Executive MBA vs. MBA
Executive MBA programs can help current business leaders build additional skills, while MBAs prepare future business leaders to be effective leaders. This guide explores the differences.
Many business professionals choose to pursue a master of business administration (MBA) to advance their careers. But if you're 10–12 years into your career, you may wonder whether an MBA or an executive MBA (EMBA) degree will best advance your career into management, director, or C-suite roles.
While both degree programs teach valuable skills, an executive MBA program delves deeper into international business, management, and strategy. In this guide, we explain the difference between an MBA and an executive MBA to help you determine which best suits your career goals.
What is an executive MBA?
An executive MBA is a master's degree program for experienced business professionals. These programs explore the nuances of business best practices across a variety of industries, with an emphasis on leadership and executive decision-making. Schools often schedule executive MBA classes in the evenings with working professionals in mind.
In an executive MBA program, students can take courses like:
- Leadership management and communication
- Business analytics
- Marketing
- Micro- and macroeconomics
- Corporate finance
Many schools require applicants to have spent a certain amount of time in the workforce to be eligible for executive MBA programs. According to the 2022–2023 Executive Master of Business Administration Council (EMBAC) exit survey, the average executive MBA student is 39 years old, with nearly 15 years of professional work experience and about nine years in management.
What jobs can you get with an EMBA?
Top executive
- Median annual salary (2024):$105,350
Financial manager
- Median annual salary (2024):$161,700
Medical and health services manager
- Median annual salary (2024):$117,960
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
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What is in an MBA program?
An MBA is a master's degree program that prepares students to become effective business professionals. Classes in an online MBA program often focus on business skills like communication, project management, and strategic planning.
For admission into an MBA program, students must submit all college transcripts, a résumé, and professional letters of recommendation. Business schools usually require students to earn 36–40 credits to graduate with an MBA, which often takes 1–3 years. Some MBA programs offer part-time MBAs for working professionals.
What jobs can you get with an MBA?
Financial and investment analyst
- Median annual salary (2024): $101,350
Project management specialist
- Median annual salary (2024):$100,750
Training and development manager
- Median annual salary (2024):$127,090
Source: BLS
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Which one is right for me: Executive MBA vs. MBA?
Executive MBA and MBA programs offer similar curricula, but the courses in an executive program may introduce more advanced concepts and vocabulary. Executive MBA students are likely already well-acquainted with business fundamentals like accounting, marketing, and project management. Therefore, the coursework in these programs often focuses on higher-level strategic concepts like decision-making, leadership, and innovation.
Get an EMBA if …
- You have over 10 years of business or management experience.
- You want flexible classes that fit with your work schedule.
- You prefer experiential learning.
- You want to collaborate with your peers.
Get an MBA if …
- You have fewer than 10 years of business or management experience.
- You want to complete a full-time or accelerated 12-month MBA program.
- You prefer traditional graduate program coursework.
- You want to learn fundamental business practices or a specialization.
What is the cost of an executive MBA vs. an MBA?
A 2020 National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) survey found that the average cost of an MBA was around $17,058 per year. EMBA programs often cost more, especially at top business schools like the Wharton School, Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia Business School. The average cost of an executive MBA is higher than that of a traditional MBA because students often receive funding from their companies or organizations to complete an EMBA.
Along with tuition, MBA students must pay for their learning materials and, in in-person programs, room and board. Affordable online MBA programs can help reduce the cost of an MBA education. Plus, many students take advantage of scholarship opportunities and student loans to fund their MBA education.