u/Mysterious_Payment25

Hi everyone,

I’m currently studying at UIC majoring in Civil Engineering, and I’m set to graduate next year. Right now, I have an internship at a good company, and there’s a chance they may give me a return full-time offer.

I’m feeling really confused about what the best next step is, especially because I’m interested in structural engineering and I’m not sure how much a master’s degree is actually worth in the long run.
Right now, I feel stuck between these 3 options:

1. ⁠Stay at UIC and do a part-time master’s while working full-time

This would let me start earning earlier, and my company might help pay for tuition. But I’ve heard working full-time while doing a master’s can get very hectic, and since I’d probably only take 1 or 2 classes at a time, it could drag on for years. Also, UIC is not considered a top school for Civil/Structural Engineering, so I’m not sure if it’s worth committing to that path.

2. Go to a more reputable school full-time and try to get an RA/TA/assistantship

This seems like a good option because tuition could be waived, and I could finish my master’s first and get it over with. The downside is that I wouldn’t really be earning much during those 1–2 years, so financially it feels like I’d be giving something up.

3. Do an online part-time master’s, like Purdue Global

This might be a little more manageable with full-time work, but it would still be stressful, and if I only do one course at a time, it might take forever to finish. I’m also not sure how much value employers in structural engineering place on an online degree like that.

I guess my biggest question is: how much is a master’s actually worth in structural engineering?
Does it significantly help with salary, career growth, or better opportunities in the future? Or does work experience matter more once you get your foot in the door?

Part of me wants to start earning as soon as possible, but another part of me feels like I should just get the master’s done early so I don’t have to keep worrying about school for the next 4–5 years.

For people already working in structural engineering, what would you do in my situation?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently studying at UIC majoring in Civil Engineering, and I’m set to graduate next year. Right now, I have an internship at a good company, and there’s a chance they may give me a return full-time offer.

I’m feeling really confused about what the best next step is, especially because I’m interested in structural engineering and I’m not sure how much a master’s degree is actually worth in the long run.
Right now, I feel stuck between these 3 options:

1. Stay at UIC and do a part-time master’s while working full-time

This would let me start earning earlier, and my company might help pay for tuition. But I’ve heard working full-time while doing a master’s can get very hectic, and since I’d probably only take 1 or 2 classes at a time, it could drag on for years. Also, UIC is not considered a top school for Civil/Structural Engineering, so I’m not sure if it’s worth committing to that path.

2. Go to a more reputable school full-time and try to get an RA/TA/assistantship

This seems like a good option because tuition could be waived, and I could finish my master’s first and get it over with. The downside is that I wouldn’t really be earning much during those 1–2 years, so financially it feels like I’d be giving something up.

3. Do an online part-time master’s, like Purdue Global

This might be a little more manageable with full-time work, but it would still be stressful, and if I only do one course at a time, it might take forever to finish. I’m also not sure how much value employers in structural engineering place on an online degree like that.

I guess my biggest question is: how much is a master’s actually worth in structural engineering?
Does it significantly help with salary, career growth, or better opportunities in the future? Or does work experience matter more once you get your foot in the door?

Part of me wants to start earning as soon as possible, but another part of me feels like I should just get the master’s done early so I don’t have to keep worrying about school for the next 4–5 years.

For people already working in structural engineering, what would you do in my situation?