MBA Benefits: Outcomes and Advantages

Graduating with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) offers many benefits, as many employers are well aware of in 2026. According to the 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 37% of employers said they aimed to increase the number of MBA graduates they hired. Employers are seeing the value of MBA graduates and are willing to invest in their growth.

Earning an MBA can set professionals on a path to more lucrative, fast-growing careers than those with only a bachelor’s degree. The benefits of an MBA are wide-ranging and affect both the degree holder and their organization.

What Is an MBA Program?

An MBA program is designed for professionals who are looking to increase their skills in business, finance, and leadership, and develop their business acumen. MBA programs typically take around two years to complete.

What Students Learn in an MBA Program

What students learn in an MBA program will vary by school. However, they can typically expect to take courses on key business concepts, such as:

Managerial accounting
Economic analysis
Systems management
Marketing strategy

Some universities allow students to focus on concentrations that help them hone their business skills while deepening their knowledge of the industry where they want to work. Concentrations that an MBA student may pursue include:

Wealth management
Data analytics
Information systems management
Marketing

MBA Benefits for Future Business Leaders

Earning an MBA comes with many benefits, including wide-ranging professional outcomes and higher salaries. These MBA benefits represent a small fraction of what an MBA can do for future leaders of the business world.

An MBA Increases Your Earning Potential

According to GMAC, the median annual salary for someone with an MBA is $125,000. In comparison, the median annual salary for someone with only a bachelor’s degree in a related field is $75,000.

Earning an MBA significantly increases your earning potential — it even outperforms other master’s degree programs related to business. The median annual salary for someone with a master’s degree in finance, for example, is $90,000.

An MBA Improves Credibility in Your Desired Field

An MBA teaches essential skills in business and finance, but it doesn’t only lead to careers in these fields.

Many MBA programs allow students to focus on a concentration that prepares them for high-earning careers in different industries where they want to work. An MBA graduate comes away with advanced knowledge of their desired field, making them more effective in their roles and prepared for leadership positions.

MBA Programs Increase Your Hiring Chances

According to the Education Data Initiative, about 13% of Americans hold a master’s degree or higher. The majority of Americans aren’t in a competitive position for careers that require a master’s degree.

By earning an MBA, you’re not only paving the way toward a career that requires a master’s degree but also making yourself more competitive in the overall job market. Earning an MBA demonstrates that you have advanced knowledge of business and finance, as well as well-honed leadership skills that help you move forward in your career.

Professional Outcomes for MBA Graduates

One of the biggest MBA benefits is the career opportunities it opens across industries. The following are just a few careers that typically require or prefer an MBA. Career growth and salary information are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2024, and Payscale as of 2025.

Personal Financial Advisor

A personal financial advisor helps individuals develop a plan to manage their money and to meet their short- and long-term financial goals, such as saving for retirement or funding home renovations.

While personal financial advisors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field, earning an MBA improves their credibility, helping them attract new clients and increase their earning potential.

Median annual salary: $102,140
Expected employment growth rate (2024-2034): 10%

Computer and Information Systems Manager

Computer and information systems managers oversee all information technology (IT) needs at an organization. They identify IT goals and recommend ways to achieve them, implement computer systems based on these plans, and optimize those systems.

While computer and information systems managers need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, they also typically need several years of related work experience.

However, earning an MBA helps candidates gain this additional experience. Some employers also prefer that candidates hold an MBA or a related graduate degree.

Median annual salary: $171,200
Expected employment growth rate (2024-2034): 15%

Public Relations Manager

Public relations managers oversee the strategies, campaigns, and materials used to enhance and preserve the public image of the organization or their individual employer. They monitor any information that may affect the image; organize media campaigns; and collaborate with the marketing, advertising, financial, and legal teams to ensure a cohesive, positive brand image.

Public relations managers typically need a bachelor’s degree in public relations, business, or a related field. However, because this role requires several years of professional experience, many employers prefer candidates who have the skills acquired through an MBA program.

Median annual salary: $132,870
Expected employment growth rate (2024-2034): 5%

Real Estate Development Manager

Real estate development managers oversee the planning, financing, and execution of commercial real estate projects, including office buildings, retail developments, mixed-use properties, and multifamily communities. They evaluate market opportunities, manage budgets and timelines, coordinate with investors, contractors, and local officials, and guide projects from concept through to completion, ensuring long-term value and profitability.

Real estate development managers typically hold a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, real estate, or a related field. Because the role requires advanced financial analysis, strategic decision-making, and cross-functional leadership, many employers prefer candidates with an MBA. An MBA equips professionals with the skills needed to assess investments, manage risk, and lead complex development initiatives.

Median annual salary: $106,970
Expected employment growth rate (2024-2034): 4%

Grow Your Professional Career With an MBA From NCCU

The benefits of an MBA program affect everything from competency to compensation. By earning an MBA, students are investing in their own future while preparing to effect change throughout the future of the business world.

With the online MBA from NCCU Online, students learn business and leadership skills in a program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), making it one of only 6% of the world’s business schools to share the distinction. Students can specialize in one of eight concentrations: Commercial Real Estate, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, General Management, Hospitality Management, Information Systems Management, Marketing, and Wealth Management. This allows you to become an expert in your field while learning in a fully online program that works with your schedule.

Discover all of the benefits of an MBA from NCCU Online.

Recommended Readings

Brand Manager vs. Marketing Manager: Roles Explained

Benefits of a Business Degree

What Can You Do With a Business Administration Degree?

Sources:

Education Data Initiative, “Education Attainment Statistics”

Graduate Management Admission Council, Corporate Recruiters Survey: 2025 Report

Indeed, “Why Get an MBA Degree? 11 Career Benefits to Know About”

Payscale, Average Real Estate Development Manager Salary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and Information Systems Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Personal Financial Advisors