**The Edvocate is pleased to publish guest posts as way to fuel important conversations surrounding P-20 education in America. The opinions contained within guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of The Edvocate or Dr. Matthew Lynch.**

A guest post by Rachelle Wilber

Tuition for graduate school costs significantly more than undergraduate tuition. When you want to pursue a graduate degree that will allow you to pay off your loans and still live well, you can do so by considering any of these six graduate programs.

Petroleum Engineering

With the world’s dependency on petroleum at an all-time high, petroleum engineers are in high demand right now. If you pursue this degree, you can expect to enter the industry with an introductory average salary of $187,000 per year. You could easily pay off your student loans in a few years and have plenty of money left over to live on and support your family.

Nurse Anesthesia

Nursing is a lucrative career. However, if you want to earn the one of the highest salaries possible in this field, you can do so with a nurse anesthesia graduate degree. As noted at http://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/majors-that-pay-you-back/masters, someone who majors in this degree field can earn an average salary of $162,800 per year. This career is also in demand as the need for specialized healthcare workers continues to rise throughout the country.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers are needed to keep the country’s infrastructure operational and secure. With a graduate degree in electrical engineering, you can expect to earn on average $124,000 per year. This career field is expected to grow by four percent by the year 2022.

Behavioral Analysis

Made popular by a variety of crime TV shows, behavioral analysis is a graduate degree that you can pursue online and can pay itself off in a matter of years. This degree opens the door to working for police departments, the FBI, social service agencies, and therapists. The average salary for a behavioral analyst stands at $60,000 per year and increases as you gain experience. The University of Cincinnati offers a masters of applied behavior analysis online for the individual that can study on their own time.

Supply Chain Management

Businesses rely on supply chain managers to ensure their daily operations and overall customer satisfaction. A master’s degree in supply chain management can help you earn a salary of $108,000 per year. This degree can easily pay itself off in a matter of years after you graduate.

International Business

As more companies go global, they need employees who can meet and negotiate with customers from around the world. A graduate degree in international business also gives you the background to start your own global company. This degree brings with it an average salary of $101,000 per year.

Graduate school can be very expensive and take years to pay off. These six graduate degrees are a few of the smart choices in degrees that can pay themselves off in a shorter amount of time. Before jumping into one of these programs, plan out a career path for you to follow along the way to help keep you on track to landing that career you desire.

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Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on twitter: @RachelleWilber