You don't get a graduate degree because _you_ need a graduate degree. You get a graduate degree because _others_ need to see it. I think this sums up the major

You don't get a graduate degree because _you_ need a graduate degree. You get a graduate degree because _others_ need to see it. I think this sums up the majority of cases. Some people need graduate degrees because they are seeking higher education, such as a Phd, but mostly it's because someone else requires it without ever really expressing why.