Types of MBA: A List of Top Concentrations

Today's Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs provide plenty of options to focus on particular aspects of business through a specialization or concentration, giving you a competitive edge in today's job market. Specializing can be beneficial if you're looking to break into industries where you lack work experience — or a great way to improve skills that are most relevant to you in your current field.

"A concentration allows you to dive deeper into a specific area, like digital marketing, accounting, human resources or project management," said Dr. Jessica Rogers, a senior associate dean of online business programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with more than 16 years of experience in operations, management and marketing. "This allows you to gain targeted skills that employers value. It also helps you signal a clear career direction on your resume."

How Many Types of MBA Are There?

Depending on where you earn your MBA, you might have over a dozen types to choose from. For example, SNHU offers over 15 different MBA concentrations.

But not all MBA specializations or concentrations are equal. To get an idea of what to expect, research what types of classes and experiential learning opportunities are available within a particular program.

Which MBA is Best?

There isn't a simple answer when it comes to which MBA is best. What's more important is finding out which one is best for you.

"Begin with curiosity," Rogers said. "Ask yourself: What do I enjoy doing? What problems do I like to solve? What industries fascinate me?"

With your answers to those questions in mind, here are 11 popular options to consider: 

MBA in Business Analytics

With a business analytics background, you can prove yourself valuable in all types of departments — including marketing and operations — as well as industries such as sports and healthcare.

The job market for business intelligence experts is growing as fast as big data itself.* According to BLS, operations research analyst jobs will increase by 23% through 2033 — much faster than the average 4% growth rate projected for all occupations.*

Keep reading about the MBA in Business Analytics.

MBA in Entrepreneurship

Want to build a start-up? The entrepreneurship concentration teaches you how to start your own business or develop new initiatives within an existing company.

This concentration can also be helpful if you're looking to get into related fields, such as venture capital, as it focuses on capital and venture capital opportunities, franchising, consulting and small-business management.

Get more information about the MBA in Entrepreneurship.

MBA in Finance

Finance concentrations prepare you for jobs in financial services, banking and risk management, or corporate finance positions in other firms. This concentration focuses on corporate financial management, investment and portfolio management, forecasting and core cash management.

Learn more about earning an MBA in Finance.

MBA in Healthcare Management

A healthcare management concentration develops leaders, preparing them to expand, diversify, improve healthcare quality and contain costs within an organization or health network. Coursework focuses on the business of healthcare, providing both an academic and real-world foundation in healthcare issues, trends and practices.

Jobs for medical and health services managers are projected to grow 29% by 2033, according to BLS.*

After earning her bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, Sheralyn Hernandez '21 '25MBA earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from SNHU to advance her career. She said the courses reviewed scenarios that you might encounter in the workplace, which was immediately relevant to her current role.

"They were able to teach me new things, but also kind of see it on a higher level with the goal of becoming a leader in healthcare administration," she said. "I feel like every course was essential."

Discover more about the MBA in Healthcare Management.

MBA in Human Resources

For those looking for human resources leadership roles, this concentration provides insight into recruitment, hiring, compensation and benefits, training, human resource information systems and career development, all from an organizational and employee perspective.

Job outlook for human resources is expected to grow by 6% through 2033, BLS said, which is as faster than the average projection for all occupations.* The median annual salary for human resources managers was $140,030 in 2024, BLS reports.*

Keep reading about the MBA in Human Resources.

MBA in Information Technology Management

With this concentration, you could pursue a variety of management roles in tech — like computer and information systems manager. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $171,200 in 2024, and roles are projected to grow 17% by 2033, according to BLS.*

MBA in International Business

Today’s businesses are truly global, and this concentration trains you to lead globally, emphasizing international business in a variety of cultural, political, social and economic contexts.

MBA in Leadership

A concentration in leadership can prepare you for a managerial role or a position as an organizational leader. In this program, you'll learn about leading teams and navigating a complicated business landscape.

Jeffrey Harris '23MBA earned his MBA in Leadership from SNHU after having worked in business for over a decade. He said he was surprised by how much the program was able to develop his expertise.

"I didn't realize how much I could expand my understanding and depth in the field of business," Harris said. "I didn't think there was a whole lot I could learn, and I was exceptionally wrong."

MBA in Marketing

In addition to advancing your business knowledge, an MBA in Marketing teaches you about brand management and consumer behavior, preparing you to become a leader within the world of marketing.

Marketing managers made a median salary of $161,030 in 2024, according to BLS, with an 8% projected growth rate through 2033.*

Get more information about the MBA in Marketing.

MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management

An MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management can prepare you to become an operations manager or a variety of other positions. For example, you could also become a logistician.

Roles for logisticians, who work in supply chain management, are projected to grow at a significantly faster-than-average pace of 19% by 2033, BLS said.*

Learn more about the MBA in Supply Chain Management.

MBA in Project Management

Learn how to plan, manage, budget and monitor projects to improve organizational efficiency with a concentration in project management. Project management methodologies are used in the information technology, construction, manufacturing and consulting industries to help define projects and ensure a cost-effective bottom line.

Students who successfully complete QSO 645: Project Management for PMP^® Certification as part of their MBA in Project Management can meet the 35 hours of project management education required in order to take the PMP^® certification exam.**

After completing a bachelor's in business administration, Theresa Dominguez '21 '23MBA decided she should get an MBA. She chose to specialize with a project management concentration. The field interested her, and the concentration would help her qualify for an industry credential.

"The concentration helped provide the credit hours I needed to test for my Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification," Dominguez said.

SNHU students pursuing an MBA in Project Management can choose to take a course that fulfills the educational requirement of the certification exam.

Students also learn from SNHU instructors who have participated in and completed the PMI's Authorized Training Partner Train the Trainer – PMP^® exam prep program.** This program equips select SNHU faculty with the authority to deliver PMP exam prep and training content to PMI’s quality standards.**

With just the project hours requirement left until she was ready to sit for the certification exam, Dominguez already saw the benefit of her MBA and concentration on her career.

"This degree has helped open many new doors, and in fact, just a month after graduating, I was promoted within my current company to a senior project program manager position," Dominguez said.

While her degree was only part of the reason she was qualified for the new role, she knew that having it (and being well on her way to a PMP^® certification) helped position her for advancement.

Interested? Learn more about the MBA in Project Management.

What Other Options Are Available?

The list of concentrations doesn't end there. More MBA types include:

• MBA in Accounting
• MBA in Engineering Management
• MBA in Public Administration
• MBA in Sport Management
• MBA in Sustainability & Environmental Compliance

While a concentration can help you specialize within the world of business, there are also plenty of students who choose not to pursue one, instead opting for the general track. That's what Cheri Federico '25MBA did.

Federico worked while earning her MBA online from SNHU, and she found the courses were immediately applicable in her role.

"We were going through a big organizational change, and my last two classes were all about change management," she said. "So I was able to directly use that right at the time."

A general MBA can be versatile and flexible across roles and industries, according to Rogers. "Think of a concentration like a minor enhancement to your degree — it can be a great asset, but it’s not mandatory for success," she said.

Tips for Choosing the Best MBA Specialization for You

Here are five steps to help you decide which type of MBA is right for you:

• Reflect on your strengths and interests. Take courses within a concentration or specialization that capitalize on the skills and work experience you already have. Alternatively, use the concentration to build competency in an area or industry you’ve always wanted to learn more about.
  
  
• Decide what industry or industries you might like to work in. MBA concentrations in healthcare management, public administration, project management or sustainability lend themselves to unique work environments — think about what fits you best.
  
  "Remember, your path doesn’t have to be linear," Rogers said. "Many of our graduates start in healthcare, pivot to business, and later find themselves in nonprofit leadership or tech entrepreneurship."
  
  
• Determine what you’ve liked and/or disliked about previous jobs or internships. Do you enjoy working for one company or consulting on behalf of many clients? Do you enjoy analyzing data rather than speaking to large groups of people? Do you prefer a company with an international reach to a smaller start-up? These are all factors to consider when you choose a concentration.
  
  
• Consider exploring a niche. Although finance and general management are traditional specializations that offer tremendous value, newer concentrations might carve out opportunities in growing fields. For example, concentrations in healthcare management or engineering management can help you stand out as an employee with innovative technology skills.
  
  
• Factor in any extra potential earnings a specific concentration might bring. The median annual wage for management jobs was $122,090 in 2024, according to BLS.* But some specializations may lend themselves to higher pay than others. While computer and information systems managers earned a median salary of $171,200 in 2024, for instance, logisticians — who work in supply chain management — earned $80,880, according to BLS.*

Research all of your options to determine which will be the best fit for your future. You can also connect with an admission counselor at the school that interests you to have a conversation and determine your best path forward.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

**The Project Management Professional (PMP)^® is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc. The PMI^® Authorized Training Partner seal is a mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Krysten Godfrey Maddocks ’11G is a writer who covers K-12 and higher education topics, including policy and the role of digital technology in education. She spent almost a decade working in various marketing roles at an educational assessment company before launching a strategic marketing company. Maddocks earned a master's degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor's degree in English/ journalism from the University of New Hampshire. Connect with her on LinkedIn.