A Master of Business Administration is a graduate degree focused on management, finance, marketing, and strategy. Students choose it to move into leadership roles, switch industries, or build a professional network.
Common career paths include management consulting, product management, financial analysis, marketing management, operations, and entrepreneurship. Some graduates join large firms; others join startups or family businesses.
Pay data shows a real premium for the degree. The National Association of Colleges and Employers projected an average starting salary of $84,580 for MBA graduates in its Winter 2019 Salary Survey, up 8 percent from the year before. The Graduate Management Admission Council reported that the median starting salary US companies offered new MBA hires was $115,000 in its 2022 Corporate Recruiters Survey, unchanged for three years. GMAC’s 2021 survey found 91 percent of corporate recruiters expected to hire MBA graduates.
An MBA is not the only route to these jobs. Relevant experience, professional certifications, and strong results can open the same doors. The degree helps most when you have a clear goal for it.
Before committing, compare costs and formats. Affordable MBA programs with scholarships lists lower-cost options. For a related degree, see our Master of Science in Business Administration. And for general planning, read advancing your career with a business administration degree.

