Is an online master's degree worth it?

Your work experience is valuable

After spending decades in the workforce, many professionals have a robust sense of who they are, what they want out of life and where they want to go.

Perhaps they pursued their current line of work from seeds planted during a bachelor’s degree, and now they want to specialize or level up their expertise. Life experience brings clarity; sometimes spending a few years in the workforce illuminates your true passions and goals.

Life skills come into play, too. Older students typically know how to manage competing responsibilities. They often have strong time management, communication and organization skills that have been honed for years in the workforce.

Many mid-career professionals at UFred say going back to university later in life has been one of the best decisions they’ve made, personally and professionally.

Then there are the numbers. Statistics Canada data shows that a master’s degree can bump your earning potential. Labour market data reveals the median income for undergraduate degree holders two years after graduation is $58,700. But there’s a 30% income jump for those with master’s degrees: they earn an average of $76,400. That bump in pay, paired with the satisfaction of fulfilling a long-held academic goal, makes getting a master’s degree worth it.

Is it too late?

Some mid-to-late career professionals may think they are “too old” to go back to school for a master’s degree. Not so. According to Statistics Canada data, the average age of a master’s level graduate in 2020 was 31 years old. The years spent in the field gaining work experience can actually give you a major advantage when you go back to school for your master’s degree.

You’ll bring:

• Industry knowledge and context

• Professional discipline and accountability

• Better communication and soft skills

• Established work habits and routines

All that firsthand experience is a bonus as class concepts connect directly to the real-world. Workplace challenges or industry trends you’ve already lived through can bring a valuable perspective to your studies. Your point of view can deepen discussions, spark meaningful assignments and boost new skills. In this way, your learning experience feels intentional, practical, relevant and rewarding.

So, is it too late to get a master’s degree? No. There’s plenty of time to enjoy the benefits of getting a master's degree later in life, including career advancement, leadership opportunities, salary growth and career change potential.

Perhaps most importantly though, an online master's degree is worth it because it’s a structured way to achieve personal or academic goals – regardless of your career path.

Can I balance work and studying?

Studying at a 100% online university like UFred is perfect for mid-to-late career professionals because it's flexible. Think about it: there’s no commute, you can stay employed while you study and your life obligations stay in order.

Online learning allows you to:

• Continue working as you earn a master’s degree

• Support your family financially while pursuing further education

• Manage responsibilities while boosting your skills and confidence

Instead of putting your professional life on pause or relocating to an urban centre to attend classes, online programs allow students to stay rooted in their communities, maintain a steady income and immediately apply teachings at work.

For established professionals, online learning is a realistic way to achieve more education while balancing schedules and responsibilities outside of university.

You don’t have to follow a traditional timeline

Our online master’s programs are structured with working professionals in mind. Course loads are designed so you can progress steadily without needing to step away from your job. That pacing can make a big difference later in a career, when you’re already used to balancing work and life.

There’s also something to be said for how intentional learning becomes at this stage in life. When you’re already established in your field, getting a master’s degree later in life is often strategic and purposeful. Students are targeting specific skills, leadership development or a shift into a new role. That laser-focused clarity can keep you motivated and energized, as each assignment or course connects back to clearly defined career or personal goals.

We know it’s not always realistic to drop everything to get your master’s, especially later in life. But online learning makes higher education accessible for folks who are managing full-time jobs, raising a family or living in a rural area far from a university campus. Attending classes from home removes many barriers that once made higher education feel out of reach.

Rather than trying to fit your life around school, online programs make it easier to fit school into your existing life. And if things get too hectic, we’re here to help.

Why study at UFred?

Ultimately, pursuing an online master’s degree later in life is not a disruption – it’s a leap forward! With years of professional experience under your belt, lessons tend to jump off the page and connect directly with your lived experience, turning concepts into competence.

There are several benefits of getting a master's degree at UFred. Our online programs make it possible to earn a master’s degree while still earning an income. Most of our students work full-time while pursuing their education, successfully balancing work and study.

This stage of life can be an ideal time to go back to school. Getting a master’s degree later in life is absolutely worth it. Find the right graduate program for you.