Masters in Business Administration (MBA)

What Could You Learn in a Master’s in Business Administration?

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a degree path that typically enables a person to gain additional skills and insights into the world of business management. This type of career path may enable a person to work in a range of jobs or seek out other positions or paths in their current job. This type of educational path typically helps students further their existing education in business administration, such as from an undergraduate degree in the field. However, it may also help those who have earned a different type of undergraduate degree to work towards business management and administration in a related field.

The types of courses taken in a master’s in business administration degree range widely. Typically, there is a lot of opportunity for students to take electives that may suit their interests or their desired outcome for the program. This may include paths that focus on management and leadership, marketing, business operations, or finance. Some may wish to obtain their MBA so they may further their goals of starting a business as an entrepreneur, while others may wish to pursue networking aspects of the field.

25 Schools Graduating Students with a Masters in Business Administration

According to NCES, these are the 25 schools graduating students with a Master in Business Administration during the 2022/2023 school year.

MBA Courses May Include

Many schools offer a Master of Business Administration. Each one selects prerequisites and course objects for students to complete before or during the completion of this degree path. Below are some of the courses that some students may take. Keep in mind that there is a lot of flexibility in this particular educational path giving students ample leeway to choose what may work best for their goals.

Finance

This course typically covers finance and how financial decisions are made within an organization. Topics covered may include corporate finance, techniques of analysis, and functions of capital markets and related fields. Analysis of areas including capital budgeting, risk analysis, and cash flow valuation is also likely to be a part of this course.

Financial Reporting and Control

This course generally focuses on the importance and role of accounting in an organization. Topics covered may include the language of accounting and understanding financial statements. How modern accounting is used in organizations to make decisions is also typically covered.

Leadership and Organizational Behavior

This course typically focuses on the development of leadership in an organization. The course may look at this from multiple perspectives, such as teams, individuals, and the organization as a whole. Topics usually include group culture, managing performance, developing relationships, and developing a vision.

Marketing

This course often covers the role of marketing in an organization typically. How marketing works with other aspects of the company to build relationships outside of the organization is also usually covered. Topics covered may include how to make marketing decisions, using marketing to manage profit and the evolution of marketing.

Technology and Operations Management

This course typically encompasses the skills and concepts necessary to keep a company competitive. The development and manufacturing process are usually covered in this course. Topics may also include information technology, process analysis, and product development.

Business, Government and International Economy

This course typically covers the economic environment and how this affects companies on a local and global scale. Topics covered may include exchange rate theory, political regimes, and national income. Other areas covered may include portfolio capital and international trade.

Find Funding

It is sometimes common for people to seek out financial support to help them pay for their master’s degree. According to NCES, the average tuition for the 2020/2021 school year for graduate degree students was $19,749. For many students, this may make it hard to pay for their education.

There are several funding options for students who want some help paying for those tuition costs (and other needs). Funding needs and availability of funds change from year to year. It’s important to stay up to date on what is correct for your specific needs. Here are some funding options that may be applicable to you if you are pursuing an MBA.

Scholarships

Some students may wish to complete their education using scholarships. If available, this may reduce how much the student has to pay out of pocket. Scholarships come from numerous sources, including private and public resources. These are funds that typically do not have to be repaid by the student later. There may be options available for scholarships for MBA students.

Federal Loans

One of the borrowing options that may be available to graduate students is through the federal government. Federal loans are those that are typically more affordable and easier to obtain by students who do not have a lot of experience with credit. However, at the master’s degree level, there are limited options available on many of these loans.

Those who wish to use federal student loans may be able to do so by taking a closer look at some the requirements for these loans. Here are a few types of loans that may be available to you.

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans: These are typically available to graduate schools and professional students. Unlike direct subsidized loans, which are made available to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, direct unsubsidized loans usually do not have a need based requirement. More students may be eligible for them.
• Direct PLUS Loans: These are loans typically made available to professional or graduate level students. They are designed to pay for educational expenses that are typically not paid for through other loans. Eligibility for these loans is not based on financial need, though. However, some require a credit check to be performed, and borrowers may not qualify without meeting other requirements in some cases.
• Direct Consolidation Loans: These loans may enable a student to combine all of their undergraduate and graduate level federal debt into one new loan. This consolidation loan is typically provided after a student completes their education.

Those considering these loans may wish to take a closer look at the requirements for each before making a decision on which to utilize.

Private Student Loans

Private student loans are school loans that are not backed by the federal government. These loans may still be accessible to those who are pursuing a master’s degree in business administration, but they come from private, third-party organizations. As a result, they may have numerous requirements to securing them.

Private student loans may still be affordable for some students. They may be accessible to many who do not qualify or need more help than federal student loans offer. However, the terms are different. Be sure to consider the following:

• Does the loan require credit scores or income requirements?
• Determine if there are loan consolidation options or repayment flexibility options available.
• Learn about any limitations on the loan’s use.
• Determine what all costs are including origination fees and others.
• Some may have a fixed APR while others have variable rate.

Is management analyst a great career?

Management analyst is one potential career path for those who earn an MBA. Those that work in this field typically conduct studies within organizations and design systems and procedures for that organization. They may conduct work simplification and measurement studies, determine ways to operate more efficiently, and assist in management in preparing new development plans. They may provide program analyst and management consulting services as well.

Those that work in this field typically spend their time documenting findings and preparing recommendations for new systems, organizational changes, or new procedures within companies. They may conduct onsite observations and work performed to determine outcomes. It may also be possible for them to analyze data and develop solutions for various methods of proceeding.

• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Those that work in this field may need a range of tech skills including data base user interface and query software, object or component-oriented development software, and development environment software. They may also need active listening and critical thinking skills, good judgement and decision making, and good speaking.

Those that work in this field are typically required to have a graduate education, with at least a master’s degree. Some employers may prefer a PhD. Many times, individuals receive little to no on the job learning but instead are expected to come into the position with core skills or work experience.

Median Salary for Management Analysts

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2023 median salary for those working as a management analyst is as follows for each state:

Is operations research analyst a great career?

An operations research analyst is a person who formulates modeling and uses other methods to interpret information that relates to asset management within an organization. This may include policy formation and managerial functions within an organization. These individuals may both collect and analyze data which may allow them to develop decisions. They may use that information to support software, services, or other components of the company’s operations. They may also develop optimal time and cost networks for evaluations and reviews.

The day-to-day tasks in this career may include creating simulation models of company or organization-wide problems, considering constructs and variables, alternatives, and conflicting objectives to determine a path forward for the situation or problem. They may also work to validate and test models to ensure they are adequate and make changes as necessary. They may then present this modeling and data analysis to management or other users who then go on to make decisions with it.

Some of the tech skills needed for an operations research analyst position include analytical or scientific software, enterprise resource planning ERP software, operating system software, and others. Individuals may need to have math skills along with critical thinking, decision-making, and active listening skills.

Work activities often include spending a lot of time working with computers, analyzing data, and making decisions. This includes collaborating with others to resolve IT concerns in many cases. They may also need to present research results to others.

Those who work in this field typically need a master’s degree to do so, though some employers may recommend a PhD instead. There is typically little on the job learning and employers often expect those working as analysts to have some experience in the field.

• Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Median Salary for an Operations Research Analyst

Here is the 2023 median salary information for each state for those working as an operations research analyst according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.