Earning an online Master of Business Administration is an investment that requires time, funds and focus. When deciding whether to pursue an MBA, professionals often weigh the potential returns, considering how an MBA supports their goals and fits alongside professional responsibilities. Upon graduation, many professionals with an MBA see financial and non-financial returns, such as salary increases, greater long-term earning capacity and leadership opportunities across different fields and industries.
Online MBA programs can enhance these outcomes by enabling students to study on a flexible schedule while maintaining a work-life balance. Throughout the program, students can apply what they learn and refine their business leadership skills in real time. Learn more about career trajectories, potential earnings and skills developed in an online MBA program from Arkansas State University.
Why Professionals Pursue MBA Degrees
Many professionals pursue MBA degrees to build leadership capacity, broaden business knowledge and gain the qualifications for more competitive roles. MBA coursework refines competencies in areas such as leadership, business acumen, strategic thinking and decision-making. With these skills, MBA graduates appeal to employers who increasingly prioritize organizational leadership abilities in new hires.
Specific motivations for pursuing an MBA vary. According to survey data, between 29% and 40% of respondents cited one or more common motivators. In descending order, common motivators include:
- Obtaining a raise or a salary increase
- Gaining opportunities to manage projects
- Traveling internationally for work
- Managing people
- Achieving executive-level positions
- Making positive contributions to society through work
- Changing job function or industry
The flexibility of an online MBA program supports these goals by reducing barriers for students who work full-time, travel or manage personal obligations. With high-quality course content and a structured curriculum to keep students on track, online MBA programs help students develop career-ready skills that appeal to employers and often apply directly to their current professional roles.
Career Paths and Opportunities With an MBA
An MBA opens doors to professional opportunities across most industries, including consulting, financial services, technology, investment banking and consumer products. Within these industries, professionals with an MBA can apply their analytical, critical thinking, communication and leadership skills in various roles, with the goal of advancing within their organization or pivoting to better opportunities within or outside their industry. Some advanced roles include:
- Operations manager: Oversees operational efficiency across processes and teams.
- Management consultant: Helps organizations solve complex business problems and implement strategic improvements.
- Financial analyst: Interprets financial data, makes forecasts and guides investment decisions.
- Product manager: Guides the development, launch and lifecycle of products, often at tech or consumer goods firms.
- Business development director: Expands markets, establishes partnerships and drives growth initiatives.
Following graduation, most professionals report advancing at least one job level. More than 85% of those originally in entry-level or junior roles advanced to mid-level roles, and more than half of professionals in mid-level roles advanced to more senior positions. Among those who saw no or downward movement in their roles, about 60% switched industries and/or job functions.
Concentrations help tailor MBA outcomes to specific career trajectories. For example, a concentration in business analytics applies to data-driven roles, such as business intelligence analyst jobs, while a concentration in supply chain management aligns with careers in the logistics, transportation and supply chain management industry. MBA programs provide a wide breadth of business competencies, and concentrations enhance learning and job outcomes by enabling more specialized knowledge and signaling depth of expertise to employers.
Salary and Earning Potential With an MBA
Salaries for MBA graduates vary depending on industry, role, geography and experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals in management roles earn an average median wage of $122,090, with higher salaries more frequently reported in finance, technology and consulting. Consider these median annual earnings for various jobs MBA graduates may qualify for:
- Marketing and advertising managers: $161,030
- Computer and information systems managers: $171,200
- Financial managers: $161,700
- Chief executives: $206,420
- Management analysts: $101,190
- Sales managers: $138,870
- Financial analysts: $101,910
Data also indicates that MBA graduates frequently out-earn professionals with only a bachelor’s degree, especially if they move into management or specialized roles. MBA holders in 2025 maintained median starting salaries approximately 1.75 times higher than colleagues with a bachelor’s degree. In 2025, surveys showed that median starting salaries for MBA holders increased from $120,000 to $125,000, outpacing the current rate of inflation.
Return on Investment for MBA Graduates
Approximately 85% of MBA graduates report positive returns on their investment in graduate business education. Return on investment depends on several variables, such as:
- Pre-MBA salary
- Program cost
- Time out of the workforce or reduced earning capacity during program enrollment
- Post-MBA role and industry
- Post-MBA location
Students in online MBA programs often realize financial gains more quickly because they can continue working while studying. Graduates who move into leadership roles or enter high-paying fields or industries, such as consulting, technology or finance, often see the most significant salary jumps.
Many graduates break even on their investment within four-to-five years following graduation, with some recouping up to one-third of their investment each year, after which earnings and returns compound with subsequent raises and promotions. MBA degrees offer trajectories toward senior-level compensation, so as graduates progress into senior management or executive roles, their skills and credentials support increased compensation.
Graduates also see indirect returns beyond immediate salary increases, which can facilitate promotions or higher earnings. For example, MBA graduates build professional networks that connect them to opportunities, and the skills they gain from their programs align with employer needs and transfer to many roles and industries.
Essential Skills You Develop in an MBA Program
MBA programs help professionals develop the analytical, leadership and communication skills needed to excel in business environments. Coursework connects core business competencies with interpersonal skills necessary for effective leadership.
Students refine advanced skills in finance, management and marketing, as well as soft skills, through practical learning applications. By solving real business problems through case studies, data analysis and team-based projects, students translate academic knowledge into practical business expertise.
Core Business Competencies
MBA coursework develops financial analysis, strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making skills. In finance and budgeting courses, learners interpret financial statements, build discounted cash flow models and evaluate capital investments.
Strategy coursework introduces industry analysis, competitive advantage and growth modeling. Quantitative classes teach students how to analyze datasets, prepare data visualizations and present analyses and insights to shareholders.
Leadership and Management Skills
An MBA program guides students through understanding team dynamics, organizational behavior and change management. Coursework explores strategies for motivating teams, delegating effectively and managing conflict in various contexts.
Students also learn how to align departmental activities with broader organizational strategies. Courses often include case studies and group projects that replicate leadership scenarios, providing students with opportunities to refine their management judgment.
High-Value Soft Skills
Employers increasingly cite soft skills as differentiators in hiring and promotion decisions. Communication is one of the top skills valued by employers, with an increasing emphasis on abilities in verbal and digital communication and presentation. In addition to communication skills, MBA programs also help students develop these career-aligned soft skills:
- Collaboration
- Negotiation
- Emotional intelligence
- Adaptability
- Time management
- Innovation
Explore MBA Opportunities With A-State
An online MBA program from A-State offers numerous opportunities for professional growth and higher earning potential, from career advancement to transitions across fields or industries. Students refine business, analytical and leadership skills that prepare them for complex organizational challenges and align with workforce needs, enabling them to better compete for upper management opportunities. Online MBA programs allow students to continue working while completing coursework asynchronously, providing flexibility without compromising academic rigor or professional momentum.
A-State’s online MBA programs offer affordable tuition and a curriculum focused on career-ready outcomes. They are housed in the Neil Griffin College of Business, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Learn more about how earning an online MBA from A-State helps position working professionals for long-term success.