In the academic year of 2021/22, about 880,250 students were awarded a Master's degree in the United States. This figure is projected to increase by the academic year of 2031/32, when it is forecasted that 1,000,460 students will be awarded a Master's degree.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level: College Graduates: Advanced Degree: Master's Degree and Higher, 25 years and over (CGADU25O) from Dec 2014 to Jul 2025 about master's degree, 25 years +, tertiary schooling, education, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

In the academic year of 2020/21, about 202,334 Master's degrees were earned in business across the United States, making it the most common master's degree earned. In that same year, another 47,257 Master's degrees were earned in engineering.

In the academic year of 2022, it is expected that 551,460 female and 331,530 male students will earn a Master’s degree in the United States. These figures are a significant increase from the academic year of 1950, when 16,980 female students and 41,220 male students earned a Master’s degree.

What is a Master’s degree?

A Master’s degree is an academic degree granted by universities after finishing a Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degrees focus in on a specific field and are more specialized than a Bachelor’s. A typical Master’s program is about two years long, with the final semester focusing on the thesis. Master’s degree programs are usually harder to get into than Bachelor’s degree programs, due to the rigor of the program. Because these programs are so competitive, those with a Master’s degree are typically paid more than those with a Bachelor’s degree.

Master’s degrees in the United States

The number of master’s degrees granted in the United States has steadily increased since the 1970s and is expected to continue to increase. In 2021, the Master’s degree program with the worst job prospects in the United States by mid-career median pay was counseling, while the program with the best job prospects was a physician's assistant.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level: College Graduates: Advanced Degree: Master's Degree and Higher, 16 years and over, Women (CGADUW16O) from Dec 2014 to Jul 2025 about master's degree, females, tertiary schooling, education, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level: College Graduates: Advanced Degree: Master's Degree and Higher, 55 to 64 years (CGADU5564) from Dec 2014 to Jul 2025 about master's degree, 55 to 64 years, tertiary schooling, education, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

Japan Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data was reported at 2.490 % in 2020. Japan Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 2.490 % from Dec 2020 (Median) to 2020, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.490 % in 2020 and a record low of 2.490 % in 2020. Japan Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level: College Graduates: Advanced Degree: Master's Degree and Higher, 45 to 54 years, Women (CGADUW4554) from Dec 2014 to Jun 2025 about 45 to 54 years, master's degree, females, tertiary schooling, education, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

Belgium BE: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 18.704 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 19.239 % for 2021. Belgium BE: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 15.900 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2022, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.239 % in 2021 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2012. Belgium BE: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Belgium – Table BE.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

In order to encourage academic and related research on gender equality education and improve the academic standards of the above-mentioned topics, the Ministry of Education has formulated the "Key Points for the Ministry of Education to Award Master's and Doctoral Thesis and Journal Papers on Gender Equality Education" for awards.

Graduation of master's degree students, within the field of study grouping (Variant of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0 for Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and Business, humanities, health, arts, social science and education (BHASE) groupings) and province or territory of first enrolment, by demographic characteristics. The STEM grouping includes fields of study in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and computer sciences. The BHASE grouping includes fields of study in business, humanities, health, arts, social science, education, legal studies, trades, services, natural resources and conservation.

In 2023, approximately *** million people in Bangladesh had a Master's or equivalent level degree. In the same year, Indonesia recorded around *** million Master's degree holders.

Graph and download economic data for Civilian Labor Force: College Graduates: Advanced Degree: Master's Degree and Higher, 16 to 19 years, Men (CGADLM1619) from Dec 2014 to Jul 2025 about master's degree, 16 to 19 years, tertiary schooling, males, civilian, education, labor force, labor, household survey, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate: College Graduates: Advanced Degree: Master's Degree and Higher, 20 to 24 years, Men (CGAD2024M) from Dec 2014 to Jul 2025 about master's degree, 20 to 24 years, tertiary schooling, males, education, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

United States US: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 11.995 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.765 % for 2014. United States US: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 11.765 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.995 % in 2015 and a record low of 11.566 % in 2013. United States US: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

United Kingdom UK: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 8.660 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.690 % for 2013. United Kingdom UK: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 8.675 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2014, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.690 % in 2013 and a record low of 8.660 % in 2014. United Kingdom UK: Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

Laos Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data was reported at 0.879 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.458 % for 2017. Laos Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 0.879 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2022, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.828 % in 2010 and a record low of 0.458 % in 2017. Laos Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

About 3,785 master's degrees were earned in the United States by American Indian or Alaskan Native students in the academic year of 2020/2021. Additionally, 460,320 master's degrees were earned by white students, and 98,246 were earned by Black students.

Tanzania Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data was reported at 0.000 % in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.344 % for 2014. Tanzania Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 0.175 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2020, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.344 % in 2014 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2020. Tanzania Educational Attainment: At Least Master's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tanzania – Table TZ.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

Financial overview and grant giving statistics of Master's Plan Foundation