For many students, the decision to pursue graduate school is a major crossroads. While an advanced degree can unlock new professional opportunities, it also comes with a high price.
The national average yearly tuition for grad school is $51,740 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. Moreover, 48.2% of those who complete graduate school have debt from their graduate studies, according to the same study.
Robert Doerksen, the associate dean of the University of Mississippi Graduate School since 2004, said obtaining a graduate education can have life-changing effects.
“The most rewarding aspect is becoming an expert in a particular field and contributing to knowledge through peer-reviewed research,” Doerksen said. “Graduate education also opens doors to careers that might otherwise be inaccessible.”
However, he also acknowledged the challenges that come with pursuing an advanced degree.
“Adding on extra years of education can lead to financial hardship and pressure to get on with ‘real life,’” Doerksen said. “Our university has recently been emphasizing the need for and value of mentoring of graduate students so that professors and students alike will realize that such challenges can be overcome through teamwork.”
Jonathan Harrington, associate director of the Career Center, said personal evaluation is important before starting graduate school.
“You should consider if you want to go to graduate school straight out of college or work for a couple of years and then pursue graduate school, because it will be easier if you’re used to being a student,” Harrington said. “But you also have to consider the pros of making money prior to the extra schooling.”
According to the Office of the Institutional Research, Effectiveness and Planning, 86.7% of UM graduates were employed or set to continue their education within six months of graduation.
“You have to research your industry before anything else, because you might need a master’s degree if it’s a competitive industry,” Harrington said. “Statistically, individuals with a master’s or doctoral degree tend to earn higher salaries and are more competitive in the job market.”
Maggie Nunley, a first-year graduate student in clinical mental health counseling, gave advice to anyone considering graduate school but concerned about the time and money required to complete an advanced degree.
“Our graduate school offers a lot of resources, but you have to put yourself out there during your time in order to get anything out of it,” Nunley said. “Plus, we only have class two nights a week, so you can have a full-time job without it being a disruption.”
Nunley explained why she decided to go to graduate school.
“I always knew I wanted to further my education because I felt I wasn’t going to have as many opportunities in my field with only a bachelor’s degree,” Nunley said. “So it was important to me to get my master’s degree for my future.”
Dhafer Aibishi, a graduate who recently earned a doctorate in language studies, spoke on what he has gained from attending graduate school.
“When you get (a master’s or Ph.D.), you will gain two different things, which are the practical and the theoretical as you will learn to do something and then apply it,” Aibishi said. “Prior to graduate school, I had no idea about the (integrated marketing communications) program, but I’ve gained so much knowledge from it that I would not have been able to find in any other small courses or professional certificates.”
Graduate education can be a worthwhile investment.
“The years and effort you invest in a graduate program can yield immense rewards of financial security, unique career opportunities and satisfaction,” Doerksen said. “It’s nice to know that I qualified for a job that one otherwise would not be fit to do.”
