Report
A Degree of Choice: Educational Decision-Making after College. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1252
| Title: | A Degree of Choice: Educational Decision-Making after College. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1252 |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Ellen Bryer, Maya Kaul, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University |
| Source: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2026. |
| Availability: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 41 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Career Choice, Graduate Students, Masters Programs, Business Education, Education Majors, Occupational Aspiration, Student Motivation, Course Selection (Students), Reputation, Program Attitudes, Education Work Relationship |
| Abstract: | Despite the growing share of college-educated adults returning to higher education, we know little about how individuals weigh the consequential decision to go to graduate school. In this paper, we ask how individuals decide to pursue a particular graduate program within a field of study. We draw on two independent but complementary interview studies to examine this question across the two most common master's fields of study: business and education. We find that within both fields, students' career values and aspirations guide them toward distinct tiers of educational prestige. In lower-status programs, students enter graduate school to pursue a credential that they hope will promote incremental career advancement. In higher-status programs, students pursue a credential that aligns with their broader professional values. Where students in business foresaw immense potential for career transitions, the occupational status of teaching limits students' aspirations. Our findings illuminate how work experiences, occupational attributes, and institutional status shape the process of educational decision-making. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 20260101 |
| Accession Number: | ED681810 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Description not available. |