Was getting you Master's Degree worth it or not?

Question

For those of you that got their Master's degree or equivalent, did you find it worth the extra cost and effort? For those that didn't or did not go to college why did you choose that path?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It depends on the industry you're getting into.

One of my closest friends has 2 Bachelors (by the time she was 21) and her Masters by 27. Genius individual. She is so adept in her profession as a medical specialist that colleagues with 30 years of experience compliment her or refer to her for information. She makes $250,000 to $375,000 as a consultant for medical companies in the USA and also for the local hospital group. Did she need a Masters for this? Yes.

On the reverse her cousin is a dentist in Canada. Merely needed a Bachelors. He makes about $250,000 per year but he happens to be the co-owner of the dentistry and thus can book as many consults, dental appointments, etc. as he desires for money.

The reason why I gave these two examples is because they have different educations but make roughly about the same amount of money.

The difference is, is my friend is known in the medical industry because of her Masters. She's considered an expert. A consultant. A published author, etc. Whereas, with just a bachelors, her cousin is just a dentist.

Simslover92 · Accepted Answer

I think so. My field is library science so I can pretty much go anywhere with that degree and work and the pay in many states is decent. It's just not in the current city I live in. I plan on moving very soon though because the pay is so much better in other cities and states for my degree.

Jonnyanalog · Accepted Answer

It depends on the industry and company you work for. My previous employer put high value on MBAs especially if you wanted to achieve higher levels of leadership. If you wanted to take a more technical career path, it didn’t offer anything.
First, I’d understand what your career goals are. Second, determine if higher education is encouraged by the organization you work for to advance your career. Third, how much will it cost and what is the percentage the company will pay? Some are 50% based on grades while others are 100%. Also keep in mind once you get your MBA or advanced degree on the organization’s dime how long do they expect you to hang around. Some organizations require a minimum number of years as a form of pay back while others might not.

I have a bachelors degree in fine arts. In my field, unless you plan to get into leadership roles, a masters degree is useless. It really doesn’t offer anything like higher pay or prestige. It lightens your wallet and puts you into needless debt.

dynamicyandere · Accepted Answer

I got a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

I could have gone for a master‘s degree in business administration next.

But, after familiarizing myself with the business world, I learned that degrees are overrated in the world of business.

They value your actual skills and experience, rather than degrees—what can you DO and can you prove it?

I went on to build my skills and experience in sales and marketing.

Now, I manage the marketing department and a team of people for a rapidly growing startup with an international team (one founder works from Cali, the other founder works from Costa Rica, and I work from my laptop in Borneo).

I’ll keep the company anonymous because of my NDA but Mr. Beast is one of our clients. 😉

I reached this point with no MBA.

But.

What I did need was a hell of a lot of grit and determination to get here.

SnowedIn · Answer

I wish I had.

And, yes, I know that I still can.

I left after my first semester of college after a toxic stew of money, my dad, roommates, and several other things. It was the right decision at the time for the right reasons.

I joined the Navy. That was also the right decision.

So, why didn't I just get it? The Navy, kids, family, money, time.

So, while I regret that I don't yet have a degree, the decisions I made along the way were the right ones.

JackCarter · Answer

I did a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering.. and that was just because my parents insisted...
I then joined the army and of course my degree never help my job..(Except maybe when there are minute electrical repair jobs )

However , I've heard that nowadays there's a scheme for people in the army to study a course they like (part time) , which would help them get a job after they leave...
I am thinking to do my Masters in EE in this way and get into teaching if I leave the army (or get seriously injured haha)

Sparkie460 · Answer

I didn't go to college. I went to a trade school. I originally went for auto mechanic but I got hurt and had to switch careers. I went back to a trade school and learned to be an electrician.
I didn't want to go to a regular college and accumulate a big debt. My schooling was paid for 6 months after graduating.

MementoMori777 · Answer

I chose a bad lifestyle and fell off I guess, they kicked me out of high school and from there I fell deeper into that lifestyle but I always found college a waste of money cause I saw people that went and I managed to get a better paying job than them with no high school degree, seems more like you are getting yourself in dept and it just sabotages your life even more having to pay it back.

Anonymous · Answer

Only worth it if you know people and many of them who are currently looking for that!

Every one caress less about my degree they view it as you could not leave college when I worked so hard for this!

Only worth it to other colleges 😞 and they just wanna hire famous teachers or low paying teachers.

My degree does not matter and if you don't publish then your a nobody!

Especially in science like make stuff up and your golden no one cares or tests things heck just fake a fossil or two and you change dinos into chickens!

No one will spend the 3 k to test your fossil. Just make stuff up and just lie about a masters they don't check it. My friend works at a college admin and she never has been asked if someone really has Thier degree

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

I went to college, got halfway through a triple masters, life/job got in the way. That was 10 years ago. I knew it wasn't going to help me professionally when I started, as my experience trumps education requirements significantly, but I like school and I like to learn so I figured hell let's do this. I'll probably start again once i retire, but there just aren't the hours to devote to it now and I'm not content to get a low (-er) GPA

ZackBan · Answer

As a software engineer absolutely.
Landed a good job that doesn't even interview people with less than a master's degree
Plus I'm teaching at my old engineering school which is also Something I would never have done with a bachelor alone.

So yeah money well spent.

(Also don't have student debt as I studied in Europe)

J0sie · Answer

yes and no. My masters degree for education was not specialized for a specific area so it is not great. I am going to have to get another masters or certificate in order for it to mean something.

but after it’s done, it will be worth it, I will be able to get any job in education, high school or college, and the next step would be a doctorate but probably not going to go that far

comekitty · Answer

My job pays more for a master's degree, then master's +15, then master's +30 - after that, I don't remember the next increments for pay increase.

I have a master's +6 hours - I didn't make it to +15 - I'mdone with school. For my job, the pay increase is minimal. 🙂

WanderingLoveWizard · Answer

There's an old saying in the recording industry that goes, "If you really want to be successful, spend your money on gear, not education"
Sort of a build your empire and acquire your knowledge along the way kind of thing

But that's also why most of us are broke so maybe don't listen to that

midnightmoon05 · Answer

I have and paid for it from my own pocket.
my job doesn’t need it…but they made us get it…the most beneficial is salary increase. So I must within 5 yrs…otherwise they put me in probation … then of course … being ambitious… I went on to get 30 more credits above my masters degree so I now have top pay. Other than that…doesn’t help with my career.

strateguy632 · Answer

in the practical fields, do not need it for job  in arts like mine it was a waste of time and money and disappointingly boring. luckily my parents paid half tuition and dorm fees for 3 years.

Anonymous · Answer

I would do a PhD because a lot them are fully funded and the worst that can happen is you fail with a master degree. Or maybe a Micro masters. The masters doesn't seem worth it to go into debt for unless you have tuition reimbursement from a job or something.

Agape93 · Answer

My girl got hers, she seems happy with it. My wallet isn't though.  I dropped out because they didn't offer courses I wanted, and I'm not paying for my schooling if it isn't even what I want.

Sirenboobzilla · Answer

Absolutely. I regret no part of that journey. And come August I get to start seeing the fruit that journey will bear

zagor · Answer

Yes, even though I went FT and thus lived in poverty for two years.

Of course, it was in a beautiful beach area that people go to for vacation weekends so it was a pretty pleasant lifestyle. I had a car but rarely used it, riding my bike everywhere instead.

DrKrieger · Answer

100% not worth it. I dont have a masters degree, but I got into a job surrounded by PhD and masters graduates (it is possible).

Not to mention the exorbant cost of college, predatory student loans, and time earnings lost, while studying. One of my coworkers is still paying around 400 per month and with rising interests rates their loan is going up rather than down - imagine being straddled by a car note without a car lmao don't do it

RavVid · Answer

A masters was something at a time but you need a doctorate now. I don't think a masters ever outwardly got me anything - like being chosen for a job - but it has certainly added to my capability. Cross discipline masters are good value.

snowboarder720 · Answer

I do not go to graduate school.

I have a bachelors in Electrical Engineering which is good enough to find a good paying job and earning real world working experience. All of my job interviews didn’t really give a damn what level of a degree I had as long as I graduated. After about 2 years of working I was already earning as much as newly hired graduate students. 🤷‍♂️

DextroShade · Answer

It probably depends on the degree: if it's STEM or finance it is probably worth it, otherwise probably not.

Ezra_lila · Answer

I didn't have the degree but I plan to take it soon. FOr me who don't have it yet, it might be helpul to use it as an upperhand in promotion. Since not everyone does have it.

AviatorTom · Answer

I never got a Master's, just a Bachelor's degree, which served me well in my career. I don't think a Master's degree would have been any more helpful.

worldscolide · Answer

No, I make more from my 50 IT certifications than I do my degree.

exitseven · Answer

Yes. I wanted to change careers and get into IT. I got an MS in Computer Science and never looked back.

Charliefretz329 · Answer

I started it but my regular job paid more than the masters degree could get me so I quit the struggle lol

LiamJHayden · Answer

I dropped out of college after my freshman year because I was already making more in my business than I was likely to ever make with a degree. Note: I am not a physician, engineer, or attorney type.

Writteninthestars · Answer

Yes of course. I got a salary jump when i did it back then

WhitneySnow · Answer

My uncle has a masters in mathematics and he got a good job with it, but later he got a Ph. D. and they gave him a raise.

genericname85 · Answer

no and yes. no cause it doesn't make me feel any smarter or more qualified than bachelors. yes, cause you litterally have to have it to get into certain jobs to begin with.

RMSTitanic · Answer

I spent about $80,000 for 4 years on a professional pharmacist degree in Toronto (I had government coverage and grants so didn't need to pay that full amount but still), but make 6 figures now, so I'd say worth the extra investment

Avicenna · Answer

Yeah, it was, in situations where credentials matter

susie22 · Answer

I'm very close to getting mine, and I'm 100% sure it will be worth the effort.

Alli39 · Answer

Welp I'm about to get mine, so let's hope so lol

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

I never went to college. I’m not really a school person. I’m much happier doing blue collar type of work.

AnusNdaPainus · Answer

I never understood higher education

why pay to learn something that you could’ve learned from reading?

Back in the day college was a great idea but in 2023 when we have WiFi and internet

why on earth would anyone ever go to college?

CubaPirate · Answer

Sorry I only went to the university of life lol 😆

007kingifrit · Answer

for most people it isn't, it really depends on your field. my field is quite rare and in demand so yes, but i would still say it got me only a little ahead of where i would be without it.

MissBoogus · Answer

I just don’t desire to go to school or work for anybody so I didn’t , I’ve found a healthy balance now

Staximus · Answer

I had to work, could not afford to go to college. They didn't have all that financial aid for white people in the 90's hahaha

Mansearching · Answer

Don't have a Master's degree. I have an Associate's degree

Rollingstones84 · Answer

I think it put me in a better position for sure, with the cost of things these days always try to set yourself up to be in a better spot

Lokiion · Answer

College in general isn’t worth unless you know you can’t make it doing stuff online

Amxx_ · Answer

I feel it was. Finished last year, so I'd rather answer this question in 2years. But I think I made the right choice

msc545 · Answer

The Master's degree was just a patch or road on the way to my Ph. D. I hardly noticed it.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, I think so, but it was kinda expensive.

Anonymous · Answer

Statistically speaking yes. But that doesn't guarantee that it will be for you.

DreamLife7 · Answer

Depends on your major

Tomisworthless · Answer

Too stupid for college and got bullied a lot in my early 20s for being gay both from classmates teachers and in passing

Yellovv · Answer

Are you trying to take master degree?

Rangers · Answer

I'm not getting a degree

Christoff92 · Answer

Never earned a Master's degree.

OddBeMe · Answer

Only have a bach. But college was well worth it.

Jmmmfi4 · Answer

Lol didn't even finish high school

Anonymous · Answer

almost made that big mistake luckily i didn't

shortster · Answer

I wish I got mine.

justabuddy · Answer

Not yet.

Was getting you Master's Degree worth it or not?

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