Value of a Graduate Degree

UNO is classified as a Carnegie Doctoral Research University for our specialized doctoral programs and our comprehensive array of master's degrees and certificates.

Master's Degree

Master's education is the fastest-growing and largest segment of graduate education. Many students and professionals recognize that in order to be competitive in the marketplace, additional skills and education are necessary. They are right.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in occupations that typically require a master's degree will increase by 18 percent between 2008 and 2018, and the potential income gain from achieving a master's degree is substantial. On average, employers will pay 15 percent more to those who hold a master's degree than those with a bachelor's degree. Master's degrees are key to future employment and career advancement.

Benefits:

  • Advance your career
  • Gain credentials
  • Hone professional skills
  • Earn a higher salary—15 percent more than someone with a bachelor's degree
  • Change careers
  • Increase leadership abilities

UNO Master's and EdS programs

Doctoral Degree

A doctoral degree is the pinnacle of graduate education, attracting the best and the brightest domestic and international students. A doctoral recipient is in an elite category, with less than two percent of the U.S. population earning a Ph.D.

The number of occupations that typically require a doctorate degree will increase by nearly 17 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Students who relish intellectual challenges, have a thirst for knowledge through research and want to search for new and better ways to advance knowledge will enjoy and thrive in doctoral study.

Benefits:

  • Advance your career
  • Advance the knowledge of your discipline
  • Maximize your earning power
  • Make a discovery or create an invention
  • Become a professor and teach the next generation

UNO Doctoral Programs

Certificate

A certificate offers professional development opportunities to gain mastery in targeted career learning and to develop a career competency in a single subject. With careful planning, certificate credits can be counted towards completion of a master's degree.

Benefits:

  • Develop new professional skills
  • Achieve graduate education typically in 15 credit hours or 4-5 courses
  • Earn a credential in a specialized area

UNO Certificate Programs