Business Administration Degrees: Why Corporate America Still Loves MBAs

An MBA offers a massive — and often immediate — return on your investment. Consider the following figures: 

• Most people in management occupations earn around six figures, which for most people would be a significant increase in earnings.
  
  
• MBA holders have median earnings that are more than twice those of bachelor’s degree graduates.
  
  
• MBA holders earn¹, on average, two raises and two promotions each year.
  
  
• Master’s degree graduates have very low unemployment of just 2.6%.
  
  
• MBA graduates may be even more in demand during economic downturns because their financial and business expertise can shepherd a business through a crisis. 

¹ https://studyonline.uts.edu.au/blog/do-you-know-how-ask-raise-mba-holder 

Did you know that approximately 40% of  S&P 500 CEOs have MBAs? According to Dr. Keith Toles Jr. of Southern Nazarene University, an MBA is an exceptional tool for breaking through career ceilings because it shows that you are committed to your work and you’ll bring real expertise to the job. 

An MBA offers a solid foundation that can help you thrive in virtually any setting. Businesses know this and are clamoring to hire MBA grads because of the diverse and valuable skill sets they bring, including: 

• Critical thinking and analysis: A complicated world demands flexibility and the ability to think clearly and critically about the myriad of problems businesses face.
  
  
• The ability to lead diverse teams: Good leaders have exceptional communication skills and the ability to work well with many different groups.
  
  
• A disruptive, innovative approach: Doing things the way they’ve always been done is what causes businesses to stagnate. MBA graduates learn new approaches in school and can inspire organizations to test them out.
  
  
• An entrepreneurial (or intrapreneurial) spirit: You might think the entrepreneurial spirit is only valuable if you want to start your own business. But it also helps companies thrive because it encourages innovation, independent problem-solving, and a growth mindset.
  
  
• The ability to merge theory and practice: SNU’s capstone project supports MBA students to put their theoretical knowledge to work in the real world. MBA graduates think flexibly about the world, quickly analyzing information and solving problems.
  
  
• The ability to multitask: You can work and go to school, especially at a school like SNU that caters to adult learners. This offers immediate additional value to employers and allows you to immediately apply your knowledge in the real world. 
  
  

An MBA is like any other degree: It offers the knowledge you need to thrive in your chosen field as well as plenty of opportunities for networking and cultivating soft skills. But it is not magic. Simply going through the motions in class is not enough. You’ll need to work hard, earn good grades, network in school, and enter a field in which an MBA is beneficial. 

Here are some strategies that can help you succeed as an MBA student.

If you are willing to put in the work, then an MBA may be the best investment you ever make. It shows commitment to your current workplace. It can also open new career doors. MBAs are also incredibly flexible. You’ll find MBA graduates in business, government, nonprofits, even education. If you’re the independent sort, an MBA offers exceptional training that can prepare you to start your own company. 

According to data from MBA.com, MBA graduates earn 75% more over the course of their lives than students with just a bachelor’s degree. 

Some strategies to embrace to maximize the value of your investment include: 

• Immerse yourself in the business world early, learning as much as you can. Great business podcasts and business books can help you begin thinking critically about business and finance. 
  
  
• Network often and early. Remember that networking is about offering real value and fostering meaningful relationships, not just meeting as many people as possible. SNU’s cohort model helps you build a meaningful professional network. 
  
  
• Get to know your professors. They can guide your studies, offer useful feedback, and become a valuable part of your professional network. 
  
  
• Get involved at school. Making more connections means developing a deeper professional network. 
  
  
• Earn good grades. Grades matter; they show commitment and business acumen. 
  
  
• Talk to your employer about your future plans. You may find that enrolling in an MBA program opens career doors even before you graduate. 
  
  
• Explore internship and summer work opportunities so you can accumulate experience as quickly and early as possible. 

Weighing an MBA versus an MOL? Compare the MBA program to other options for aspiring business leaders who want recession-proof careers.

The benefits of an MBA program are immense, but not all programs deliver the high value you deserve. At SNU, students gain access to a rigorous, challenging curriculum that people across industries respect.

Learn from real experts. 

All of our instructors are scholar-practitioners, well versed in theory and its real-world implications. Some of the industries our instructors are leaders in include: marketing, information technology, healthcare, finance, and law.

Some of the experts who teach in our program include:

• Dr. Keith Toles Jr., Serial Entrepreneur
• Dr. Kayla Doiron, Director of Graduate Programs at the College of Law
• Dr. Ciera  Hill-Fleming, Contract Manager
• Dr. Rick Wallace, Former CEO (30 years of experience)
• Dr. Jose Santos, Systems Engineering Manager

This is just a small sampling of the experts you’ll learn from and the professional relationships you’ll gain the opportunity to nurture. Our diversified roster of instructors offers a vast professional network that can help you build your career across locations and industries. No matter who you are or where you hope to go, there’s likely an instructor who has occupied the role you hope to attain one day. 

Get support to master business basics. 

Math is challenging for many students. Some haven’t cracked open a textbook in decades, so their skills are a little rusty. Others may have always struggled in math. Though math is an important part of a business degree, it’s not the whole story. You don’t need to be a math whiz to succeed, and the MBA program requires no advanced math. 

At SNU, we want students to succeed — not flounder in classes that feel overwhelming. This is why we offer the eight-week Business Essentials class. This leveling course can help fill in knowledge gaps for all learners with a deep dive into finance, accounting, legal, and business basics. 

Be treated like a unique individual who matters. 

Widely known universities may have name recognition — but is the reputation worth what you get in return? At a big school, you may be just a number. At SNU, you’re a whole person whose life experience matters, not just a student. Our Christian values center the well-being and needs of each student. Our small class sizes allow you to build a one-on-one relationship with instructors, nurturing a substantive professional network that involves more than just LinkedIn connections. 

At SNU, there are no teaching assistants. The instructor is the face of the course. They get to know you, and they challenge you. Our classes encourage creative, free-thinking, so you can learn how to innovate. They also prepare you to face the practical realities of business life, drawing on the hard-won experience of experts in the field. 

Flexible Learning Options 

Returning to school can be challenging. You may need to take time off of work, line up childcare, and juggle many different roles. At SNU, students focus on a single course at a time. This allows you to dig deeply into the material without ignoring the rest of your life. The result is often better grades and greater work-life balance. 

Our flexible degree programs allow you to take classes online or complete your program with just one in-person night per week. 

We also know that networking when you return to school can be challenging — which is why we offer a cohort model. Learn in community with other returning students. Support each other. Study together. And when you’re finished, become one another’s professional network. Your cohort may advocate for you for the rest of your career. 

SNU is deeply committed to its students, and the results speak for themselves. Our students enter the upper echelons of business, government, and the nonprofit world. You can, too.  

Ready to take the next step? Apply now! Learn more about your funding options by contacting our Financial Aid Office.