Postgraduate programs in the US are expensive and take a long time, but they offer opportunities for students to develop their careers.

Some graduate programs in the US last two years, but can cost more than $100,000 (over VND 2.3 billion). The cost is even higher for some doctoral and specialized programs.

However, many experts believe that a high degree will make up for the investment, both in terms of expertise and life experience. Here are three benefits of owning a graduate degree in the US.

High income opportunities

Postgraduate graduates often have higher incomes. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2021, the average weekly income of workers aged 25 with a bachelor’s degree in this country was $1,334 (over VND 31 million). The figure for those with a master’s degree is $1,574, a doctorate is $1,909, and a professional degree is $1,924.

In some cases, a graduate degree can help students start their careers at a higher level than they would normally start out at. This allows them to command higher salaries, take on more responsibilities, and take on shorter promotions, according to Suzanne Barbour, dean of graduate education at Duke University in North Carolina.

In addition, the higher the degree, the lower the unemployment rate. Suzanne Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States, said that even when unemployment rates rise, people with advanced degrees are more likely to keep their jobs. “So not only do they have income from wages, but they are also less affected by unemployment,” she said.

Ortega also says employers value people with graduate degrees because they often demonstrate the qualities needed to advance, possessing skills that are transferable across different environments, such as problem-solving, high-level communication, and perseverance.

Building relationships

Graduate programs often focus on a specific field, either to train people in that field or to help them develop new skills for their current field. After college, like-minded students often have similar goals. “These people tend to be the peers you connect with and can continue to develop your career with,” Babour says.

Many graduate programs also give students the opportunity to complete projects and gain practical work experience related to their field. Dan Moshavi, dean of the Fowler College of Business at the University of California, San Diego (SDSU), calls these “experiential activities.” Students at SDSU often work on real-world consulting projects with companies. Through these opportunities, he says, students form professional relationships both in and out of the classroom and add experience to their resumes.

Personal Development

According to Dean Moshavi, there is a lot of “soft skills development” that goes into graduate school. In addition to academics, students also hone their critical thinking, interpersonal communication, leadership, and collaboration skills, he says. “Every major requires some skills like teamwork, working with others… Learning how to deal with problems that arise when working in a team, like handling conflict, giving opinions, and receiving feedback, are essential skills that benefit everyone throughout their careers,” Moshavi emphasizes.

While graduate education involves a lot of collaborative work, it also encourages independent thinking and gives students the ability to challenge conventional ways of thinking, Babour says. In a professional setting, she says, students can develop the ability to politely criticize others while still having constructive conversations. They also hone their research and independent learning skills, which fosters a love of learning. All of these things are attractive to employers, Babour says.

“You learn to be a lifelong learner. You develop the ability to self-educate and understand the value of staying up-to-date, connected and informed about the latest developments in your field,” Babour concludes.