millennials degrees

Survey: Millennials value advanced degrees


University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies survey finds millennials place high value on doctoral degrees compared with generational counterparts

As the job market becomes increasingly global and competitive, a new survey reveals that millennials hold educational attainment and advanced degrees in high esteem.

When it comes to the perceived value of a doctoral education in the workforce, 78 percent of millennials agree that professionals with doctoral-level education are perceived as superior in the workplace, compared with 67 percent of U.S. adults overall, including Gen Xers and baby boomers, according to a recent survey by Harris Poll commissioned by University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies.

“Many millennials entered the workforce in a post-recession economy, where the perception of a bachelor’s degree shifted from being a ‘nice-to-have’ to being a requirement to start their careers,” said Hinrich Eylers, Ph.D., executive dean for University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies. “It is arguably more important than ever before to provide advanced education that is calibrated with the needs of today’s economy and employers. At University of Phoenix, our doctoral curriculum is designed to teach research for real life so that doctorate-level education delivers value to the workplace for this new generation of workers and the future workforce.”

Are doctoral degrees the new master’s degrees? Maybe so, according to surveyed millennials. While most U.S. adults today still agree that employers place the greatest value on master’s and bachelor’s degrees (32 and 24 percent respectively), they see the potential of a doctoral degree.
Seventy percent of those surveyed agree that obtaining a doctoral-level education can open up a wide variety of career options outside of academia. Again, millennials overwhelmingly agree, with 74 percent saying doctoral-level education can open a wide variety of career options and 78 percent agreeing that doctorally educated employees are valuable to an organization’s success.

To learn more about the degree programs offered by the School of Advanced Studies, visit phoenix.edu/schoolofadvancedstudies.

A national sample of 2,015 U.S. adults aged 18 and older completed this survey online, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies, from March 8–10, 2016. Individuals who identified themselves as millennials (18–34 years old) totaled 483.

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Laura Ascione

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