If you are developing a graduate-level understanding of any topic that you care deeply about that is “beneficial,” to you.
But we know, of course, that most of us need to ask a little bit more from our degrees than personal fulfillment. If you want academic stimulation, join a book club.
If you’re attempting to get your Master’s degree you should do so with an eye toward the ultimate benefits. Career advancement. Higher salary. A tangible benefit.
In this article, we take a look at the majors that lead naturally to lucrative graduate degrees.
Computer Science
Computer science is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors across the planet. Not only is demand at record high levels but the jobs tend to correlate with high salaries. You can enjoy a lucrative career right out of college, but the most competitive positions tend to favor people who have gone on to get their graduate degrees.
Graduate Degrees:
- Master's in Computer Science
- Master's in Data Science
- Master's in Artificial Intelligence
- Master's in Cybersecurity
- Master's in Software Engineering
Nice little bonus? Many tech-related careers are fairly flexible. While the workload is notoriously intense you most likely will have the opportunity to work remotely or with an adaptable for SOME (certainly not all) of the careers you can get with an undergraduate degree in computer science.
That flexibility will really come in handy as you pursue your master’s degree.
Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, etc.)
Engineering careers consistently rank among the highest median earners. Not only are the jobs financially rewarding but they benefit from high levels of job security. As the world becomes increasingly more mechanical, there is a naturally high need for people who can design and maintain the machines we use.
Engineers do not need graduate degrees to get good jobs but they certainly don’t hurt.
Graduate Degrees:
- Master's in Engineering Management
- Master's in Structural Engineering
- Master's in Environmental Engineering
- Master's in Aerospace Engineering
- Master's in Robotics
Getting your graduate degree in engineering makes it easier to find work in the career paths that most interest you. It will also give you a nice head start on the promotion track.
Business or Finance
Finance and business careers are consistently associated with their high salary potential. People who have received their MBAs, for example, make an average of $50K more annually than their peers who only have an undergraduate degree.
Some see their salary go up by as much as $85K. Finance careers have the potential to be similarly lucrative.
Graduate Degrees:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master's in Finance
- Master's in Economics
- Master's in Financial Engineering
- Master's in Investment Management
Why do graduate degrees matter so much in business and finance? These employment sectors tend to be much more competitive. Your salary very directly correlates with your ability to earn promotions and raises. Graduate degrees are helpful toward that end.
Nursing
While nursing is a far cry away from the proverbial “corporate ladder,” there are advancement opportunities available. The list below will include a handful of compelling options. One to highlight? MSN.
This degree can help you get work as a nurse practitioner— a rewarding and exciting field worth your attention. Nurse practitioners have the opportunity to specialize very closely in the areas that interest them the most. They also have high levels of autonomy relative to the general nursing population.
You can specialize further as a nurse practitioner by pursuing your DNP.
Graduate Degrees:
- Master's in Nursing (MSN)
- Master's in Nurse Practitioner
- Master's in Nurse Anesthesia
- Master's in Nursing Administration
- Master's in Nursing Informatics
Note that nurse laws concerning nurse practitioners vary by location. Read up on the guidelines in your community before pursuing this career path.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists consistently earn six-figure salaries making the profession an appealing option for people who want high-paying work in the healthcare sector. While you can find rewarding work with just an undergraduate degree, this particular career path generally favors people who have gone on to pursue graduate studies.
Graduate Degrees:
- Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
- Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Master's in Pharmacology
- Master's in Health Administration
- Master's in Regulatory Affairs in Drug Development
Note that people with degrees in pharmacology do not necessarily need to go on to work in a pharmacy. If you are interested in exploring something different, a focused graduate degree is a good way to make that happen.
Conclusion
If you paid careful attention to the list above, you might have noticed two things. One is that most of the careers chosen made their way into the article based on their salaries and advancement opportunities. This is an unfortunate necessity in today’s world of student debt.
College has priced itself into the category of “investment,” which means that anyone considering their graduate degree should also be thinking about how the degree they get will position them to recuperate said investment.
There are many rewarding graduate degrees that are not necessarily linked to six-figure salaries but can make you better at work you care deeply about. Many teachers will pursue graduate studies with that goal in mind. And while their continued education won’t make them rich it will typically result in a pay bump. What’s more, they may be able to pay for some or all of their studies will school district funds.
Social workers operate in similar territory. They don’t get graduate degrees to become rich. They do it to better improve the lives of people on their caseload.
The other thing you might have noticed? There is endless variation. Graduate degrees are a great way to cement your specialization in a topic that you find exciting. Undergraduate degrees are generally more broad strokes. You will often get a good notion of the breadth of your discipline but it’s in graduate programs that you get to explore depth.
Use your graduate degree as a way to not only improve your social mobility but also to learn more about a topic that genuinely excites you.
