Is an MBA Worth It?

Whether or not to pursue an advanced degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), is a big decision. There are many factors to consider — personal, professional and financial — including the realities of a changing U.S. labor market.

Some of the best reasons for getting an MBA include:

• Having a recognized credential that can help you advance professionally
• Increasing your versatility and stability in the job market
• Experiencing a potential salary bump
• Growing your professional network

“The MBA remains the premier degree for business students,” said Dr. Katie Carpen, associate dean of business programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). “It provides learners with the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and abilities that employers seek in generalists, specialists, strategists or entrepreneurs.”

The pathway to earning this degree has traditionally meant enrolling full-time in a 1- or 2-year MBA program to attend classes on campus. But learners today can opt for the convenience and affordability offered by online MBA programs.

Why the Time is Right to Get Your MBA

“Traditional 2-year MBA programs require a higher investment — of time and money — up front,” said Clare Greenlaw, MBA, associate dean of SNHU’s MBA program.

By contrast, “high-quality, accredited online MBA programs allow you to reduce that upfront investment and give you the flexibility to work when and where you need — all while providing the same level of rigor as a traditional on-campus MBA,” Greenlaw said.

In other words, on-campus and online education formats result in essentially the same degree but serve audiences with distinct needs. The flexibility of online MBA programs is particularly valuable for adults who are managing or balancing some combination of:

• Career ambitions
• Family commitments
• Financial considerations
• Personal goals and wellbeing
• Work responsibilities

“The people considering an online MBA typically have established careers and other obligations. They can’t quit their job to go to school full-time,” Greenlaw said. Yet, they recognize that the quantitative knowledge, problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence that develop as part of pursuing an MBA can open doors for them in the future.

An online MBA degree program can be a game-changer for these motivated learners. “We have students listen to audio texts during their commute or complete assignments when their children are sleeping,” Carpen said.

Earning a degree online also empowers you to set your pace; how long it takes to get an MBA is based on your goals and schedule. If you take two classes at a time, for example, you could finish an MBA from SNHU in just over a year. If you'd prefer to take one class at a time — that works too.

And it’s not just individuals who benefit from online learning opportunities — businesses are also seeing the return on investment that can come with what MBA programs teach.

“The hard skills required for businesses to succeed are constantly changing with advances in technologies. That means workers today need to access education more frequently than they used to in the past,” said Greenlaw.

"As a result, more companies are investing in their employees to ensure their workforce stays current. “An online MBA program is one way to do that, especially because the cost and risk of acquiring a good employee is so much greater than upskilling or re-educating a good current employee," Greenlaw said. "Organizations of various sizes and from various industries send their employees to us for competitive, cost-effective, just-in-time online education and career development at every level.” 

Explore what you can do with an MBA.

Does an Online MBA Increase Your Salary?

An MBA is a highly regarded qualification providing you with advanced business knowledge and skills. These attributes can give you a competitive advantage in your career and potentially increase your salary.

According to a survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) in their 2022 Corporate Recruiters Survey, the median salary for MBA graduates in the U.S. was $115,000 (GMAC PDF source).* This is a significant increase compared to $75,000 for those who have earned only a bachelor's degree.*

A few other factors are often considered, such as job perforce, level of experience, what industry you work in and the overall job market. But MBA holders are currently sought after across many industries.

According to GMAC’s Corporate Recruiters Survey, 92% of U.S. companies had plans to hire MBA graduates in 2022.*

But is an Online MBA Taken Seriously?

Online learning continues to make inroads in higher education. The number of college students taking distance education courses nearly doubled because of the pandemic. In the fall of 2019, more than 7 million post-secondary students participated in distance learning, and by the fall of 2020, the number rose to 14.1 million, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Some believe online options are the future of education.

“Online learning is a ‘new normal,’ and an online MBA from an accredited school is usually highly respected by academics and employers," said Carpen. "In my opinion, the number of employers that hire and promote people with online MBAs will only increase.”

For Theresa Dominguez '21 '23MBA, this was the case. She knew that earning her MBA online degree would be worth it. “It definitely made sense, especially because it would help boost my career path,” she said.

It was only a month after completing her program she was promoted to senior project program manager within her company.

So, ultimately, does it matter where you get your MBA?

“A traditional Ivy League type of MBA program may have great cachet, especially with certain employers. But it may also cost 10 to 15 times more than an accredited, rigorous, online MBA program,” said Carpen. “Plus, you have to be accepted, and not everyone who wants a traditional MBA can meet those standards.”

Alternatively, Carpen said that SNHU's MBA model is very progressive.

“If you have the motivation and are willing to put in the time, effort and work — regardless of your academic or professional background," she said. "We’ll teach you the necessary hard skills and human skills to overcome business challenges.”

There are many types of MBAs to choose from, too. Whether you want to focus on a particular aspect of business or stay more general, some of the 15+ concentrations may include:

• MBA in Accounting
• MBA in Business Analytics
• MBA in Finance
• MBA in Human Resources
• MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management

For employers, meanwhile, “the MBA credential on a person’s resume can reduce some of the uncertainty inherent in the hiring process,” said Greenlaw. That’s because an MBA degree – whether completed at an Ivy League institution or another school – signals a level of dedication and hard work on the learner’s part in addition to mastery of the interconnectedness of business functions, processes and people.

What if I'm 30? Is an MBA Really Worth It?

It depends, of course, on your goals, priorities and financial situation, among other considerations. But for Benjamin Hulefeld '19MBA, “the answer is unequivocally yes,” he said.

After finishing his undergraduate degree in international affairs and Spanish, Hulefeld “graduated right in time for the 2008 recession,” he said. Although he landed a job with a financial company, he quickly realized that work in the financial sector wasn’t for him. So, Hulefeld moved to the Dominican Republic where he had an opportunity to try his hand at work that was more aligned with his undergraduate studies.

During his 10-year sojourn abroad, he worked for an environmental nonprofit and then a healthcare startup before being recruited by Ochsner Health System to do business development work throughout the Caribbean. “My boss at Ochsner told me that if I wanted to rise through the ranks, I needed to have those three letters — MBA — after my name,” he said.

Hulefeld said he was an “unlikely online MBA student,” partly because of a learning disability that made standardized testing difficult and caused him to question his ability to succeed in an online learning environment. When researching potential online MBA programs, it was important for him to find an affordable option at an established nonprofit institution with a robust academic and student support system. Optional GRE or GMAT scores were another plus.

At age 31, he enrolled part-time in SNHU’s online MBA program.

During the two-and-half years it took for him to complete his online MBA, Hulefeld continued working full-time in the Dominican Republic, got married and became a father, lost his own father and also began investigating the prospect of a career working for the U.S. Department of State as a foreign service officer.

“My goal was honestly to get in and get out with a degree,” he said. “But the experience ended up being so much more for me. I became very active in extracurricular groups, especially the Student Advisory Board (now the Student Engagement Council). That was a tremendous additional and unexpected benefit of my degree — to be part of an engaged learning community.”

In short, he said, “I was able to balance life, work and school — and I learned a lot.” Meanwhile, his program advisor called monthly to check-in and ensure he stayed on track to succeed.

“There were times when it wasn’t easy to keep going,” he said. “But the message I got from the faculty, my advisors and fellow students was the same: Education opens doors for you. It can change your life, especially in a competitive job market like we’re seeing now.”

Hulefeld had his MBA degree conferred on November 1, 2019. Within that same month, the State Department offered him a job as a foreign service officer. The position came with a significant salary bump based on his years of relevant professional experience and on his highest degree earned. He now counts himself among the approximately 14.4% of U.S. adults who hold an advanced degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“This degree ended up being exactly what I needed at this point in my life,” Hulefeld said.

Discover more about SNHU’s online MBA: Find out what courses you'll take, skills you’ll learn and how to request information about the program.

*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.

Sofia Tokar is a freelance copywriter and editor in higher education. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter @stokar, or connect on LinkedIn.