When people consider going to graduate school, they want to make sure their continued education will help land them a job. But sometimes that's not always the case. It might take several months for candidates to find jobs, and with student loan bills piling up, graduate school is something most students can't afford. That's why many people want to make sure the degrees they pursue are in lucrative industries, so that when they graduate, they'll be able to find a job right away. Yet industries are constantly changing, making this a tricky game. Do you know the best degrees to graduate with in 2016?

Considering investments
Many students tend to enter a graduate program right after they complete their undergraduate studies. However, in times like these, getting a graduate degree can be a major investment. Undergraduate four-year programs can cost up to $250,000, and graduate school can cost another $30,000 to 40,000 each year, depending on whether you're considering a public or private university. Many students have taken out student loans. In 2015, college graduates had an average of $35,000 in debt, which could take several years to pay off. With that in mind, students want to make sure they have a job that helps them pay this debt off sooner rather than later.

Quite frankly, some degrees might not be worth the investment, especially if you have to pay for school on your own. However, others can be. When considering a viable master's degree that leads to a lucrative career, students want to make sure the industry has good job growth, decent starting salaries, is satisfying and comes with little to no stress. Of course, no job or industry is perfect and it can be tough to find the perfect fit, especially when you're just starting out. But when you're considering what route you want to take, it's important to consider these factors to make sure you're not investing money in a degree that might not pay off in the long run.

The best degrees
At the top of the list of lucrative degrees are those in the STEM field, which are very popular right now. These are degrees that lead to jobs in engineering, research and even teaching math, science and technology. Graduates in these fields often have a starting salary of around $68,000 if they have a master's degree, and they might even make up to $117,000 if they get a Ph.D. in a field such as computer science.

Why is this field so popular?
Right now, STEM is everywhere, accounting for 10 percent of all jobs in the country. People are using and relying on technology now more than ever before, and there is a need for people who are efficient at math and science and can figure out how to create, build and manufacture these products. Clearly, this is a field that will only continue to grow over time, promising job growth for young candidates.

Aside from job growth and good pay, it also has high levels of satisfaction and low levels of stress. Worry about money less, be rewarded for hard work and enjoy your job? That sounds like a home run.

If you're not interested in STEM, you might consider a job in the medical field, such as becoming a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. While pay in this industry is rather steady, getting a job as a physician assistant gives most graduates a starting pay of $87,700.