Graduate School an Increasingly Popular Choice at Georgia Southern University

When college graduates cross the stage this spring, they will face an increasingly competitive job market coupled with a struggling economy.

With that in mind, a growing number of students are looking at earning a graduate degree to give them a competitive edge in the job market. Georgia Southern University is seeing an increase in applications and accepted students to its Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, which offers 42 graduate degree programs.

“We have a wide array of degree programs to offer those looking to further their education,” said Dr. Tim Mack, Dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies. “Our programs are high-quality; we know that because we have happy alumni.”

Mack said that having a graduate degree is becoming the new standard to be hired in a number of fields. He also stated that the average master’s degree recipient is paid $10,000 per year more than someone with only a bachelor’s degree, and the average doctoral degree recipient makes $20,000 per year more, according to the Council of Graduate Schools.

Even prior to the economic downturn, Georgia Southern was seeing a boom in graduate enrollment. Graduate student enrollment for the 2008-09 school year is up 14 percent from the previous year, compared to a three-percent rise nationally. The University’s number of graduate school applicants increased by 99 percent.

Georgia Southern University has become the choice of many graduate students by combining affordable tuition with a number of degree programs, according to Dr. John Diebolt, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. A key reason for the enrollment increase has been Georgia Southern’s commitment to offering several programs online.

“We offer accessibility for those who are in the work force or are not close to campus, including full-time, part-time, and online options,” Diebolt said.

For more information about the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, visit http://cogs.georgiasouthern.edu/.

“I would invite folks to take a look at what we have to offer,” Mack said. “We have faculty here at Georgia Southern that genuinely care about the students.”

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