This study was undertaken to (a) expand scholarship on the impact of undergraduate student loan borrowing level on the timing of initial entry to master's degree or first professional degree programs, and (b) to assist higher education policy makers and practitioners in serving the needs of students as they progress through the various stages of education leading to initial enrollment in a master's degree or first professional degree program. The study utilized secondary data from the 2007-2008 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study Graduate and First Professional (NPSAS:08 G1P) dataset to address a series of six quantitative research questions designed to assess the topic of interest. The structure of the study was designed to (a) describe seven student background characteristics of the sub-populations of master's degree and first professional degree students enrolled between July1, 2007 and June 30, 2008, (b) test the statistical significance of relationships in the seven selected student background characteristics for individuals classified as immediate entry versus delayed entry master's degree or first professional degree students, and (c) to determine the association between any of the seven selected student background characteristics and whether an individual will enroll in a master's degree or first professional degree program immediately following baccalaureate degree completion or delay their entry. Key findings of the study include (a) low-level undergraduate student loan borrowing was a significant positive predictor of enrollment as a delayed entry master's degree student, (b) high-level undergraduate student loan borrowing was a significant negative predictor of delayed entry master's degree enrollment, and (c) low-level undergraduate student loan borrowing is a significant positive predictor of delayed entry first professional degree enrollment. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]