CA vs MBA - Eligibility, Careers And Salary Comparison Between CA and MBA Professionals

CA vs MBA - Eligibility, Careers And Salary Comparison Between CA and MBA Professionals

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SundararajanUpdated on 18 Mar 2025, 06:30 PM IST

CA vs MBA: Know the differences- Looking at the present competitiveness, the importance of having a professional degree cannot be denied. On one hand, we have professional courses like Chartered Accountancy (CA), CS, and on the other side, we have a postgraduate degree like Master of Business Administration (MBA) through CAT 2025, which has its own benefit label. Usually, students are searching for CA vs MBA, which is better, Check out this article to know all the details pertaining to CA vs MBA in India, such as CA vs MBA salary, CA vs MBA career opportunities, CA vs MBA from IIM, MBA vs CA: which is tough etc.

CA vs MBA - Eligibility, Careers And Salary Comparison Between CA and MBA Professionals
CA vs MBA

CA vs MBA: Know the Differences

There is a vast career scope for an MBA in several areas of business, along with effective knowledge in management, analysis, and business strategy. On the other hand, chartered accounting deals with specialisation in all fields of business and finance. If a candidate has a specific interest in the finance domain, then choosing between CA and MBA finance can be a tough decision to make.

Careers360 brings you clear details on CA vs MBA, course structure, scope after CA and scope after MBA, career path, MBA vs CA salary in India in comparison between the two courses, and much more.

MBA or CA Which is Better? Overview

Check out below the differences between CA and MBA based on various factors.

Particulars

CA

MBA

Investment

Economical. The overall money invested in a CA certification is less compared to an MBA degree.

It is highly expensive if you are planning to do it from Top B-Schools like IIMs, XLRI, etc.

Pass %

Out of 100, only 3–5% of candidates are able to qualify and get certified as CA.

90–95% of candidates who opt for an MBA course end up getting good jobs.

Career options

A few options are available. For a qualified CA, ample options are not available.

Wider options are available.

Exposure

3 years internship

few months internship, ranging from 3 to 6 months

Difficulty Level

Tough

Moderate to Difficult
(80% of candidates crack the exam and pass.)

If one wants to pursue CA, then he/she has to think in advance. Whereas an MBA course can add additional value to existing professions. Nowadays, even executive MBA courses for working professionals are also available.

CA vs MBA

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What is CA or Chartered Accountancy Course?

Chartered Accountancy is an international and professionally recognized course. In India, the CA course is conducted by ICAI, i.e., the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. A person who qualifies for the Chartered Accountancy course is known as CA. To be recognized as CA, candidates need to appear for the CPT (Common Proficiency Test) after clearing 10+2.

If any candidate does not wish to give the CPT level, then he or she can register for IPCC on the condition that they have a graduation degree. Keeping in mind the track record of passing candidates in the CA course, it is always advisable for candidates to have at least a graduation degree.
The main objective of the CA Course - To provide exposure to the Financial and Accounting sector.

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What is an MBA or Master in Business Administration?

In the investigation of MBA vs CA, one of the quests is why MBA and not CA. A Master’s in Business Administration commonly called an MBA is a postgraduate degree that is widely recognized all over the world. Candidates with an MBA degree are open to vast opportunities. Bachelor’s degree from any background like Science/ Humanities/ Commerce etc. is acceptable to pursue an MBA course.

To take admission in MBA courses, many national, state, and university exams are conducted, like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, BMAT, ATMA, MAH CET, and many more.

The main objective of the MBA Course - To provide exposure to different domains like Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, International Business etc.

Course Duration

Events

CA Course

MBA Course

Duration of Exam

Four years (only if candidates clear in the first attempt)

Two-year degree programme

CA vs MBA: Eligibility Criteria

Once you know what CA and MBA basically are! The next step in MBA vs CA is to know the CA and MBA eligibility criteria. CA and MBA both occupy popular positions under top professional courses. Below mentioned eligibility criteria can be checked by candidates if they are planning to either take up the CA profession or pursue an MBA course degree.

Eligibility

Chartered Accountant (CA)

Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)

Bachelor’s Degree

Not Mandatory

Mandatory

Exam conducting body

ICAI i.e. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

No Single Body (IIMs)

Levels/Semesters

Three Levels i.e. CPT, IPCC, CA-Final

Four Semesters

Job Aspect

Chartered Accountant, Auditor, Finance Manager etc.,

Manager, Team Leader, Human Resource Head, etc.

How to Enroll in CA and MBA?

Course

Particulars

CA

  • To enroll for CPT, HSC qualification will help candidates to enroll themselves for CA Course.
  • To enroll directly in IPCC, graduation is a must.

MBA

  • Top B-Schools provide admission candidates only on the basis of management tests like CAT, MAT, XAT, SNAP, BMAT, ATMA etc.,
  • While most B-Schools in India require Bachelor’s degree to enroll candidates for the two-year MBA programme.

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MBA vs CA: Which is tough?

A Chartered Accountancy (CA) is way tougher than an MBA course. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is not that tough as compared to a CA. While pursuing CA, students have to study subjects like financial accounting, business environment, auditing, reporting, general management, taxation, etc.

Career Scope and Job Prospects After CA and MBA

Take a look at the career opportunities after doing a CA or MBA from below.

CA career scope and prospects

Although many professional and diploma courses have emerged in recent times, the importance of CA courses cannot be overlooked. A well-qualified CA is in demand in all industries. As a CA, an individual can work with the government, public undertakings, or private sector companies as well. If one does not wish to work under someone, then CA has the option to practice individually.

The choice is yours—whether you are comfortable working in a small or midsize private practice, auditing and consulting firms, banking, or the corporate sector. You may get a chance to work with the Big 4 or join any multinational organisation (MNC). Almost every huge organisation has an accounting or finance department, and it’s up to you to decide where to apply.
Related Article- How to become a CA in India

Job Prospects After CA Course

  • Auditing firms, Taxation
  • Management Consultancy Services
  • Practicing Individually
  • Corporate law

Scope of an MBA program

Apart from the lucrative MBA salary in India package, a person having an MBA degree will have uplifted career opportunities. The importance of having an MBA degree can not be neglected. MBA can be pursued as a part-time MBA, full-time, or as a distance MBA. Candidates having MBA degrees have a demand in every industry. If you wish to know more about what an MBA is all about.

The international exchange programs give you networking opportunities and a chance to spend time at an international campus, get insights into another culture and their business scenario. The electives are the various specializations offered by the school. Some of the schools offer a wide range of electives that you can choose from as per your interests. The internships give you an opportunity to try your hand at some new area you wish to familiarize yourself with. It would be a good idea to check the placement statistics including the recruiting companies of the various schools while you apply.
Read More- All about the MBA

Career Options After MBA in India

You might be interested in-

Skills Set Required for CA or MBA

The skills required to become a chartered accountant are:

  • The lucid approach of Accounting and Auditing
  • Excellent communication
  • Knowledge of socioeconomic conditions

An MBA graduate is expected to possess the following skillset:

  • Adept knowledge
  • Pressure handling
  • Strategic decision making
  • Leadership qualities
  • Time Management
  • Uplifted Work Values
  • Contemporary Vision

CA vs MBA - Fee Structure

The breakup for CA fees and the total amount is as follows:

CA Fee Structure

CA Fee Breakup
Amount in Rupees (Rs)*
CPC Registration fee
6,000
Intermediate course registration fee (both groups)
15,000
Articled training registration fee
1,000
Final course registration fee
22,000
ITT training
6,500
Orientation
7,000
GMCS-I
5,500
GMCS-II
5,500
Total
68,500

*- These are the approximate figures, the actual fee may vary.

Also Check: IIM Fees for MBA

Salary Comparison between CA and MBA Professionals

Before taking any decision to pursue CA or MBA, check out the CA vs MBA salary one can after the completion of the course.

CA vs MBA Salary in India

Some of the good companies offer an attractive starting salary for the right candidate. The average starting salary may range between Rs 6,00,000 to 7,00,000. Though bigger companies may pay a much higher compensation package, smaller firms would not be able to match this range.

Salary offered to MBA Graduates in India

Job Profile/Role

Minimum Salary Per Annum

Average Salary Per Annum

Maximum Salary Per Annum

Operations Manager

Rs. 3,89,000

Rs. 7,97,786

Rs. 10,60,000

Senior Business Analyst

Rs. 4,76,000

Rs. 9,44,493

Rs. 11,70,000

Human Resource Generalist

Rs. 1,59,000

Rs. 2,94,138

Rs. 6,78,000

Marketing Manager

Rs. 2,98,000

Rs. 7,56,522

Rs. 11,90,000

Business Development Manager

Rs. 2,59,000

Rs. 6,01,423

Rs. 11,40,000

Human Resources Manager

Rs. 3,19,000

Rs. 7,38,960

Rs. 11,70,000

Business Development Executive

Rs. 181,000

Rs. 3,18,081

Rs. 5,93,000

Project Manager (IT)

Rs. 5,01,000

Rs. 12,38,000

Rs. 20,00,000

Assistant Human Resources Manager

Rs. 2,92,000

Rs. 5,31,567

Rs. 9,42,000

Relationship Manager

Rs. 2,03,000

Rs. 4,24,954

Rs. 9,59,000

Marketing Executive

Rs. 1,67,000

Rs. 3,05,043

Rs. 5,54,000

Business Analyst (IT)

Rs. 3,02,000

Rs. 5,96,465

Rs. 11,00,000

Area Sales Manager

Rs. 4,07,000

Rs. 7,81,611

Rs. 11,40,000

Senior Sales Executive

Rs. 2,20,000

Rs. 3,99,836

Rs. 7,22,000

Executive Assistant

Rs. 1,48,000

Rs. 3,24,264

Rs. 8,09,000

Financial Analyst

Rs. 2,23,000

Rs. 4,38,313

Rs. 8,47,000

Regional Sales Manager

Rs. 5,57,000

Rs. 11,83,000

Rs. 20,00,000

Finance Manager

Rs. 5,22,000

Rs. 11,42,000

Rs. 23,00,000

Account Manager

Rs. 3,39,000

Rs. 7,00,000

Rs. 15,00,000

Management Consultant

Rs. 5,62,000

Rs. 13,50,000

Rs. 20,00,000

Note- It must be noted that the above-mentioned table only shows the approximate values. The salary may vary.

What is Difference Between CA vs MBA?

It’s purely based on your interest and the area you wish to work in. The scope of work for a CA is mainly in the field of finance and accounting area whereas MBAs have more diversity to choose from. There are CAs as well as MBAs who have climbed up the ladder and reached higher positions, though we may say that in certain areas like investment banking, financial consulting, or mergers, and acquisitions, an MBA would be preferred over a CA.

On the other hand, there are instances of CAs who have picked new skills while on the job and handled greater responsibilities than someone who has an MBA degree. There are also CA professionals who apply to international MBA programs to have a shot at a global career. So, we can sum up that a lot depends on the nature of your job, the related responsibilities, and the learning involved.

What is CA? What is MBA?

A Chartered Accountant (CA) is a financial professional qualified to perform certain accounting procedures. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a graduate degree that provides theoretical and practical training in business or investment management.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who is better, CA or MBA?
A:

It’s purely based on your interest and the area you wish to work in. The scope of work for a CA is mainly in the field of finance and accounting area whereas MBAs have more diversity to choose from fields such as HR, finances and other.

Q: Is MBA equal to CA?
A:

In the field of business and finance, both MBA and CA are popular degrees and career options. 

Q: Is MBA hard than CA?
A:

CA is considered to be tougher than MBA by most experts. 

Q: Is MBA earn more than CA?
A:

Both CA and MBA have the possibility of having a high amount of salary depending on the role and employer of candidates. 

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

With a 70 percent in CAT Examination, you can go for various B-Schools or private collages. The S. K. Patel Institute of Management in Gandhinagar is an option for those who score 70-80 percent in their CAT examination or The Gujarat Institute of Management (GIM) in Goa with a cutoff of 60-80 percentage. These are the collages you can look for in Gujarat or nearby.

Collage in other regions: BA Colleges Accepting 70-80 Percentile in CAT 2025

Thank You.

Hello dear candidate,

NO. your application for CAT will not rejected for wrong gender small mistake in the OBC NCL certificate. You will be considered as an OBC candidate.

you just need to get your OBC certificate corrected and need to inform the CAT helpdesk about this error.


Hello,

Here are some top MBA colleges in India with fees under Rs. 2 lakh and their exam/cutoff details:

  • SIMSREE, Mumbai – Fee around Rs. 1.3–1.4 lakh for 2 years. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA. Cutoff is very high, usually 99+ percentile in CAT/CMAT.

  • PUMBA (Dept. of Management Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University) – Fee around Rs. 1.2–1.3 lakh. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, ATMA. Cutoff approx. 75+ percentile in CAT, 90–95+ percentile in CMAT, high scores in MAH-CET.

  • TISS, Mumbai (MA HRM & other management-related programmes) – Fee around Rs. 1.7–1.9 lakh. Accepts CAT for some courses. Qualifying cutoff is around 60–70 percentile, but final selection cutoffs are higher.

These are the main government institutes where the full MBA/PG programme fee is within Rs. 2 lakh. Cutoffs vary slightly each year and by category, but SIMSREE and PUMBA generally need high scores, while TISS has its own process along with CAT shortlisting.

Hope it helps !

Hey! With a NEET score of 344 in the ST category, it is highly unlikely to get admission in any government BDS college in Delhi through the All India Quota. The cutoff for government BDS seats in Delhi usually falls around 400–450 for ST category, so your score is below that range.

You can consider private dental colleges, state quota seats in other states, or reattempt NEET next year to improve your chances.

Hello dear candidate,

YES, with NEET score 344in the ST category you have high chances of getting admission in a BDS College in J&K through JKBOPEE counselling.

check the seat availability and next participate in JKBOPEE Counselling with all the necessary documents.

Thank you.