I don't think masters degrees are a scam. However, there are a lot of online only masters programs out there now, and I am not sure they provide the same value.

I don't think masters degrees are a scam. However, there are a lot of online only masters programs out there now, and I am not sure they provide the same value. More on that later, Yes, MS are much more career targeted. That's a feature, not a detriment. In computer science undergrad, I had to take 2 religion, 4 philosophy, 2 history, and 3 language classes. None of those 11 made me a better person nor helped my career. There were 10+ other humanities classes I had to take which left me no room to do what I actually wanted to do: dual major in business and computer science. Note: there were ZERO classes I was given that had any web, cloud, or big data learning in them. I still felt restricted by the 10 courses I had to take for my computer science masters, but I routinely use what I learned in my masters at work. It was extremely beneficial/applicable. There is something to be said for context switching as well. I liked having a smaller-focused course load. Another thing I liked / found beneficial is the dedication of my classmates. In undergrad, many students wanted to do the bare minimum and move on with their lives. A lot was about partying and sleeping in, which isn't bad, but having classmates who are passionate about the topics and dedicated to putting their best foot forward in class is nice to also have. Its nice having these two separate learning experiences. I've kept in touch with almost no one from undergrad, but lots from masters. The most valuable aspect of a masters is the students, which is why I am highly skeptical of online only masters programs. In the end, my masters degree doubled my earnings and set my career on a whole new trajectory. Its a great way to energize or restart your career as well.