Are PhDs worth it?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

No it won't help. What do you want to do with it? Do you have to quit work to do the phd?

[Leo]

No I am not quitting my job.

Well the reason I am looking at National University is because it will be mostly online and I am near the university if I need to go there.

Yes MBA is another option but I feel like it's just the same level as my Master's in Software engineering and PhD is up one level. Also I think MBA is probably the same cost from what I briefly gathered.

[kork13]

No I am not quitting my job.

Well the reason I am looking at National University is because it will be mostly online and I am near the university if I need to go there.

Yes MBA is another option but I feel like it's just the same level as my Master's in Software engineering and PhD is up one level. Also I think MBA is probably the same cost from what I briefly gathered.

Masters degrees are about developing focused knowledge, not as a step up or down from anything. You get the degree you need for the thing you want to do. If you want to conduct research, get a PhD. But if you want to join the C-Suite, get an MBA. People accumulating multiple Masters degrees over the course of an evolving professional career is not at all uncommon. I've got many friends/peers with 2-4 Masters degrees. I also know plenty of PhD's who never got a Masters. Get the thing to match the thing you want to do.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Masters degrees are about developing focused knowledge, not as a step up or down from anything. You get the degree you need for the thing you want to do. If you want to conduct research, get a PhD. But if you want to join the C-Suite, get an MBA. People accumulating multiple Masters degrees over the course of an evolving professional career is not at all uncommon. I've got many friends/peers with 2-4 Masters degrees. I also know plenty of PhD's who never got a Masters. Get the thing to match the thing you want to do.

spot on. most science phd don't bother with a master's it's not terminal enough. people in science with master's typically are phd drop outs, pass orals and then leave.

[crazyliblady]

spot on. most science phd don't bother with a master's it's not terminal enough. people in science with master's typically are phd drop outs, pass orals and then leave.

I am a librarian and a Ph.D. in my field is not even practical unless you plan to either be a library director or something similar or plan to teach library science in a library science program. I don't want to do either, so I only got my master's in library science from an ALA accredited school. That is what is required by most institutions that would hire librarians.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Leo, the US Department of Labor has info on average earnings in many occupations and professions, broken down by degrees held and years in the profession. Sorry, I don't have a link, but it was easy to find the last time I looked. Maybe it was part of the Occupational Outlook publications.

[crazyliblady]

Leo, the US Department of Labor has info on average earnings in many occupations and professions, broken down by degrees held and years in the profession. Sorry, I don't have a link, but it was easy to find the last time I looked. Maybe it was part of the Occupational Outlook publications.

Is this the data you are looking for?

https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm

[jenn_jenn]

Some great advice from others on this thread.

From purely an economics perspective, I don’t believe a PhD from National University will help you. If you want to do it because you want to learn, then go for it (but just be aware that there are far cheaper ways of doing so). If you’re still really sold on the idea, I’d urge you to look into a more competitive program.

If you want to go into management, an MBA may be helpful but look at the people in the roles you’re aspiring for and what kind of education and experience the people currently in them have. In my experience, degrees matter more in big companies (but you still need the skills / experience) whereas smaller companies don’t get as hung up on advanced degrees as a prerequisite as long as you can get the job done.

Depends on where you want to work and what your goals are!

[bjl584]

Probably depends what you want to do with it or what your goal is for earning it.
If it brings some sort of personal value and fulfillment, then it's worth it.
Economically, it really depends on the area of study and what you are interested in.