In this recent article, the Washington Post reports that from 2000-2012 the number of people receiving master’s degrees from colleges and universities in the United States increased by 63%. Many universities, such as Georgetown, award far more master’s than bachelor’s degrees (Georgetown awarded 2,838 master’s compared to 1,871 bachelor’s degrees in 2012).
Master’s degree programs are not only big money makers for the schools, but have proven to be a crucial investment for workers aiming for high-skill jobs. Census data in Virginia shows that the average salary for people who hold a master’s degree in electrical or electronics engineering is $75,000 compared to $56,000 for those who only hold bachelor’s degrees.
Many universities seem to expand their master’s degree offerings each year, and launch programs that allow students to gain very specialized knowledge for an increasingly competitive and complex knowledge economy. We believe this trend is especially beneficial for international students, as new programs offer more and more opportunities for them to come to the United States and get a great education in a multitude of disciplines.