What Jobs Can You Get with an MBA?
In the complex world of business, the broad, multidisciplinary approach of acquiring a business administration degree helps students prepare for and thrive in a variety of high-demand jobs. Business professionals, whether they hold a master’s degree or advanced certificate, are educated in all the core functions of business, from finance and marketing to human resources and operations, which prepares them for dynamic, high-paying jobs in a variety of industries.
Before deciding to pursue an MBA, it’s important to learn more about the job opportunities that are available with a business administration degree, including the options and benefits that come with earning your MBA at Iona University.
Top Careers with a Master’s in Business Administration
MBA programs expose students to all the different facets of running a thriving business and working in corporate settings. This includes mastering fields such as accounting, finance, human resources, management, marketing, and operations. MBA coursework, even though it is at the graduate level, is intentionally broad, thus allowing students to learn about all aspects of business as well as choose their own specialties based on corresponding specialized studies.
What can you do with a business certificate? The diverse and dynamic nature of earning an MBA or a graduate business certificate helps graduates focus on and succeed in a variety of different roles related to corporate operations and business functions. Specifically, graduates can choose to pursue a number of high-paying, in-demand jobs. Some of the most popular job titles include the following:
- Financial Analyst
- Marketing Manager
- Human Resources Manager
- Business Consultant
- Project Manager
- Sales Manager
- Accountant
- Operations Manager
- Entrepreneur
- Management Analyst
Highest Paying Jobs with a Higher-Level Degree
Many people who work toward an MBA understand that pursuing this field will help them increase their earnings potential in corporate spaces. They may even already have a business-oriented job and are thus completing an MBA to move up in their field. However, there are areas of business that command higher salaries than others, which is important for students just starting their MBA or post-graduate business studies. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the highest-paying business-related jobs are in operations, finance, management, and sales. Example roles and salaries include the following:
- Management analysts’ median salary: $81,320
- Financial analysts’ median salary: $80,310
- Personal financial advisors’ median salary: $89,160
- Human resource managers’ median salary: $104,440
- Purchasing managers’ median salary: $108,120
What skills do you gain from an MBA? Although the specifics vary based on your focus area, all graduates with a master’s degree in business will learn more about business ethics, gain analytical skills, and become better at interpersonal skills such as communication and networking. As a result, individuals with MBAs earn about 57% percent more than those with a bachelor’s degree alone, on average.
Benefits of Getting an MBA from Iona
For students who already have a bachelor’s degree, regardless of their major, it is possible to enter into the MBA program at Iona University. Iona offers an accessible and highly successful MBA program that is perfect for working professionals as well as full-time students. Students with a bachelor’s degree in any field can enroll in our master’s in business administration program, which offers a streamlined approach tailored to both those already in business as well as those transitioning into the field.
Regardless of your specific field of interest, Iona has solutions. Our focus programs include accounting, business analytics, financial management, healthcare management, human resource management, information systems, management, and marketing. Our programs last from 12 to 18 months and feature both online and in-person options for coursework.
Industries Hiring Business Administration Graduates
One of the biggest benefits of earning an MBA is the versatility that this graduate course of study offers. Most industries hire people with MBAs to fill various roles, especially in finance and management sectors. Of course, an MBA is even more advantageous in some fields. For example, some of the top industries looking for MBA graduates include the technology, healthcare, and energy sectors.
In terms of financial rewards, medical health and services managers make a median annual salary of $110,6804. In the IT field, individuals with business administration degrees fill diverse roles such as project managers, business developers, and financial experts and also make impressive salaries.
FAQs
Q: What skills do you gain from the MBA program at Iona?
A: Iona’s MBA program is designed to offer graduates a broad education that prepares them for all aspects of corporate and entrepreneurial careers. As such, in this 36-credit program students learn a little bit of “everything” related to business, such as management, marketing, accounting, economics, and finance. Based on this diverse learning experience, students build skills in analytics, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving. At Iona, each student also chooses a concentration, which comprises a 12-credit elective sequence within the degree program. This focus area can help students to home in on their interests and build a skillset specific to their goals such as healthcare management, human resource management, and information systems.
Q: Can you make six figures with an MBA?
A: Yes. The dynamic nature of business and commerce means that there are several paths that allow MBA graduates to earn six figures or more. The options include roles in finance and management, such as CEOs and CFOs, as well as sales, marketing, IT, and economics.
Q: What major is best in business administration?
A: The focus track that a student takes for their MBA depends on their interests and future career goals. No one option is best. Financially speaking, finance and management tracks tend to lead to the highest average earnings; however, all fields in business have the potential to earn six figure salaries. In addition, all business fields are in high demand as corporations continue to expand and capitalize on the benefits and skills that MBA graduates bring to their companies.
Q: Do I need additional certifications for a master’s of business administration career?
A: No. After earning your MBA, you will have all the skills that you need to pursue a career in business. However, Iona University does recognize that some professionals want to further hone their skills in specific areas of business administration. As a result, we offer five distinct business certificates that provide students with specialized knowledge beyond the general MBA curriculum. Students can pursue these certificates as part of their MBA studies, allowing them to graduate with both credentials for the same 36 credits, or students can pursue a certificate independently, either before or after earning an MBA. Iona’s advanced certificate options include specializations in business, continuity and risk management, entrepreneurship and innovation, healthcare management, and marketing analytics.
Q: How many years is a business management degree?
A: Iona’s MBA program takes students between 12 and 18 months to complete. Our certificate programs take about a year and can be applied toward the completion of an MBA at a later date.