Master’s Degrees in Business
Maximize your career opportunities.
A Smarter Path to More Career Opportunities
You’re smart, experienced and driven to take your career to the next level. A business master’s degree from American College of Education (ACE) could do just that. By advancing your skills in leadership, strategy, communication, organizational dynamics, finance, problem solving and more, you can distinguish yourself as a business professional who’s ready to step up and expand their impact.
Skills and Knowledge Gained
A master’s in business at ACE can help you gain the skills and knowledge needed to help an organization meet their business objectives, drive business innovation and guide high-performing teams. Here are just some of the things you can learn:
- Evidence-based decision-making strategies
- Management and leadership principles
- Systems thinking to evaluate complex business conditions
- Strategic planning
- Virtual team management
- Responsible use of effective business tools
- Inter-departmental communication and collaboration
- Financial analysis
Business Career Alignment
A master’s degree in business is often considered a career multiplier – it enhances an existing career, opening it up to larger, higher-level opportunities. It can help move you into leadership roles, switch industries, increase earning potential, build a professional network and develop well-rounded business skills. It’s most helpful once you’ve had a few years of working experience, and your goal is to move up or pivot.
Master’s Degree in Business Admission
Along with ACE’s general admission requirements, prospective master’s degree in business students must hold a degree at the bachelor’s or post-baccalaureate level with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. We may grant provisional admission for a GPA of 2.0.
Some programs may require additional documentation, such as a resume. Some programs may also require previous coursework in a specific field of study. Find detailed admission requirements for your program of interest on the program’s page.
Master’s Degree Graduate Success Stories
See how ACE’s affordable master’s degrees in business have helped our students elevate their careers and find success.
*Source: Student Right to Know
Master’s Degree in Business FAQs
What is a master’s in business?
A master’s degree in business is a graduate degree that builds on basic business knowledge, focusing on advanced skills in strategy, leadership and decision-making. It can help you deepen understanding of how businesses operate and teams are successfully led and is a good fit for those with a goal of moving up in their career. A master’s degree in business administration (MBA) is the most common type of degree in this category.
Is a master’s in business the same as an MBA?
The two are often used interchangeably, since an MBA is the most common type of degree in the category. However, an MBA is technically just one option among several master’s degrees in business. A M.S. in Organizational Leadership is an example of another business degree at the master’s-level. There are also master’s business degrees that have an industry focus, such as a Master in Healthcare Administration or an M.Ed. in Educational Business Administration. These degrees are designed to help you understand business considerations specific to those industries.
What can you do with a master’s in business?
A master’s in business could help you move up in your career, increase your earning potential, expand your professional connections and further develop crucial professional skills like leadership, strategic planning, decision making and more.
What careers can I pursue with a master’s in business?
There’s potential to apply a master’s in business to a wide range of careers across many industries. Instead, it’s more helpful to consider the level of roles a master’s in business could qualify you for. It typically plays the largest role in helping mid-career professionals – people who have 3 to 10 years of experience – reach manager or senior individual contributor roles (e.g. senior analyst, senior consultant, etc.). For those with more than 10 years of experience, it can help with obtaining senior management roles with titles such as senior manager, head or director.
What skills will I gain in a master’s in business program?
A master’s in business program can help you hone skills like leadership, strategic planning, decision making, collaboration and communication. It can also help you learn how to use business tools effectively and responsibly, how to establish an organizational mission and vision, how to manage organizational change, and how to account for legal and ethical business principles. It’s important to keep in mind that different types of business master’s degrees will focus on different skills, so be sure to choose the program that will cover the skills most applicable to your career.
Is a master’s in business worth it?
If you are a mid-career professional looking for a way to demonstrate your readiness to take on more responsibilities and challenges, a master’s in business could be a great way to do it. But master’s degrees in business are notoriously expensive, especially the MBA, so it’s crucial to choose the right program so that you can ensure the program aligns with your professional and financial goals. For those considering an MBA specifically, read our investigation into whether the degree is worth it.