Reviewed by: Richard W. Stackman, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs
Whether you’ve just started your career or you’ve been excelling for 20 years, going to business school to earn a graduate degree is a great option to advance a career that isn’t progressing as fast as you’d like. Two options that are geared toward aspiring managers and leaders are the Master in Management and the Master of Business Administration.
MIM and MBA programs are focused on business, leadership, and management. However, they typically differ in a few key areas:
- Experience level of students
- Curriculum focus, depth, and breadth
- Time-to-completion (depending on the program)
- Career outcomes
The top 5 skills valued by employers are:
1. Problem-solving
2. Communication
3. Strategic thinking
4. Teamwork
5. Adaptability
You can learn all this and more through an MIM or MBA program.
— GMAC 2025 Prospective Students Survey & Corporate Recruiters Survey
MIM vs. MBA at a Glance
MIM programs are designed for early- to mid-career professionals. The ideal student has less than five years of professional experience — they may even have recently graduated from a bachelor’s program — but they know they want to move into leadership and management. As such, a master’s in management is designed to give students the foundational management and professional skills they need to succeed as managers of people, processes, and projects.
MBAs, on the other hand, are designed for mid- to senior-level professionals who are ready to advance into higher level leadership roles. Given the target audience, MBAs are designed to equip professionals with the critical thinking skills to strategically lead organizations in collaboration with other high-level colleagues. MBA programs also provide advanced insights into various cross-functional business areas, such as:
- Finance
- Strategy
- Leadership
- Analytics
- Technologies
- Ethics
However, it is crucial to recognize that different universities will offer distinct curricula and have alternative target audiences for their MBA and MIM programs. Some universities may also offer concentrations that prepare professionals for different outcomes.
Time-to-completion is also highly variable between institutions. At the University of San Francisco, the MIM is typically completed on a part-time schedule in as little as 18 months, and the MBA can be completed in as little as two years on a part-time basis.
What Are the Key Differences Between MIM and MBA?
| MiM | MBA | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Core management concepts | Comprehensive coverage of core business functions |
| Curriculum | Emphasizes concepts relevant to managing people and projects: leadership, team-building, communication facilitation, and decision-making. | Emphasizes strategic, high-level business operations: digital transformation, core business functions, and a holistic understanding of enterprises. |
| Career Outcomes | Graduates can enter the management track and achieve quick entry to management roles in all sectors. | Graduates secure managerial, directorial, or executive roles—particularly in the private sector. They can also position themselves for a career change. |
| Typical Student Background | Early-to-mid career professionals looking to grow their leadership and managerial skills. | Mid-to-advanced career professionals seeking to broaden their understanding of the enterprise as a whole. |
| Admission Requirements | Bachelor’s degree | Bachelor’s degree plus relevant work experience |
| Time to Completion | 18–24 months | 24–30 months |
| Tuition | Lower (fewer credit hour requirements) | Higher (more credit hours plus practicum/internship opportunities) |
| Return on Investment | High ROI for professionals developing foundational skills to lead teams and manage projects effectively. | High ROI for professionals aiming to advance or shift into senior leadership or executive roles. |
What Are the Career Outcomes and Salary Potential for MIM vs. MBA?
Generally speaking, MIM programs prepare entry- to mid-level professionals with the foundational skills for strong management careers in a variety of industries. They can typically advance to team and project management positions.
On the other hand, MBA programs give more experienced professionals the opportunity to advance to top-level strategic management and leadership positions. Depending on their experience level, MBA graduates can pivot careers or secure advancement to the managerial, directorial, or executive level.
| Example Job Titles & Median Annual Salaries | |
|---|---|
| Master’s in Management Jobs | Master of Business Administration Jobs |
| Project Manager ($100,200) | Business Development Director ($160,000) |
| Training & Development Manager ($127,090) | Financial Advisor ($114,000) |
| HR Manager ($140,030) | Management Consultant ($122,000) |
| Operations Manager ($101,280) | Product Manager ($171,000) |
Source: Lightcast
MIM vs. MBA: Curriculum and Learning Outcomes
Shared Focus: Leadership and Management
MIM and MBA programs both offer a focus on core business topics:
- Management strategies
- Budgeting and finance
- Business ethics
- Data analytics
- Functional areas (technology, strategy, etc.)
While the MBA will provide a deeper strategic dive into the complexities of the topics, foundational business knowledge is a cornerstone of both MIM and MBA programs.
MIM Curriculum Focus
MIM programs typically focus most on foundational business knowledge and skills. The curriculum of a master’s in management introduces topics such as:
- Leadership
- Team-building
- Communication
- Facilitation
- Decision-making
- Project management
- Core business knowledge (finance, information systems, and strategy)
Professionals need to have an understanding of these topics to manage teams and processes at any level. An MS in Management provides a systematic introduction to these areas and their applications to team management, giving aspiring managers a strong foundation to advance their careers.
MBA Curriculum Focus
Individuals pursuing high-level leadership roles need expert knowledge not only of individual business functions, but also how all these areas interact and affect organizational growth and operations.
As such, an MBA curriculum will cover foundational business topics, but it will do so through the lens of a leader, with an advanced approach, strategic focus, and big-picture emphasis. Some of the topics that MBA students will dive into include:
- Communicating as a leader, including negotiation
- Advanced business and data analytics for better business decisions
- Tech-enabled operations and AI
- Ethical decision-making
- Financial accounting and management
- Building effective teams
- Strategic management strategies
67% of graduate management education candidates view leadership as a top skill to learn in business school.
— GMAC 2025 Prospective Students Survey & Corporate Recruiters Survey
Many MBA programs offer concentration opportunities, allowing professionals to focus their studies in the areas that best fit their career paths.
MIM vs. MBA: Program Length, Format, and Cost
Structure and Time Commitment
MIM and MBA programs are available in a range of formats. Online programs have become increasingly popular, as most graduate students are working adults who are seeking to advance their careers — not put them on hold. Many universities also offer part-time and full-time options, allowing for even further customization.
Both MIMs and MBA can typically be completed within two years when studying part time. MBA programs can take a bit longer, as they tend to have higher credit hour requirements to allow for a deeper dive into advanced business topics that may necessitate the extra classroom time. On the other hand, MIM programs have fewer credit hours required because they are intended to serve as a foundation for a strong career or an opportunity for a career change into a new industry.
Tuition and Financial Considerations
Tuition and cost of attendance is important to consider, no matter your intended path. MBA programs typically have higher tuition costs to encompass more credit hours and opportunities for career development. MIM programs can be cheaper to attend because of their targeted credit hour requirements.
How Do I Choose the Right Program for Me?
-
Am I ready for upper management and strategic leadership roles?
- No ➜ MiM
- Yes ➜ MBA
-
Do I have foundational management and leadership skills and knowledge?
- No ➜ MiM
- Yes ➜ MBA
-
What is my focus for the next five to ten years?
- Gain more experience and build my career ➜ MiM
- Get the skills I need to become a high-impact leader ➜ MBA
Other business professionals are focusing on return-on-investment, you should be too.
The number of prospective graduate management education students searching for ROI information increased by 4% last year.
— GMAC 2025 Prospective Students Survey & Corporate Recruiters Survey
Your experience level is one of the most important factors to consider when considering these programs. MIM programs do a fantastic job of preparing early- to mid-career professionals to succeed in management roles or transition to new career paths. MBAs, on the other hand, are best suited to mid- to senior-level professionals. This differing focus is a strategic choice to provide maximum value to students.
Most professionals pursue their MBAs with the intent to advance into high-level strategic 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. Those who are passionate about jumpstarting their management career, but don’t have much work experience, would benefit more from an MIM program.
Make the Right Investment in Your Career With USF’s MIM or MBA
The University of San Francisco offers career-focused programs designed to build strong leaders capable of developing and implementing innovative solutions that solve problems in organizations, communities, and the world. Our MIM and MBA programs are grounded in real-world experience, technological innovation, industry connections, and a steadfast commitment to social impact and sustainability.
- The Master in Management program is designed to prepare you to flourish as a leader of both people and projects, who develops innovative solutions using foundational management and professional skills.
- The Master of Business Administration program 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.
Both programs are offered in an online part-time format, featuring on-demand courses and live classes. Students benefit from the expertise of faculty who are industry leaders and gain practical experience through project-based learning opportunities with renowned companies.
The programs provide personalized career support, networking opportunities, and access to a global job portal, extending beyond graduation. We equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to become transformative leaders in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.
Learn more about the University of San Francisco’s programs by downloading a brochure, or start your application today.
