WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Soft Job Market Leads To Boost in Graduate School Enrollment

Soft Job Market Leads To Boost in Graduate School Enrollment

Aug. 7, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - "Usually during tough economic times, people go back to college," says Dr. David Rock of Columbus State University.

In fact, that's exactly what he did.  Dr. Rock is now the dean of the College of Education at Columbus State University, but he didn't start his career on that path.

"I became a programmer for the defense industry, I was working on Star Wars out in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Kirkland Air Force Base. I was doing a lot of things and the defense industry started going south a little bit and I finally made the commitment to go back and become a teacher," says Rock.

That was over a decade ago, but colleges and universities across the country are currently seeing the same trend.

With a soft job market, some young people are choosing to extend their education by getting a master's degree.

Older professionals who find themselves suddenly out of work may opt to go back to school.

The University of Georgia saw a modest increase in graduate enrollment from the Fall of 2006 to fall of 2007 with a little more than 70 additional graduate students.

Graduate enrollment at Auburn University increased by more than 100 from last spring to the Spring of 2008.

At Columbus State University, enrollment in graduate programs increased by nearly 250 students.

The highest increases have been in the College of Business and College of Education.

"Over the past five years we've increased approximately 45 to 50% in graduate enrollment," says Rock. 

Some students are still working, but represent a growing number of professionals building their resume to increase job security.

A trend Dr. Rock says will likely continue, even when the job market turns around.

"I think in education alone, we're just seeing the beginning."