SoFi Blog

Whether you’re a fee-based financial planner, investment advisor or other financial professional, chances are you’ve seen a uptick in clients dealing with student loans.

The “should I go to grad school?” question is a lot different today than it was just a few years ago.

Between 2000 and 2012, graduate programs were the fastest growing segment of the higher education market, with the annual production of master’s degrees increasing 63% during that timeframe, according to federal data. In particular, enrollments spiked after the 2008 global financial crisis, when many people returned to school to bolster prospects in a depressed job market.

If you’re thinking about going to graduate school, you’ve probably got a lot of questions – things like which program to pursue, what schools to consider, and whether to attend full- or part-time. You’re probably also wondering how to measure whether the investment in another degree will be worth it in the end.

While there are many non-monetary things to consider, like impact on professional development and job satisfaction, it’s important to keep the big picture in mind. Given the high cost of grad school (often accompanied by student loan debt), having a sense of the financial outcome the degree will provide can help you make a more informed decision about making such a big investment.

The SoFi Quarterly Career Trends Report takes a look at job market and compensation trends from the past quarter and helps professionals understand how this data may impact their careers going forward. Heading into the second half of 2015, wages continue to lag behind job creation, making it difficult for job-seekers to find high paying jobs. If your goal is salary progression, you should enter the market with caution.

Here are some highlights from the report:

Student loans: Can’t live with ’em, can’t get a college degree without ‘em. At least, that’s the case for most of us.

Despite all the negativity surrounding the subject of student loan debt, the general consensus is that it’s better to have a degree than not have one – even if you have to contend with loans in order to afford it. After all, the typical college grad enjoys higher earning potential and lower unemployment than those without a degree.