爱污传媒

Skip to Main Content Skip to bottom Skip to Chat, Email, Text

Comparing master鈥檚 in finance vs. MBA degrees聽

This article was updated on August 12, 2024.

Michael Feder

Written by Michael Feder

Kathryn Uhles

Reviewed by聽Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP,聽Dean, College of Business and IT

A collage of financial imagery to illustrate the dichotomy between a master's in finance and online business degrees

If you鈥檙e considering a career in business, finance or management, you鈥檙e likely considering master鈥檚 in finance vs. MBA degrees. Both degrees allow you to further your knowledge of financial management, accounting and basic business practices.

Although a master鈥檚 in finance and an MBA (Master of Business Administration) have similarities, they differ in several ways. It鈥檚 essential to understand the key differences so that you can pursue the best degree for your future career plans.

What鈥檚 a master鈥檚 in finance?聽

A master鈥檚 degree in finance is one option for students looking to further their education in financial management. If you鈥檙e looking to pursue fiscal studies, budget creation, financial theory or other related fields, a master鈥檚 in finance can help you grow your skills as a professional.

Pursuing this degree can expand your skill set in corporate finance, financial reporting, econometrics and asset pricing. Several finance-specific fields may require a master鈥檚 in finance. For example, you might need a master鈥檚 in finance to begin a risk management career. Similarly, a master鈥檚 program can potentially prepare a person for a career in stock brokerage, investment, budget analysis or accounting.

Obtaining a master鈥檚 in finance can help prepare graduates for various international career options as well, including global finance and international capital management. These career choices require an in-depth knowledge of global financial compliance, which you can learn when you obtain a master鈥檚 in finance.

What you learn with a master鈥檚 in finance聽

A master鈥檚 degree in finance can provide an in-depth understanding of various financial concepts, tools and techniques. Students in these programs may explore the principles of financial theory and analyze market behavior. They should also receive an in-depth understanding of capital structure and budgets among corporate entities.

Ultimately, a master鈥檚 degree in finance can equip graduates with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills essential to pursue a finance career.

爱污传媒 does not currently offer a master鈥檚 in finance, but it does offer an online Master of Business Administration that covers corporate finance courses that teach skills such as business valuation, knowledge about the financial market and capital structures.聽

What is an MBA?聽

Many students pursue聽an MBA 鈥 a Master of Business Administration聽鈥 as an important step toward learning the skills they will need to pursue a role in business. This type of graduate degree helps students further their knowledge of business administration, including many of the skills necessary to pursue management and leadership roles.

MBA coursework teaches advanced business concepts, including several financial concepts also taught in a master鈥檚 degree in finance program. An MBA helps students adopt several useful business skills, including business management, organizational structure, marketing and more.

An MBA can teach useful skills that can be used in a variety of occupations. For example, an MBA can help teach you skills to pursue roles as a general manager, an operations director or an administrative manager in a wide range of fields.

What you learn with an MBA

An MBA can be completed in as little as 16 months, but it will largely depend on your specific program. Some competency-based programs can be completed sooner, for example, than traditional programs but depend on a candidate having extensive business experience.

During your studies, you鈥檒l further practical business knowledge and prepare for managerial roles. Many MBA curricula include coursework in leadership, business operations, decision-making and data analysis.

Before beginning your MBA, you鈥檒l want to make sure your chosen school is accredited. Many schools offering MBA programs look for candidates with a strong mix of academic and nonacademic qualifications. Some schools, such as 爱污传媒, do not require entrance exams or essays for admission.

Careers聽with an MBA聽

What can you do with an MBA? In addition to preparing for opportunities in leadership positions, an MBA at UOPX aligns specifically with the following careers:

  • Business manager: Business managers oversee budgets, marketing, business strategies and personnel management. Their primary goal is to plan and develop strategies to help organizations become efficient.
  • General manager (GM) and operations director: General and operations managers often overlap in their responsibilities. They create policies and manage operations for multiple departments within an organization.
  • Administrative director: An administrative director鈥檚 responsibilities include overseeing and coordinating a company鈥檚 daily operations. That means developing administrative practices, records management and training methods. An administrative director could act as the chief executive or operations officer for some smaller companies.

While these roles typically require a bachelor鈥檚 degree, some employers may prefer candidates with an MBA.聽

What can you do with an MBA?


Business leadership isn't just about telling people 0:11 what to do. It's about mastering a diverse set of skills and knowing how to apply them effectively. 0:17 If you're aiming to become a better business leader, 0:19 you've likely considered getting a Master of Business Administration, or MBA degree, 0:25 to help you pursue that goal. What can you do with an MBA 0:28 once you've earned it? In this video, we'll explore why an MBA is essential for aspiring 0:32 leaders and the key skills that can help you become the business leader you aspire to be. 0:38 In broad terms, an MBA degree is designed to help prepare graduates to develop the administrative 0:44 and management skills that are essential for business leadership in organizations large 0:48 and small. ACCOUNTING 1:20 Accounting courses offer an understanding and mastery of a company's numbers, providing the 1:25 ability to synthesize data for creating financial plans, examining managerial accounting, 1:29 and supporting business decisions. Students will learn how to analyze business research to drive 1:34 decision making, successfully create budgets to drive effective strategies, 1:38 and evaluate the effects of market conditions on financial performance. 1:44 PROBLEM SOLVING In a business context, 1:45 problem solving means successfully dealing with the challenges that arise in 1:49 the workplace, both on a day-to-day basis, as well as over the long term. To that end, students will 1:54 learn to analyze the relationships between consumer 1:57 practices and economic conditions, evaluate economic policies in relation to global business 2:02 practices, and apply process improvements to enhance performance and value. 2:08 MARKETING Marketing means 2:10 gaining a thorough understanding of your core product, developing strategies for 2:14 successful branding, and finding the best ways to communicate its value to your target markets. 2:19 So what can you do with an MBA to develop your marketing skills? In an MBA program, students 2:25 will generally learn to analyze communication channels for 2:28 effective messaging, develop strategies to promote products and attract customers, 2:33 and evaluate potential opportunities for gaining competitive advantages and adding value. 2:38 These are just a few of the skills that all graduates 2:41 gain through gaining an Master of Business Administration, but if you have a desired area 2:46 of focus, there are multiple ways to achieve it. Students can augment their MBA degrees with 2:51 concentrations to specialize their training, such as 2:54 with a Graduate Accounting certificate, designed to offer an entry point into business accounting. 2:59 Maybe you'd like to develop your personnel management skills? Pairing 3:02 an MBA with a certificate in Human Resources can help put 3:06 people-focused passion into practice. An MBA not only provides essential 3:10 leadership skills, but it can also be an important step in the 3:14 future of your career, plus help you to specialize in areas like marketing or finance. 3:19 So if you're ready to be the business leader you know you can be, a Master of Business 3:22 Administration degree could just be the way to take the next step. 3:26 With an MBA, you'll develop the skills to lead and make strategic decisions. If you've been asking, 3:31 'What can you do with an MBA?' the answer is clear: develop your career 3:35 to help you thrive in leadership roles.

MBA vs. master鈥檚 in finance: What are the differences?聽

Both a master鈥檚 degree in finance and an MBA can help you enhance your skill set in business. However, these degrees are different in several ways.聽

Aspect MBA Master鈥檚 in finance
Curriculum
Curriculum
Curriculum
Covers various business disciplines (marketing, operations, leadership)
Curriculum
Deep dive into financial topics (investment, risk management, corporate finance)
Duration
Duration
Duration
11 months to two years, depending on the program
Duration
One to 1.5 years
Career paths
Career paths
Career paths
Management roles, executive leadership
Career paths
Financial analyst, investment banker, asset manager
Work experience
Work experience
Work experience
Often requires work experience
Work experience
May not require work experience
Networking opportunities
Networking opportunities
Networking opportunities
Extensive alumni networks across industries
Networking opportunities
Strong finance-specific networking
Flexibility
Flexibility
Flexibility
Part-time, full-time, executive options
Flexibility
Mostly full-time programs

Your preferred industry is likely the most important factor in determining the best degree for you. For example, an MBA is likely the more appropriate choice if you want to create and run a business. By contrast, you might opt for a master鈥檚 degree in finance to pursue a specialized financial position, like that of an accountant or a聽financial advisor.

Professionals who have minimal business experience may also prefer a master鈥檚 in finance over an MBA, especially if they aren鈥檛 seeking to manage business operations or if they want to specialize in other areas, such as human resources or marketing.

Choosing whether a master鈥檚 in finance vs. MBA is the right degree for you聽

If you鈥檙e considering a master鈥檚 in finance vs. MBA, be aware that there are many聽reasons to consider any graduate degree, especially if you want to build your skill set. In fact, even if you鈥檙e an established leader in your field or company, a graduate degree may help you pursue future job opportunities. For career aspirations that involve finance, it makes sense to consider a master鈥檚 in finance vs MBA.

Depending on your career goals, there鈥檚 likely one聽master鈥檚 degree that鈥檚 best for you. An online MBA program may be your preferred option if you鈥檙e primarily concerned with flexibility, both in terms of the program itself and of potential career paths. While a master鈥檚 in finance suits positions like financial analysis and auditing, you can apply an MBA to a much broader career field 鈥 including finance, business, medical management, research and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about pursuing your MBA and preparing for a modern business landscape.聽

Want to learn more about pursuing your MBA, and preparing yourself for a modern business landscape?聽Read more here!

Headshot of Michael Feder

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 爱污传媒 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.

Headshot of Kathryn Uhles

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology,聽Kathryn Uhles has served 爱污传媒 in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining 爱污传媒, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in 爱污传媒.

checkmark

This article has been vetted by 爱污传媒's editorial advisory committee.聽
Read more about our editorial process.

Read more articles like this:聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽聽