By:Shay

As if more evidence of the growing trend toward postgraduate education was needed, a recent study by the Anders-Clifton Group noted that the percentage of published job offerings requiring a master’s degree or above has increased by twenty percent over the last five years. For many students, the issue isn’t whether to pursue a master’s degree, but in which field. Business, technology, health care and the pharmacology are all safe bets considering their projected track records in the current climate, but what about students who have undergraduate educations outside of one of these staples?

Many fields that are appealing at the undergraduate level leave a lot to be desired at the postgraduate level. The earnings differential between bachelor and master’s degree holders can be minimal for specific degrees, barely covering the cost of education over the short term. For students with undergraduate majors who fall into this category, it’s often a better decision to pursue a business related master’s program regardless of undergraduate study.

Of course, not all educational pursuits are undertaken for better earnings or upward mobility. Still, the safety in a business related masters, such as an MBA, lies in that all undergraduate level employment opportunities outside of non-profit organizations are businesses first and companies of specialization second. In other words, because business is a part of any companies success, having a business education is the ultimate safety net.

Some master’s degree programs relegate students to finite employment possibilities, provided they intend to use their education in the job market. For fields with shortages of qualified personnel or low competition for available jobs, this can present an ideal situation. For fields with high competition for jobs, however, postgraduate educational tracts such as these can represent a loss of both tuition and time.

Though the typical master’s program represents only a two to three year time commitment, the cost of tuition has caused countless students to re-think their ambitions when it comes to postgraduate education. If post graduation earning potential and employment opportunities are of importance to those considering a master’s program, it pays to evaluate the likely outcome of all available options. Though it may mean added prerequisite coursework and a slightly longer time commitment, a degree with the power to elevate earnings and all but guarantee employment is a wise investment in time and money.

For more information about online and campus based degree programs and educational resources, visit 866MyMajor.com. For more on various MBA (masters of business administration) programs in a variety of concentrations,, visit our MBA section. For more information on educational topics in the news, visit our blog.

Figuring out how to pay for college can put a lot of stress on a family budget. And for those students who can’t rely on financial support from mom and dad, the pressure can be even greater.

But by rethinking your college experience and breaking it down into two different phases—the first two years at community college and the second two at the four-year university of your choice—you could potentially save yourself thousands of dollars, says NextStudent, a leading Phoenix-based education funding company.

Phase One: Get Your Basics out of the Way at a Community College

Sometimes it’s hard to detach yourself from the education you want versus the one you can reasonably afford. Student loans might cover any amount of tuition now, but will you be able to handle your student loan payments once you graduate?

By spending your first two years of school at your local community college, you could save yourself years’ worth of student loan debt. Find out which courses have credits that would be transferable to the four-year school you’d like your diploma from. You can usually take classes at a community college that satisfy all or most of your core requirements and generally pay less per class than at a public or private four-year institution. At a lower cost-per-class, you have greater freedom to experiment with fields of study and try out classes you might not otherwise have been able to afford. The more you see what’s out there, the more likely you are to hone in on the field or profession that truly suits you.

Phase Two: Finish Strong at the University of Your Choice

Once you’ve found your niche, you can move on to a four-year university and take the upper-division courses that apply directly to your major.

By this point you’ll typically be more focused and should be able to get through your classes without the indecision and course-dropping that can plague you during your first two years of college.

By finishing up the second half of your college career at a four-year institution, you’ll graduate with your diploma from that four-year school, just like your classmates, but you’ll likely have paid much less than those students who paid for all four years there.

If you can graduate with less student loan debt, you’ll be starting off on more solid financial ground when you hit the workforce after graduation.

No Matter Where You Start or Finish, NextStudent Can Help Finance Your Education

Whether you begin your college years at a community college or at a four-year institution, NextStudent has a variety of student loans available to you that can help you pay for school. Federal student loans and parent loans offer low, fixed interest rates, and there’s no fee to apply. If you still have education-related costs to cover, even after you’ve used all your federal financial aid options, private student loans may be the answer you’re looking for.

NextStudent believes that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding simple. Learn more about Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation< at NextStudent.com.