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College Grads Are Rethinking the Need for Another Degree

Post-grad programs felt like a natural next step for early Millennial grads, but YPulse data shows that mindset is shifting…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Apr 28 2026
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Young grads used to view post-grad programs as a way to secure better job prospects and salaries
Fewer college grads in their 20s and 30s are getting another degree compared to five years ago
That shift may come down to age and experience, with older grads more likely to say it’s not their plan

The value of higher education is somewhat up in the air for Gen Z and Millennials. YPulse’s Education and College data shows fewer than half of college graduates (43%) think their degree has been extremely / very valuable in terms of their future success. And that feeling may be starting to chip away at the belief that more education automatically equals better outcomes. For Millennials, post-grad programs used to feel almost synonymous with success. In the years following the Great Recession, a master’s degree became the logical next step for these young grads. As bachelor’s degrees became more common, stacking...