Are you interested in a career that requires professional education or are  simply unsure of what to do next after graduating college? If so, there are many factors to consider before committing to graduate or professional school. 

What are some reasons people go to graduate school? 

1. To increase salary potential - Many people elect to go to graduate school as a way to increase  their earning potential. People with graduate degrees are generally paid more than those who do not have graduate degrees. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that education pays, with people with professional degrees, for example, making a median of $2,080 weekly compared to people with bachelor degrees making a median of $1,432 weekly. However, with the variety of degrees and fields you can pursue in graduate school, there may not always be a significant increase in pay. Check out this fields of degree page that highlights data and information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau for a variety of academic fields.

2. To establish a career shift- Many people go to graduate school when they realize their bachelor’s degree may differ from their actual work life. Getting a graduate degree can help to support a career shift; offering the education and opportunities necessary to fully commit to the career change. 

3. To nurture a passion - Some may find education fulfilling, wishing to do research in a specific field or to follow a career path that requires a specific academic degree. Do you know you want to go into a field that requires a specific degree post-bachelors? Or, is there a field you’re inclined towards where the research interests you? 

What are some reasons people might not go to graduate school? 

1. Time- Graduate school requires an investment of your time. Investing time into graduate school does not only mean investing hours into being a student but losing hours that could be spent gaining experience and seniority in a career field. For many people, the opportunity cost of the lost hours in the workforce is a large enough discrepancy to discourage investment into a program. 

2. Financial Considerations- Graduate school can be a large financial burden whether you are personally paying for graduate school or in a financed program. To be in graduate school, is to commit more money to your education. For many, this expense can be a large burden especially if they are considering graduate school right after their initial degree.

3. Commitment- Undergoing graduate school is a large undertaking. You commit to being in school for a longer period of time which means extending the student experience and delaying a full time career. 

This guide offers a great pros and cons list for graduate education. Think about making your own pros and cons list in the documents section to go over with your mentor. 

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