Colleges and universities are seeing a big shift in the number of students who are continuing their education to receive graduate degrees. College graduates of all ages are returning to school to further their degrees.

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree doesn’t necessarily signal the start of full-time employment anymore nor does it mean that formal education is over. That’s because more and more college students and professionals are choosing to return to the classroom to advance their educations even further with master’s degrees.

At colleges, the numbers of graduate school applicants and enrollments are on the rise, resulting in more programs being developed to accommodate demand. And colleges are not catering only to young adults, either.

Money also is a motivator. According to a Census Bureau spokesman, higher levels of education often translate into more money in the long run. In 2004, a college graduate could expect to earn a lifetime average of $2.1 million, while people with master’s degrees averaged about $2.5 million.

This trend is forecasted to continue with students seeking better careers and higher quality of life. Schools will need to stay on top of this trend so they can continue to offer quality graduate degree programs.