MBA vs. Master’s Degree: What’s the Difference?

What Is an MBA Degree?

MBA stands for Master of Business Administration, a type of master’s degree. Business administration is “a program of studies in a college or university providing general knowledge of business principles and practices.”1 So, by definition, an MBA degree program is a type of graduate-level degree program focused on general business knowledge and skills that are applicable to an array of industries. As such, MBA degree program curricula include courses from various business disciplines—for example, marketing, accounting, economics and finance. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of MBA degree programs, the MBA is widely considered a “versatile” degree—in other words, having an MBA means that the degree holder has studied and worked to develop a broad set of business knowledge and skills that is transferable to various industries and roles.

Types of MBA Degree Programs

Different types of MBA degree programs may appeal to different types of people.

MBA Plus a Specialization or Concentration

Some MBA degree programs offer students the ability to pursue a degree specialization or concentration, such as finance, marketing, entrepreneurship or strategy. In such cases, rather than choosing electives based on personal interest or other factors, students take a certain number of pre-selected courses related to the chosen business specialization or concentration. However, choosing a specialization or concentration is typically not required, and not all MBA degree programs offer this option.

EMBA Degree Programs

Some institutions may offer executive MBA, or EMBA, degree programs. While EMBA degree programs do share some similarities with MBA degree programs, EMBA programs are geared toward individuals who have more substantial work experience than the “typical” MBA student. Though there is no hard-and-fast rule regarding how many years of work experience are required for an EMBA vs. MBA degree program, a search of EMBA degree program admissions requirements reveals that they may require a minimum of anywhere from six to ten years of work experience.

The GMAC Application Trends Survey 2023 Summary Report also supports this general observation. With respect to 2023 applicants,

• 42% of applicants to full-time MBA degree programs had 2 to 6 years of work experience, while 25% had 6 to 10.
• 32% of applicants to professional MBA degree programs (meaning online, flexible and part-time programs) had 2 to 6 years of experience, while 24% had 6 to 10.
• 23% of applicants to EMBA degree programs had 6 to 10 years of experience, while 69% had 10 or more.²

MBA Dual Degree Programs

MBA dual degree programs allow a student to pursue two graduate degrees at the same time. One example is an MBA-JD dual degree program, where students concurrently pursue a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor (a law degree).

MBA vs. Master’s Degree in Another Business Field: How Are They Different?

There are general differences between MBA and specialized business degree programs in terms of academic background requirements and work experience requirements. There are also differences in terms of depth and breadth.

MBA vs. Master Degree: Undergraduate Field of Study

One difference between MBA degree programs and master’s degree programs in other business fields of study is that the former does not typically require applicants to hold an undergraduate business degree, such as a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) or Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). Rather, a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, so long as it was conferred by an accredited college or university, is typically sufficient—with the caveat that such applicants may need to take a competency exam or complete extra business courses to account for any gaps in foundational business knowledge.

In contrast, specialized master’s degree programs in accounting or finance, for example, may require that applicants already hold a bachelor’s degree in that specific subject.

MBA vs. Master Degree: Work Experience

Some MBA degree programs require applicants to possess post-college work experience. The amount of work experience required can vary, from as little as one to two years, to as much as five or six, depending upon the institution. Some programs, like American InterContinental University’s Master of Business Administration degree program, may not have work experience requirements.

Specialized master’s degree programs in other business fields tend not to have work experience requirements. Rather, such programs routinely accept recent college graduates who have earned a degree in the same or a closely related field.

MBA vs. Master Degree: Field of Study—Depth vs. Breadth

As discussed above, MBA degree programs are designed to help students work to develop their general business knowledge and skills. These programs are focused on developing business students’ breadth of knowledge by ensuring that they are exposed to a wide range of business-related concepts and functions. While MBA students may have the option to focus their studies by pursuing a specialization or concentration as opposed to choosing their own electives, this does not rise to the level of pursuing a master’s degree program in a specific business discipline.

Specialized master’s degree programs, meanwhile, are focused on developing a student’s depth of knowledge, or expertise, in a particular business discipline. For example, students pursuing a master’s degree program in accounting can expect to take courses on accounting, taxation, data analytics and other closely related topics. Electives might provide an opportunity to study topics such as marketing or entrepreneurship, but the overall focus of the program is not on developing general business skills and knowledge—it is on developing specialized accounting skills and knowledge.

MBA vs. Master’s Degree: Factors to Consider

Much of what we have just discussed are factors that should play a role in your evaluation of which type of master’s degree program to pursue. To recap, these factors are:

• Your academic background
• Your work experience
• Your level of interest in developing general business skills and knowledge vs. specialized, narrowly tailored business skills and knowledge

But another factor we have not yet covered is your desired career path—namely, whether employers in your chosen field typically prefer an MBA or a specialized business degree. An MBA’s versatility can be a “pro” for certain employers, particularly if you are interested in pursuing management or leadership positions. However, if your desired career path involves having very specialized knowledge and skills, then you may need to do additional research and compare the pros and cons of pursuing an MBA degree vs. a specialized business degree.

Master’s degree program costs are yet another factor to consider. The cost of an MBA degree program could end up being lower or higher than a different business degree program for various reasons: total credit hour requirements, cost per credit differences, eligibility for transfer-in credits, etc. It is up to you to assess your financial situation and what you are able and willing to take on.

Check out AIU’s Online MBA Degree Program

American InterContinental University offers a convenient, 100% online MBA degree program designed for busy adults. Students have the flexibility to pursue their degree full time, part time or at an accelerated pace. Additionally, students may be eligible to receive transfer credit for prior learning or experience, which can help reduce overall time to degree and tuition costs.* It may be possible to complete the Master of Business Administration degree program in as few as 12 months (or less). The MBA degree program, like all business programs at American InterContinental University, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

AIU also offers online master’s degree programs in education, healthcare management and information technology (IT). Explore our full range of online master’s degree programs today, or apply now.

* Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

¹ Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, “Business administration,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/business%20administration (last visited May 7, 2025).
² Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), “Application Trends Survey, 2023 Summary Report,” Figure 20 (Oct. 2023), https://www.gmac.com/market-intelligence-and-research/research-library/admissions-and-application-trends/2023-application-trends-survey-report.

AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2136804 6/2025