Your Next Career Move Can Start This January

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For working adults, the decision to return to school usually starts somewhere other than a classroom. A promotion requires a degree or specialized certificate and training. A career change calls for different qualifications. Years of experience have built expertise, but the next position asks for a credential that is still missing.

With January approaching, those questions deserve a practical look: Where are opportunities growing, which qualifications do employers value, and when does additional education justify the investment?

National labor-market data offers some useful perspective.

The earnings gap makes degree completion worth examining

In 2025, full-time workers age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree had median weekly earnings of $1,578, compared with $1,062 for those with some college but no degree. That is a difference of approximately 49%. Workers with master’s degrees earned a median of $1,876 weekly, approximately 19% more than bachelor’s degree holders.

Unemployment rates also differed: 3.8% for workers with some college but no degree, 2.8% for bachelor’s degree holders and 2.6% for those with master’s degrees, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Those figures describe national groups, not a guaranteed raise for an individual. Occupation, experience, location and the cost of completing a program all matter. But for someone who already has college credits, they provide a reason to investigate what finishing could make possible.

Healthcare opportunities extend beyond direct patient care

Healthcare is another area where the connection between education and career opportunity warrants attention.

Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 24% from 2025 to 2035, with approximately 62,300 openings annually, including replacements for people leaving the occupation. These professionals oversee functions such as staffing, budgets, compliance and the operations of healthcare facilities.

A bachelor’s degree is typically needed to enter the field, along with relevant experience. Some employers prefer a master’s degree. That distinction matters for professionals considering how clinical or administrative experience might translate into a management role.

For nurses, the next move may involve completing a BSN or pursuing graduate preparation for education or leadership responsibilities. At Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, nursing pathways include RN-to-BSN study and master’s options in Nursing Education and Nursing Leadership. SEU also offers a Healthcare Management specialization within its M.S. in Management.

Choose the qualification that matches the opportunity

An advanced degree is one route. A targeted certificate or teaching endorsement may be another.

The useful starting point is the work someone wants to do. Reviewing job postings and speaking with employers can help distinguish a required qualification from a preferred one. It can also reveal whether the next step calls for a full degree, specialized coursework, professional certification or additional experience.

Academic certificates, professional certifications and state licenses are different credentials. Prospective students should establish exactly what a program prepares them to pursue before enrolling.

SEU’s offerings include graduate study in management, education and justice administration, as well as teaching credentials such as ESL and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. Select programs are fully online.

Make the decision with the full picture

For adults balancing work and family, the financial calculation includes more than tuition. Course schedules, transfer credits, employer tuition assistance and time to completion can all affect whether returning is manageable.

SEU offers flexible in-class and online courses for adult learners, as well as a Skills Marketplace for workforce development. Eligible students may also seek credit for demonstrated prior learning through a faculty-reviewed portfolio assessment.

January gives prospective students a planning target. The first step is identifying the opportunity they want, then determining which education will help them pursue it.

For information about Saint Elizabeth University’s adult learner, graduate and healthcare pathways, including January availability, visit steu.edu/admissions or contact apply@steu.edu at 973-290-4700.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Pays, 2025 and Medical and Health Services Managers, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Earnings comparisons reflect national medians for full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and older; percentage differences are calculated from those figures. Employment projections cover 2025–2035. These figures are not SEU graduate outcomes or guarantees of earnings or employment.

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