What Master’s Degree Should I Pursue?

Benefits of a Master’s Degree

Given the time and financial commitments involved, why pursue a master’s degree? Here are a few potential benefits/reasons:

• Earning Potential. One of the possible benefits of having a master’s degree is higher earning potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2024, the median usual weekly earnings of those holding a master’s degree ($1,840) were higher than the median usual weekly earnings for all workers ($1,221).1 Moreover, the median usual weekly earnings of master’s degree holders were approximately 16% higher compared to bachelor’s degree holders ($1,543).¹
• Lower Unemployment Rate. Another potential advantage of having a master’s degree is a lower unemployment rate compared to those with less educational attainment. In 2024, master’s degree holders had a lower unemployment rate (2.2%) than bachelor’s degree holders (2.5%).1 Master’s degree holders also had a lower unemployment rate compared to the overall unemployment rate (3.3%).¹
• Preparation for Pursuing New Opportunities. Whether you want to seek out a new career path or advance in your current one, pursuing a master’s degree program is a good way to help you prepare. The advanced knowledge and skills you will study in a master’s degree program could help you build a solid foundation in your chosen area of study. Furthermore, some career paths require a master’s degree for entry, and some employers may prefer candidates who hold a master’s degree over those who don’t, even in occupations that may not normally require one—in situations such as these, the advantages of a master’s degree become clearer. It is important to do your due diligence before committing to any master’s degree program to ensure that it aligns with your goals. The BLS’s Occupation Finder could be a helpful tool to help you see at a glance what the entry-level educational requirements are for your desired career path.

Of course, this list is not exhaustive. Additional reasons for earning a master’s degree could include wanting to set the stage for future doctoral studies, experiencing the personal satisfaction of earning a graduate degree or wanting to expand your network.

Benefits of an MBA Degree

MBA stands for Master of Business Administration, a type of master’s degree. In contrast to specialized master’s degree programs that focus on developing students’ depth of knowledge in a particular area of study, MBA degree programs focus on general business principles and practices. One of the benefits of an MBA degree is its versatility—the program’s general business focus means that much of what you will study can be applied across industries and in various roles. In an MBA degree program, you can expect to study a wide range of business topics, from accounting, to economics, to finance, to marketing and more.

Despite its generalist nature, however, many MBA degree programs offer students the option to choose a specialization or concentration. Choosing a specialization or concentration means that, rather than selecting your own elective courses, you opt to take a predetermined set of elective courses focused on a specific area of study. Choosing an MBA specialization or concentration is not the same thing as pursuing a specialized master’s degree program, however—specialized master’s degree programs are centered on a particular area of study, whereas an MBA specialization or concentration simply allows you to add a bit more focus to what is still a “generalist” degree program.

Deciding on a Master’s Program: Other Factors to Consider

Again, while the reasons to pursue an MBA degree or specialized master’s degree—higher earning potential, lower unemployment, etc.—may be clear, choosing a master’s degree program may not be. For example, if you are interested in one of the various business areas of study (accounting, finance, strategy, marketing, etc.) and want to pursue more advanced professional opportunities in that field, either type of business master’s degree (specialized or MBA) could make sense—to make a decision, you’ll have to determine whether developing depth of knowledge or breadth of knowledge is better suited to your academic goals. If your reason for pursuing a master’s degree is to set yourself up for future doctoral studies, a specialized master’s degree may be a better fit. To determine whether a specialized or generalist master’s degree program will put you in a better position to achieve your goals, it may help to talk to others in your field and get their perspective.

Note also that your academic background may limit the type of graduate degree program you are able to pursue. Among a specialized master’s degree program’s prerequisites may be that applicants hold a bachelor’s degree in the same or a related field of study. If you don’t hold that type of bachelor’s degree, the institution may allow you to take extra courses to help satisfy that requirement—or it may not. If so, a generalist degree program like an MBA degree program—which typically does not require applicants to already hold a business degree—may be the more feasible option.

Steps You Could Use to Choose a Master’s Degree

1. Do a self-assessment to identify your goals and interests.
2. Research different fields of study that are related to your goals and interests.
3. Compare your findings from Step 2 to your self-assessment in Step 1 to narrow down your options.
4. Speak to others who are knowledgeable about the fields of study you identified in Step 3. This can help you further narrow down which master’s degree programs best align with the goals and interests you identified in Step 1.
5. While you are working your way through Steps 1 through 4, decide whether you want to pursue an online master’s degree program vs. an on-campus master’s degree program. Also consider whether you wish to pursue your degree full time or part time, and how that will affect the time it takes to complete your master’s program.
6. Confirm that you can satisfy the admission requirements for any programs you are considering. For example, must you hold a bachelor’s degree in the same or a related field as the master’s degree program you want to pursue?
7. Consider the costs of a master’s degree program, namely, how you plan to pay for your education, factoring in transfer-in credit policies and potential financial aid options available to you. For example, might you be eligible for grants or scholarships? Might you qualify to receive course credit for prior education, life or military experience? Does your employer offer any tuition-assistance benefits?
8. Finalize your decision and apply.

AIU Master’s Degree Programs

American InterContinental University offers online master’s degree programs designed for working adults. The 100% online degree program format offers flexibility to study and complete coursework according to your own schedule, making it possible to pursue your educational goals without having to put your life on hold. We currently offer the following graduate degree programs:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Education (MEd): Concentration in Adult Education & E-Learning
• Master of Education (MEd): Concentration in Education Administration
• Master of Education (MEd): Concentration in Leadership of PreK-12 Educational Organizations
• Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM)
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT)
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT): Concentration in Cybersecurity
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT): Concentration in Data Analytics
• Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT): Concentration in IT Management

1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Pays, “Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment” (Aug. 29, 2024) https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm.

AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2140190 6/2025