Is an MBA Worth It?

If you’re reading this because you’re considering continuing or going back to school, you might be wondering, “is getting an MBA worth it?” 

That ultimately depends on you, your career goals, and the ins and outs of the different career paths you’re considering; but here at DeVry, we think there are many benefits to earning an MBA degree, including:
 

An MBA can be a significant resume-booster, helping you stand out as a candidate for advancement opportunities with your current employer, or for management positions where the job posting specifies an MBA as a requirement. In instances like these, earning an MBA that helps you acquire and demonstrate skills can make you feel more prepared to handle the decisions and responsibilities of higher-level positions, and help you feel more confident in your abilities as you pursue them.
 

When you enroll in an MBA program you’ll have the opportunity to develop new leadership and management skills. In many cases, these new capabilities will fortify and deepen the interpersonal skills you may have already acquired elsewhere, as well as help prepare you to work collaboratively or manage teams.

At DeVry and our Keller Graduate School of Management, coursework in leadership and organizational behavior helps you to better understand how different leadership techniques, tools and motivational methods can boost your ability to connect with your team and drive higher performance and results.

Technical skill development will also be a key part of your education with this kind of degree. Our MBA programs are designed to help you learn how to solve the many problems challenging today’s businesses. Discover how technological innovations can help drive success in today’s digitally-infused business world, and gain an understanding of the economic principles that keep it moving.

Our MBA program offers 10 career-focused specializations, in areas like Accounting, Global Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, Marketing, Project Management and more to help your MBA more closely align with your professional goals. 
 

A well-developed professional network can be a major advantage during any stage of your career, connecting you with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and those who can provide mentorship, advice or guidance, as well as other alumni from your own school.

DeVry and its Keller Graduate School of Management have awarded more than 300,000 degrees. That means generations of alumni have made their mark advancing families, communities and businesses, and helping propel the global workforce. As a graduate of DeVry, our Alumni network can give you an avenue to explore how learning can be a lifelong pursuit, and help you start developing your network and enhance your career. From lifelong learning resources and events, tuition benefits, and a wealth of other resources offered through the Alumni Association, our graduates can grow their confidence, skillsets and connections as part of the alumni community.
 

Can earning a master’s boost your earning potential? The simple answer is yes, but it’s important to keep in mind that there are many factors that play a part in this. 

To start, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that overall, those who hold advanced degrees, such as a master’s, typically earn more than those who hold lower-level degrees. The BLS also note that salaries can vary widely depending on your experience, the number of hours you work and your geographical location. The size and type of company you’re applying to and the industry itself may also play a role.

The BLS is a reliable source for wage and occupational outlook data. The BLS regularly publishes the latest wage data by area and occupation for hundreds of occupations, and provides job growth projections for many business and financial occupations through its Occupational Outlook Handbook. These resources can help you learn more about median salary ranges, education requirements and more based on the occupation you select.

There are instances where an MBA is the preferred education for an employer, but another way to approach the question of “is an MBA worth it” is to explore the other kinds of graduate-level degrees that are out there, and what is being asked for in job postings that interest you. 

Even if positions share the same title and similar responsibilities, a master’s degree in a specific discipline or a graduate certificate may be listed as a requirement. That’s not to say an MBA won’t be a good fit, but if you’re seeing requests for one degree type over another, it might be worth considering that avenue instead. 

At DeVry and Keller, we offer online graduate certificate programs in areas like Accounting, Business, Technology and Healthcare, and degree programs in Accounting, Business Administration and Health Services Management. 

If you’re looking for something to help you upskill or join the workforce sooner, our graduate certificate programs are a great option, allowing you to earn a credential in a shorter period of time, and at a lower cost than a full-length graduate degree program. Our graduate certificates are also stackable, meaning that if you decide to continue your education at DeVry, qualifying credits earned in a certificate program can be applied directly toward an applicable master’s degree.¹ You’ll find more information in our Graduate Academic Catalog.

Whether you’ve just earned your bachelor’s degree and want to continue your education, are looking to change careers or just want to develop new skills for the career you already have, we can help. 

Our 10 MBA degree specializations in areas like Health Services, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Global Supply Chain Management, Marketing and more can help you prepare to pursue a career that you love, aligning your MBA degree with your career goals. Our MBA programs require no GMAT or GRE, and can be completed 100% online, so you can study where and how you choose. 

DeVry is proud to be accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org. Our Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation.

Our Master of Business Administration is accredited⁴ by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) www.acbsp.org.