Should You Get a Graduate Certificate Instead of a Master’s Degree?

The decision to pursue a graduate degree to advance your career is one that involves a great deal of thought and research. One of the first questions you want to ask yourself is ”what type of degree should I get?” While there are thousands of programs to choose from depending on your field of study, there are only a few degree options, including Ph.D., master’s or graduate certificate. As you explore your grad school options, you may want to consider the pros and cons of getting a graduate certificate vs. a master’s degree.

Essentially, a graduate certificate is a more concentrated cluster of graduate courses specific or complementary to a particular field or discipline. For example, if you’re a teacher who isn’t ready to get a master’s degree yet, you can get a graduate certificate in gifted education instead. Or, perhaps you work in the technology field and feel that a graduate certificate in cybersecurity will afford you more relevant knowledge within your field.

Graduate certificates are more career focused and usually center around a very specific topic such as data analytics, human resource management, social media marketing or strategic communication. They’re often ideal for those in fields or with degrees that don’t require a master’s but want an additional credential to expand their knowledge and qualifications in a specific subject. This can, in some cases, lead to career advancement opportunities and/or salary increases.

The admissions requirements for a graduate certificate can be similar to a master’s degree but also vary from institution to institution and program to program. Having an undergrad degree, a respectable GPA, test scores, such as the GRE^® General Test, and other application elements may all be requirements for a graduate certificate.

While that may seem like a lot of work for a certificate, the benefit is that if at some point you decide to pursue a master’s, you may be able to apply those graduate certificate courses toward an advanced degree, depending on the program’s criteria. While the 54.835 graduate certificates conferred in 2019–20 is far less than the 843,449 master’s degrees conferred during that same period, they have been on a steady increase for the past decade.

The short answer is time and money. A master’s degree is typically comprised of anywhere from 30–60 credits depending on the subject matter and takes on average about 2 years to complete. A graduate certificate, on the other hand, consists of between 9–18 credits and can usually be completed in 8 to 12 months, but sometimes less.

As far as cost, a graduate certificate will cost you significantly less, around $8,000–$15,000, as opposed to a master’s degree which runs between $20,000–$60,000.

Of course, there are more differences than just time and cost. For instance, a master’s degree would be beneficial if you ever wanted to change careers or move into a different area of expertise from your current occupation. A graduate certificate is more for enhancing your skill set within your current job.

As you weigh the pros and cons of each degree based on your situation, remember that this is an investment and as with any kind of investment, you want the best bang for your buck (and your efforts).

While a graduate certificate may not carry as much weight as a master’s degree, it still has many benefits of its own. It shows your employer that you’re willing to expand your knowledge base in a subject that complements but may not be directly related to your field. That expanded knowledge and perseverance may qualify you for a salary increase or promotion.

Don’t think that just because it’s a certificate that it’s not a legitimate advanced degree. If the university that you’re obtaining your degree from is accredited, then so is your degree. While a master’s or doctorate may still be in your future, a graduate certificate may help your career in the short term and be a more manageable option from a time and money perspective.