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Decide whether a degree is worth it

A simple exercise to test whether a degree opens the door you want, before you commit years to it

Before committing to a degree, name the role you want it for, ask a few people in that role and your manager whether it matters, and compare the cost with the other ways in.

Why this can work

A degree is usually bought to open a specific door, and the people already through that door know best whether it's the only way in.

One way to do it

How to decide whether a degree is worth it

You’ll come away with a clear view of whether the degree opens your door, and what else might.

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  1. Pick the role or move you want it for.

    Be specific: a job title, a kind of work, a level. A degree for a door you can't name is hard to judge.

  2. Ask two or three people already in that role.

    How did they get there, did the degree matter, and what would they do in your shoes? Ask for advice rather than an opinion on you; most people are glad to give it.

    To: someone already in the role

    I'm thinking about the degree as a way to move toward the role, and you're doing the kind of work I'd love to do.

    Could I ask your advice? Twenty minutes would be plenty: how you got there, whether a degree mattered, and what you'd do in my position.

    Whenever suits you is fine, and thank you either way.

    Swap the highlighted parts for your thing. Works on Slack, in email, or said out loud.
  3. Ask your manager whether it would change anything.

    They often know how promotions and hiring decisions actually get made where you work, which is information you can't get from a program's brochure.

    You“If I wanted to move toward that kind of role here, would a degree change anything, or is there another way in?”
  4. Fill in what you learned.

    Short answers are fine. You're looking for the pattern across the conversations, and an honest view of the cost.

    Stays in this browser only. Nobody else sees it.

  5. Decide, or decide what you still need to know.

    If the answer is clear, act on it. If not, name the one thing that would settle it, such as a conversation with someone who hires for the role, and get that next.

Good times to repeat it: before applying to any degree programwhen someone suggests you need one to move upbefore accepting a place you've been offered

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Making it work for you

Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.

Things to think about

Sometimes the value was the network, the confidence or a structured way to switch fields, and some of those have other routes.

What might make this harder

Ask a colleague to introduce you, or reach out directly to someone whose path you've read about. A short, specific request for advice is often answered.

Questions people ask

Is a master's degree worth it for my career?

It depends on the role you want it for. Ask a few people already in that role whether the degree mattered for them, and compare the cost with the other routes they mention.

Do I need an MBA to get promoted?

Often not, though it varies by company and field. Your manager and people already in the role you want are the best people to ask how promotions there actually work.

How do I decide whether to go back to school?

Name the exact role or move you want it to lead to, test whether it does by talking to people on the other side, and weigh the full cost, including time and what you'd give up.

The longer read

Why this works, and where it comes from

Degrees often get chosen the way people choose insurance: as protection against a vague worry that they'll be held back without one. A vague reason makes it impossible to tell whether the degree will deliver. Naming the specific door you want it to open turns the question into something you can test, and those who already made it through can tell you a lot about how they got there.

Start from the job you have, because it often holds the most useful information. Your manager may know whether a degree changes anything in how promotions work where you are, and the answer is sometimes that a bigger project or a different role on the team would count for more. Asking people in the role for advice, rather than asking them to judge your chances, tends to get warmer and more honest answers. People enjoy explaining how they got where they are.

What to do next

Talk to someone five years ahead of youask someone a few years down that road30 minConversationLearn what the next level expectscheck what your company actually asks for20 minGo find it

Other simple things to consider

Decide whether a course is worth itPrice the options out, then say yes or no on purpose30 minGo find itTest a direction before you commitFind out how the work feels, not just how it sounds60 minSequenceAsk someone what the job is really likeTwenty minutes with someone who does it beats a month of reading about it30 minConversation

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An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated October 2, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.