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Most Useful Master’s Degrees
It is said that over 1,700 universities in the United States offer master’s degree programs in hundreds of subjects. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of master’s degrees awarded in 2019-20 was 843,400. But with over three-quarters of a million students having earned their master’s degree, the question is – how useful were or are they? If one sought graduate-level education only to be qualified and get a “good job,” then the chances are many would be disappointed. A master’s degree is undoubtedly an excellent choice to improve one’s career prospects and pay. Still, one must always check if the degree in question aligns with one’s interests and professional goals. A master’s degree should not end up being cast aside; it should be put to good use, after all that time, effort, and money spent on it. This guide picks out the top 15 most useful master’s degrees that promise excellent career options, high wages, potential growth, and an overall bright outlook.
What Are the Most Useful Master’s Degrees?
Here are the top 15 most useful master’s degrees (not listed by rank)
- Computer Science
- Nursing
- MBAs
- Marketing
- Software Engineering
- Public Health
- Finance
- Cyber Security
- Accounting
- Communication
- Human Resources
- Digital Strategy
- Psychology
- Supply Chain Management
- Data Science
What Universities Offer the Most Useful Master’s Degrees?
Here are the top 15 universities that offer the most useful master’s degrees (not listed by rank):
- Sam Houston State University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Colorado State University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Lamar University
- University of Florida
- Syracuse University
- Purdue University Global
- Liberty University
- Texas A&M University
- Pepperdine University
- Arizona State University
- Trine University
- University of Texas Permian Basin
- Capella University
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FAQs on the Most Useful Master’s Degrees
| Q. Which master’s degrees are the most versatile? |
| A. While almost all master’s degrees can be put to good use, some are more versatile than others. Going by popularity, expected salaries, growth opportunities, flexibility, etc., the few best and most versatile degrees that students might choose to build marketable abilities that will better equip them for various careers include Math, Computer Science, Finance, Engineering, Education, Communications, Computer Science, and Business Administration. |
| Q. What are the most in-demand master’s in the future, and how much do they pay? |
| A. The list of most in-demand master’s programs alters with time and changing scenarios. Therefore, it is critical to thoroughly examine degrees with the highest-paying careers and wage and job growth projections. Having done so, it is safe to say that master’s programs in statistics, nursing, finance, petroleum engineering, and taxation are among those in demand and pay well. Graduates with advanced degrees earn up to 28% more than those with only a bachelor’s degree. |
| Q. How fast can you do a master’s program? |
| A. Depending on the program, its curriculum, the chosen concentration, and delivery mode (online, on-campus, or hybrid), a master’s program can be completed in 1 to 2.5 years. Most degrees tend to average at about 2 years if taken full-time. Part-time or self-paced students would require 3 to 4 years to obtain their master’s degrees. |
| Q. Can you do more than one master’s degree? |
| A. Yes, it is possible to pursue more than one master’s degree; there are no limits to the number of degrees one can obtain. Two master’s degrees can enable students to study more than one academic discipline, qualify for a position with greater responsibility and opportunity, and position themselves as top contenders for higher-paying jobs. |
| Q. Can you get a master’s in a different field? |
| A. Yes. Students generally have two options – a dual degree or a double major. With a dual degree, the two degrees may be in distinct fields, allowing students to complete both in less time than if they had obtained them separately. A double major is not the same as a dual degree; it is one degree with two areas of concentration but may nonetheless sometimes be as valuable as a dual degree. |
| Q. What are the highest-paying jobs without a master’s degree? |
| A. Some of the highest paying jobs one can get without a master’s degree and only a bachelor’s or associate degree are: Financial Manager – $131,710 Air-Traffic Controller – $129,750 Petroleum Engineer – $130,850 Computer and Information Systems Manager – $159,010 Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager – $133,380 Sales Manager – $127,490 Human Resources Manager – $126,230 |
Most Useful Master’s Degrees: Details
Several significant factors play a role in determining why some master’s programs are useful to obtain. These factors include:
- Availability: the popularity and availability of the program across numerous master’s colleges.
- Affordability: the average cost of the master’s program.
- Delivery: the option to learn online, on campus, or via the hybrid mode that blends both.
- Curriculum: the choice of courses, electives, and concentrations and the flexibility to take synchronous or asynchronous classes.
- Duration: the time it takes to complete the master’s program.
- Statistics: the acceptance, retention, and graduation rates.
- Employability: the availability of jobs after graduation and good job prospects.
- Return on Investment: the possibility of earning back the money one has spent on their master’s degree.
Considering these primary variables and many more, these are the most useful master’s degrees (not listed by rank):
| Computer Science A master’s degree in computer science offers students advanced, in-demand computer and information technology principles and teaches how to use programming languages for operating systems, practical applications, data mining, and more. | |
| Courses* Computer programming, computer networking, cybersecurity, system architecture, distributed systems, and cloud computing. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Nursing A master’s degree in nursing program can provide practicing nurses with a pathway to nursing administration, leadership, and management while also teaching them various topics such as adult-gerontology, primary care, health sciences, and more. | |
| Courses* Health informatics, nursing leadership, health assessment, psychiatric mental health, and adult-gerontology primary care. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 to 2.5 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| MBAs A master’s in business administration (MBA) provides business knowledge through teaching critical abilities such as leadership, communication, and management. An MBA not only leads to higher-level positions but can also quickly increase pay. | |
| Courses* Marketing management, business analytics, financial-decision making, leading and managing, and business communication. | |
| Duration* ~ 1 to 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Marketing A master’s in marketing degree teaches students marketing management and marketing strategy and covers a wide range of topics such as consumer behavior, strategic internet marketing, social media marketing campaigns, global marketing, international marketing, etc. | |
| Courses* Market strategies, social media marketing, market research, consumer behavior, marketing analytics, and marketing communications. | |
| Duration* ~ 1.5 to 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Software Engineering A master’s in software engineering prepares students for careers in various fields, including gaming, healthcare, finance, and research, among others. Students gain advanced knowledge in software development methodologies, tools, processes, and techniques to manage various software projects effectively. | |
| Courses* Software architecture, web development, modern technologies, software development methodology, and software development in C++. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 to 2.5 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Public Health A master’s in public health helps students enter the health services, human services, and advocacy professions, including epidemiology, disease management, biostatistics, nutrition, environmental health, occupational health, etc. | |
| Courses* Public health practice, public health biology, health management, epidemiology, biostatistics, and social behavioral sciences. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Finance A master’s in finance in finance focuses on the fundamentals of how markets work and is built around the most sophisticated financial theories, industry practices, and quantitative models. | |
| Courses* Corporate finance, international finance, financial planning, investment analysis and portfolio management, and banking. | |
| Duration* ~ 1 to 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Cyber Security A master’s in cyber security teaches a broad range of skills, including cloud security, data protection, and network analysis, to prospective and current IT professionals or those with a computer or data science background. | |
| Courses* Foundations in algorithms, malware and attack reverse engineering, cryptology, information assurance analysis, and ethical hacking. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Accounting A master’s in accounting provides in-depth knowledge of financial analysis, tax research, financial accounting, managerial accounting, federal taxation, etc., and is a sure path to obtaining a CPA or CMA certification. | |
| Courses* Governmental accounting and not-for-profit accounting, federal tax research, advanced cost accounting, and situational ethics in accounting. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Communication A master’s in communication prepares students for leadership roles in the diverse communications field by learning communication theory and communication research methods and developing excellent communication skills to work in various settings. | |
| Courses* Leadership in communication, intercultural communication, communication skills & professional writing, political communication, and ethics in communication. | |
| Duration* ~ 1.5 to 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Human Resources A master’s in human resources is tailored for students and professionals who desire to understand how humans think and act and capitalize on human behavior in the workplace and beyond. | |
| Courses* Financial and human capital, organization development, HR analytics, strategic workforce planning, employment law, and foundations of strategic human resources. | |
| Duration* ~ 1.5 to 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Digital Strategy A master’s in digital strategy teaches students how to acquire, use, and evaluate data and information to address organizational issues. Digital Strategy is sometimes termed and is interchangeable with Digital Marketing or Online Marketing. | |
| Courses* Lead generation and management, inbound strategy, digital audience management, marketing concepts in the digital age, strategic communication campaigns, and search engine optimization. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Psychology A master’s in psychology deals with the study of psychological theory and human behavior and provides students with an opportunity to move into entry-level work in the field, usually under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. | |
| Courses* Contemporary issues in psychology, biological basis of behavior, psychology of death and dying, and advanced psychological assessment | |
| Duration* ~ 2 to 3 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Supply Chain Management A master’s in supply chain management deals with sourcing raw materials and components required by companies to manufacture their products or aggregating goods from suppliers at their warehouses and selling them to customers. | |
| Courses* Supply chain management, supply chain analytics, operations management, strategic sourcing and procurement, and global supply chain management | |
| Duration* ~ 1.5 to 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
| Data Science A master’s in data science teaches students to communicate computer science concepts and information, create and manage new strategies, compile analytics at an advanced level, and lead teams to meet organizational goals. | |
| Courses* Database systems and data preparation, statistics for data science, computer vision, and practical machine learning. | |
| Duration* ~ 2 Years | Potential Careers & Salaries** |
| Delivery Mode* Online & On-Campus | *typical | **median annual pay, 2021 |
Universities That Offer Most Useful Master’s Degrees: Details
Several universities provide useful master’s degree programs. Various teams at OMC collaborated to research and draw up a list of the best ones providing degrees that we think are excellent options for students. Numerous elements were included in our methodology to curate the list, and all of them were baked into a proprietary formula we used. These elements included:
- Affordable Tuition
- Program Flexibility
- Shorter Durations
- Expert Instructors
- Multiple Intakes in a Year
- No GRE or GMAT Requirements
- Excellent Student Support Services
- Accredited (College and/or Programs)
- Availability of Accelerated Programs
- Online & On-Campus Programs
- Synchronous & Asynchronous Learning
- Availability of Financial Aid
- Respectable Graduation Rate
- Excellent Infrastructure
- Variable Curriculum & Coursework
- Specialization Options
- Selection of Programs
- Reputation (College & Programs)
- Excellent Student-Teacher Ratio
- Availability of Extra & Co-curricular Activity
Here is the list of universities offering some useful master’s degrees (not listed by rank):
Additional Resources on Most Useful Master’s Degrees
- Best Online Masters: Discover the best online master’s degrees in the U.S. recognized by employers in the U.S. and overseas.
- Affordable Online Masters: Graduate school does not always have to be expensive. Check out some of the most affordable online master’s degrees that do not break the bank.
- 1-Year Online Masters: Yes, it is possible to get a master’s degree in 1-year. Find out how and which ones can be done in a year.
- Fastest Online Masters: The faster, the better. Take a look at this list of the fastest online master’s degrees in the U.S.
- Easiest Online Masters: All master’s programs are not necessarily hard to pursue. Find out about the easiest ones across many disciplines.
- Free Masters Online: Yes! Some master’s programs can be done without incurring a huge cost. Check out the free online master’s program list for free degrees.
- Highest Paying Masters: Find out which master’s degrees lead to the highest salaries and bring with them excellent career growth.
- Online Masters No GRE: Find the GRE a pain? This list of No GRE master’s degree programs should make the admissions process easier and less of a hassle.
- Self-Paced Masters: Discover how to take enough time to pursue and complete a master’s degree without worrying about time constraints.
- Masters Without Bachelors: Pursuing a master’s degree program is possible without first obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Find out how from this guide.
- Ivy League Online Masters: Explore this list of the top online master’s degrees offered by premium Ivy League universities in the U.S.
- 6 Months Programs: Prefer a master’s program shorter than 1 year? This list contains a list of master’s degrees that can be completed in as little as 6 months.