Is it Necessary to Earn a Master’s Degree?


03 January 2022

Are about to graduate from college or have already graduated and are not sure whether getting a Master’s degree is necessary? Here are some factors you need to take into consideration to find out whether you need to earn a Master’s degree.



In general, master’s degree holders have a wider range of job options and earn a higher salary than their bachelor’s degree holder peers. However, pursuing a master’s degree can be quite expensive, time consuming, and take some time out of your career if you decide to pursue a master’s degree before entering the workforce. 

Before deciding to pursue a master’s degree, it is important that potential students take some factors into consideration to make sure a master’s degree is indicated in their case, as there are some careers that don’t require a master’s degree

What is a Master’s degree?


Master’s degrees are graduate degrees, which means they indicate a professional has a high-level knowledge of a certain area of study. The main prerequisite to pursue a Master’s degree is having a Bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s degree holders generally pursue a master’s degree in a more specialized area within the field of study of their bachelor’s degree. Master’s degrees are the first level of graduate education, followed by doctoral degrees. 

Master’s degrees last 1 to 3 years, depending on the field of study and the programme, and generally require students to conduct original research in their area of specialization. 

Should I earn a Master’s degree?


When finishing undergraduate studies, many students are on the fence about whether they should go on to pursue a graduate degree or enter the workforce. Even though some students decide to do both, earning a master’s degree can be time consuming and financially draining, which is one of the main reasons why many individuals decide to skip graduate studies, or at least postpone it for the time being, and go straight to the workforce.

However, it is vital that students consider what would be best in their own case, as getting a master’s degree has different degrees of necessity according to one’s career. In fact, there are some careers that require individuals to have a master’s degree

Let’s see what individuals should consider when deciding whether a master’s degree is necessary for them or not.

Before deciding to pursue a master’s degree, it’s essential that potential students ask themselves: “How much will a master’s degree help me in my career?” There is no right answer to this question, as it will depend on their goals, but ideally it will enable them either to boost or jump-start their career. 

In some fields, getting a master’s degree helps professionals have more job opportunities and a higher earning potential than if they only have a bachelor’s degree. This is either because that particular career is extremely competitive and, as such, professionals need to stand out to succeed, or because they require a certain degree of knowledge that only graduate studies can provide students with. The following are some of these fields:

  • Healthcare and social service
  • Business
  • STEM
  • Education

In these fields, the higher the degree you earn, the more job opportunities and higher earning potential you’ll have.

Do you want to earn a master’s degree that isn’t related to any of these fields? Don’t worry. It doesn’t mean the time and money you invest won’t be worth it. Even though there are some cases in which a master’s degree isn’t compulsory, the knowledge and skills you will earn in a graduate-level education cannot be a waste. 

Typically, master’s degree programs provide students with highly demanded skills and knowledge, no matter what field it specializes in, which you will be able to apply one way or another.

Pros and Cons of Earning a Master’s degree


Taking everything we’ve shared with you so far into account, we can summarize the pros and cons of earning a master’s degree below so that you can decide whether the pros outweigh the cons, or vice versa, in your case:

Pros


  1. Gain specialized knowledge to advance in your field.
  2. Change your career and start doing what you actually feel passionate about.
  3. Update your knowledge and meet the demands of the current job market. 
  4. Get out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and see how much potential you have. 
  5. Prepare for graduate study at the doctoral level.
  6. Acquire demanded skills related to new technologies, innovations and methods that have developed in your field.
  7. Improve your chances of competing in your field, of getting a higher earning potential or that promotion you’ve been waiting for. 
  8. Prepare for entrepreneurial projects that require expertise in a specific field of study.
  9. Gain more recognition and credibility in your field.
  10. Show how committed you are to improving. 

These are some of the benefits you’ll experience if you decide to embark on this challenging situation, get out of your comfort zone and explore new opportunities by pursuing a master’s degree. 

You need to take into consideration that education is the number one asset in our lives. It is what allows us to acquire new demanded skills and innovative knowledge that prepares us to stand out from the crowd. Our world is a competitive one, and the job market is no exception: competition keeps increasing, which makes it easier for those who don’t go along with the innovations to fall behind.

Cons


1. It can be financially draining
2. It takes time that you could invest in progressing and acquiring experience in your career.
3. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee a higher salary or better job prospects.

On the upside, if you want to pursue a master’s degree and work at the same time, you have the possibility of pursuing an online master’s degree! Online learning programmes are much more flexible than traditional, in-person programmes, which is one of the main reasons why more and more professionals are deciding to pursue online master’s degrees.

If you’ve decided a master’s degree is the way to go, click here and you’ll find the best master’s degrees available in the US.

Do you need help choosing the master's degree for you? You can click here to scroll down our articles and find more pieces of advice that will help you choose the master’s degree that suits you best. You can also fill out the form on our website so that one of our advisors can contact you and answer any questions you might have.




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