Latest news with #mastersdegree
Fast Company
10 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Is a master's degree worth it? A new survey of hiring managers casts doubt
Hiring managers aren't convinced that master's degree holders perform better than candidates with two years of work experience, but they are still willing to pay them more. That's according to a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. hiring managers conducted by Resume Genius. Fifty-two percent of respondents said the performance of those who earn the credential is the same as those with a bachelor's degree plus two years of work experience. Another 10% believe it's worse. 'A master's degree simply isn't experience; it's knowledge,' explains Resume Genius career expert Nathan Soto. 'So much practical know-how can only be learned by doing the job, and higher education doesn't prepare people for work. It prepares them for even higher levels of academic study.' The survey also suggests a significant discrepancy in how different generations view the degree, with more than double the proportion of Gen Z hiring managers—29% in total—suggesting it leads to stronger performance, compared with just 13% of Boomers. 'As Baby Boomers age out of the workforce, it suggests that the proportion of hiring managers who value master's degrees is growing,' Soto says.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Master's degree does not guarantee higher pay, says SME group
A mismatch in the labour market has forced many master's degree holders to accept jobs that require lower qualifications and, along with it, lower salaries. (Freepik pic) PETALING JAYA : The perception that master's degree holders are earning less than expected given their qualifications only holds true in certain cases, says SME Association Malaysia president Chin Chee Seong. He said the problem stems from a mismatch in the labour market in Malaysia. 'There are limited roles that specifically require postgraduate qualifications, forcing many to accept lower-paying jobs typically held by degree holders,' he told FMT. Sharing his view is Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Syed Hussain Syed Husman, who pointed out that the relevance of some postgraduate qualifications is limited. Chin Chee Seong. Chin said the Malaysian job market has yet to reach a stage where there is a need for more of those with a master's degree. 'Employers are not averse to paying higher salaries. The question is whether or not it is necessary or justified,' he pointed out. Chin said the association has been urging the government to invest in tech-based industries and to push more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to adopt advanced technology. He said that when industries embrace digitalisation, the need for specific technical skills that come only with postgraduate qualifications rises, making employers more willing to offer higher salaries. He noted that SMEs in some sectors, such as IT services, already offer 'relatively high' starting pay, with fresh graduates earning RM4,000 to RM4,500, depending on the role. Those with a master's degree in fields like computer science are more likely to earn higher wages, Chin said. However, postgraduates in areas like human resources or administration may not see the same returns, as these roles only require degree holders. A recent report by Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) Research Institute said master's degree holders have seen a 10% decline in real wages in the decade leading up to 2022, compared with just a 4% drop in the previous corresponding decade. In contrast, degree holders saw a slight improvement in wage growth over the same period. Syed Hussain Syed Husman. Syed Hussein said factors such as underemployment and an oversupply of graduates have also contributed to wage stagnation. 'Without a corresponding increase in productivity and business performance, employers are unlikely to raise wages simply because an employee holds a higher academic qualification,' he told FMT. Syed Hussain said postgraduate degrees still offer value in specialised fields such as data science and engineering, but unless qualifications align with evolving industry needs, wage challenges for master's graduates will persist. He called for closer collaboration between academia and industry to ensure postgraduate programmes are aligned with market needs. The rate of skills-related underemployment stood at 37% in the second quarter of 2024, deputy economy minister Hanifah Hajar Taib said last year. He added that youth unemployment also stood at 10.6% for the fourth consecutive month in February, involving 306,600 people, which some attributed to a skills mismatch.
Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Why the odds are stacked against today's university graduates
Alice Patterson seems like the ideal job candidate: she has a degree and a master's from a top university, experience on the ground and a lot of enthusiasm. Yet Patterson, who finished her master's in geology from Bristol University this week, is struggling to find a job. She has submitted 50 applications, attended a handful of interviews and made it down to the final two on a number of occasions, but is yet to land a role. 'I sit down and fill out ten applications at a time. You do get a bit disheartened,' said Patterson, 22, from Cambridge. • Cost of a master's degree soars: even student loans won't cover it 'I was more hopeful at the start and when I first got some
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Will I Have More Money In The Long Run By Taking Out Student Loans Instead Of Paying Cash?' Suze Orman Weighs In
For many adults returning to school later in life, one of the biggest questions is how to pay for it. A recent listener of Suze Orman's "Women & Money" podcast, Will, faced this exact dilemma. At 35, Will is planning to pursue a master's degree in nursing — a move he hopes will boost his earning potential. The program will cost about $30,000 over three years. Will has enough savings to cover the tuition but wonders if taking out student loans might help him come out ahead financially in the long run. Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Will's situation is fairly strong: he works full-time as a nursing director, has about $100,000 in retirement savings, another $130,000 in IRAs and other assets, and owns a home. His only debt, outside of his mortgage, is $30,000 in existing student loans — and he admits he "hates" having that debt. That's where Orman focused her advice. "If you have the money now to be able to pay $10,000 a year towards it, I would do that rather than going into debt," she said. Orman noted that Will's emotional response to his existing debt — that he hates it — should be taken seriously. Carrying more debt, especially when it causes stress or frustration, could undermine the benefits of the degree. Trending: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they're on pace — Before making a decision, Orman urged Will to research how much more he could realistically earn with a master's in nursing. "You really need to check and see what would that do for you financially," she said. That means weighing the future salary boost against the cost of the degree — and considering what those funds might grow into if invested instead. This advice echoes research from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, which found that nearly 43% of master's degree programs leave students financially worse off. While some professional degrees — like law, medicine, and dentistry — tend to deliver strong returns on investment, many master's programs don't provide enough of a salary bump to justify the high tuition costs. The study did show that master's degrees in nursing tend to have a "very strong ROI," so that could play in Will's favor should he choose to pursue a higher loans aren't necessarily bad — but they should be used with caution, especially later in life. Taking on more debt in your 30s or 40s can stretch into your 50s and beyond, potentially affecting your ability to save for retirement or meet other financial goals. Orman's takeaway? If Will truly believes in the value of the degree and can pay for it out of pocket without sacrificing financial security, that's the better route. But if the ROI isn't compelling — or if the debt would bring emotional and financial strain — he may want to reconsider. Going back to school is a personal decision, but the way you fund it should be a financial one. Before choosing loans over cash, compare the real cost of borrowing with the potential salary gain — and ask whether taking on new debt aligns with your financial peace of mind. Read Next: Donald Trump just announced a $500 billion AI infrastructure deal — . Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'Will I Have More Money In The Long Run By Taking Out Student Loans Instead Of Paying Cash?' Suze Orman Weighs In originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
