Entering the chemical industry with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, I was not expected to have much knowledge of what I would be doing. However, the foundational courses and tougher courses related to Mechanical Engineering prepared me to learn quickly. I actually found my way into Chemical Engineering, and am now starting a PhD in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on Biopharmaceutical design and manufacturing.
My overall opinion is that it is very beneficial to go into industry with a Bachelor's Degree unless you know exactly what you want to specialize in. It could be an entirely different from the field you studied.
This is a great question and one that I have asked myself for the longest. There are professions such as biomedical technicians which just require a high school/associates degree and some experience, however, most jobs in industry I have found do require at minimum a bachelors. From searching for jobs myself, I have found that obtaining an advanced degree does open the door for more opportunities, higher compensation, and offset the years of experience typically required compared to someone with only a bachelors degree. I believe an advanced degree is important as it helps you further specialize once you have figured out the direction in which you want to take your career. Nevertheless, learning through experience rather than a textbook is much more valuable given life in academia (specifically research) does not directly translate to life/commercial viability in industry, so I would encourage others to pursue advanced degrees only if they are also able to work full-time, with the potential of receiving tuition reimbursement from their employer, and have specific career goals in mind.
Going into the industry with a bachelor's degree shows the employer that you went to college and are capable of doing work at the entry level. There are other jobs that require only a high school education but pay significantly less because of the education gap. Most companies hire at the bachelor's level because most people have a bachelor's education, and an even higher population has a high school education. As we progress from BS to MS to PhD, fewer and fewer people have more specialized degrees because most jobs only require a bachelor's. In my experience, a bachelor's would be the best way to just enter the industry because it helps get your foot in the door while getting paid significantly better than a high school education. Combining a BS with industry experience is even better because most companies look for that industry experience so that you can work with the skills other industry professionals are capable of. I would then progress to an MS or even an MBA because of the potential to move up in managerial roles as well as take on more responsibility. The MS would show the employer that I am more knowledgeable about a subject, which would leverage more growth. The PhD would be undergone if a person is more inclined toward research and would like to take on more experimental design. Each degree is unique to the situation, and logically, the degree is suitable for the situation. In the case of industry, a bachelor's would suffice in many instances where a MS or PhD would be better for progression within the organization. Combining any of the degrees with industry experience would make the candidate highly sought-after by employers. The higher degrees would also show to the employer the commitment to education that this person is willing to make.
Based off personal experience I have mixed feelings on which level of education is best. I do believe that as more people receive their undergraduate degree a BS tends to lose its value. This is why I was determined to receive my MS so that I could be somewhat "ahead". I began to have mixed feelings because post undergrad I struggled to find a job in the industry. Most entry level jobs told me I was overqualified with my BS or lacked experience. My two questions then were 1) How am I overqualified when no one would consider me as a candidate prior to this degree? and 2) How can I gain experience as a recent graduate if no one wants to hire me without experience? Recently I was finally able to land a job in the industry but decided after my MS I was going to take a break from school and focus on gaining experience. Although degrees catch employers attention I believe the experience lands the job.
I think a BS degree in the concentration that you want is important: biomechanics, biomaterials, or bioinstrumentation, for example. You need to decide what you want first. Then, you should further build on that in your masters. I think a masters is sufficient for all jobs in the industry and maybe an mba later. This way you can grow on the ladder. The PhD thing, this is really, in my opinion, if you want to go to research. Research is not for everyone. You have to really like it and make sure you don't get burned out!
I might be an odd ball out compared to most comments, but I wanted to add that education in it of its own isn't going to warrant a job right into the industry. While I understand the post asks for best level of education before heading to industry, for me I had no 'real' experience until I started my masters and then I realized that now I know I am able to enter the industry, and coupled that with my first Co-Op. Not that it was impossible before, but to understand how I wanted to project my career. In most situations your first job isn't going to be it, and will guide you down a career that will focus on your interest. But as stated before interest develops from experience and therefore the necessary education is subject to that as well. I took masters to experience what applicable topics are in the industry, from orthopedic design development, to neurophysiology experiments, and to mechatronic applications. That opened doors alongside my Co-Op for me to feel personally 'ready' enough for the industry. Now is this completely and totally dependent on everyone, yes. But the fact I'm trying to make is that we should know how and where our education will lead us, and understand if we don't know its better to learn either by industry or by going further in education.
You could do a lot with a BS in engineering but since there is a lot of competition now in the job market for BMEs, pursuing a master's is the only way to obtain something now. There are some who get lucky and get a job right after a BS but doing a master's in engineering can help when competing with other people who don't have a master's. Getting a master's is not as challenging as getting a BS but the only commitment is the money that is invested. A lot of people in this discussion says that the money invested is not worth it unless you're getting reimbursed or getting a stipend from a company to do so. I agree to this statement and this is one of the reasons why most people don't go for a master's. When going into industry, a lot of what you hear is that experience only matters so investing in an expensive degree that does not teach you anything useful or does not give you a good experience would be the worst possibility for someone pursuing master's.
In my opinion, the level of education that's best before entering the industry largely depends on your career goals, personal circumstances, and the specific field you're interested in. I believe that a bachelor's degree (BS) provides a solid foundation for most industries. It equips you with essential skills and knowledge, making you eligible for entry-level positions. While these jobs may not offer high salaries initially, they offer valuable real-world experience.
However, I acknowledge that pursuing a master's degree can be a strategic move. It allows you to specialize in a particular area, making you a more attractive candidate for certain positions. Plus, starting with a master's can often lead to higher initial salaries and faster career progression.
On the other hand, obtaining a PhD is a significant commitment. It's usually best suited for those who want to become experts in their field, conduct extensive research, or teach at the university level. It can be an excellent choice for those who've already worked in industry and want to deepen their knowledge or explore specific niches.
Ultimately, the decision should align with your long-term career objectives and personal circumstances. Factors like financial considerations, time constraints, and your passion for continued education play a crucial role. So, I believe that the best level of education before entering the industry varies from person to person, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer. It's essential to carefully evaluate your goals and weigh the benefits of each educational path to make an informed decision.
As a first year PhD with about 2 years of industry experience I have been witness to the paper ceiling in industry. All my colleagues are in senior roles and all have PhD’s. I have seen people who have been at the company for several years yet not get promoted despite putting in effort for it. I work in mainly research in industry and it’s been shown to me how important it is to obtain a higher degree (at least masters). There are plenty of opportunities for those without one but the paper ceiling is something that exists at least in RnD for industry.
