Business Education and Income

By Tameika Riggs


The MBA is well established, having been introduced by Harvard long ago in 1908. It has certainly changed with the times. It now offers a number of specializations, and one can find the program being taught both at night and online.

Before, it was difficult for a normal working person to get a MBA, as the classes, like most college classes, were only offered during the day. Today, lots of people enter the work force directly after college and before their advanced degree. So, it's quite common to see full-time working adults as MBA students. In response, the program in now also offered in a variety of flex plans, including online classes, night classes and accelerated programs.

The program is made up of two parts. Core classes like advertising, economics, operations and finance, are taught in the first. The second has the student pursue a specialty in such subjects as international business, human resources, real estate or the like.

It can sometimes be tough to track the difference between a specialized MBA and other Master's level business degrees. For example, what's the difference between a MBA with a Healthcare Specialization and a Masters of Healthcare Administration? Two main factors differentiate them. One, the MHA focuses much more on healthcare policy compared to the broader business focus of the MBA. Two, the MBA is more flexible than the MHA. The MHA provides no added value outside of healthcare. A broad based business degree, like the MBA, can offer value in virtually any venture. That versatility is valuable in a changing workplace and economy.

That Harvard MBA can run you up to $200,000 today, however the average program runs $60,000. Beyond just money, there is also a vast amount of time and energy invested. Some no-name online schools offer the program for as little as $7,000. Other online schools get away with charging a premium. They have a firm grasp of the market value of the convenience of online classes.

Now, there is a payoff attached to that cost. Professionals with an MBA statistically make more than people with identical experience who only have the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). For example, in the case of someone with 5 to 9 years of experience, the MBA makes about $17,600 more per year. Plus, just getting an advanced degree is something of which to be proud.

Ultimately, there are options in post grad business education including both choice of degree and the format in which to earn it. Either way, it's a lot of money and time. Looking at all the factors, the MBA offers one thing the other do not - a broad scope of applications. That, in itself, is beneficial. So, unless a person can be absolutely certain that they will never get tired of a career, the MBA is probably the better path over a something like an MHA.




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