Is an MBA still worth it in 2026?

"Get an MBA" used to be the default advice for people itching to climb the career ladder. These days, the path to career growth isn't quite so straightforward.

For one, job ads don't look the same as they did five years ago. Communication and leadership will never go out of style, but employers are also looking for expertise in new areas, such as AI business strategy and marketing plan development.¹ Professionals also have more ways to add to their toolkit, from online certificates to specialized master's degrees. Ultimately, whether an MBA is worth it depends on your goals.

This blog post explores how an MBA can shape your career path and affect your long-term earnings in today's job market.

Is an MBA still worth it in today's job market? 

If you're interested in a business career, you're probably used to weighing costs against potential rewards.

The upfront costs for a graduate business degree can be steep, especially at leading schools. According to Poets&Quants, 21 out of the top 25 full-time MBA programs charge at least $100,000 annually for tuition and other expenses.²

Of course, a pricey MBA isn't necessarily a bad investment. The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)'s 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey found that 99% of employers expressed confidence in graduate management degrees. That positive perception is shaping recruitment, with 90% of respondents saying they planned to hire MBA talent in 2025.³

Money isn't the only factor to consider, though. A graduate degree also requires a significant investment of time. You may need to spend your Friday nights working on group projects or give up Sunday brunch with friends to keep up with homework. Even people with strong time management can't always do everything at once.

How valuable is an MBA for career advancement? 

An MBA is more than another line on your resume. It can help you make the leap from a technical role into a leadership one.

Early on, professionals often focus on completing tasks. For example, a marketing assistant may create TikTok videos, while a financial analyst tracks a budget. These jobs require technical knowledge, but they usually don't involve much leadership or strategizing.

An MBA builds on these skills by helping professionals zoom out and think more strategically. It teaches advanced skills, such as:

• Critical thinking
• Digital marketing
• Quantitative analysis 
• Operational efficiency
• Strategic vision 

Sharpening your business skills can give you a competitive edge and can even lead to the very top of the career ladder. One study found that 69% of CEOs in the United States have an MBA.⁴

Student outcomes and long-term value

For many, the value of an MBA lies in its salary.

MBA graduates earn an average base salary and signing bonus totaling around $121,000. At the top 10 programs with the highest compensation, graduates earn over $200,000 on average.⁵ Even modest salary bumps can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.

Calculate your personal return on investment (ROI) by adding up everything you'll spend on your MBA. That includes tuition, books, fees, daycare costs, loan interest, and lost income if you take time off work.

Then, use salary data and job ads to estimate your earnings with an MBA. For instance, if you want to become a consultant, look at what firms pay entry-level and mid-career professionals. Estimate your potential earnings over 20 years, then subtract what you'll spend on your MBA. This is your ROI.

Repeat the same process to estimate your earning potential without an MBA and compare the numbers. If the ROI of an MBA is significantly higher, you may consider the degree well worth it.

Leadership and networking opportunities 

The connections you make as an MBA student can help you level up your business career beyond your paycheck.

Many MBA programs group students into cohorts. You'll take classes and work on projects with the same group of people throughout your degree. These relationships often turn into lifelong professional networks. Someone who helps you study for a business ethics exam today may recommend you for a role at their company five years later.

This degree also helps build soft skills that employers often value. For example, you'll strengthen your team management as you coordinate group projects with classmates who all have different schedules and work styles. Professors may also use role-playing exercises and other activities to develop your strategic decision-making skills.

What is the value of an MBA across different industries? 

Prospective students often wonder whether an MBA is valuable outside of finance and consulting. The MBA, is in fact, highly flexible, giving professionals the opportunity to solve complex problems across industries.

Graduates often pursue careers in healthcare and tech.⁶ As a hospital administrator, for instance, you could use your knowledge of operational efficiency to shorten appointment wait times. In tech, strong leadership skills could lead to a career as a product marketing manager or head of sales.

Entrepreneurship is another option. Around 5% of MBAs immediately launch their own business.⁶ This degree gives you the business acumen to plan your strategy, along with the interpersonal skills to woo investors.

Key signs an MBA is valuable for your specific goals 

An MBA might be right for you if:

• You've recently hit a career plateau
• You want to transition into a new industry
• You're eager to grow your professional network 
• You crave the structure and camaraderie of a formal program
   

A flexible online program can help you achieve these goals while keeping your current job. Asynchronous courses allow you to learn anytime, anywhere, so your education fits your lifestyle.

Accelerate your career with an online MBA from the University of Kansas 

Increase your career mobility with the University of Kansas's Online MBA. The rigorous curriculum teaches flexible skills, including business analytics, digital marketing, people management, and supply chain coordination. Active business leaders and industry experts with practical experience teach each class and share their firsthand experience with you.

Get started by exploring our program and filling out an application. You can also schedule an appointment with an admissions outreach advisor or contact the School of Business for more information.