What is an MBA Degree?

As with any decision involving your education, there are some things you should consider if you’re thinking about whether or not earning an MBA degree is the right move for you.

There are many benefits to earning an MBA, including the potential to apply for higher-level jobs and career advancement.

One of the benefits of an MBA degree is the broader approach that it may take to education. MBA programs typically cover a variety of business-related subjects that can help graduates learn skills that are applicable across a wide range of industries and job types.

There aren’t many disadvantages to earning an MBA degree, but you may want to think about whether or not it’s the right graduate degree program for your goals.

Two things to consider when thinking about pursuing an MBA degree are the time and money it can take to earn one. Because an MBA is a graduate degree, you’ll have to spend additional time in school after earning your bachelor's degree, which may delay you entering the workforce. There will also be additional tuition costs, which you will need to think about when weighing the personal benefits of earning your MBA.

Another thing to consider is whether your goals will be better served by enrolling in a more industry specific graduate degree program rather than an MBA. While an MBA is ultimately a business degree, specializations can be added to provide focus. In certain situations, however, a more specialized degree, such as a Master's Degree in Accounting, may be the right choice for your specific career goals. Because of their broader focus, MBA degrees may provide more flexibility throughout your career. A more focused master’s degree on the other hand may offer fewer options for switching between industries or types of job because of its narrower focus.

An MBA degree program is made up of graduate-level courses that help you learn about business administration at a high level, but that’s not all an MBA degree is. These kinds of programs cover a wide range of business subjects, such as marketing, accounting or finance, and can be expanded to have a greater emphasis on some subjects via specializations.

Depending on the institution, it can take a little more than two years to earn an MBA degree. In instances where you want to work toward earning your degree part time, it could take as many as four years to earn your MBA degree.

At DeVry, you can earn your Master’s Degree in Business Administration in as little as 2 years + 2 months*—or even more quickly with qualifying transfer credits.

At DeVry, we think that an MBA can absolutely be worth it if you're interested pursuing a higher-level business career. An MBA degree may be able to help you bypass some entry-level positions and even expand the range of jobs you can consider, depending on the application requirements. An MBA can teach you leadership skills that may help prepare you for management roles or to pursue a promotion at your current company.

The best time to get an MBA depends on you and your goals, but many students choose to earn an MBA degree right after earning their bachelor’s degree. Even if you've been in the workforce for a while, there are still benefits to earning the degree. An MBA can help you expand the kinds of jobs you can apply for, prepare to pursue advancement, help you become a more well-rounded professional and teach you important managerial and business-related skills at any stage of your career.