$45{,}000\) per year and incur an additional tuition cost of \(\$30{,}000\) over 2 years. The forgone wages for 2 years are: \[ 2 \times \$45{,}000 = \$90{,}000 \] Thus, the total investment is the sum of the forgone wages and the tuition: \[ \text{Total cost} = \$90{,}000 + \$30{,}000 = \$120{,}000 \] After earning your degree, you want to recover this \(\$120{,}000\) investment in 5 years. If you earn a salary \( S \) after your degree, the additional annual income compared to your original salary is: \[ S - \$45{,}000 \] Over 5 years, the total additional income is: \[ 5 \times (S - \$45{,}000) \] Set this equal to the total investment to find the minimum \( S \): \[ 5(S - \$45{,}000) = \$120{,}000 \] Solve for \( S \): \[ S - \$45{,}000 = \frac{\$120{,}000}{5} = \$24{,}000 \] \[ S = \$45{,}000 + \$24{,}000 = \$69{,}000 \] Thus, the minimum salary you need to earn upon obtaining your degree is \(\boxed{\$69{,}000}\).