Quick Highlights
Many manager roles list a bachelor’s degree plus work experience as the typical career route, with management occupations paying a median of $126,520 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In addition to a bachelor’s, a graduate degree such as an MBA or a master’s in organizational leadership adds credibility once you lead a team.
Many professionals find themselves taking on leadership responsibilities before they officially have a manager title. Whether you’re supervising employees, coordinating projects or serving as the go-to person on your team, earning a degree can help prepare you for management opportunities and meet education requirements for advancement. While education can help qualify you for management roles, employers often look for a combination of formal education, leadership experience and industry knowledge when hiring managers.
With college credits but no bachelor’s, you would start with the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) or the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Organizational Leadership. With a bachelor’s, you would choose between the MBA in Management and the M.S. in Organizational Leadership. This guide explains how those four differ so you can pick the one that fits your next role.
Do You Need a Degree to Become a Manager?
Educational requirements vary by industry and position, but many management occupations list a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level requirement, according to BLS. Which credential you need next depends on your current situation, whether that is some college credit or a bachelor’s degree.
| Measure (BLS) | Management occupations |
|---|---|
| Median annual wage, May 2025 | $126,520, against $50,980 for all occupations |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | Faster than the average for all occupations |
| Projected openings per year, including replacements | About 1.1 million |
The outlook supports the investment. While education can help prepare professionals for management positions, employers often evaluate a combination of education, leadership experience and industry expertise when hiring for management roles.
BLS reports a median of $126,520 for management occupations, against $50,980 for all occupations, and projects faster-than-average growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1.1 million openings a year including replacements. These figures represent national averages and may vary by industry, employer, location and individual qualifications.
Medians in the group run from $69,250 for lodging managers to $175,140 for computer and information systems managers, and BLS lists a bachelor’s plus five or more years of related experience as the typical path for top executives.
Which Path Fits Your Starting Point?
The next step depends largely on your current education level. Professionals who have earned college credit but have not completed a bachelor’s degree typically benefit from finishing an undergraduate program first, while those who already hold a bachelor’s degree may be ready for graduate study.
Before you apply
- Bachelor’s degrees: Up to 90 transfer hours accepted at $302 per credit, fully online
- Graduate degrees: Bachelor’s degree and a 2.5 cumulative GPA (or 2.75 in your last 60 hours)
- Both MBA and M.S.: No GMAT required
If you have college credits but not a bachelor’s degree
The two bachelor’s programs prepare you for different kinds of management work.
The online BSBA is the broader business option. It has AACSB accreditation and ten elective pathways to complement your career goals, including Finance, HR Management, Marketing, Sales and Supply Chain.
The program can be a strong option for professionals who want a broad business foundation while building expertise in a specific area of interest.
The B.A. in Organizational Leadership is the people-first option. It centers on Principles of Management, Human Resources Management, Leadership and Conflict Resolution. The curriculum may appeal to professionals whose responsibilities focus primarily on team leadership, communication and workplace effectiveness.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree
Both master’s programs build on your experience, but they point in different directions.
The online MBA in Management may be a good fit for professionals whose responsibilities include budgeting, planning, operations or organizational strategy. It is AACSB accredited, 33 credits at $17,292. It adds the business toolkit for leadership: eight core courses plus three management electives such as Organization Theory, Leadership Development and Business Ethics and Social Responsibility.
Both programs can be completed in as few as 12 months and require no GMAT. Courses run for 7 weeks in fall and spring and 5 weeks in summer, a flexible format for students who work full time. This reflects published program details as of October 2026 and is subject to change; confirm current tuition, credit hours and admission requirements directly with A-State.
| Program | Best if your next role… | Focus | Credits and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSBA | Calls for broad business foundation in a specific function | Business core plus one of ten elective pathways | $302 per credit; up to 90 transfer hours |
| B.A. in Organizational Leadership | Means directing people day to day | Management, HR, leadership, conflict resolution | $302 per credit; up to 90 transfer hours |
| MBA in Management | Owns budgets, forecasts or strategy | Business core plus management electives | 33 credits; $17,292 |
| M.S. in Organizational Leadership | Leads people and teams in any function | Communication, crisis communication, leadership development | 30 credits; $10,500 |
Because all four programs are at A-State, you can plan a longer path in one place. Finishing a bachelor’s now keeps the choice between the MBA and the M.S. open later.
Is a Bachelor’s Enough, or Should You Go Straight to a Master’s?
For many management careers, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to meet the typical educational requirements. As professionals take on broader responsibilities, however, some choose to pursue a master’s degree to strengthen their qualifications and leadership skills.
If you do not yet have a bachelor’s, it comes first, because A-State requires one plus a 2.5 cumulative GPA (or 2.75 in your last 60 hours) for graduate admission. Two signs it is time for the master’s:
- You manage budgets, forecasts or other managers and want the finance and strategy vocabulary.
- You have been promoted, or are about to be, and want a credential an employer recognizes.
If you plan to advance with a regional employer, it helps that the Neil Griffin College of Business convenes local leaders. Its 2025 Catalyst forum in Jonesboro featured leaders from Big River Steel, Nucor, Hytrol and St. Bernards Healthcare.
Can You Become a Manager Without a Business Degree?
Yes: BLS lists management occupations inside healthcare, education and engineering, such as medical and health services managers and architectural and engineering managers. For readers from those fields, the MBA supplies the business core, which A-State’s Management MBA learning objectives lay out in more detail. MBA General graduate April Oliver, a former medical laboratory scientist, described the program’s Graduate Business Fundamentals course this way: “You get a little bit of accounting, economics, finance, marketing, … so that it brings everyone from all the different backgrounds into the business arena.”
Both graduate programs develop leadership capabilities, but they emphasize different aspects of management. The MBA places greater emphasis on business operations, financial decision-making and organizational strategy, while the M.S. in Organizational Leadership focuses more heavily on communication, leadership development and team effectiveness.
Professionals from a wide range of backgrounds pursue management careers, including healthcare, engineering, education and technical fields. In many cases, the decision between an MBA and an organizational leadership degree depends on whether the role emphasizes business operations and strategic decision-making or focuses primarily on leading people and teams. Reviewing job postings for your target role can help identify the education, experience and skills employers commonly seek.
Choose the Program That Matches Your Next Step
Start with the credits you hold today: finish a bachelor’s if you have credits but no degree, or choose a master’s if you already have one. Either way, you begin from what you’ve already earned rather than starting over.
From there, let the work of your next role guide the choice. Pick a business-focused program if your path runs through budgets and strategy, or a leadership-focused program if it’s about guiding people.
Explore Arkansas State University’s online MBA-Management, online M.S. in Organizational Leadership, online B.A. in Organizational Leadership or Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m a nurse. Can I move into healthcare management?
Yes. The MBA offers a Healthcare Administration concentration for that move, and the M.S. in Organizational Leadership suits nurse leaders who mostly guide clinical teams.
Are soft skills more important than a degree?
Both matter: a degree is the credential some employers ask for, and leadership skill shows in how you run the team. The M.S. core includes Leadership Development and Management Development Strategies, and the MBA-Management electives offer both courses.
I’m an engineer or technician. Do I need an MBA to manage?
Not always, but the MBA suits engineers who will own budgets and strategy, and the M.S. suits those who will mainly lead technical teams.
What will each path cost?
The BSBA and the B.A. are $302 per credit with fees included, and transfer credits the university accepts, up to 90 hours, reduce what you pay. The M.S. totals $10,500 and the MBA totals $17,292, the same in every state.
Can you complete a degree while working full time?
Yes, the format allows it: every program is fully online, with 7-week courses in fall and spring and 5-week courses in summer.
Which concentration should I choose inside the MBA?
The MBA offers multiple concentrations, and the General program lets you choose nine elective credits from topics such as financial planning and analysis, marketing and supply chain management. The management emphasis concentrates those credits on three leadership courses. If your goal is leading people in a general business setting, the Management emphasis is the closest match.
BLS figures are national medians and projections for management occupations; no degree guarantees a job, salary, promotion or admission, and tuition is subject to change.