Feed: Slashdot
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Title: Is Your Master's Degree Useless?

Link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/24/11/21/1552...

While master's degrees are increasingly popular -- with 40% of U.S.
bachelor's degree holders now having postgraduate credentials -- new research
reveals many don't deliver improved earnings despite soaring costs. Analysis
from the U.S. and UK indicates that about 40% of U.S. master's programs fail
to provide positive financial returns, with some even leading to financial
losses for graduates, as captured in a new Economist story. Similarly,
British master's graduates earn no more than bachelor's holders by age 35
after accounting for background factors. This is particularly significant
because U.S. students now average $50,000 in postgraduate debt, triple the
real cost since 2000, while UK fees have risen 70% since 2011 to $12,000
annually. Returns vary dramatically by field: computer science and
engineering show strong gains, while humanities degrees often lead to reduced
earnings compared to bachelor's-only peers. Women are more likely than men to
see earnings increases, succeeding in 14 out of 31 subject areas compared to
men's six. Choice of institution impacts outcomes, though data shows no
strong correlation between program cost and graduate earnings.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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