The 8 Best Master’s Degrees for a Recession-Proof Career

Fears of an impending global recession have been stoked by the likes of continuously lowering interest rates (thanks to the Federal Reserve) and an ongoing trade war (thanks to…Twitter?). While some analysts predict the prospect of an economic downturn is overblown, rumors of another recession may be enough to send more students on the path towards obtaining undergraduate or graduate degrees.

Let’s break down the likelihood of another recession, and the best degrees to consider should the job market take a turn for the worse.

Rumors vs. reality

One thing to point out—the prospect of another recession is still very much uncertain. How’d we get here?

Since the 2008 Great Recession ended, over 20 million jobs have been created, and in April, the unemployment rate in the United States was just 3.6%—the lowest it’s been in half a century.

But, despite the growth of the American job market, the trade conflict between the U.S. and China, among other factors, has sent federal interest rates, stock prices, and commodity prices falling at rapid speed. Export manufacturers have reported their lowest growth rates since 2009, and the government’s long-term outlook on inflation is also looking grim.

Essentially, it’s still too soon to tell whether or not we’re headed into a recession. As geopolitical trade disputes continue to play out, the economy hangs in the balance.

Economic recessions spike college and grad school enrollment

A postsecondary degree can help protect against unemployment during times of economic downturn, according to a study by the Brookings Institute. Also, enrolling in a graduate program at the onset of a recession means you can wait a few years before worrying about finding a job—and, as mentioned, be a stronger candidate when you complete your degree, just as the market (hopefully) starts to rebound.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that during the Great Recession period between 2006 and 2011, enrollment in two-year golleges grew a whopping 33 percent, by 3 million students.

Additionally, a report from the Council of Graduate Schools co-published with the Graduate Record Examinations Board indicates that 2014 graduate school enrollment increased 3.5% from the year before, the largest annual increase since its peak in 2009.

Recessions have also historically prompted the government to distribute more financial aid. Pell Grant expansions initiated during the Great Recession resulted in a quarter of a million students completing a college degree, resulting in $20 billion more in aggregate earnings nationwide, the Council of Economic Advisers reported.

The best master’s degrees for a recession-proof career

The chances of a recession hitting are still hard to pin down, but if you’re considering graduate school and/or a career change, the below career fields—which are predicted to grow between 19 to 37 percent through 2026—are an excellent place to start. Nothing in life (especially the economy) is guaranteed, and just because the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts these job markets will grow doesn’t mean it’ll actually happen. But, the below list, if nothing else, should help guide you toward a degree that has at least a moderately decent chance of providing ample job opportunities when you graduate.

Also, the majority of masters degrees associated with these occupations can be earned via online programs—meaning you can still maintain your full-time employment status while pursuing your graduate degree (thus, avoiding the need to sacrifice your income).

Physician Assistant

• Average job growth rate: 37%
• 2018 median annual pay: $108,610
• Graduate degree type: Master of Physician Assistant Studies
• Required reading about the benefits of enrolling in physicians assistant degree programs:
  • Why You Need to Know About Physician Assistant Studies.
  • 9 Reasons to Get a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies

Mathematicians and Statisticians

• Average job growth rate: 33%
• 2018 median annual pay: $88,190
• Graduate degree type(s): Master’s of Operations Research, Analytics MBA, Master’s in Business Intelligence, Master’s in Data Science
• Required reading about the best online programs for a graduate degree that will deliver the skills and experience needed to pursue a mathematics and statistics career path:
  • What Are the Best Operations Research Master’s Programs?
  • What Are the Top Online Master’s in Business Intelligence Programs?
  • What Do You Learn With a Master’s Degree in Data Analytics?

Nurse Practitioner

• Average job growth rate: 31%
• 2018 median annual pay: $113,930
• Graduate degree type: Master of Science in Nursing
• Required reading about the growing need for nurses in our country, and what to expect in an average annual salary with a graduate degree in nursing:
  • Which States Have the Highest-Paying Nurse Practitioner Jobs?
  • How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner

Genetic Counselor

• Average job growth rate: 29%
• 2018 median annual pay: $80,370
• Graduate degree type: Master’s in Genetic Counseling
• Required reading about the education required to pursue a genetic counseling career path: How to Become a Cancer Genetic Counselor: A Job Where Science Meets Compassion

Occupational Therapist

• Average job growth rate: 24%
• 2018 median annual pay: $84,270
• Graduate degree type: Master of Occupational Therapy
• Required reading about the skills you’ll develop—and the jobs you’ll find—with a master’s in occupational therapy:
  • What Can You Do With a Master’s in Occupational Therapy?
  • 9 Reasons to Earn Your Master’s in Occupational Therapy

Marriage and Family Therapy

• Average job growth rate: 23%
• 2018 median annual pay: $50,090
• Graduate degree type: Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Required reading about the average annual salary and variety of experience available to those on a marriage and family therapy career path:
  • 9 Perks of Pursuing a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy
  • How Much Will You Earn With a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy?
  • What Can You Do With a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy?

Medical and Health Services Manager

• Average job growth rate: 20%
• 2018 median annual pay: $99,730
• Graduate degree type(s): Master’s in Healthcare Administration, Master’s in Healthcare Management, Master’s in Public Health
• Required reading about the average annual salary, education requirements, and career fields in medical and health services:
  • How Much Will You Earn With a Master’s in Healthcare Administration?
  • 7 Reasons to Get Master’s in Healthcare Management
  • How to Become a Home Healthcare Administrator
  • 5 High-Paying Jobs You Can Get With a Master’s in Public Health

Computer and Information Research Scientists

• Average job growth rate: 19%
• 2018 median annual pay: $118,730
• Graduate degree type(s): Master’s in Computer Science, Master’s in Information Technology, Master’s in Information Systems, Master’s in Geographic Information Systems
• Required reading for computer and information science graduate programs (and the related career path):
  • Look for These Features in Online Master’s in Computer Science Programs
  • Information Technology vs Information Systems: The 17 Most Common Tech Jobs Explained
  • 5 Skills You’ll Master With a Geographic Information Systems Degree

(Last Updated on February 26, 2024)

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