With the cost of some MBAs exceeding $250,000, it’s reasonable to ask whether a graduate business degree is worth the financial expense (to say nothing of the cost in time and effort). According to the data, the answer is a resounding yes. US News & World Report calculates a minimum 216% return on investment for graduates of the most cost-effective programs, while Poets & Quants reports double-digit annual ROI for students across public and private institutions; the same website finds a $2.3 million lifetime earnings boost across MBA programs.
It’s also worth noting that you needn’t spend anywhere near $250,000 to earn a highly regarded MBA. Stevens Institute of Technology estimates tuition for its online MBA between $75,270 and $92,460; financial aid (including grants and loans) can reduce your out-of-pocket costs. With a focus on technology and analytics, the Stevens Institute of Technology Online MBA program capitalizes on its proximity to New York City to deliver expert instruction and invaluable networking opportunities tailor-made to the contemporary business climate.
What opportunities await 2025 MBA graduates? This article explores some of the options you’ll enjoy after you earn your business graduate degree.
Career Outlook: What Jobs Can I Get With an MBA?
MBA degree programs focus on skills that apply across business sectors. Core business disciplines covered in MBA programs include:
- Accounting
- Analytics and intelligence
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Information systems
- International business
- Marketing
- Management
- Operations
- Project management
- Sustainability
MBA programs teach and bolster a range of soft and hard business skills. Soft skills include:
- Change management
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Conflict resolution
- Crisis management
- Critical thinking
- Emotional intelligence
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Networking
- People management
- Persuasion
- Problem-solving
- Public speaking and presentation skills
- Systems thinking
- Time management
Hard skills include:
- Accounting
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Business analytics and intelligence
- Consumer behavior analysis
- Cybersecurity fundamentals
- Data analytics
- Data visualization
- Financial analysis and management
- Information technology
- Investment analysis
- Logistics and distribution management
- Market research strategy
- Predictive modeling
- Risk management
- Supply chain management
- Valuations
An MBA can help you advance in any industry or field that values the skills listed above. That includes a range of enterprises extending from government, education, healthcare and social services to wholesale, retail, manufacturing, services, banking, technology and much, much more.
Industry Overview: In-Demand Fields for MBA Graduates
According to the GMAC 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey, 30% to 45% of industries planned to increase hiring of MBAs in 2024, while another 32% to 42% expected to maintain MBA hiring levels. MBAs were projected to see big hiring gains in manufacturing (44% of employers hiring more MBAs; 42% hiring the same number), finance and accounting (34%/42%), products and services (31%/40%), technology (29%/40%) and consulting (29%/32%).Â
Let’s look at job prospects for MBA graduates in some top employment sectors.
MBA Jobs in Technology
The technology industry cannot thrive solely on the work of engineers and computer scientists. The tech world demands professionals with advanced business training and acumen in virtually every sector. MBAs figure prominently in business intelligence, cybersecurity management, finance, information technology, marketing, product management, operations, risk analysis and management, and venture capital efforts. According to MBA.com, MBAs in the technology industry earn an average salary of $130,000.
MBA Jobs in Healthcare
Healthcare is another industry in which business professionals play essential behind-the-scenes roles. They may not treat patients, but they engage in practically every other critical aspect of healthcare delivery, from cost management to improving efficiency to procuring state-of-the-art medical devices to finance, marketing and operations. MBAs in healthcare hold such roles as clinic manager, hospital administrator, insurance and risk analyst, pharma consultant, policy analyst, operations manager and supply chain manager.
MBA Jobs in Financial Services
An MBA opens many doors in the finance industry. MBAs can advance in asset and wealth management, consulting, corporate finance and planning, financial technology, insurance and actuarial services, investment banking and private equity, risk management and compliance, tax planning, and venture capital. According to MBA.com, MBAs in finance earn salaries of almost $139,000 and can earn significantly more in incentives.
MBA Jobs in Business Operations
An MBA can lead to high-impact roles focusing on process improvement, supply chain management and strategic execution. Job titles for MBAs in operations include business analyst, business process manager, chief operating officer, continuous improvement manager, corporate strategy manager, director of operations, ERP implementations consultant, Lean Six Sigma consultant, logistics manager, management consultant, procurement manager and supply chain director.
MBA Jobs in Sustainability
The increasing impact of climate change has accelerated the growth of green industries. An MBA opens doors to impactful careers at the intersection of business and environmental responsibility. Corporations pursuing sustainability goals need managers, analysts, directors and executives to devise and implement plans. Cleantech and renewable energy providers and manufacturers gain market share in years to come, while many traditional businesses will incorporate sustainability strategies into their financial planning and investment strategies, and supply chain and operations.
Other Industries to Consider
Is there any enterprise or institution that doesn’t require the skills and expertise of business professionals? Even the ivied walls of academia and the hallowed sanctuaries of faith need income and sound management to sustain themselves. Below are listed some areas in which an MBA can provide a boost.
Education
Education offers a surprising array of opportunities for MBAs. Public institutions need leaders with business and management acumen; private institutions need that and a constant income stream. The US education publishing industry generated nearly $9 billion in sales in 2022; edtech and corporate training are fast-growing enterprises as well. Current educators, administrators and policymakers can accelerate their career progress with an MBA to qualify for top leadership roles in public and private schools, colleges and universities, and the education industry.
Entertainment
Entertainment is certainly a business with plenty of room for business experts. Film, television, radio, music, theater, publishing, digital media, gaming and sports offer management and leadership opportunities in talent management, production, distribution, marketing and finance.
Nonprofit
Nonprofit organizations hire MBAs for a variety of leadership and strategic roles, leveraging their business expertise to drive impact, efficiency, and growth. MBAs work at nonprofits in corporate partnership liaisons, executive and leadership roles, finance directors, fundraisers, grant managers, marketing and communications professionals, operations directors, program directors and strategists.
Prepare for Top MBA Jobs at Stevens Institute of Technology
You can earn an MBA without leaving your job or sacrificing your income. A part-time online program — like the online MBA program at Stevens Institute of Technology — makes it possible to balance your studies with your professional schedule. The technology-focused Stevens MBA is perfect for those eager to capitalize on the digitization of the business world. Stevens graduates go on to build careers at business and technology giants such as Bloomberg, Google and Amazon.Â
The online MBA program includes foundational courses and opportunities to specialize with one of seven concentrations in:
- Business intelligence and analytics
- Finance
- Financial analytics
- Financial engineering
- Information systems
- Project management
- Sustainability management
Next Steps: Applying to the Stevens MBA
Today’s job market demands professionals with high levels of skill and expertise. You’ll develop both in an MBA program. Because technology pervades every aspect of modern business, a program with a tech focus — like the Stevens online MBA — can prepare you for leadership and executive roles throughout the business world.
Reach out to an enrollment advisor if you have any questions about the application and enrollment processes or if you want to learn more about the program. If you’re ready, you can start your application online today.