Top 4 Reasons Students Seek An Advanced Graduate Degree

#1 Career Change According to a recent Aslanian Market Research report, more than 80% of respondents cited a career change as the #1 reason for continuing education. The reality is, when looking for a new job past experience may not be relevant enough to switch careers without going back to school. Fortunately, most graduate degree programs do not require an applicant to have majored in the same content area, which makes it easier for someone to pursue a graduate degree in a new field as long as they at least hold a bachelor's degree.

#2 Differentiate Yourself While a profession may not require an advanced degree, it may be helpful to advance or to distinguish yourself from the pack. Some people may choose to specialize in certain areas of a particular subject such as a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) or a Masters of Taxation (MTax), MS in Strategic Human Resource Management (MSSHRM), an MS or a MHA in Gerontology just to name a few. While a four-year bachelor’s degree used to be enough to reach most career goals, in today’s world a graduate degree may set you apart.

#3 Potential Salary Increase Naturally advancing in a career could lead to higher pay, however, the attainment of a graduate degree also has the potential to increase earning potential in certain fields[ii]. For example, in the education field, the degree you have earned could determine your pay scale (in combination with the amount of years one has worked)[iv]. If you are considering going to graduate school for this reason, be very careful to weigh the costs of education (including the loss of earnings if you go to school full time) with your potential salary after graduation.