6 Reasons You Should Get a Master's Degree

According to the United States Census Bureau, the number of people age 25 and older who work toward a Master's degree has doubled in the last 20 years to 21 million Americans. For some careers, a college degree is no longer enough. If your intended career requires further education beyond college, then it's a no-brainer that you would pursue that path. However, there are other reasons that college graduates may want to pursue a master's degree.

Is a Master's Degree Worth It?

Many careers these days require at least a master's degree, making the extra school worth it. With a master's degree, students can become more specialized in a field, leading to better job opportunities and more pay. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the median weekly earnings for a bachelor's degree is $1,543, whereas a master's degree holder has median weekly earnings of $1,840. Their unemployment rate is also slightly lower than those who have a college degree.

Reasons to Get a Master's Degree

Your reasoning for pursuing a master's degree may be one of the reasons below, a combination of several, or for an entirely different reason not even listed. The point is: choosing to pursue a master's degree is a personal and professional decision. Consider your career trajectory and what you want to be doing 10, 20, or 30 years from now, and consider some of the reasonings below.

Higher Salary Career Opportunities

Holding a master's degree will give you leverage to negotiate salary and benefits. Typically, those individuals with an advanced degree will be compensated more than an employee with a Bachelor's degree. The BLS states that on average a bachelor's degree holder makes $1,493 per week. Those with a master's degree average around $1,737. When you add it all up, that's a significant difference in earnings and ultimately, lifestyle.

Career Advancement and Leadership Roles

A master's degree will make your resume stand out from the competition. You will have more experience and understanding of that particular field than other candidates. Once you're with the company, it will also enable you to move up within your organization when a promotion becomes available.

Opens the Door to New Careers and Industries

You may be a few years into your post-grad life and realize you don't love what you're doing. You've been exposed to the real world and have found other opportunities that you feel driven toward as a career path. If that's the case, you would not return to college and get a second bachelor's degree. Instead, you would pursue that new field through a master's degree. If your new career path still fits within the organization that you're currently working with, you could potentially receive tuition assistance to help you pay for your degree. Career changes are more common than you think, and it's especially true for the future. The World Economic Forum predicts that many professional skills will be disrupted by technology by 2027, creating a need for professionals to pivot, which may ultimately require individuals to pursue a new career or build up their skills through a master's program.

Deepen Your Expertise in a Specialized Field

There are many occupations that require a master's degree in order to land an "entry-level" position. These careers include professors at colleges and universities, social workers, psychologists, librarians, and physician assistants. If you're the type of person who will require a master's degree to land the job you want, you will likely know that whenever you declare your college major. If you're unsure, you may want to reach out to a professional at your college's career center to see if your eventual career path will require a master's degree. You may also want to deepen your understanding or become more of an expert in a niche area of your field. Attaining a master's degree and solidifying your standing as a specialist could lead to research development, publication, and more.

Drive Innovation and Lead Research in Your Field

Oftentimes, students pursuing advanced degrees are leading key research within their respective fields. Every day, their work contributes to incredible discoveries and changing their field as well as our society. If being on the forefront of advancement sounds appealing to you, it may be that you should pursue a master's degree. Many of our Women in STEM features have included females who are leading research efforts in their fields of study, contributing to higher learning and lasting change.

Personal Growth and Lifelong Learning

Finally, there are those students who are simply lifelong learners. It may be difficult for them to limit their higher education experience to just one or two majors in a Bachelor's degree program. Rather, they want to pursue a master's degree in a more specific subject area within the realm of their major or another field altogether. These students may not stop at just one master's degree either. They sometimes repeat the process several times over throughout their lifetime, proving that you're never too old to learn something new. If you want to specialize in several subject areas, do it! Just make sure your pursuit of a master's degree is an affordable as well as an academic pursuit.

Take the Next Step Toward Your Master's Degree

If you're a college senior who will pursue additional education after you graduate from your bachelor's degree program, you will need to effectively balance applying to schools with your heavy college course load. During your final year of school, you will likely be working on your thesis, in addition to fulfilling any last-minute graduation requirements. With that, it's helpful to space out your to-dos for your graduate school application. Fortunately, we have compiled a month-by-month calendar that details the timeline for applying to graduate school. It's also important to visit your college career center or talk with your academic advisor about your plans to apply to grad school. They can help you find the perfect program as well as proofread essays, perform practice grad school interviews, and assist you with any questions or problems that you encounter along the way. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and embrace your decision to attend graduate school with confidence and possibility. Best of luck, avid learner!

More Grad School Details

Serious about graduate school? Check out the following helpful articles: College vs Graduate School: What to Know Balancing Work and Graduate School: How to Succeed at Both Timeline for Applying to Graduate School