Business master鈥檚 degrees can help you reach career goals as you gain essential skills and manage your schedule effectively. Learn more about these degree options.
Earning a business master鈥檚 degree may help you level up your career. Still, it鈥檚 essential to explore the various options, including the diverse concentrations, program types, and delivery methods available. Choosing the right program requires carefully weighing your goals against each degree program's demands and potential payoffs.听
Modern programs differentiate themselves through various specializations, and you may find the best fit for you by exploring a wide range of business master鈥檚 degrees, including online or in-person options. You should also consider a school鈥檚 stature or accreditations and the opportunities a particular program presents for future jobs or internships. To choose the right program, you should evaluate many factors, considering your ambition, schedule, budget, and interest.
Read more: MBA vs. MS: Choosing Which Is Better for You
A master鈥檚 degree in business is a post-graduate degree designed to prepare you for your career in this diverse, dynamic field. Examples of business master鈥檚 degrees include the more general Master of Business Administration (MBA) and specialized options like a master鈥檚 degree in finance, marketing, or management.听聽
While the MBA may be among the best-known business master鈥檚 degrees, you can also choose from many other programs that allow you to specialize in a field that aligns with your career interests. These programs offer generalized degrees in traditional business disciplines, such as accounting or marketing, and niche options focusing on sports business, cybersecurity, or social media marketing.听
If you鈥檙e considering applying to a post-graduate program to boost your salary, accelerate your career progression, or land a new job, you have more choices than ever. About 50 years ago, United States institutions granted roughly 26,000 master鈥檚 degrees in business. As of 2023, that number was more than 205,000 [].
Two main business master鈥檚 degrees exist: MBAs and specialized programs (Master of Science and Master of Arts). The program you choose can guide you to specific business master鈥檚 degree jobs after you graduate.
Both degree types deliver high-level information for advanced students. MBAs typically provide a broader education that spans disciplines (even when they include concentrations) and tend to take longer to complete. A niche degree program offers a well-defined career path, helping you prepare for a career in a more specific business area. MBAs provide an excellent option if you鈥檙e interested in managing people across various disciplines, building your own company, or advancing to the C-suite. If you鈥檙e interested in turbocharging your career path in a specific domain, a non-MBA master鈥檚 degree can help.听
Before applying for a graduate program, you should evaluate the available business master鈥檚 programs. One way to determine if you should specialize or generalize is to consider the career you want. Then, find out the educational paths people typically take to get to that position.听
Consider your talents: Are you highly interested or talented in a single realm, such as finance or analytics, or do you prefer knowing a little about everything? A specialized business master鈥檚 degree typically provides a focused education, while an MBA can yield more varied job options but a less specific path.听
Median starting salary for MBA graduates (US): $120,000 []
MBAs offer a generalized education on crucial business topics to prepare you for the business world. Today鈥檚 MBA degrees also typically come with specializations that allow you to focus your education on a particular area. These concentrations often mirror traditional undergraduate offerings, such as finance and management, but can also include options such as entrepreneurship, emerging technology, or industry-specific niches.听
MBAs offer an expansive education for students who wish to reach the highest levels of corporations, create their own companies, or oversee various workers. They typically take more time to complete and often have the highest costs of all business master鈥檚 degrees, but they may also pay off quickly. According to Payscale, the base salary for MBA graduates in the US averages $98,000 [].
Average base salary for MSFin holders (US): $81,000 []
A Master of Finance (MFin) or Master of Science in Finance (MSF) delivers a more focused education than an MBA degree. It can prepare you for finance-specific roles at large corporations or to work within the financial industry itself.听
MFin degrees are typically one-year or 18-month programs requiring students to attend classes full-time. A master鈥檚 degree in finance can prepare you for work in a wide variety of fields. After graduating, you may pursue various careers, including:
Investment banker
Personal finance manager
Corporate controls
Wealth manager
Average base salary for MS in marketing holders (US): $70,000 []
You can choose from several marketing-related master鈥檚 degrees outside of an MBA. These degrees include a Master of Marketing Analytics (MMA) degree, Master of Marketing Research (MMR), Master of Marketing Science, or Master of Science in Marketing (MMS). These master鈥檚 degrees focus on aspects of marketing, including running marketing campaigns, building interpersonal skills, and analyzing data.
In marketing programs that focus on research and analytics, you鈥檒l learn how to interpret data, while you might focus more on creating marketing campaigns when you earn a Master of Marketing Science.
Average base salary for MS holders (US): $82,000 []
A master's in management is a versatile degree that can help you train for success in overseeing workers at any level. Typically delivered as an MA or MS degree, this degree benefits many students, including recent graduates, mid-career professionals, and busy entrepreneurs.听
The coursework in a management program aims to increase your overall business knowledge. You can learn techniques that place customer needs at the basis of organizational decision-making and build foundational strategic skills in marketing. You can complete a management master鈥檚 program quickly, with many programs taking about a year.
Average base salary for master's degree holders in accounting (US): $79,000 []
A business master鈥檚 degree in accounting, including a Master of Accountancy, Master of Professional Accounting, or Master of Science in Accounting, can help you learn essential accounting skills and prepare you for the CPA exam.听
Some institutions gear their program toward non-business school graduates who want to learn accounting from the ground up. In contrast, others offer more intensive programs tailored for those who want to reach the next level, such as a management position or a position with more specialized skills in their accounting profession.
Average base salary for MSBA holders (US): $77,000 []
A Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) prepares students for careers using data and business intelligence. If you choose an MSBA program, you can learn various analytic skills and competencies with technologies such as coding and spreadsheet programs. These programs often target students who want to focus their careers on data analytics or business intelligence.听
You can prepare for essential job functions, such as presenting data, identifying business trends, and forecasting financial performance, with a master鈥檚 degree in business analytics. Graduates can find jobs as:
Project managers
Average base salary for MHA holders (US): $84,000 []
If you鈥檝e worked in health care and want to shift into a leadership role, a Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) may be for you.听 This degree program can help you understand the health care business and develop problem-solving and leadership skills.听
An MHA can accelerate career progression in health care administration. Graduates can prepare themselves to hold high-level positions, building skills in areas such as leadership, health care financing strategy, health policy, law, and ethics. Full-time MHA students can often complete their degrees in about two years, although some programs may offer accelerated options. Once you graduate, you may have solid earning potential. The average US base salary for someone with an MHA is
Read more: What Is Health Care Administration? What You Need to Know
Consider a business master鈥檚 program an investment. Sound investments come from informed decision-making, so consider your career goals, the offerings and cost of each program, and a manageable amount of coursework.
Career advancement can take shape in many ways, depending on your educational and career goals. For instance, a career advancement goal could mean finding a remote job or that provides a better work-life balance. It could also mean preparing yourself to compete for long-term, more senior-level positions in your field. When you weigh your education options and career goals, you can find a degree program that works for you.
Explore a degree program鈥檚 cost, structure, and location before enrolling. Not all programs are equal, and the total value you receive from post-secondary education will depend on many attributes beyond academics.听
You can weigh the risks and rewards of a business master鈥檚 degree to decide whether the increased qualification is worth the cost. The average debt load for an MBA is around $81,000, and nearly 52 percent of MBA degree holders have debt. Comparatively, roughly $79,000 is the average debt load for a general Master of Science graduate [].
Lastly, consider the structure of the degree program, including whether you want to pursue a business master鈥檚 degree online or in person, how many credits you need to graduate, what kind of courses and electives are available, and when you can start. Some programs require capstone assignments you鈥檒l complete with peers outside of class hours. Others require a thesis.
You can assess the rigor of a program鈥檚 coursework by talking with currently enrolled students, program administrators, and graduates. Researching average GPAs, standardized test scores and alma maters of current students can provide a glimpse into the academic life at a particular school.听
Also, consider the time coursework will require of you. For example, some MBA programs advertise that you鈥檒l add 10 to 12 hours per course per week to your schedule [闭.听
You can improve your salary outlook and accelerate your career progression through more robust qualifications with a business master鈥檚 degree. This degree also can offer better job security as you move up the career ladder, plus a deeper understanding of your industry and job function. A master鈥檚 degree program allows you to gain new skills and demonstrate in-depth learning, knowledge, and training in a particular field.
Read more: Is an MBA Worth It? Guide
If you're considering a business master鈥檚 degree, determine your goals and find a program that aligns with your objectives.听
Browse the business master鈥檚 degree programs on 糖心vlog官网观看 to help you narrow your focus. For example, you might consider聽 Louisiana State University鈥檚 Flores Master of Business Administration or the University of Illinois-Champaign鈥檚 Online Master of Business Administration (iMBA). These online degree programs offer a flexible option to earn a business master鈥檚 degree, which can help you gain skills to qualify for such jobs as general manager, IT manager, or business manager. You'll have the opportunity to build relevant skills and knowledge while completing the career-focused curriculum of each program, which can empower you with leadership and managerial skills for success in any industry.听
National Center for Educational Statistics. 鈥, https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/ctb/graduate-degree-fields#:~:text=See%20Digest%20of%20Education%20Statistics,(205%2C800%20degrees%2C%2023%20percent). " Accessed March 4, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Business_Administration_(MBA)/Salary.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
Graduate Management Admission Council. 鈥, https://www.gmac.com/-/media/files/gmac/research/employment-outlook/2024-corporate-recruiters-survey/2024_gmac_crs_report.pdf?rev=43588bfef9a549af9bb00a432a3d7b06.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_(MS)%2C_Finance/Salary.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_(MS)%2C_Marketing/Salary.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_(MS)%2C_Marketing/Salary.鈥滱ccessed March 4, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_(MS)%2C_Accounting/Salary.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_(MS)%2C_Business_Analysis/Salary.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Health_Administration_(MHA)/Salary.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
Education Data Initiative. 鈥, https://educationdata.org/average-graduate-student-loan-debt.鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 鈥, https://blog.utc.edu/business/2022/12/05/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-an-mba鈥 Accessed March 4, 2025.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.