When Should I Earn My MBA?

Some people feel that it’s easiest to earn their MBA right after finishing their undergrad when they’re still in a school frame of mind and routine.

If you have very little work experience, earning an MBA can help you develop leadership skills, expand your network and expose you the workings of industries within your field that you may not have considered.

Earning your MBA after a few years of work experience could be the right move for you. Perhaps you received a job offer right out of undergrad or felt that you wanted to spend some time in the field before making your decision.

For many people, waiting to earn their MBA means that they’ve had a chance to assess what they want out of their career and have determined that an MBA could be a great next step. Considering your options a few years into your career can help you decide the best course of action for you and your goals.

Continuing your education can mean the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the industry you’re in. One of the benefits of an MBA is that it may help you prepare to pursue opportunities in your current company or other roles in your industry that may require advanced degrees.

If you feel like you’ve gotten all you can out of your current position, pursuing an MBA may be a good way to gain the knowledge and skills you need to take the next step.

An MBA, with or without a specialization, can be a highly flexible degree that can help you prepare for many different types of careers. One of the benefits of an MBA is having the opportunity to learn skills like leadership or management that can be applied across many industries. With an MBA degree, you may be able to pursue careers in fields as diverse as healthcare, software, government or accounting and finance, depending on your interests.

Pursing an MBA can make sense even if you don’t yet know exactly where you want to land. If you’re looking to make a career change but haven’t yet decided on a direction, pursuing your MBA may help you narrow down your options.

In many MBA programs, you can explore aspects of different industries to find what appeals to you. You may decide to pursue finance or accounting to develop your knack for numbers, or perhaps you’ll discover a love for marketing. Earning an MBA can be an excellent way to refine your interests as you look for a new career direction.

Deciding to pursue your MBA is the first step – but balancing school, work and other obligations is probably a close second.

Some schools and programs offer built-in resources for MBA students, which may include support such as:

At DeVry, we’re committed to supporting you in your academic and career goals. You can earn your Master’s of Business Administration in as little as 2 years and 2 months, or even more quickly with qualifying credits*. Classes start every 8 weeks.