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Master's Degrees, Ranked by Outcomes

A master’s can open career ceilings — or add debt without proportionate return. We ranked every master’s program by salary, growth, ROI, and school-level outcomes so you can tell the difference. Federal data and Opportunity Insights, never ads or surveys.

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44
Master's programs
7
Fields covered
$165,000
Top median salary
8
Rankings

Scorecard Highlights for Master's

$108,243
Average median salary
16
High-growth programs 20%+ projected growth
25
$100K+ earners Median salary over six figures
B 75/100
Top rated Nursing (MSN)

Level Intelligence

Market Intelligence for Master's Programs

  1. 44 master's programs are tracked in our database. The highest median salary belongs to Executive MBA (EMBA) at $165,000.

  2. Growth is strongest in Women's Health NP (WHNP) (40%), with 16 programs projecting 20%+ expansion.

  3. Nursing (MSN) leads the level in AI resilience at 94/100. The level average is 72, reflecting how Master's programs map to AI-disrupted and AI-enhanced careers.

  4. 0 programs at this level combine low educational barriers with median salaries above $80K — high-leverage options.

  5. 0 programs at this level show 2% or lower projected growth — fields worth approaching with caution.

  6. Nursing (MSN) earns the top overall scorecard grade (B, 75/100) among Master's programs.

  7. The Healthcare category has the most Master's programs (17), spanning the widest range of outcomes.

Why the Master's Matters

A master’s should open doors, not just add debt. The ROI varies dramatically by field — some master’s degrees double median earnings, while others barely move the needle. We sorted by the ones that actually pay off.

Key insight

Before committing to a master’s, compare the median salary bump against the total cost of attendance (including opportunity cost of 1–2 years out of the workforce). If the payback period exceeds 5 years, the credential may not be worth it.

Highest-Paying Master's Degrees

  1. 1.Executive MBA (EMBA) $165,000
  2. 2.Artificial Intelligence $156,000
  3. 3.Computer Science $148,000
  4. 4.MBA — Technology Management $148,000
  5. 5.Cybersecurity $144,500
  6. 6.Finance $139,790
  7. 7.MBA — Finance Concentration $139,790
  8. 8.Physician Assistant $130,020

Fastest-Growing Master's Fields

  1. 1.Nursing (MSN) 40% growth
  2. 2.Nurse Practitioner (MSN) 40% growth
  3. 3.Nurse-Midwifery (MSN/DNP) 40% growth
  4. 4.Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) 40% growth
  5. 5.Psychiatric-Mental Health NP (PMHNP) 40% growth
  6. 6.Adult-Gerontology NP (AGNP) 40% growth
  7. 7.Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) 40% growth
  8. 8.Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) 40% growth

Top Master's Rankings

Schools ranked by what graduates earn, how far they climb, and whether the degree pays for itself.

Healthcare

17 master's programs ranked by outcomes

17

Business

13 master's programs ranked by outcomes

13

Technology

4 master's programs ranked by outcomes

4

Social Sciences

3 master's programs ranked by outcomes

3

Humanities

3 master's programs ranked by outcomes

3

Education

2 master's programs ranked by outcomes

2

Public Service

2 master's programs ranked by outcomes

2

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

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