I'm currently working as a program coordinator at a small public university, where I make the top of the pay range and receive an annual 2% increase, pending union negotiations. However, my position is somewhat limited as there are only three staff members in my department, and with a transition planned for Fall 2027, my role may change to a departmental coordinator instead of a standalone school role. I'm waiting for higher-ups to approve our proposal regarding this transition. Recently, I've been approached by another director at a different school on campus who wants me to apply for a program coordinator position in their department. The pay would be the same, but the workload would increase as it involves admissions and scheduling, which I have some experience with but not extensively. The new position offers hybrid work, allowing me to work from home two days a week, while my current role requires me to be in the office every day. I'm torn about whether to apply for this lateral move, as it would mean more responsibilities without a pay increase. I've also been searching for jobs outside of my current role since I'm looking for better compensation, but I struggle to identify positions that match my skill set, which is primarily in customer service and retail, with an undergraduate degree in English Language & Literature. I prefer to stay within public service for loan forgiveness benefits, but I know I might need a higher-paying private sector job to manage my student loans effectively. Given all these factors, I'm wondering if I should go ahead and apply for the new position or continue searching for other opportunities.