A Master's Degree: Is It Worth It?

A MASTER'S DEGREE
Is it Worth It?

NUMBER OF DEGREES CONFERRED, PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION, AND PERCENTAGE OF DEGREES CONFERRED TO WOMEN, BY TYPE OF DEGREE AND RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUP


NUMBER OF DEGREES CONFERRED

--- 2007—2008
--- 1997—1998

60.6%
57.1%
625,023
62.1%
59.2%
430,164
409,312
308,196

71.8% 64.5% 53.9% 65.9% 42.9%
68% 59.9% 51.4% 61.9% 39.7%

65,062 36,801 37,408 3,758 72,682
30,155 16,248 21,133 2,053 52,379



0.6%.
6.0%
5.9%
10.4%
11.6%
65.5%

0.5%.
4.9%
3.8%
7.0%
12.2%
71.6%


TOTAL MASTERS BLACK HISPANIC ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE NON-RESIDENT ALIEN

DEGREE TYPE RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUP



THE AVERAGE COST TO EARN A MASTER’S DEGREE IS BETWEEN...
$28,400 — $38,700
PUBLIC SCHOOL PRIVATE SCHOOL

A TYPICAL CLASS IS 3 SEMESTER HOURS.

MOST STUDENTS TAKE BETWEEN 6-9 SEMESTER HOURS

FULL-TIME IS 9 HOURS

12 HOURS IS ACTUALLY COMMON

MASTERS DEGREES VARYING IN REQUIREMENTS RANGE FROM 30-60 HOURS.

MOST MA PROGRAMS ARE ABOUT 36 HOURS

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE MBA, MPA, MHA ARE 45 HOURS (though some may be lower)

THE COUNSELING DEGREES TEND TO BE UP TO 60 HOURS


BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S DEGREES COMPARISON: INCREASE OF LIFETIME INCOME FROM A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

BACHELOR'S AVERAGE -----------$308,588
MASTER'S AVERAGE --------------------------$488,598

BUSINESS------------------------------------- $349,028
---------------------------------------------------------------$724,808

ENGINEERING-------------------------------------$497,930
------------------------------------------------------$860,022

LIBERAL ARTS----------------------$243,883
----------------------$243,883

SOCIAL SCIENCE--------------$210,080
-------------$210,080

SCIENCE--------------------------------$283,286
---------------------------------------------$420,159

EDUCATION---------$108,461
-------------------------------$214,849

The Census Bureau’s figures show that someone with a liberal arts masters degree earned just $5/month more on average, than someone with a bachelor’s in the same acid ($3,460 compared to
$3,455), The average liberal arts M.A. earned about $300 a month less than the average bachelor’s degree recipient.

GRAD PROGRAMS HAVE FALL AND SPRING
SEMESTERS. SOME ALSO HAVE SHORT
SUMMER SEMESTERS (up to 6 hours max).

MOST PEOPLE TAKE 1.5 TO 2 YEARS TO
COMPLETE A MASTER’S DEGREE.

Designed by IVY SA A MASTER'S DEGREE: Is It Worth It? NUMBER OF DEGREES CONFERRED, PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION, AND PERCENTAGE OF DEGREES CONFERRED TO WOMEN, BY TYPE OF DEGREE AND RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUP 60.6 2007-2008 1997-1998 57.1 0.6% 625,023 6.0% 11.6% 5.9% - 62.1 65.5% 10.4 % 59.2 0.5% • 430,164 409,312 4.9% 12.2% 3.8% 71.6% 7.0% 308,196 71.8 53.9 42.9 64.5 68 65.9 39.7 51.4 59.9 61.9 72,682 65,062 52,379 30,155 36,801 37,408 21,133 16,248 3.758 2,053 WHITE BLACK HISPANIC ASIAN/PACIFIC INDIAN/ALASKA NON-RESIDENT TOTAL MASTER'S ISLANDER NATIVE ALIEN DEGREE RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUP ТҮРЕ THE AVERAGE COST TO EARN A MASTER'S A TYPICAL CLASS IS 3 SEMESTER HOURS. DEGREE IS BETWEEN... MOST STUDENTS TAKE BETWEEN 6-9 SEMESTER HOURS $28,400 – $38,700 FULL-TIME IS 9 HOURS PUBLIC SCHOOL PRIVATE SCHOOL 12 HOURS IS ACTUALLY COMMON MASTER'S DEGREES VARYING IN REQUIREMENTS RANGE FROM 30-60 HOURS. 000 0000 MOST MA PROGRAMS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS LIKE THE COUNSELING DEGREES ARE ABOUT 36 HOURS MBA, MPA, MHA ARE 45 HOURS TEND TO BE UP TO 60 HOURS (though some may be lower) BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREES COMPARISON: INCREASE OF LIFETIME INCOME FROM A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BACHELORS AVERAGE MASTER'S AVERAGE S308,588 $488,598 BUSINESS $349,028 $724,808 ENGINEERING $497,930 S860,022 LIBERAL ARTS $243,883 $243,883 The Census Bureau's figures show that someone with a liberal arts master's degree earned just $5/month more on SOCIAL SCIENCE $210,080 $210,080 average, than someone with a bachelor's in the same field ($3,460 compared to SCIENCE $283,286 I $420,159 $3,455). The average liberal arts M.A. earned about $300 a month less than the EDUCATION S108,461 $214,849 average bachelor's degree recipient. GRAD PROGRAMS HAVE FALL AND SPRING MOST PEOPLE TAKE 1.5 TO 2 YEARS TO SEMESTERS. SOME ALSO HAVE SHORT COMPLETEA MASTER'S DEGREE. SUMMER SEMESTERS (up to 6 hours max). www.worldsstrangest.com/mental-floss/13-incredibly-focused-graduate-programs/ www.nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=72 www.webujournal.com/media/storage/paper245/news/2010/04/29/Opinioneditorial/The-Next.Step.Real.World.Or.Grad.School-3914643.shtml www.articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/SavingForCollege/IsYourDegreeWorthI million.aspx Information Provided by: www.MastersDegreeOnline.net Designed by: IVY SA NUMBER OF DEGREES CONFERRED