MBA vs MS in USA: What Should You Choose?

Q: Ques: Who earns more in USA, MBA or MS?

Ans: MBA graduates in the USA have higher earning potential in managerial and executive roles. Entry-level salaries for MBA graduates often range from $90,000 to $150,000, particularly in fields like consulting, finance, and tech management. MS graduates, especially those in high-demand fields like data science, computer science, and engineering, can also earn competitive salaries, typically around $70,000 to $120,000. However, salaries vary widely based on the industry, job role, and specialization.

Q: Ques: Is MS more valuable than MBA?

Ans: The value of an MS or an MBA depends on individual career goals. An MS is highly valued in specialized fields like technology, engineering, and data science, where deep technical expertise is essential. On the other hand, an MBA is considered valuable for those aiming for leadership, management, or entrepreneurial roles, as it provides broad business skills. Both degrees can be valuable; its more about aligning the program with your career ambitions.

Q: Ques: Is it better to do MBA or MS in the USA?

Ans: Choosing between an MBA and an MS in the USA depends on your career objectives and background. If youre looking to gain leadership skills and pursue roles in management, consulting, or finance, an MBA might be a better fit. However, if youre interested in technical expertise and want to work in fields like data science, software engineering, or scientific research, an MS could be more advantageous.

Q: Ques: Is an MBA harder than a Masters?

Ans: The difficulty level of an MBA vs. an MS depends on personal strengths and the nature of each program. MBA programs can be challenging due to their intensive focus on business strategy, leadership, and case studies, often requiring students to collaborate, network, and solve real-world business problems. MS programs, particularly in technical fields like computer science or engineering, may demand rigorous academic study and in-depth technical knowledge.

Shahid Murshed

Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Nov 6, 2024

MBA vs MS in USA, which one is better? This is a highly debating question and have different explanations. So firstly, clear the basics.

An MBA is a business degree that covers a wide range of business topics such as finance, marketing, and management. It focuses on applying classroom knowledge to real-world situations through case studies and undertaking projects and internships
An MS degree focuses on a specific field of study, such as engineering, computer science, or biology, and is more research-oriented. If helps you to gain more knowledge on the subject and create future research opportunities.

Now, if you want to increase your knowledge on a particular field, then go for an MS in USA. But if you have a career focused target and set yourself in a financially independent position, you can look for an MBA. An MBA can be completed faster, and the salary is higher, but tuition costs can burn a hole in your pocket. On the other hand, MS will cost you less to pursue but takes time to complete, and the average salary is also lesser.

Table of Contents

Key Differences Between An MBA and MS in USA
Top MBA Institutes in USA
Best Universities in USA for MS
FAQs

Key Differences Between An MBA and MS in USA

Check out the key differences between an MS and MBA in USA.

Factors	MBA in USA	MS in USA
Duration	2 years1 year for accelerated MBA	1-2 years
Focus	Business management and leadership	Technical or specialized fields
Popular specializations	Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Human Resource Management	Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Biotechnology
Eligibility	Bachelor degree 2--3 years of work experience GMAT scores	Bachelor degree No minimum work experience GRE score (optional)
Career	Managerial and leadership roles	Specialized technical or research roles
Average cost	60,000-120,000 USD	20,000-60,000 USD
Average Salary	90,000 USD	88,000 USD
Top Recruiters	Bank of America Corp, J.P. Morgan Chase and Co, Amazon, Northrop Grumman	Lockheed Martin, The Boeing Company, Intel Corporation, Raytheon Co

Also Read: What Makes US Graduate Schools Stand Out

Top MBA Institutes in USA

Companies in USA hire candidates from top b-schools and unless you study in one of the top schools, you are at an obvious disadvantage. Hence, aim for the top MBA colleges in USA to be in a better position to get hired. Check out the top 10 b-schools in USA along with their tuition fees and rankings

QS Global MBA Rank 2025	Business School	Tuition Fee/ year	Median Annual Salary
#1	Stanford Graduate School of Business	82,455 USD	182,500 USD
#2	Wharton Business School	84,830 USD	175,000 USD
#3	Harvard Business School	76,410 USD	175,000 USD
#4	Sloan School of Management	84,350 USD	170,000 USD
#8	Columbia Business School	88,300 USD	175,000 USD
#11	Kellogg School of Management	56,168 USD	207,000 USD
#13	Haas School of Business	85,406 USD	166,000 USD
#14	Anderson School of Management	85,756 USD	150,000 USD
#15	Booth School of Business	84,198 USD	151,000 USD
#16	Yale School of Management	84,900 USD	175,000 USD

Jobs After MBA in USA

The job opportunities can be bifurcated in to finance, technical and consulting and others. Next is technical. No doubt it is growing. International students, especially Indian students, may be at an advantage of their technical capabilities. Here, we have listed a few popular jobs after MBA in USA along with their average annual salaries for your reference.

jobs_after_mba_in_usa

Best Universities in USA for MS

MS degrees are comparatively cheaper than an MBA in America. STEM MS degrees also have the advantage of STEM OPT extension, allowing you to stay in USA for an additional 2 years to find jobs. Check out 10 top universities for masters in USA as per QS ranking 2025.

QS Ranking 2025	Universities	Annual Fees Range	Average Annual Salary
#1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	43,200-91,250 USD	119,000 USD
#4	Harvard University	40,080-76,410 USD	98,000 USD
#6	Stanford University	61,095-65,082 USD	116,000 USD
#10	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	63,402 USD	115,000 USD
#11	University of Pennsylvania	32,796-83,122 USD	96,000 USD
#12	University of California, Berkeley	12,762 USD	97,000 USD
#16	Cornell University	20,800-109,944 USD	95,000 USD
#21	University of Chicago	12,942-84,198 USD	82,000 USD
#22	Princeton University	62,400 USD	104,000 USD
#23	Yale University	29,976-85,400 USD	98,000 USD

Also read: Best Universities for Masters in USA

Jobs After MS in USA

MS graduates tend to pursue specialized roles that match their expertise. With a vast market size, the US offers an exciting job opportunity for all international students. Check out some of the most popular jobs after MS in USA given below.

jobs_after_ms_in_usa

Also check:

High Paying Jobs in USA	H1-B Visa	Post Study Work Visa in USA
Part-time Jobs in USA	OPT vs CPT	Popular Job Sectors in USA

MBB (McKinsey, Bain and BCG) hire from top 10 B Schools only and the second tier consulting companies like BIG 4 such as Deloitte and PWC hire from top 20 to 25 schools. So this is the biggest opportunity for international students in US B schools. MBA's also, as a rule, enjoy only one year OPT. That is, you can work without hassles for one year only after graduation and should get your H1B approved within that period. As an Indian student with a stereotype profile, have a 2 or 3 years of work experience in bulk recruiting IT company, you should get a GMAT score of minimum 720/ 730 to manage to get admission in around 20th ranked US B school.

FAQs

Ques: Who earns more in USA, MBA or MS?

Ans: MBA graduates in the USA have higher earning potential in managerial and executive roles. Entry-level salaries for MBA graduates often range from $90,000 to $150,000, particularly in fields like consulting, finance, and tech management. MS graduates, especially those in high-demand fields like data science, computer science, and engineering, can also earn competitive salaries, typically around $70,000 to $120,000. However, salaries vary widely based on the industry, job role, and specialization.

Ques: Is MS more valuable than MBA?

Ans: The value of an MS or an MBA depends on individual career goals. An MS is highly valued in specialized fields like technology, engineering, and data science, where deep technical expertise is essential. On the other hand, an MBA is considered valuable for those aiming for leadership, management, or entrepreneurial roles, as it provides broad business skills. Both degrees can be valuable; it’s more about aligning the program with your career ambitions.

Ques: Is it better to do MBA or MS in the USA?

Ans: Choosing between an MBA and an MS in the USA depends on your career objectives and background. If you’re looking to gain leadership skills and pursue roles in management, consulting, or finance, an MBA might be a better fit. However, if you’re interested in technical expertise and want to work in fields like data science, software engineering, or scientific research, an MS could be more advantageous.

Ques: Is an MBA harder than a Masters?

Ans: The difficulty level of an MBA vs. an MS depends on personal strengths and the nature of each program. MBA programs can be challenging due to their intensive focus on business strategy, leadership, and case studies, often requiring students to collaborate, network, and solve real-world business problems. MS programs, particularly in technical fields like computer science or engineering, may demand rigorous academic study and in-depth technical knowledge.