Why Get an MBA?

To advance in today’s competitive business environment, you need more than a bachelor’s degree. An MBA degree – considered the gold standard of business degrees – will help you open the door to new careers, position yourself for leadership opportunities, and significantly boost your earning potential. Read on to learn why you should earn a Master of Business Administration, what it can mean for your career, and what to look for in an MBA degree program.

Is an MBA Degree Right For You?

The Master of Business Administration, or MBA, is the most popular graduate management degree in the world. For many, it’s the ultimate path to building advanced business knowledge, growing a professional network, and creating opportunities for career advancement.

MBA students come from all industries and backgrounds. MBA graduates include Fortune 500 CEOs, successful entrepreneurs, famous TV and sports personalities—even former presidents. One of the most attractive aspects of an MBA degree is its broad application, meaning that it can help you excel in nearly any professional career.

Why Get an MBA if My Bachelor’s Degree Isn’t in Business?

Earning an MBA can open new professional opportunities regardless of your career path. 

For example, have a bachelor’s degree in art and want to open your own gallery or run a museum? An MBA degree will ensure you add essential business and networking skills to your existing expertise in art. Want to expand your health sciences bachelor’s degree to become a hospital administrator or pharmaceutical brand manager? Earning a Master of Business Administration will introduce you to an entirely new side of health care. 

Is an MBA Worth It?

If you’re like most students considering an MBA, you’re probably asking, “Why get an MBA?” Earning your MBA requires an investment of time and resources. It takes focus, dedication, and commitment to succeed. But all that hard work pays off, thanks to the many benefits of an advanced degree in business.

An MBA Will Strengthen Your Business Skills

Succeeding in the world of business takes confidence: Not only confidence in yourself but also the ability to inspire confidence in others. Having a strong foundation in business tools and techniques is a sure-fire way to build confidence and leadership potential. Many organizations look for certain traits in their leaders—including having empathy, managing teams, predicting trends, and setting strategic goals. These skills are at the core of any MBA degree program.

An MBA Will Help You Gain Valuable Real-world Experience

A strong resume is essential to starting your career. Many Master of Business Administration programs integrate hands-on experience into classes, such as projects for local businesses. Through internships and work-study opportunities, you’ll learn to apply your new knowledge to real-world settings while gaining the experience to show potential employers or clients you have what it takes to help them succeed.

An MBA Will Help You Advance Your Career

Are you a mid-career professional looking to climb the ladder within your current industry or organization? An MBA will prepare you to take on more responsibilities, lead a team, and help your business increase profit and continue growing. Accelerated degrees and MBA online programs offer flexible options so you can earn your degree while working and caring for your family.

An MBA Degree Will Boost Your Earning Potential

One of the best answers to the question “Why get an MBA?” is increased salary potential. It’s no secret that an MBA degree is one of the surest paths to a lucrative career. Starting salaries for MBA graduates from top-ranked institutions are rarely less than six figures—and that’s not including bonuses, profit sharing, and other perks. This salary equates to millions of dollars over a 20-year period for most MBA degree graduates.

An MBA Degree Can Help You Develop Your Professional Network and Find Jobs

As you earn your MBA degree, you’ll form lasting relationships with other MBA students, your faculty mentors, and the people you work with in internships and local projects. By the time you graduate and enter the job market, you’ll have the support of a broad and solid network of industry professionals who can act as references and maybe even help you find positions in their organizations.

What Can You Do With an MBA?

Is an MBA worth it for the career possibilities? Simply put, yes!

In an era in which having a bachelor’s degree is the standard for entry-level jobs in a variety of industries, holding an MBA degree can help you stand out from other applicants—especially if it’s paired with real-world experience. 

According to a 2021 year-end employer poll from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), recruiters project an increase in demand for business school graduates. This means that earning an MBA degree now will prepare you for a future-ready career.

As we’ve already shown, an MBA degree can help you find executive roles in almost any industry. Read on to learn more about what fields you can work in and the positions you can find with a Master of Business Administration.

Choosing the Best MBA Program

So far, we’ve concentrated on answering two important questions: “Is an MBA worth it” and “Why get an MBA?” Now that you know that it is worth it and can lead to a huge range of careers, you probably want to know what kind of MBA degree program you should choose.

On-campus or MBA Online Program?

As you explore MBA degrees, you’ll also want to think about whether an on-campus or MBA online program will best meet your needs. If you are a recent bachelor’s degree graduate or you thrive in face-to-face learning environments, an on-campus program might be a good fit. 

On the other hand, if you work full-time or live outside the region where your ideal program is located, an MBA online program might be perfect for you. Take classes on your own schedule and go at your own pace without sacrificing work hours or other priorities. Many universities are now embracing online learning and will help you connect with businesses in your area to ensure that you get hands-on practice.

You may be worried that employers value on-campus degrees over MBA online programs. Although that may have been the case in the past, businesses and organizations increasingly view both education pathways as equal, particularly since the onset of the global pandemic. In fact, according to a recent study released by the Center for the Future of Higher Education and Talent Strategy Fund in December 2021, 71 percent of employers now view the quality of business degrees earned online as equal to or even better than traditional in-person programs. Couple that with the affordability and accessibility of online MBA programs, and it’s easy to see why the number of students earning their MBAs online has surpassed those attending programs on-campus.

How Long Does it Take to Earn an MBA Degree?

As you consider your options for MBA degree programs, you’re most likely wondering how long an MBA program takes. The answer is: it depends. A typical Master of Business Administration program takes about 18 months. If you’re in an MBA online program or an accelerated degree program, you could earn your degree in as little as a year. Those balancing their classes with work and other demands, on the other hand, might need more time to complete their studies.

It’s best to start by asking yourself what your overall career goals are. Do you want to move into an executive role as soon as possible? Maybe you know that you would like to take on more responsibility at some point, but not necessarily right away. Do you have a flexible work and life schedule that can accommodate a traditional on-campus schedule, or would a flexible MBA online program make more sense?

Once you find the answers to these questions, you will have a much better idea of how quickly you want to earn your MBA degree.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Michigan Tech

Gain even more advantages by earning your MBA degree at one of the nation’s leading engineering and technology research universities.

Give yourself a major advantage over the competition by earning your MBA degree at Michigan Tech—one of the nation’s leading engineering and technology research universities.

Our Tech MBA® focuses on technology, decision-making, leadership and management skills, innovation, and strategy—in addition to our emphasis on corporate social responsibility and business ethics. At Michigan Tech, MBA degree students take courses covering a diverse range of topics, including operations management, entrepreneurship, corporate strategy, and technology and innovation. 

The Business Administration—Tech MBA® can be completed in just three semesters. Both online and on-campus options are available. 

Thanks to our focus on developing essential skills like communication, public speaking, and collaboration, Michigan Tech MBA degree graduates are highly sought-after at the most prestigious companies and organizations in the country.

Find more information about business programs

• Accounting (MS)
• Engineering Management (MEM)
• Applied Natural Resource Economics (MS)