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MBA Comparisons
MBA vs. MBA Healthcare Management vs. MBA IT Management
Ready to Level Up In Your Business Career?
Get started on an MBA or MSML from WGU.
What is an MBA?
A Master of Business Administration is a versatile degree that can be applied to many different industries. By offering a comprehensive background in the basics of business and the key tenets of being a successful manager, an MBA is an excellent degree option for those who are ready to advance their careers and want to make an impression on employers and hiring managers.
WGU offers three MBA options for prospective students to choose from: an MBA in IT Management, an MBA in Healthcare Management, and a traditional MBA program.
Business
Master of Business Administration
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management,...
The flexible MBA program you need, focused on business management, strategy, and leading teams:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Leadership strategies
- Talent management
- Communication
- Data collection and interpretation
- Financial statements
Our competency-based model gives you an innovative learning experience you won't find anywhere else—and our MBA grads tell us they loved accelerating their program to see a faster ROI.
Business
MBA Healthcare Management
Prepare for a career leading private or public healthcare organizations....
Prepare for a career leading private or public healthcare organizations.
- Time: WGU lets you set a schedule so you can finish your MBA in just one year.
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Regulatory compliance
- Patient care improvement
- Service line development
- Healthcare trends
- Health policy and legislation
Healthcare is big business in today's complex economy. Steer your career with this specialty MBA.
Compare online business degrees
This program is not the only online business degree WGU offers that is designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Business
MBA Information Technology Management
Earn the online college degree that can move your career into IT upper...
Earn the online college degree that can move your career into IT upper management:
- Time: Graduates can finish in 12 months
- Tuition: $4,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program
Sample careers and jobs this business degree will prepare you for:
- Management
- Project Management
- Leadership
- Innovation
- Communications
- Information Systems Security
Learn to navigate emergencies, execute strategies, and optimize systems with the competencies within this specialty MBA.
Which MBA is Right for Me?
The MBA that best fits your career path depends on your interests and the industry you hope to work in. The differences between these programs and the career outcomes they offer will help you decide which program is right for you.
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
WGU’s traditional Master of Business Administration is designed to help you become a business leader, equipping you with the skills and credentials you need to be successful. By focusing on categories such as management, strategy, advanced business concepts, communication, and effective leadership skills, you can get the experience and education you need to advance within your current company or forge an entirely new career. The courses in this program explore:
- Managing organizations and people
- Communication
- Operations management
- Global economics
- Marketing
- Accounting for business leaders
- Ethical leadership
- Financial management
- Data-driven decision-making
Who Should Earn an MBA Degree at WGU?
Pursuing an MBA is a great option for people who want to move into management, whether they currently work in an industry where they can ascend to this level or they’re new to their career path of choice and want to set themselves up for success. It’s also a great choice for those who may have trouble getting promoted in their current company due to their lack of education. And for those who want to change career directions to focus more on business, an MBA can help them make that shift.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - IT Management
WGU’s Master of Business Administration in Information Technology Management covers many of the same business fundamentals as our traditional MBA program but also offers additional courses that explore how these concepts tie into an IT role. Alongside courses on management solutions, leadership, project management, and more, there are also strategic and management courses that address the demands of the IT industry and the leadership skills required for that field. The courses in this program include:
- Marketing
- Global economics for managers
- IT project management
- Managing human capital
- Accounting for decision makers
- Ethical leadership
- Data-driven decision-making
- IT strategic solutions
Who Should Earn an MBA in IT Management at WGU?
An MBA in IT Management is a great option for those who are currently working in an IT career and want to step into a management role. It’s also an excellent option for IT professionals who want to be involved in strategic business decisions and leading technical teams, as they can learn valuable lessons in business concepts and management solutions. And for those who want to learn some core elements of IT so they can transition into management and oversee their company’s IT department, this degree can open the right doors. Learn more about the MBA IT Management and M.S. IT Management degree programs at WGU.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Healthcare Management
WGU’s Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management covers many of the same business fundamentals as the traditional MBA program but includes a few courses that address how these concepts relate to a role in healthcare. There are strategic and management courses that are specifically crafted to explore the unique needs of healthcare industry roles, while also looking at regulations and leadership skills that can help you excel in the field. The courses in this program include:
- Marketing
- Managing organizations and leading people
- Operations management
- Accreditation audit
- Service line development
- Accounting for decision makers
- Ethical leadership
- Financial management
- Data-driven decision-making
- Global economics for managers
Who Should Earn an MBA in Healthcare Management at WGU?
An MBA in Healthcare Management is an ideal degree option for those who currently work in healthcare, whether they work directly with patients or not, and want to level up into management positions. Those in fields related to healthcare, such as industry partners and equipment providers, can also benefit from this degree by learning more about healthcare and the systems that keep it functioning to support them in management positions. You can compare all the healthcare leadership programs at WGU to determine your best fit.
"Take the time to invest in yourself and develop new skills and knowledge. Going back to school to get my B.A. and MBA was one of the best decisions I made. I have no regrets over my decision to invest in myself and further my education. Plus, I did not have any student debt after graduation with WGU keeping tuition so affordable."
—Sandra Barber
MBA
MBA Career Options
Being that an MBA is a general business leadership degree, it can prepare you for a variety of management and leadership positions in different industries.
- Project Manager
- Career Counselor
- Business Analyst
- Sports Management
- Sales Representative
- Marketing Manager
- Restaurant Manager
- Executive Recruiter
- Guest Relations Manager
- Government
- Nonprofits
- Fortune 500 Companies
- Small Businesses
- Retail
- Restaurant
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Hospitality
MBA IT Management Career Options
An MBA in IT Management is a great degree for those who want to become a manager or leader in an IT-specific field or organization. But it doesn’t always have to be a tech-focused organization; many different kinds of companies have managers who work with IT or technical teams. An MBA in IT Management can be key in helping you prepare for these roles.
- IT Manager
- IT Director
- Management Information Systems (MIS) Director
- Chief Technology Officer
- Chief Operating Officer of a tech company
- Chief Executive Officer of a tech company
- Computer and Information Systems Manager
Some of the industries where an MBA in IT Management can be helpful include:
- Software Development
- Tech Companies
- IT Departments in any leading company
- Financial Institutions
- Government
MBA in Healthcare Management Career Options
An MBA in Healthcare Management is a fantastic choice for those who want to become a manager or leader in a healthcare organization. Because the healthcare industry deals with a very specific regulatory process, it’s important to have a deep understanding of how the industry works so you can become an effective leader—which is why these aspects of healthcare are studied in our healthcare management MBA program.
- Nursing Home Manager
- Healthcare Manager
- Healthcare Administration
- Hospital CEO
- Clinical Manager
- Health Department Director
- Care Case Manager
- Medical Insurance Underwriter
- Patient Experience Manager
- Community Health Manager
- Healthcare Program Manager
- ACO Administrator
Some of the professional arenas where an MBA in Healthcare Management can be helpful include:
- Hospitals
- Urgent Care Facilities
- Clinics
- Private Practices
- Med Spas
- Hospice Care
- Retirement Facilities
Why WGU?
Earning Potential
An MBA can dramatically impact your earning potential. After graduation WGU master's students report earning $15,729 more per year.
*WGU Internal Data
On Your Schedule
Competency-based education means you can move as quickly through your degree as you can master the material. You don't have to log in to classes at a certain time—you are truly in the driver's seat of your education
Entirely Online
WGU's MBA degrees are 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
No matter which MBA degree path you choose, you’ll have a wide variety of career opportunities available to you. There are also major benefits to pursuing a degree program with WGU, including a flexible schedule, coursework and lessons that are fully accessible online, affordable options for every student, and more. WGU can help you achieve your goals on your own time, according to your schedule.
"Any advancement in education is worth the investment. I enrolled in the MBA program immediately following my B.S. so the process was seamless. It was just like starting a new term."
—Kristopher Lioudis
MBA Healthcare Management
COST & TIME
An Affordable Master's Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
"I wouldn't trade the convenience and accessibility of WGU for any other institution. The process as a returning student totally seamless and I was able to move through my degree program without interruption."
—Courtnie Watson
MBA
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
100% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
