A college degree may open the door to a career, but nearly four in 10 professionals now question whether it will keep them competitive. As artificial intelligence changes workplace skill demands, many are considering graduate certificates and specialized master’s programs to update their qualifications.
A survey by Southern Utah University of employed U.S. professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree found that 39% do not believe the degree that launched their careers is still enough to keep them competitive. More than half, 53%, said AI has changed what they would study if they returned to school.
AI Is Changing What Workers Want to Study
More than one-third of respondents, 34%, said advances in AI are making their existing education less relevant in their fields. Shorter, targeted credentials appealed to 53% of professionals more than multi-year degree programs.
Interest in further education is already translating into enrollment plans. Thirty-eight percent of respondents were enrolled in a graduate program or planned to enroll within two years.
Online, self-paced programs were the most popular format, preferred by 52% of respondents. Another 19% favored hybrid programs, while 15% preferred live online evening classes.
Higher earning potential was the leading reason professionals considered returning to school, cited by 56% of respondents.
Specialized Master’s Degrees Could Influence Hiring Decisions
Additional credentials may also carry weight when employers compare candidates. Among respondents involved in hiring or promotion decisions, 88% said a specialized master’s degree would influence their choice between two otherwise similar candidates.
Professionals also anticipated financial returns from graduate education. On average, respondents expected an 8% raise within 12 months of completing a graduate certificate and a 20% raise after earning a master’s degree.
The most popular areas for further study included:
- Information technology or cybersecurity: 24%
- Business administration or general management: 23%
- Data analytics or data science: 23%
- Finance or accounting: 18%
- Healthcare administration: 15%
- Education: 13%
- Marketing or communications: 10%
- Engineering, supply chain or operations: 8%
- Human resources: 8%
- Law, compliance or public policy: 6%
Tuition Support Could Help Employers Retain Workers
Employer-funded education also factored into respondents’ career decisions. Forty-four percent said they would stay longer with an employer that paid for a graduate certificate, while 37% would choose a funded certificate over a 5% pay raise.
The findings suggest that professionals are weighing additional education as a way to develop new skills, pursue higher earnings, and remain competitive as technology changes their fields. For employers, tuition assistance could offer another way to support career development while encouraging employees to stay.
