- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
- Expert Reviewed By Soumen Chatterjee
Graduate school involves decisions beyond choosing a degree program, from preparing applications and understanding admissions requirements to evaluating costs, accreditation, career outcomes, and different types of graduate degrees. OMC’s Graduate School Planning and Application Guide provides a starting point for understanding that process.
OMC brings together guides, research, tools, and other resources to help you understand these decisions and navigate graduate school from early planning through program selection and career preparation.
Start Here: Where Are You in Your Graduate School Journey?
- Just starting your graduate school research — Understand the major decisions involved in planning for a master’s degree.
Start →Graduate School Planning and Application Guide
- Preparing to apply — Explore guidance on admissions requirements, application materials, tests, and the graduate school application process.
Explore → Graduate School Application Resources
- Choosing between programs — Learn what to evaluate when comparing universities and master’s programs.
Start →How to Choose an Online Master’s Program
- Evaluating cost and value — Research graduate-school costs, potential return on investment, salary, and employment outcomes.
Explore → Cost, Value & Outcomes Resources Below
- Exploring career options — Research careers, salaries, and professional paths associated with master’s degrees.
Explore →Master’s Degree Career Resources
Explore Graduate School Resources
Graduate school decisions can involve everything from preparing an application to evaluating programs, costs, career outcomes, and degree options. Explore the resource categories below based on the question or stage of the process you are working through.
Graduate School Planning & Applications
From researching graduate schools to preparing application materials, these resources can help you understand the steps involved in planning for and applying to a master’s program.
Start with → Graduate School Planning and Application Guide
Explore → Graduate School Personal Statement Guide
Explore → Statement of Purpose for Graduate School
Explore → Graduate School Resume Guide
Explore → Letter of Intent for Graduate School
Choosing and Evaluating a Master’s Program
Choosing a master’s program involves more than finding a university that offers your degree. These resources can help you evaluate program quality, accreditation, learning options, and the factors that distinguish one program from another.
Start with → How to Choose an Online Master’s Program
Explore → College Accreditation Guide
Explore → Regional vs. National Accreditation
Explore → Online vs. In-Person Master’s Programs
Admissions & Graduate School Tests
Admissions requirements and testing expectations can vary by program and university. These resources can help you understand common graduate admissions requirements, standardized tests, and how to prepare for the application process.
Explore → Graduate School Admissions Requirements
Explore → Graduate School Tests
Explore → GRE Guide
Compare → GMAT vs. GRE
Explore → GRE Preparation Resources
Cost, Value & Graduate Outcomes
The cost of a master’s degree is only one part of its potential value. These resources can help you examine graduate-school costs alongside salary, employment, return on investment, and broader workforce outcomes.
Explore → Graduate School Cost Calculator
Explore → Graduate Degree ROI Study
Explore → Master’s Degree Salary Report
Explore → Online Master’s Employment Report
Explore → AI Master’s Degree Market Report
Careers With a Master’s Degree
A master’s degree can support different career paths depending on the field, specialization, and role you pursue. These resources can help you explore occupations, salary expectations, career outlooks, and how graduate education may connect to different professional paths.
Start with → Master’s Degree Career Resources
Understanding Master’s Degrees & Graduate Education
Graduate degrees can differ in purpose, structure, academic focus, and the paths they are designed to support. These resources can help you understand common degree types and compare graduate education options before choosing a specific program.
Explore → Master of Arts vs. Master of Science
Compare → Master’s Degree vs. PhD
Compare → Bachelor’s Degree vs. Master’s Degree
Explore → Why Earn an Online Master’s Degree?
Student Success & Graduate School Life
Graduate school also requires managing coursework, time, stress, and competing responsibilities. These resources offer practical guidance for staying productive, developing effective study habits, and navigating the day-to-day demands of graduate education.
Explore → Graduate School Study Tips
Explore → Productivity Tips for Graduate Students
Explore → Stress Management for Graduate Students
Explore → Study Break Ideas for Graduate Students
How to Use Graduate School Resources
You may need different resources depending on where you are in the graduate school process. If you’re still deciding whether a master’s degree makes sense, start with resources about degree value, salary, employment, and career outcomes. If you’ve decided to pursue graduate school, move into planning, application, and admissions resources.
As you narrow your options, use cost and value resources to understand program expenses and potential return on your degree.
OMC’s Graduate School Cost Calculator can help you estimate the expenses associated with different program choices. Career resources can then help you evaluate how different educational paths may connect to occupations, salaries, and employment opportunities.