As the demand for masters degree holders continues to grow, students who wish to enroll in campus-based or online colleges may have more graduate-level options. In fact, some experts say that many institutions will need to expand these programs in order to ensure the competitiveness of the American workforce.

A new study from the Educational Testing Service suggests that graduate-level education could be the key to keeping the U.S. up to speed in the global market. Over the next eight years, approximately 250,000 jobs that require a graduate degree will be created, according to the study.

However, experts say that the current educational system may not be accessible to some students, which could cause the American workforce to fall out of the international spotlight. Enrollment in U.S.-based graduate programs has declined in past 10 years, while the Asian and European markets are producing increasing numbers of doctoral degree holders.

Consequently, campus-based and online schools should work with industries and government agencies to expand their graduate-level programs in order to reach more students, the researchers say.