Is a master's in organizational leadership worth it?
Online master's in leadership programs prepare students to manage individuals, teams, and businesses. Read our guide to discover degree costs, benefits, and how to determine if a master's in leadership is worth it for your career goals.
What is a master's in organizational leadership degree?
Master's in organizational leadership programs can prepare you to pursue managerial or leadership roles. Programs typically take 1-2 years and teach you how to lead people and businesses. Organizational leadership programs can help you develop the following:
- Skills to manage individuals
- Leadership methods
- Conflict mediation
- Performance evaluation
- Skills to manage a business
- New opportunity identification
- Corporate goal creation
- Ethical business practices management
What are the benefits of an organizational leadership degree?
An online master's in organizational leadership program can teach you the skills to improve corporate productivity, morale, and communication.
Some corporations may prefer to hire employees with a graduate degree in organizational leadership. Earning this degree may also help you pursue management-level positions and access higher salaries.
You can further your organizational leadership knowledge by pursuing a PhD. PhD in organizational leadership programs may teach data analytics, global leadership, and research skills.
How to determine if a master's in leadership is worth it
If you want to pursue managerial roles, then enrolling in a master's in leadership program may be worth it. These programs can help you develop your interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills, which may prepare you for leadership roles with higher-than-average salaries.
With a master's in organizational leadership, you can pursue roles in small businesses, multinational corporations, or nonprofit organizations.
How much does a master's degree program cost?
Master's in organizational leadership tuition rates typically range between $23,000-$47,000. You should also budget additional funds for textbooks and daily necessities. Although online and in-person tuition rates may be similar, online students can save on transportation and housing costs.
You can pursue financial aid opportunities to reduce school costs, including:
- Scholarships:Scholarships may have various application prerequisites, but you do not need to repay funds.
- Grants:Grants typically offer need-based financial aid that does not require repayment.
- Loans: Loans must be repaid over time with accrued interest.
Exact tuition costs vary by program and depend on your location, institution type, and delivery format.
Are graduates of leadership programs in demand?
Master's in organizational leadership graduates can pursue various managerial roles, including marketing, sales, or fundraising manager. Individual career growth projections may vary due to emerging technologies, consumer demand, and corporate needs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that management occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023–33, with 1.2 million annual job openings across the decade.
Does a master's in organizational leadership have a good ROI?
The BLS reports that management occupations earned a median annual wage of $116,880 in 2023. Your chosen industry can affect your earning potential. For example, fundraising managers earned a median salary of $119,200 annually in 2023, while marketing managers earned $157,620 in the same year. Individual salary rates may vary based on experience, education, and location.
According to Forbes, the average U.S. employee retires at 64 and works 42 years. You can use these numbers to calculate a simple return on investment for education costs.
Earning a master's in organizational leadership can also help you pursue leadership and managerial positions with higher pay, which could further increase this degree's return on investment (ROI).