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What can you do with an MBA?

By: Jennifer Cuellar, Edited by: Andrew H. Rice, Ph.D.

Published: January 9, 2025


Earning an MBA can open the door to many high-salaried positions in industries like finance, tech, and marketing. The leadership and strategy lessons you can learn in an MBA program can benefit a variety of management roles.

What is an MBA?

An MBA — a master of business administration — focuses on the core principles of business, including operations, analysis, and leadership. These programs often prepare graduates for management roles and can be a helpful step on an executive career path.

MBA programs come in both in-person and online formats, with online MBA programs gaining popularity due to their flexibility. Many of these programs offer part-time, evening, and fully remote options.

What types of jobs can you get with an MBA?

MBA graduates develop strong leadership and organizational skills. Job titles that MBA program graduates can pursue include:

Salary expectations

MBA graduates who pursue management and executive roles can expect higher-than-average salaries. For instance, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), financial analysts make a median salary of $99,890 a year. Additionally, operations managers earned $101,280 a year, and human resources managers made more than $136,350 annually.

Career outlook

According to the 2023 Corporate Recruiters Survey, MBA graduates were hired at a rate of 91% in 2022. This was higher than candidates with industry experience (88%), a bachelor's degree in business (84%), and a non-MBA master's degree focused on management (78%). Earning an MBA can improve your career outlook.

Is an MBA worth it?

While the value of a degree varies from person to person and depends on your career goals. MBA programs can lead to high-paying positions and high employment rates. Earning this degree can also help you pursue management or executive-level positions. However, given the high cost of these programs, it's often recommended to have some work experience and clear career goals before you apply to an MBA program.

Frequently asked questions about MBAs

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