After completing an undergraduate degree the first question students get in mind is MS or MBA which is better. MS vs MBA is two of the most sought-after degrees among students. This is a topic of conversation as you prepare to enter the workforce and make career plans. The audience for whom and what the program is designed differs between a master’s and an MBA. Despite focusing on separate fields, both the MS and MBA are master’s degrees. While the MBA solely focuses on business and leadership abilities, the MS has a wider range of specializations and opportunities for lifelong learning through research.
We need to examine both of these graduate degrees carefully and compare them head to head in order to address the controversy between the MBA and Masters.
A master’s degree is a two-year post-graduate degree that focuses on the mastery of a specific field or subject. A Master’s degree enables students to develop skills relating to a particular subject and mainly focus on the Science field, but an MBA course attempts to prepare applicants as professionals with overall competence across the numerous fields of business administration. There are various MS degrees available in business-related specialties:
MBA or Master of Business Administration is a 1-2 year post-graduate degree with a broad, multifaceted focus. It has various aspects because it involves a wide range of business domains. The program’s main objective is to help students apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world circumstances through case studies, projects, and internships. You can submit an application for one-year MBA programs provided at prestigious institutions like London Business School, INSEAD, etc. Typically, 3-5 years of professional job experience are needed for the curriculum. It puts more of a focus on developing managerial abilities like initiative, teamwork, problem-solving, judgment, and communication. B-schools today provide a wide range of specializations, including
See how the top specialties for master’s and MBA degrees differ in the table below:
| MS | MBA |
| Computer Science | Finance |
| Civil Engineering | Marketing |
| Electrical Engineering | HR |
| Mechanical Engineering | Entrepreneurship |
| Chemistry | Data Analytics |
| Physics | Digital Marketing |
| Biology | Consulting |
| Psychology | Information System |
| Statistics | Supply Chain Management |
| Biotechnology | Healthcare |
| Nursing | |
| Environmental Sciences |
Here is a table that compares master’s and MBA degrees to help you decide whether an MBA or MS is best for you:
| Basis | MS | MBA |
| Types of Degree | Postgraduate degree | Postgraduate degree |
| Focus Area | Main focus is on technical skills and hands-on training. | The main focus is on theory, practical, and exposure to business and management skills. |
| Program Duration | 2 years | 1-2 years |
| Tuition fees | 24,235 – 54,530 USD per year | 24,235 – 90,883 USD per year |
| Average Salary | 48,471 – 72,706 USD per year | 36,353 – 90,883 USD per year |
| Work Experience | No prior work experience required. | 3-5 years of work experience required |
| Scope | Engineering, IT, Medicine, Health Science, Teaching, Research, etc. | Entrepreneurship, Finance, Business, Investment, Banking, Consulting |
| Eligibility Criteria | completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 60 to 75, GRE scores, results of the English language competency test, and any other materials, such as an SOP, LOR, or resume. | GMAT/GRE scores, evidence of English language competency, a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 75% completion rate, an SOP, LORs, a resume, an interview, etc. |
For those considering an MBA vs. master’s, there are several prestigious universities abroad. After engineering, some of the top-ranked MBA or MS programs are located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, etc. You will have access to a wide range of chances if you get admitted to one of the most prestigious colleges overseas.
| University | QS Ranking | Average tuition fees |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA | 1 | 55,000 – 80,000 USD |
| Stanford University, USA | 3 | 56,000 – 66,000 USD |
| Harvard University, USA | 5 | 50,000 – 85,000 USD |
| University of Oxford, UK | 2 | 35,000 – 50,000 USD |
| University of Cambridge, UK | 3 | 30,000 – 55,000 USD |
| University of Toronto, Canada | 26 | 16,000 – 42,000 USD |
| University of Ottawa, Canada | 230 | 14,000 – 25,000 USD |
| Technical University of Munich, Germany | 50 | 10,500 – 16,000 USD |
| John Hopkins University, USA | 25 | 40,000 – 60,000 USD |
| University of California, USA | 32 | 25,000 – 30,000 USD |
In terms of MBA program overseas, these top 10 business schools provide outstanding career opportunities and generous compensation:
| University | QS Ranking | Average tuition fees |
| Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA | 1 | 76,950 USD |
| Harvard Business School, USA | 2 | 73,440 USD |
| Wharton Business School, USA | 2 | 84,874 USD |
| HEC Paris, France | 4 | 84,465 USD |
| Solan School of Management, USA | 5 | 80,400 USD |
| London Business School, UK | 6 | 120,250 USD |
| IE Business School, Spain | 7 | 76,225 USD |
| INSEAD, France | 7 | 97,740 USD |
| Columbia Business School, USA | 9 | 77,376 USD |
| IESE Business School | 10 | 98,740 USD |
The cost of earning an MS vs. an MBA includes both the tuition and living costs in the country where you choose to pursue your education.
When deciding between an MBA and an MS abroad, students search for a variety of scholarship alternatives that help ease their financial load. There will be many merits and need-based scholarships available to you as an overseas student, so make sure to apply as soon as possible to gain the greatest rewards. Check out a few of the most prominent scholarships available to international students looking to pursue an MBA or MS abroad:
You can find work and a good salary with both MS vs MBA degrees. The salary package for an MS vs MBA graduate depends on several factors such as job title, location, years of experience, Specialization, etc.
Here are some of the job titles that you can apply for and the salary after graduation MS in the USA and abroad:
| Job title | Average salaries |
| Engineer | $91,700 |
| Scientist | $155,000 |
| Biochemist | $189,000 |
| Statistaction | $147,000 |
| Researcher | $151,000 |
| Mathematician | $152,000 |
| Chemist | $192,000 |
| Assistant Professor | $128,000 |
| Pharmacist | $128,000 |
| Life Scientist | $157,000 |
Here are some of the job titles and average salary for MBA graduates:
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Financial Manager | $181,000 |
| General Manager | $161,000 |
| Project Manager | $108,000 |
| Marketing Manager | $169,000 |
| Human resource Manager | $148,000 |
| Business Development Manager | $145,000 |
| Executive Manager | $181,000 |
| Chief Corporate Manager | $170,000 |
| Chief Financial Officer | $194,000 |
| Chief Executive Officer | $218,000 |
Students with science backgrounds who can pursue both an MBA and an MS following engineering frequently wonder which course to enroll in. You are the best person to decide between an MBA and an MS. With our recommendations, you may weigh the two options and choose which is best for you. The following is a summary of the factors you need to take into account to comprehend the distinction between a master’s and an MBA:
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Book your Free Counselling Session now!If you are a student who is interested in business, entrepreneurship, and management roles and want to make a career in these areas. Then an MBA degree will be a good option for you. If you want to be a specialist in a particular area such as engineering, health, medicine, etc. Then an MS degree will be a good option for you.
There is no way to compare the difficulty of an MBA and a master’s degree because both are appropriate for students based on their aptitude. In comparison to a master’s degree, an MBA will be much easier for you to understand if you have some professional work experience.
Since an MBA is a professional degree and you will have the ability to discover a variety of chances in many sectors, the majority of students accept a job right away after graduating. Students seeking an MS have the option of choosing between finding employment and research.
As a fresher, you will often make more money with an MBA than an MS.
You will benefit from having two areas of specialization and more prospects for job progression if you combine an engineering degree with a management degree. With your technical and management abilities, you’ll be a tremendous asset to the business. Applying for an MS degree is recommended if you want to specialize in a certain subject, such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, etc.
