Guide to Graduate Schools

Sometimes it's worthwhile to believe the things that you hear--especially when it comes to furthering your education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, your investment in an advanced degree is likely to pay off: May 2011 data from the BLS shows those with a master's, professional or doctoral degree earn more median pay on a weekly basis than those with only a bachelor's degree. The pay difference ranges from $234 to $572.

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This high-end difference in earnings occurs when those with a professional degree are compared to those with a bachelor's degree. Workers with a professional degree, such as a JD for lawyers or MD for doctors, earn median weekly wages of $1,610, compared to the weekly median earnings of $1,038 made by those with a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. The earnings for a professional degree also exceed those made on a weekly basis for those people having a doctoral degree, according to the BLS.

Bar graph: Median weekly wages by degree earned

Studies also show that those with advanced degrees earn more on a yearly basis--not just weekly--than those with solely a bachelor's degree. A 2010 study from The College Board indicates that those with a master's degree earn median after-tax earnings of $51,100 while those with a bachelor's degree earn median after-tax earnings of $42,700.

BLS data also indicates that those with an advanced education are less likely to find themselves unemployed. Master's degree graduates have a 4 percent unemployment rate, while those with a bachelor's degree experience 5.4 percent unemployment.

Bar graph: Unemployment by degree earned

The trend toward advanced education is on the rise as more people compete for jobs and hope to find a competitive edge. In 1999, 27 million people in the U.S. age 25 and older had a bachelor's degree or higher, while in 2009, that number reached 44 million. If it's time for you to take steps toward increased earnings, you can make a start by looking at graduate schools. Online opportunities also provide a convenient way to obtain an education while advancing your academic goals.

 

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California State University - Monterey Bay

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Earn your Executive MBA online at California State University Monterey Bay.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Master of Business Administration
USC Rossier School of Education

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Advance your teaching career with an online master's degree from University of Southern California Rossier School of Education.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Master of Arts in Teaching
  • Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies

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Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university. Today, Georgetown is a major international research university that embodies its founding principles in the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff, our commitment to justice and the common good, our intellectual openness, and our international character.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
University of Phoenix

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At University of Phoenix, we believe everyone deserves access to higher education.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • M.A. in Education/Administration and Supervision
  • M.A. in Education/Early Childhood Ed.
Capella University

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Achieve your potential with an online degree from Capella University.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • MS - Social and Community Services
  • MS - Homeland Security
USC School of Social Work

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The USC School of Social Work’s MSW@USC offers the opportunity to earn a Master of Social Work degree through the Virtual Academic Center without relocating to Southern California.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Master of Social Work
George Mason University

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George Mason University's School of Management Executive Programs are engaged in a committed and sustained effort to build extraordinary conditions for learning about leadership and management.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • National Defense Executive Master of Business Administration
  • Global Executive Master of Business Administration