The question is often asked backwards: “what’s the best degree to get at 40?” as if there’s a universal answer sitting in a ranking somewhere. There isn’t. The best degree for a career change at 40 depends entirely on which career you’re changing into, and the honest answer is that some fields reward degrees heavily while others barely notice them.
Rather than a generic list, here’s how to think about which degrees actually move the needle for a career change at this stage, organized by what tends to hold up well.
Degrees that tend to have strong, durable demand
Nursing and allied health
Accelerated BSN and RN-to-BSN programs are among the most reliable career-change paths for adults, because the field has genuine, licensed credential requirements and consistent demand across most regions. The tradeoff is a demanding clinical component that’s harder to fully complete online, so expect some in-person requirements even in “online” programs.
Data analytics and business intelligence
This field rewards a mix of degree and demonstrated skill. A master’s in data analytics or a related field can help, but many employers weigh a portfolio of real analysis projects just as heavily. If you’re testing the waters, a certificate plus a portfolio may get you further, faster, than a full second degree, before you decide the fuller credential is worth it.
Education and instructional design
Teaching credentials remain a hard requirement in public K-12 education, and career changers with real-world experience are often valued for the perspective they bring. Instructional design, a related field building training materials for corporations, has looser credential requirements and rewards a portfolio more than the degree itself.
Degrees to weigh more carefully
General MBA programs
An MBA can be genuinely valuable for specific goals, particularly moving into management in industries that use it as a screening credential, or pivoting into consulting or finance. But it’s also one of the most expensive degrees relative to its guaranteed payoff, and the return depends heavily on the specific program’s reputation and your target role. We cover this tradeoff in detail in our dedicated look at whether an MBA is worth it after 40.
Broad liberal arts second bachelor’s degrees
A second bachelor’s degree in a general field, without a specific credential requirement behind it, is usually the weakest financial bet on this list. If the goal is genuinely about the subject matter for its own sake, that’s a legitimate reason to pursue it. If the goal is career advancement, a more targeted certificate or master’s in a field with real hiring signal tends to produce a faster, clearer payoff.
How to match a degree to your specific situation
Rather than starting from a list of “good” degrees, start from your target job title and work backwards. Search that exact title on job boards and note which credentials show up as required across multiple postings, not just one. Cross-check the field’s growth outlook, and be honest about how much of the appeal is the field itself versus the idea of having a fresh credential. For a full framework on evaluating any specific program once you’ve narrowed the field, see our guide to online degree programs for adults.
It’s also worth testing the field before committing years to a degree in it. A single course, an informational interview, or a small project in the field will tell you more about fit than any ranking will. If you’re still deciding whether a degree is worth pursuing at all versus other paths, this framework for weighing the decision walks through the full calculation.
Don’t overlook non-degree paths in your comparison
Some of the fields career changers target most, like consulting, freelance writing, or running a small service business, don’t have degree requirements at all and reward demonstrated results instead. If your target field is one of these, comparing a expensive degree against building a portfolio and direct client experience is a fair comparison to make before assuming a degree is the default next step.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best degree for switching careers at 40?
There isn’t one universal answer. The best degree is the one matched to a target role that has a genuine credential requirement, with a realistic financial payback based on real local salary data for that role, not a general ranking of popular degrees.
Do employers care if a career-change degree is a second bachelor’s or a master’s?
It depends on the field. Some fields, like nursing or teaching, have specific credential levels required by licensing boards. Others care more about relevant skills and experience than the degree level itself. Check actual job postings in your target field rather than assuming.
Is it worth getting a second bachelor’s degree at 40?
Usually only if the target field has a hard requirement for that specific degree, or if a master’s-level program in your target field requires a bachelor’s in a related subject first as a prerequisite. Otherwise, a certificate or master’s in a field with clear demand tends to be a stronger financial choice.
