MSBA vs. MBA Breakdown: Salary, Jobs, and Value

The business world moves quickly, and with the proliferation of advanced computing and artificial intelligence (AI), it's shifting faster than ever. A postgraduate business degree can position you to transform organizations—but with so many options available, which path is right for you? A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a rigorous and respected degree, with many graduates at the forefront of business innovation, but the newer Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) is growing in popularity among those who wish to lead with data.

This article will break down whether an MSBA or MBA is right for your needs, considering compensation, careers, program focus, and overall benefits.

Key Differences Between MSBA and MBA Programs

The MBA is, by far, the most in-demand graduate management degree today. In 2025, nearly 210,000 students enrolled in MBA programs.¹ MBA programs are designed to instill broad-based, holistic management knowledge and abilities. They include courses on finance, marketing, and accounting, as well as soft skills and leadership strategies. This full-picture approach makes MBA programs a popular choice for future executives. Full-time students can expect to complete an MBA in two to three years.²

The MSBA, on the other hand, is a focused and technical degree. Students learn about the importance of business analytics in the modern economy, ways to interpret different kinds of data, and how to apply that data effectively. MSBA programs are designed to create analytics experts with all the skills needed to guide strategy at tech companies, large corporations, and start-ups. If time is a key consideration in your decision between an MSBA or MBA, it's worth noting that most MSBAs can be completed in just over a year.

Curriculum

The area in which the master's in business analytics vs. MBA question comes into play is scope. Students pursuing an MSBA can expect courses on programming, database management systems, data modeling and analysis, cloud computing, and management and marketing fundamentals. Given the coursework's focus on computer-based skills, completing an MSBA online is a practical, readily accessible option.

An MBA program provides a comparatively broad scope, with coursework ranging from accounting and economics to business management and strategy, as well as a healthy dose of ethics, marketing, and analysis. Many MBA graduates seek C-suite positions, where the ability to wear many hats is paramount. The wide focus of the coursework reflects that need. However, many programs, including robust online MBA programs, like that at Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business, offer concentrations in areas such as data science, finance, and entrepreneurship.

Admission Requirements

MBA admission requirements are famously exacting. Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, a minimum of three to five years of professional experience, and a passing score on the GMAT. Most applications will also require essay responses and letters of recommendation.³

MSBA programs tend to have slightly more flexible admission standards, though applicants are still expected to present their bachelor's transcripts, GMAT scores, and personal statements. The most notable MSBA and MBA difference in admissions is the fact that MSBA applicants are not expected to have prior relevant professional experience.⁴

Skill Development

In considering MBA vs. business analytics programs, it is crucial to examine your existing skill set and determine which skills you're focused on developing. An MSBA is a worthwhile choice if you want to hone your skills in programming, cloud computing, database management, or data visualization. It is the most direct path toward becoming a data scientist, analyst or statistician.

MBA programs do not offer the same level of depth in these technical skills, but rather seek to develop general business management acumen. They cover leadership, entrepreneurship, management, finance, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Typically, there will be a module on data analysis, but this is presented as part of the larger picture of running a business, rather than a core facet of the degree, as it is in an MSBA curriculum.⁵

MSBA vs. MBA Salary Comparison

As of 2025, the average base salary for MSBA graduates in the United States is $82,000. Some of the most lucrative positions include senior business analyst, analytics manager, and lead data scientist, all of which sit comfortably in six figures.⁶ For MBA graduates, the average base salary is $101,000, though the range of possible earnings is wider. At Santa Clara University, 92% of Online MBA program alumni report salary increases within six months of graduation,⁷ which positions them to climb the ladder to the upper end of the range. On the lower end, at around $60,000-$70,000, we see HR specialists and accountants. In the highest-earning positions, we see C-suite executives earning salaries near or above $200,000.⁸

Of course, aside from the difference between MBA and MSBA base salaries, location, seniority, company size, and company sector are all factors in overall compensation.

Who Should Earn a Master’s in Business Analytics?

For the analytically minded, an MSBA program is a fantastic opportunity to develop skills and interests. In just over a year, you can build fluency in programming languages such as SQL and Python, learn data analysis and visualization from industry leaders, and stay on the cutting edge of cloud computing and machine learning. There are numerous advantages to an online MSBA, including flexibility, accessibility, and speed.

If you've been stuck going back and forth between pursuing an MSBA vs. MBA, consider the industries and roles in which you see yourself working within the next five years. If you're drawn to roles leading cross-functional teams, telling data's story, and influencing executive decisions—particularly in industries like energy and utilities, information technology, or pharmaceuticals and biotechnology—an MSBA will instill the skills you need to thrive. These career fields are particularly exciting in this era of advanced computing, as they offer the chance to be a crucial part of global change for good as human knowledge advances rapidly.

Build Your Future as a Strategic Analytics Leader

The Online MS in Business Analytics program at Santa Clara University is an industry leader. Students are uniquely positioned to collaborate with and learn from Silicon Valley experts, as well as SCU's powerful network of innovative, engaged alumni. Ranked #15 by Fortune for Best Online Master's in Business Analytics Programs,⁹ SCU offers true career transformation, creating the data scientists, research analysts, and business analysts of tomorrow.

The Online MSBA program is a doorway to real-world impact, whether you seek to inform public policy, develop sustainable supply chains, or address global issues. The Leavey School of Business stresses principled leadership, preparing graduates to guide institutions with emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making and strategic impact.

Check out the admissions requirements to see how your journey begins. Then, to learn more, reach out through our contact form or schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor.