MBA vs Master’s Degree: Which One Should You Choose for Career Growth?

MBA vs Master’s Degree: Which One Should You Choose for Career Growth?

SundararajanUpdated on 21 Feb 2025, 11:51 AM IST

MBA or Masters degree is the uncertainty faced by every graduate who wishes to pursue a masters degree. To answer this question, there are several things you need to know. In today's competitive market, higher education is one of the most important determinants of a successful career. Having an MBA or master's degree not only increases your professional value but also qualifies you for senior-level job roles. Check out this MBA vs Master’s degree article to know which one is better for you, how to choose, difference, fees, etc. This article will help the graduates to clear their doubts about an MBA vs Master’s degree which is better.

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Around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 2.95 lakh registered, and they are eagerly awaiting their CAT 2025 results and the opportunity for MBA admission.

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This Story also Contains

  1. MBA vs Masters Degree
  2. What is an MBA degree?
  3. What is a Master’s degree?
MBA vs Master’s Degree: Which One Should You Choose for Career Growth?
MBA vs Masters Degree

MBA vs Masters Degree

Ready to pursue an advanced business degree but not sure which option is right for you? Here, we will help students understand the differences between MBA vs specialised master's degrees.

  • MBA vs Business Analytics
  • MBA vs Masters in Finance
  • MBA vs Masters in Marketing
  • MBA vs Masters in Entrepreneurship

Before diving into the topic, let's have a look at what MBA and Master's degrees are and know MBA vs Masters degree which is better.

Know more about career opportunities after MBA

What is an MBA degree?

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a general, multidisciplinary, postgraduate level degree. It is versatile as it covers various areas of business, including finance, marketing, accounting, human resources, management, information technology, sales, and more.

As a result, MBA focuses on providing students with the technical, managerial, and leadership skills needed to successfully run an organisation. Generally, there are three different types of MBA programmes: full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programmes.

What is a Master’s degree?

A master's degree is a master's degree that focuses on imparting mastery over a specific field/ subject. This is the primary difference between a Master’s and MBA programme. While an MBA curriculum aims to train candidates as professionals with overall proficiency in various domains of business administration, a master's degree allows students to acquire skills related to a specific subject.

Check out the 20 Best Courses After MBA in India

MBA vs Masters Degree: What's the Difference?

MBA programmes focus on a broad range of business concepts, giving students an advanced but comprehensive look at business processes. On the other hand, specialized business master's programmes usually provide an in-depth look at a specific area of study. The table below explains the MBA vs Masters degree cost and MBA vs Masters degree salary.

MBA Programme

Master’s Degree

Prepares students for business leadership roles

Can be specific or general, but usually covers only one subject area in business

Usually continued after three years or more of employment

Usually followed after less than three years of employment

Can be pursued full-time, part-time, or online

Can be pursued full-time, part-time, or online

Duration: 2 years

Duration:1 to 3 years

Total fee for MBA: 20K to 40L

Total fee for Masters: 5L to 46L

Average salary for MBA: 7-12 LPA

Average salary for Master’s: 3-15 LPA

The total fees for MBA and Master's degrees may vary based on the universities/institutions and the average salary may also vary depending on the organization.

Check out the salary ater MBA

MBA vs Master’s Degree: Which One to Choose?

While both MBA and master's degrees are great choices for career development, each takes a unique approach to career advancement. Master's degree programmes are designed for people who wish to obtain an advanced degree before entering the job market. Hence, candidates don't need any work experience to enroll in a postgraduate course.

Since a master's degree covers a wide range of individual specializations, it allows aspirants to expand on the knowledge and skills acquired at the UG level and become trained professionals in a specific field. The course syllabus aims to facilitate the development of technical and analytical skills.

While an MBA is a postgraduate degree, as the name suggests, it focuses only on business administration and, therefore, takes a more holistic approach to it. An MBA degree is ideal for candidates who want to advance their careers towards managerial or leadership-focused roles in industry.

Unlike master's degrees, MBA degrees value professional experience more. So, if you have one to two years of work experience, your MBA experience will be much richer. Since an MBA curriculum covers many business disciplines, it provides a broad and comprehensive view of business administration and management.

This is why the MBA programme is best suited for those aiming to enter entrepreneurship, executive leadership, and general management.

5 Things to keep in mind while deciding an MBA or Master’s

Before opting for MBA and Masters courses, students should keep a few things in mind.

  • Background
  • Method of teaching: Lectures or experiential learning?
  • Diversity of profiles and backgrounds: Where do you fit?
  • Career outcomes: Where do I see myself in the medium term?
  • Costs and financing
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does MBA pay more than Masters?
A:

Master of Business Administration (MBA) typically commands higher salaries than Masters.

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Questions related to CAT

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Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
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Good Morning,

NIT Rourkela CAT cutoff range is between 70-85 percentiles for the general category. 70 is the minimum percentile needed to apply, and 85 is the highest percentile. However, the maximum percentile depends on the particular year competition. It can be changed.

Thank You.

If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.


And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means you won’t get the EWS benefit.


So yes — you can still go for General category posts and Professor recruitment. Just don’t try to submit a fake/invalid certificate; that will get you disqualified.

Hello,
If your CAT admit card shows your surname first followed by your first name as entered in the form, it is correct. You do not need to worry about this format as long as it matches the details you provided. Ensure all other information on the admit card is accurate and carry it to the exam along with the required identification documents.
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Hello,

If your CAT admit card has a different date of birth than your Aadhaar card, you should get it corrected immediately . Here’s what you can do:

  1. Check the CAT website : Log in to your candidate portal and look for the option to correct personal details.

  2. Contact the CAT helpdesk : Email or call them explaining the issue. Attach a copy of your Aadhaar card as proof.

  3. Do not ignore it : The date of birth must match your ID, otherwise you may face problems at the exam or during admission.

Usually, the CAT authorities allow corrections before the exam, so act quickly.

Hope it helps !