What Is a Professional Degree?
In this article, you'll learn about professional degrees, how they differ from other Master's programs, and where they can lead your career.
- Education
✨5-second summary
- Professional degree holders have the highest earning potential among all graduates – the average salary is around $115,000 per year.
- A professional degree is a graduate-level degree you can pursue for careers requiring specific practical training and knowledge.
- A professional Master's degree takes 2-3 years to complete and usually requires you to get a license to be a practicing specialist.
If you're planning to pursue a graduate degree education, you may have heard about professional degrees. In this article, we'll cover the basic information about professional degrees, provide a few professional degree examples, and explain what you can do with this kind of Master's degree.
What is a professional degree?
A professional degree is a specialized graduate-level degree for jobs that require specific knowledge and practical training. It's very common in architecture, medicine, law, and religion. Professional Master's often are a requirement for you to be able to get a license, and some are even considered terminal. These degrees focus mostly on hands-on skills to prepare you for work in the field.
Professional degree examples
Here are the most popular professional degrees:
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master of Health Administration (MHA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- Master of Education (MEd)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Master of Food Science (MFS)
- Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
- Master of Religious Education (MRE)
- Master of Theology (MTh or ThM)
- Master of Divinity (MDiv)
- Master of Sacred Theology (STM)
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Browse programs →How long does it take to get a professional degree?
Most professional degrees take 2-3 years to complete depending on the field and program of your choosing:
- An MArch program usually takes 3 years to complete.
- An MHA can be completed in 2 years but a residency can add an extra year if it's included in your program.
- An MBA typically lasts for 2 years.
- An MFA can take from 2 to 3 years depending on the program requirements.
- An MSN usually takes 1-2 years based on the specialization you choose.
- An MEd generally requires you to complete 2 years of studies.
- An MSW can take you around 2 years to complete.
- An MRE usually offers a 2-year curriculum.
Your degree may take significantly longer If you decide to enroll part-time.
Professional degree cost
Professional degrees are offered in many different fields so the costs range widely. For example, the tuition for an average year in a business school costs $56,850 for full-time students, according to the . In contrast, Master of Education degrees are among the cheapest Master's – about $42,010 annually.
reports that the total costs of an MSN degree range from $18,000 to $90,000 depending on the school type and student's residency. A Master of Architecture can cost you , while a amounts to $39,000 on average.
Professional degree vs Master's degree
The most notable difference between a professional degree and a Master's degree is in the intention of the curriculum:
- A Master's degree generally aims to give you deep and advanced knowledge in the field and doesn't necessarily determine your career path
- A professional degree teaches you practical skills for a specific job
Usually, you'd enroll in an academic Master's program as preparation for a PhD.
Moreover, professional Master's programs often don't require a thesis. Instead, you could choose to complete an applied project that focuses on showcasing your practical skills. Some programs don't have any graduation projects at all – you just have to complete all requirements or take a comprehensive exam.
Professional degree salary
The latest revealed that professional degree holders have the highest median earnings – $2,206 per week (or roughly $115,000 annually). Workers with professional degrees even outearned PhDs in 2023 by 5%.
In addition to great salary prospects, getting a professional degree significantly increases the chance of finding a job. The unemployment rate for professional degree graduates is the lowest among all levels – only 1.2%.
Degree level | Median annual earnings | Unemployment rate |
Professional degree | $115,000 | 1.2% |
Master's degree | $90,000 | 2.0% |
All workers | $61,000 | 3.0% |
Professional degree jobs
Here are a few professional degree jobs examples you can pursue after a Master's:
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN): APRNs coordinate patient care, perform physical exams, and provide healthcare. This position requires an MSN and is among the highest-paying jobs – nurses earn about $130,000 annually.
- Architect: With an MArch or an MLA you can become an architect. They plan, design, and coordinate the development of different structures. On average, architects can earn $109,000 per year.
- Product manager: You can use an MBA or an MPA degree and take on a product manager position to oversee finance, development, and marketing teams to create new products. Product managers' average annual salary is $120,000.
- Dean of students: As a dean of students, you'd be responsible for coordinating student programs, usually at a college or university. This career is open to MEd and MAT graduates and pays around $71,000 per year.
- Development director: Development directors typically work for non-profits and lead fundraising projects to meet the organization's needs. As an MRE or an MTh degree holder, you can earn $94,000 annually on average.
Source for salary statistics –
Conclusion
A professional degree usually focuses on hands-on training and specific practical skills. These degrees are common in administration, architecture, medicine, and others. Also, it is typically a requirement to have a professional degree, and sometimes to complete a residency program or supervised training, for you to be able to get a license and work in fields that offer them.
Overall, a professional degree is a great investment of your time and money. This education equips you with practical skills that can help you become a valuable and qualified professional in your chosen field.
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Tetiana Sokolova
Author
With a Bachelor's degree in System Analysis and Applied Statistics, Tetiana brings a strong analytical foundation to her role as a Content Editor at 51Թ Education Group. She is dedicated to researching, producing, and refining content to support students worldwide in their education journey, applying her technical expertise and analytical skills to ensure accuracy and relevance.
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