Top 5 Most Popular Graduate Degrees
With the demand for a college-educated workforce greater than ever—and college enrollment at historic highs—graduate degrees are needed more than undergraduate degrees to separate you from the masses. Many are returning to school for advanced degrees in everything from business to education to take advantage of the opportunities a graduate degree affords in today’s economy. You may want to consider a handful of the more popular graduate degrees.
Here are the top five most popular graduate degrees:
5. Engineering
University of Strathclyde International Study Centre
Engineering offers many study areas for graduate students, ranging from biomechanics to aerospace engineering. While engineers typically specialize in a particular discipline, they have the opportunity to broaden their expertise through practical experience. With its wide range of fields, such as chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering, engineering stands as one of the most sought-after graduate degrees.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the engineering industry is steadily recovering from the recession, gradually reclaiming its lost job positions. While civil engineers are in high demand, biomedical engineering is experiencing even more rapid growth. The BLS identifies it as the third-fastest-growing job market.
The engineering world presents endless possibilities for aspiring professionals, combining creativity, innovation, and technical expertise to impact society.
Professionals in biomedical engineering, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.” Concerning remuneration, biomedical engineers are reported to receive $70,200 at the entry stage to $129,300 by mid-career.
Petroleum engineering, one of the most prominent branches of engineering, is renowned for its lucrative potential. With an impressive median salary of approximately $130,280, this field offers a range of enticing career opportunities, such as petroleum geologist, production engineer, and reservoir engineer. The primary objective of professionals in this domain is to explore and extract oil resources.
Due to its technological advancements and growing demands, engineering is one of the most coveted degree programs in colleges and universities worldwide.
4. Legal Professions and Studies
University of Evansville
Pursuing a career as a legal professional provides a diverse range of disciplines to explore, leveraging your knowledge to comprehend and dissect law and public policy. Regardless of your chosen field, you’ll acquire fundamental legal concepts and stay up-to-date on current issues. While enrolled in school, you’ll delve into the historical aspects of law, develop your research and legal writing skills, and nurture critical thinking abilities.
Many aspiring legal professionals aspire to become lawyers by attending law school. However, the legal field offers a multitude of career paths, making graduate degrees in legal professions and studies highly sought after. These degrees open doors to various vocations, including practicing law, law enforcement, civic or government work, and opportunities as legal secretaries, court reporters, or paralegals.
Additionally, there are prospects in political science and public policy for graduate degree holders in the legal profession. Apart from the Juris Doctorate required for lawyers, there are master ‘s-level programs in criminal justice, criminology, and library science.
Given the multitude of career opportunities, the legal profession remains among the most coveted graduate degrees globally.
3. Health Professions and Related Programs
Lawson State Community College
Health professionals uphold human well-being by applying evidence-based medicine and care principles. The health field encompasses doctorate-level professions like physicians, dentists, and psychologists, as well as master’s degrees in nursing and administration. With the aging population increasing, there is a growing need for healthcare providers, making nursing an attractive option for graduate studies. Nursing anesthesia and healthcare administration are among the most sought-after programs in the health-related field. Nurse anesthetists specialize in pre and post-procedural care pain management and are instrumental in providing anesthesia to the US Armed Forces.
On the other hand, graduates in healthcare administration play a vital role in managing hospital operations and collaborating with professionals and government agencies. Due to the global shortage of healthcare workers, governments offer numerous scholarship and loan forgiveness programs for aspiring healthcare professionals. Health professions and related studies are highly regarded worldwide for their pivotal contribution to enhancing access to quality healthcare.
2. Education
schoolchoiceinfo.org
With an ever-growing population and increasing enrollment at all educational levels, education holds substantial promise. It presents various career options, such as teaching, administration, and counseling. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, this sector is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years, offering abundant opportunities to individuals pursuing education degrees. Additionally, the demand for graduate degrees in education is rising because many states require K-12 teachers to hold a master’s degree for licensure purposes.
1. Business
kelley.iu.edu
Graduate degrees in the business field reign as the most sought-after. This stems from the widespread appeal of master’s of business administration, known as MBA degrees. Such programs provide specialized study opportunities in areas like accounting and entrepreneurship and pave the way for lucrative career prospects. The versatility of study areas and abundant job options make business degrees the premier choice for graduate students.
