Taking the next step in your education journey means making a commitment to yourself and to your future. With so many graduate schools to choose from, it can be difficult to know what the best option is for you.
Deciding whether or not to go to graduate school in the first place can be challenging to figure out. Graduate certificates are also an option for those who want to hone a specific skill set and — in many cases — can be completed along the way to a master’s degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment in master’s and doctoral programs is on the rise and is projected to be 6 percent higher in 2030 than in 2020 (3.3 million vs. 3.1 million students, respectively).
This guide will help you evaluate graduate programs based on your career goals, lifestyle, and budget, so you can choose the option that best fits your needs.
Why Pursue a Graduate Degree?
Before beginning the process of applying to graduate school, take some time to figure out what you want to get out of the graduate school experience.
Whether you’re looking to open up your career prospects, gain new professional skills and connections, or return to academia to develop yourself personally, having a solid “why” in mind can help you clarify your next steps.
“While a new career path may reveal itself as a result of graduate study, don’t rely on it if you’re unsure about what you want to do next in life or you aren’t happy in your current job,” says Kimberly Parke, executive director of pre-degree advising, recruitment, and admissions at Harvard Extension School. “Instead, spend time in self-reflection, and engage in research about all possible options, including informal interviews with people in jobs and fields that seem interesting to you.”
How to Effectively Research Graduate Programs
Deciding what to prioritize when selecting a graduate school is a process that is individual to each graduate student, but there are several common factors to take into account.
When comparing graduate programs, focus on a few core areas: career outcomes, flexibility, cost, and available resources. The right program is ultimately one that aligns with both your long-term goals and your current lifestyle.
“Each person really needs to prioritize what matters to them and what will allow them to be successful. Find what holds the most value and what is the priority and all the rest of the evaluation is going to be based on that,” says Amanda Peters, director of Harvard Extension School career advising and programming. “You want to make sure you’re going to be able to commit to following through on the program.”
Program offerings and industry alignment
Reflect on your personal passion for your chosen industry and your long-term career goals. Consider how your graduate degree will help you advance your career and review the range of academic programs to evaluate if they align with your interests.
Schools can also vary widely in terms of the intensity of programs, culture, offerings, and requirements, so make sure you know your wants and needs, and evaluate each school based on these criteria.
Program flexibility and current lifestyle
Most adults who are working full time in addition to balancing family responsibilities likely do not have time to take two to three years off to complete a graduate degree program.
Programs designed for working adults — such as Harvard Extension School’s flexible online and hybrid options — allow you to continue working while earning your degree.
Rather than waiting for an ideal moment, I learned to integrate education into my real life as it was. That balancing act became one of the most meaningful aspects of my experience, reinforcing that growth and ambition don’t have to be postponed while building a career and a family.
Tuition and financial aid options
Graduate school is a hefty investment, so take your time to understand the full cost of the program and how it fits into your budget.
As Julie Lonergan, associate director of pre-degree advising and admissions of Harvard Extension School advises, “Research your options for financial aid, grants and loans, and ask your employer about tuition reimbursement opportunities. Be creative when you search for scholarships and fellowships, as you may find ones associated with your field of study, your geographic location, your industry, and more.”
Harvard Extension School has a guide to paying for school to help you understand your options.
Program admissions
Once you’ve identified some graduate programs that interest you, research the admissions qualifications. Some programs, for example, may require you to take an entrance exam; others, like Harvard Extension School, have an “earn-your-way” in model.
This model especially benefits working professionals and offers greater accessibility and flexibility compared to traditional admissions.
Support, resources, and faculty
Graduate faculty and instructors should teach a curriculum that is up-to-date and provides you with real-world knowledge you need to be successful on your next steps.
“Whatever your ultimate goal may be, learning from faculty at the top of their fields or with extensive academic and research experience will help set you up for success,” says Lonergan.
Contact graduate schools to find information about the resources each grad school provides, such as career support, mentorship and internship opportunities, professional development, and advising.
For answers about facilities, reach out to those who had the opportunities to use them the most: current graduate students or recent alumni. Social media groups are also a good source for honest insights into campus life and facilities, such as libraries, research labs, classrooms, and online spaces.
Career outcomes and alumni network
Peters suggests finding alumni via platforms like LinkedIn to find out their trajectories post-graduation. If their stories inspire you, that’s a positive sign the graduate program may be a good fit for you as well.
School websites will also often include profiles on current students and alumni, which can give you a sense of their academic experiences and career outcomes.
Many alums are eager to share their experiences. Don’t hesitate to reach out to alumni in your prospective field as part of your research into a specific graduate program.
Today, I’m an AI engineer at Microsoft, building end-to-end agentic AI systems — AI that doesn’t just answer questions, but reasons, routes, synthesizes, and acts across live data sources. The work I’m doing now is directly downstream of what I learned at HES.
Community
Look up the demographics of the graduate student population, faculty members, and administration, which can often be found on school websites. Speaking with current grad students or alumni is also an opportunity to find out what kind of student tends to be attracted to each particular graduate school or program.
Support to Help You Choose the Right Graduate Program
One thing prospective graduate students should know is they are not alone. There is a large range of sources from which to gain insight into how to choose a graduate program and help you narrow down your search.
Professional associations, alumni associations, current students and faculty, school admissions offices, and industry newsletters are all great resources to find out more about the programs you’re researching.
Enrollment coaches are also specifically and uniquely positioned to help throughout the journey of how to choose a graduate program and to ensure that you get the most out of your experience.
“Learning is about inquiry, in all its forms, so as a student whose job it is to learn, seek answers and ask for help,” says Parke. “If there’s one place where you’re expected to do that, it’s at a school!”
Pursuing a graduate degree program is an incredible undertaking, but one that has the potential to launch a new career trajectory, connect you with fellow like-minded students, faculty, and alumni who are rooting for your success, and help you discover who you are — and who you’re going to be.
