When you go into a master's program, it is no doubt with the intention of increasing your opportunities for gainful employment. After all, you're not taking on more debt in student loans just so you can accept some mid-level job with no prospects for advancement. You could do that with a bachelor's degree and save yourself 2-3 years and thousands of dollars. No, you're entering a master's program because you want to increase your earning potential and hopefully your ability to steer your own course throughout your career. But the truth of the matter is that you might not get what you're looking for if you choose the wrong major. It turns out that some master's degrees will offer you bountiful job opportunities and excellent pay after graduation while others will leave you struggling to pay your student loans. So here are a few programs you'll want to consider and some others you might be better off avoiding.
With computers, the internet, and mobile technology taking center stage in every industry, it should come as no surprise that some of the most lucrative jobs for master's graduates center on information systems. Whether you're into programming, engineering, analysis, or even management, there are abundant job opportunities for qualified graduates right now. And the trend only looks to increase as more and more businesses buy into the technology revolution, moving operations into the online arena and participating in mobile outreach. With average salaries hitting the six-figure mark for those with master's degrees in information technology, this looks to be one avenue of education that's bound to pay off in a big way.
Of course, other fields of engineering and science are also on the rise. Civil, mechanical, and eco engineers seem to be in high demand, while science majors like physics are seeing a lot of growth potential. And in many ways, these fields tie into the computer technology boom. Physics, for example, embodies many principles, practices, and doctrines that transfer to the field of data science. And with so many businesses looking to capitalize on online trends and analytics, such a degree can be a major boon when it comes to securing gainful employment. Of course, engineering of all types relies heavily on computations, so it's easy to see how computers tie in. Health care is also experiencing growth, and with talks of nursing requirements changing (nurses may soon need a bachelor's degree), going for a master's can only help you to nab the best jobs, not to mention premium pay.
Unfortunately, not all majors measure up. Sadly, a master's in education is unlikely to deliver the job opportunities or salary needed to make the cost of the degree worthwhile. Degrees in history, English, and political science seem to make for equally lackluster prospects. And believe it or not, certain sciences can also be pretty skimpy on the job front (like biology and botany). So once you've received you bachelors in accounting, English, or cinema arts, you might want to take the time to carefully consider your next move, weighing what you'll pay for school versus what you stand to gain once you've obtained your master's degree. It could lead you to change your intended major, or perhaps even skip further schooling altogether and get to work instead.
With computers, the internet, and mobile technology taking center stage in every industry, it should come as no surprise that some of the most lucrative jobs for master's graduates center on information systems. Whether you're into programming, engineering, analysis, or even management, there are abundant job opportunities for qualified graduates right now. And the trend only looks to increase as more and more businesses buy into the technology revolution, moving operations into the online arena and participating in mobile outreach. With average salaries hitting the six-figure mark for those with master's degrees in information technology, this looks to be one avenue of education that's bound to pay off in a big way.
Of course, other fields of engineering and science are also on the rise. Civil, mechanical, and eco engineers seem to be in high demand, while science majors like physics are seeing a lot of growth potential. And in many ways, these fields tie into the computer technology boom. Physics, for example, embodies many principles, practices, and doctrines that transfer to the field of data science. And with so many businesses looking to capitalize on online trends and analytics, such a degree can be a major boon when it comes to securing gainful employment. Of course, engineering of all types relies heavily on computations, so it's easy to see how computers tie in. Health care is also experiencing growth, and with talks of nursing requirements changing (nurses may soon need a bachelor's degree), going for a master's can only help you to nab the best jobs, not to mention premium pay.
Unfortunately, not all majors measure up. Sadly, a master's in education is unlikely to deliver the job opportunities or salary needed to make the cost of the degree worthwhile. Degrees in history, English, and political science seem to make for equally lackluster prospects. And believe it or not, certain sciences can also be pretty skimpy on the job front (like biology and botany). So once you've received you bachelors in accounting, English, or cinema arts, you might want to take the time to carefully consider your next move, weighing what you'll pay for school versus what you stand to gain once you've obtained your master's degree. It could lead you to change your intended major, or perhaps even skip further schooling altogether and get to work instead.