How Long Does It Take to Get an MBA?

There are a lot of factors that can go into your decision to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree — and likely a lot of answers you'll need, too.

At the top of your list of questions might be: How long does it take to get an MBA?

How Many Years Does It Take to Get an MBA?

The short answer: Some schools offer 12-month programs, so it's possible to earn an MBA in one year. These programs can be completed in classrooms on a college campus or entirely online. Some schools offer 'mini' or 'micro' MBA programs that can take even less time.

But you'll want to research what's involved in a program that can be completed in a short timeframe. Will it mean you're taking on too much work? And can it fit into your schedule — whether that's work, family or other commitments?

Other schools have longer MBA programs or options to slow your pacing.

Choosing an online MBA program that allows you to meet weekly goals at times that work for you might be one way you can balance everything while advancing your education. Online programs with a rolling admission process and several terms per year can also help you start sooner to finish faster.

For students with an undergraduate degree in business, SNHU's online and campus MBA program is 10 classes long, or 30 credits total. If you take a full course load, you could complete the program in about a year.

"Faster completion requires maintaining disciplined time management to focus on your studies and proactive planning around work and personal commitments," said Dr. Michelle Caron, CPC, an associate dean overseeing business programs at SNHU. Caron has worked in higher education for more than two decades, developing and teaching programs in traditional, hybrid and online settings.

If two classes per term is too much — or you want to ease into it — not to worry. You can always choose to take one class at a time or switch between the two as your circumstances allow.

An academic advisor can help you plan for each term, adjusting your registrations as needed and providing you with an updated timeline to graduation.

What is the Best Age to Get an MBA?

There's definitely no right age to get an MBA. This will be entirely different for everyone.

If you're in your early to mid-20s and just out of college, it may be more convenient for you to earn your master's now rather than later.

Many MBA programs recommend that you have a few years of business experience under your belt. You'll need to talk with the admission counselors at the schools you're considering to see if a business background would position you for more success in a program.

Other universities — SNHU included — may have more of an open-enrollment policy, welcoming most students as long as they meet the minimum admission criteria.

Your 20s aren't the only time in your life when it may be good to earn your MBA. Your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond are all great times to learn more about the business world today if you're ready to take your knowledge and skills to the next level.

"You are never too old to invest in your own mind," said Dr. Chris M. Mendoza, an adjunct instructor at SNHU and marketing and business consultant. "Education has no expiration date. As an adult, I went to graduate school in my 40s and 50s to earn my MBA and doctorate in business. It’s the best thing I could’ve done for myself and my family."

As a more seasoned member of the working world, you'll have the added benefit of bringing real-life experiences to assignments, according to Mendoza.

Whether your role is expanding or you're looking for something new, an MBA education can help you position yourself for careers across a range of industries.

A number of schools can set you up for success at any age by offering foundation courses. These classes prepare you with the background knowledge that other students would have gained in an undergraduate business program.

The number of foundation courses may vary from school to school. At SNHU, it's 1-2 courses at three credits each.

Read more: The 9 Best Reasons for Getting an MBA Degree

How to Get an MBA

The logistics behind finding and actually earning your MBA may have your head spinning, but it helps to break them down by cost, admission process and academic success.

What’s the Most Affordable Way to Get an MBA?

Earning an MBA has the potential to be quite expensive, depending on the school — but it also has the possibility to be budget-friendly.

First, you'll want to compare tuition costs. Some programs on the market could put you back six figures in total, while others on the opposite end of the price range can be closer to $20,000.

After you've looked at the tuition investment, you'll next want to see if you can apply any types of financial aid toward your cost. Just like you may have done for your undergraduate degree, it's important to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form to determine if you qualify for grants and/or loans.

Accept all of your grants — money that doesn't typically need to be repaid — before looking at your loans. Remember, loans come with interest, meaning you'll pay back more than you borrowed. Work with student financial services at each university you're applying to so that you can get a personalized payment plan.

Subtract the financial aid you're accepting from the tuition, and you'll have your cost-of-attendance amount. This is what you'll want to compare between schools.

Need to lower your out-of-pocket cost even more? Speak with your employer's benefits manager. A Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey showed that, in 2025, about 45% of organizations offered tuition programs to employees.

At that rate, you could earn your MBA for little — or even no — money.

Read more: How to Get an Affordable Online MBA

Navigating the Admission Process

Once you've identified where you want to get your MBA, you'll need to look into the admission process. Admission counselors can walk you through this process, making you aware of any deadlines, fees and application requirements.

Note that every program may approach the application process differently. For example, some schools may require you to pay an application fee, while others don't. Some programs may ask you to provide your standardized graduate testing scores, while other MBAs do not require the GMAT — or Graduate Management Admission Test.

Once you receive the financial award letter and college acceptance you've been waiting for, you can enroll in the program and get to work.

Your academic advisor can help you create a course plan that makes the most sense for you. If you're earning your MBA online, you might sign into your virtual classroom and get acquainted with how online classes work, too.

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Is It Difficult to Obtain an MBA?

An MBA degree is meant to prepare you for an advanced career, so you can expect the program to feel challenging at times. But thousands of students continue to earn them each year, so plenty of people across the country and even the world are proving that it's doable.

Whether you're taking courses in person or online, it's helpful to choose a college that offers support throughout the program — from faculty, advisors and tutors.

When searching for an MBA program that fits your life, take a good look at the degree's curriculum and learn more about the assignments you'll be working on. Will you be writing papers, or are you going to be learning skills and performing the same kind of work you'd be doing in the workforce?

Dr. Andrew Gallion, an adjunct instructor at SNHU and subject matter expert for the university's MBA curriculum, said that SNHU's program is preparing students for the latter.

"While the exercises are academic, their application is absolutely based on actual scenarios in industry, and the resulting work products are measured against industry standards," Gallion said. "(The) program is more centered around creating the kinds of deliverables, including analyses and reports, that will be expected from an MBA in real-world practice."

Translation: If the type of work you'd do in an MBA program like SNHU's appeals to you, then you might not think of your program as "hard," but more like "necessary" to what the business world is expecting.

Commonly referred to as scenario-based learning, these opportunities can give you a feel for what to expect as an MBA employee. That way, you're not in for surprises on your first day of work.

"Scenario-based learning begins with a scenario example that allows learners to practice the course content in a real-world scenario of a likely business problem," said Dr. Jessica Rogers, an adjunct business instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) who helped build the university's MBA program. "The learner will be immersed in an experience with learning tools and an instructor who acts like a mentor. The scenario solution is mapped for the student to break challenges into sub-tasks, leading to a conclusion and assignment submission."

These skills — along with business needs in general — have evolved in a changing workforce.

"The forward-looking degree cultivates students for the future need of technical, managerial and leadership skills businesses desire," said Rogers.

She noted that the world is in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This revolution focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, and how both will more seamlessly weave through our lives.

"Our MBA is designed with the intent of preparing learners to excel in times of volatility and uncertainty, turning upsets into opportunities," Rogers said.

Read more: Is an Online MBA Worth It?

What Can I Get Out of an MBA Program?

While curriculum varies by school, an MBA program will typically teach you how to:

• Analyze and interpret data to aid in decision-making
• Build and lead collaborative and effective teams
• Create strategies using business expertise, creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset
• Develop sustainable business practices and plans that align with organizational culture and ethical and legal standards
• Evaluate and implement different processes that improve an organization

Additional MBA takeaways include:

Holistic Point of View

One benefit of an MBA includes learning more about areas of business beyond the department you work in.

This is important if you plan to keep moving up the ladder in an organization, as you'll need to have some background in various areas of the business. (That's also why MBAs can be applied to so many industries.)

Additional Credentials

You may be able to earn additional credentials along the way to a degree, too.

These include industry-recognized credentialing in skills like Excel and Tableau, as well as badging in soft skills like emotional intelligence and strategic development and implementation.

Skills for the Future

The future of work calls for specific skills, like tech literacy, lifelong learning, social influence, talent management and analytical thinking, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Examples of skills you can gain in an MBA program, Mendoza noted, include:

• Power skills: Emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, high-level communication
• Tangible skills: Financial analysis, data-driven decision-making, market research methodology

Specialized Knowledge

You could also pick up additional skills and knowledge in an area of interest if you choose to add a concentration to your MBA. Some types of MBA concentrations include:

• Business Analytics
• Finance
• Healthcare Management
• Human Resources

If you choose to add a concentration, those courses will provide in-depth training on your chosen area, but your primary classes will span all aspects of business.

"Be open to learning from all the classes that you will take," Mendoza said. "You need to have broad skills and perspectives about everything in business that you will encounter — not just one area. An MBA can help you with that."

He recommends having a clear understanding of how an MBA degree and all the courses within it will benefit you.

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Real-world Learnings

Those who teach courses also bring years of experience to the table. And at a university like SNHU, many of the instructors are adjuncts — meaning they're using modern business practices every day at their full-time jobs — allowing them to add greater context to coursework through their real-world experience and applications. Practices that they can then pass on to you.

And while you'll have the chance to learn a lot during your program, it's also important to recognize that an MBA won't teach you everything you need to know. It will prepare you to keep learning.

"You should always be ready to face new challenges and learn new ideas," Mendoza said. "Resolve that your MBA is not a sign that you’ve learned everything you need to learn, but rather you’re ready for what’s next."

What is the Average MBA Salary?

An MBA has the potential to boost your earnings.

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council's (GMAC) Corporate Recruiters Survey, the median base salary for MBA graduates is projected to be $120,000 in 2026 (GMAC PDF source).* According to the survey, this is 67% more than those with only a bachelor's degree.*

And, money-wise, it's not just your salary that you'll want to think about. You need to consider your financial situation.

For example, if you choose an MBA program that will cost you well into the six figures, your return on investment won't be as great because you could be spending a bit of that potential salary increase on the debt you most likely incurred.

But if you choose a less expensive MBA program, then the salary bump that you're hoping for can go much further in your day-to-day life.

The Bottom Line: Is an MBA Degree Really Worth It?

“I would absolutely say my MBA was worth it,” said SNHU graduate Theresa Dominguez '21 '23MBA. “It is something to help me stand out from others, has already helped my career, and, honestly, it's just one to two more years (of education).”

Dominguez earned her MBA with a concentration in Project Management soon after finishing her bachelor's in business administration. She said the flexibility of SNHU's online programs helped her advance her education while navigating her full-time job, which sometimes involved travel.

"This degree has provided me with real-life skills and knowledge that helped shape me into the person I am today," she said.

If earning an MBA can help you reach the goals you've set for yourself, then yes, getting one can be worth it. An MBA degree can help you keep up with the evolving workforce and teach you several new skills that you'll need.

"The current world situation requires a lot more autonomy in the business world, as many — if not most — of us are spending much less time tethered to the physical workplace and more time remotely working," Gallion said. "This requires us to actually communicate more efficiently and succinctly. It also lends to less direct supervision and mentoring."

From working from home to remote locations across the country and from flexible schedules to better understanding technology, looking forward means acknowledging that the workforce has changed — and will continue to do so.

"The MBA program provides enhanced communication skills (training), as well as fills in knowledge and skill gaps that are sometimes gained through on-the-job experiences — and that is a big advantage in the current situation," Gallion said.

*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.

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Deidre Ashe was 9 years old when she launched her professional writing career. While spending a day at work with her dad, she penned her first book, illustrated it and sent it off to a publishing company — after finding the address on the copyright page of one of her paperbacks. While the story never made it to the shelves of libraries, the editors wrote back, encouraging her to continue pursuing her writing passion. (Yes, she still has that letter.)

After earning a bachelor’s in journalism, Ashe spent a decade working in the media industry. She then transitioned into marketing, later getting her MA in Communication from Southern New Hampshire University in 2018. Connect with her on LinkedIn.