A business meeting in a modern office, with a presenter explaining charts and graphs to colleagues around a table, illustrating teamwork, leadership, and analytical skills.

For many professionals, getting an MBA feels like the natural next step. Still, it’s worth asking whether the investment is right for you. The job market is more competitive than ever, and a competitive market demands enhanced skills, strong résumé, and candidates who have a strong competitive edge. One fantastic investment in skill development (and career advancement) is a graduate business degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

If you’ve thought about earning your MBA, you likely already know some of the benefits of the degree. In addition to getting promotions, moving into leadership roles, and earning higher salaries, many MBA graduates benefit from improved job security, networking opportunities, and a versatile skill set for multiple industries. Read on to learn about all these benefits and more!

In California alone, 9,582 employers are seeking MBA graduates.

— Lightcast

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What Is an MBA?

An MBA is a graduate degree designed to build skills and expertise in leadership, core business functions, and big-picture strategic operations. As such, most MBA students are seeking to gain the leadership skills and technical expertise to become successful leaders. While many MBA graduates become leaders in the business industry, MBAs are very versatile and can lead to a wide variety of careers in multiple industries.

All MBAs will cover foundational and advanced business knowledge. These core curriculum areas will cover:

  • Finance
  • Strategy
  • Leadership
  • Analytics
  • Technologies
  • Ethics

Some programs also offer dedicated concentrations in areas like finance, accounting, human resources, or marketing. Or, in more flexible programs, MBA students will be able to take a variety of electives so that they get all of the courses they need for their careers.

Do I Need Work Experience to Earn an MBA?

MBAs are best suited to individuals who are at the mid- to senior-level of their careers. This is not an exclusionary measure, however, it’s a strategic choice to provide maximum value to students.

Most professionals pursue their MBAs with the intent to pivot careers, advance into high-level management roles, or earn higher salaries. Because of this, the career benefits of MBAs aren’t typically valuable to those who have recently graduated with their bachelor’s degree.

In addition, MBAs are meant to refine advanced skills, not necessarily to introduce those skills for the first time. Early- to mid-career professionals who are passionate about entering the management track, but don’t have as much work experience, may consider an MS in Management program as an alternative.

What Are the Key Benefits of an MBA?

The value of an MBA goes well beyond a credential. Here’s what the degree actually delivers:

  • Career advancement: Promotions, pivots, and paths into leadership
  • Higher earning potential: MBA graduates consistently out-earn peers with bachelor’s degrees alone
  • Improved job security: Forward-looking curriculum keeps graduates competitive as industries evolve
  • Networking opportunities: Access to peers, alumni, faculty, and industry leaders
  • Agility and versatility across industries: Broadly applicable skills valued in business, tech, healthcare, and more
  • Soft skill development: Leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability built for the real world

MBA programs, at their core, combine real-world experience with theoretical knowledge so that graduates will be ready to tackle any business challenge.

99% of employers across global regions express confidence in graduate business education, citing strengths such as communication, versatile skillsets, strategic thinking, and innovation.

— GMAC 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey

1. Career Advancement

An MBA can advance your career in two key ways: by helping you earn promotions within your current organization or by supporting a move into an entirely new industry or function. According to GMAC’s 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, 37 percent of employers increased their MBA hiring — more than double the share from the year prior — signaling that the MBA remains one of the most in-demand credentials in today’s job market.

A Master of Business Administration can result in career advancement in two main ways: promotions to senior-level roles in your current organization or industry, or career changes into an entirely new function or industry. MBAs may also prepare professionals to branch off to start their own businesses or other entrepreneurial ventures.

But why do MBAs result in career advancement? There are many reasons, but there are three key things that employers consider when evaluating MBA candidates vs. other candidates:

  • MBAs have a great reputation. Employers generally agree that business school graduates are more competitive than candidates with microcredentials alone.
  • MBAs develop important skills and expertise. Would you want to work for a manager who didn’t know the first thing about strategic management? MBAs develop holistic skills that broaden your understanding of the enterprise as a whole, allow you to lead organizational success.
  • MBAs are focused on the real world. Most MBA courses are designed around case studies and real-world examples, so students will be armed with real problem-solving skills.

2. Higher Earning Potential

Higher earning potential is another reason why many candidates might seek out MBA programs, and while completing a degree does not guarantee a specific salary or raise, many MBA graduates enjoy higher salaries over the course of their careers.

MBA graduates generally earn more than the national average for all other master’s degree holders ($130,300), with Lightcast reporting an advertised salary of $165,600 for employers seeking MBA graduates in California. And the earning potential is only growing: The advertised salary for jobs requesting MBA graduates in California increased by 22.5 percent from 2023 to 2026.

For many MBA candidates, their degree isn’t solely about gaining skills and knowledge, it’s about gaining a competitive edge in the job market. Having a higher level of education helps business professionals unlock paths toward better paying roles and positions.

88 percent of individuals with a graduate business degree reported that their degree increased their earning power.

— Graduate Management Admission Council

3. Improved Job Security

Earning an MBA is a great way to improve overall job security. MBA programs often take a forward-looking approach to their curriculum and learning formats, considering factors such as market innovations and emerging trends and technologies. As industries and organizations shift over time, professionals can keep themselves competitive by remaining mindful of how today’s edge technologies and methodologies may become tomorrow’s foundational reality.

Employers are seeking MBA graduates for roles in both stable and expanding fields.

The top 5 jobs that California employers are recruiting MBA graduates for include: product managers, financial analysts, financial planning and analysis managers, product marketing managers, and controllers.

— Lightcast

This future-focused curriculum makes MBA graduates more versatile and adaptable, enabling them to leverage widely applicable skills in future career moves. At the University of San Francisco, for example, the online part-time MBA has a dual focus on innovations like artificial intelligence and traditional business methodologies, so graduates can pursue careers in cutting-edge industries while knowing that they can always find a place in traditional business management roles.

4. Networking Opportunities

One of the key benefits of master’s in business administration programs is networking opportunities. In an MBA program, students will be able to network with diverse peers, supportive alumni, expert faculty, and industry leaders.

  • Peers and Alumni: Networking with peers and alumni in an MBA program mirrors the real-world business environment, where professionals are constantly communicating with fellow professionals of different backgrounds.
  • Faculty: Faculty are able to share their expertise with students and bring their valuable experience in business administration to the classroom.
  • Industry Leaders: MBA students will connect with key business leaders in their community and beyond through experiential learning opportunities such as networking events, case studies, and real-world projects.

Online MBA programs are particularly well-suited for building diverse, real-world networks. Because the format attracts working professionals from across industries and geographies, your cohort will include peers who are actively practicing what you’re learning — bringing immediate, real-world context to every discussion. This flexibility draws an expansive class profile that spans:

  • Education
  • Work experiences and career goals
  • Industry backgrounds
  • Future career interests
  • Stage of life
  • Geographic region
  • Race, ethnicity, gender, and age

5. Versatility Across Industries

MBAs typically focus on very advanced, broadly applicable business and leadership knowledge rather than hyper-specific skills meant for one industry or function. This is a key strength of MBA programs: they strengthen professionals’ knowledge in critical business domains that are versatile across functions, departments, and industries.

Cross-functional knowledge is key beyond the classroom. Once MBA graduates start using their degrees in their careers, they will quickly realize why MBA curricula were designed with broad application in mind: real-world business challenges can only be solved with interdisciplinary knowledge. MBA graduates will be armed with a versatile skill set that can be used in business, finance, marketing, tech, manufacturing, healthcare, and more, making them highly sought after by employers.

6. Skill Development

An MBA looks fantastic on a résumé and makes a notable impact on your career, but those aren’t the only reasons to earn one. Through targeted courses, MBA students will hone their skills that are critical to managing cross-functional teams and leading organizations in a variety of industries.

  • Leadership is the core of the MBA. An MBA develops leaders who can operate at every level — from small technical teams to executive leadership of global organizations.
  • Strategic thinking requires the capacity to see beyond immediate operational concerns. It encompasses the ability to consider long-term implications while anticipating change. This forward-looking perspective shapes operational plans that align with organizational goals.
  • Adaptability is what separates professionals who thrive through disruption from those who don’t. An MBA equips you with the strategic and operational knowledge to course correct effectively when challenges arise.

The skills you learn in an MBA aren’t just useful — they’re an entry-level requirement for employers across California.

Leadership is a top skill being requested by employers: 60% percent of job postings for MBA graduates request leadership skills, an 8 percent increase from 2032.

— Lightcast

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of an online MBA varies depending on the institution and program. USF offers a 25 percent tuition scholarship for the online MBA, helping make the degree more accessible for working professionals. For current tuition and financial aid details, visit the tuition page.

Most MBA students have several years of professional experience before enrolling — the degree is designed to build on real-world context, not replace it. There is no single right time. If you’re considering a career pivot or accelerating your path to leadership, an MBA may be the right next step.

Yes, increasingly so. What matters most to recruiters is the accreditation and reputation of the institution, not the format. An online MBA from an accredited university carries the same academic credential as an on-campus degree.

An MBA is typically pursued by professionals with a few years of experience who are looking to advance or pivot. A part-time online MBA is a popular choice for working professionals who want to earn their degree without stepping away from their careers.

An Executive MBA (EMBA) is designed for senior leaders who want to continue working full-time while earning their degree, with a more condensed schedule built around experienced professionals. Both formats offer flexibility, but an online part-time MBA tends to be better suited for mid-career professionals, while an EMBA is typically geared toward those already in senior or executive roles.

Yes. Most MBA programs do not require a business undergraduate degree. What matters most is work experience, leadership potential, and a clear sense of how an MBA fits your career goals.

Advantages of USF’s MBA Program

The University of San Francisco offers an online Master of Business Administration program designed to equip students with both foundational business knowledge and advanced leadership skills. USF’s MBA emphasizes the innovations that are driving business today, providing advanced education in sustainability in business, as well as managing in a data- and AI-driven environment.

Even before they graduate, students are excelling in the business world while benefiting from a flexible work-school-life balance. USF’s MBA emphasizes experiential learning, with collaborative client-based projects that are immediately applicable to your career, help to build your portfolio, and develop your interpersonal skills.

About the Online, Part-Time MBA at the University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco’s online, part-time Master of Business Administration program is designed for working professionals who aspire to lead innovation across industries in California, the San Francisco Bay Area, or beyond. Our flexible part-time MBA combines asynchronous online coursework, live sessions, and experiential learning projects to provide a comprehensive education in business, with customized electives in the areas important to your career.

The curriculum is designed around six themes: global and ethical perspectives, sustainability, AI focus, creative problem solving, leadership dynamics, and communication skills, ensuring that graduates will be prepared to succeed as change-makers throughout the course of their careers. Students benefit from the expertise of faculty who are industry leaders and gain practical experience through project-based learning opportunities with renowned companies and organizations across the Bay Area and California.

USF provides our students with personalized career support, networking opportunities, and access to a global job portal, extending beyond graduation. The online, part-time MBA equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to become transformative leaders in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

Learn more about the Master of Business Administration by downloading a brochure, or start your application today.

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