<p>It's an issue I'm sure many of you have thought about, and now I'm kind of hung up on this question as well: Is it worth the extra time and money for an engineer to get a master's degree, or should you take the bachelor's and run?</p>
<p>Obviously, there's some benefits for each.</p>
<p>Master's: Potentially higher salary, more job options, more attractive resume.</p>
<p>Bachelor's: Less time spent in college, less money spent on college, you get to start earning money a couple of years before someone who is getting their master's, engineering careers requiring only a bachelor's degree are relatively abundant in comparison with most other majors.</p>
<p>There are other factors as well: What if you get a job offer from a company you interned with during your undergraduate career? Does it depend on your specific engineering major? I also know that some employers will will help pay for an employee's master's degree if they think it would be beneficial to the company, but how often does that really happen?</p>
<p>So, let me know what you guys think about Master's vs, Bachelor's in engineering, and which path you plan to choose.</p>
<p>If you are playing the game correctly, you won’t be paying for a MS, or at least not much. Either you do a 5 year BS/MS program and it is only one extra year, which isn’t a lot in the long run, or you get your employer to pay for your MS (usually non-thesis) a couple years after you graduate, or else you find yourself someone to pay you as a research or teaching assistant during your master’s degree. In any of those situations, it is absolutely worth it. Whether or not paying for several years of a master’s degree out of pocket is worth it is a highly personal question, though, so it would depend on your situation.</p>
<p>For the most part, companies don’t offer anyone a premium simply because they have a Masters. Any in-demand skills that might have been picked-up during a Masters program would give people an edge when it comes to hiring and pay, though.</p>
<p>I’d get the Bachelors, and then go to work before pursuing a Masters. If you’re in a bigger city, there’s a good chance there will be part-time Masters program at a local college that you can take advantage of. That’s how I did it. I worked for four years before I started pursuing my Masters at night.</p>
<p>Many people [incorrectly] believe that getting a Master’s degree puts themselves on the “next rung” of the academic ladder, thereby giving them a clear advantage over those with only a Bachelor’s. While some employers may view a Master’s degree as such, most do not. At its very core, a Master’s is nothing more than a specialization degree - a degree where you further your understanding in one or two [but not all] areas of your undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>That being said, there are certainly advantages to getting a Master’s degree, as well as some disadvantages you should be aware of. </p>
<p>Advantages:
Increased salary when working in your specialty area (generally $5-10k increase)
1-3 year experience boost in specialty area over Bachelor’s-only person.
Personal satisfaction (this can’t be understated!)</p>
<p>Disadvantages:
Possibility of pigeonholing (once you specialize, you become the such-and-such engineer)
You are worth more money (some companies simply aren’t willing to justify the extra cost)
Can be difficult finding jobs outside of your specialty area (employer may think you’re going to bolt soon after another job becomes available).</p>