Do not pay for a Ph.D. Especially do not pay for a Ph.D or MA in the humanities. Any program that’s worthwhile and wants you will provide full tuition and assistantship. Not offering you a full ride plus stipend, just means the program doesn’t really want you but is happy to take your money if they can get away with it.
Professional programs with a clear non-academic career path, e.g. law and medicine, are a different story.
Do not pay for a Ph.D. Especially do not pay for a Ph.D or MA in the humanities. Any program that’s worthwhile and wants you will provide full tuition and assistantship. Not offering you a full ride plus stipend, just means the program doesn’t really want you but is happy to take your money if they can get away with it.
Professional programs with a clear non-academic career path, e.g. law and medicine, are a different story.