If you’re a mid-career professional or considering a career change, you’ve likely asked yourself: Is returning to school for a business degree worth it? With rising tuition costs and a shifting job market, it’s a fair question, especially in 2025, when ROI matters more than ever.
The truth is that today’s business degrees are evolving. They’re more flexible, specialized, and attuned to the real-world needs of professionals like you. Whether you’re aiming to lead a team, switch industries or grow your earning potential, here are five things you should know before deciding if a business degree is the right move.
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Employers Value Graduate Business Degrees More than Ever
Despite trends toward skill-based hiring, a graduate business degree remains a strong signal to employers, especially in the age of AI. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) 2025 report, “Employers value knowledge of how to use AI tools more than last year, when hiring for roles both now and in the future…. Most employers agree that the skills gained through graduate management education (GME) are more important than before as businesses adopt new technologies” (2025).
In addition to the advent of AI, COVID gave rise to remote and hybrid work across all major industries, with many employers eliminating their office spaces. However, not all managers have adapted to managing employees remotely. The GMAC 2025 reports, “The majority of global employers agree or strongly agree that GME skills are more important in today’s remote and hybrid work environments.”
A business degree isn’t just a piece of paper for adult learners looking to rise into management or pivot into a more strategic role. It’s often the deciding factor between staying put and getting promoted.
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It’s Not Just an MBA: Specializations Matter
The modern MBA isn’t one-size-fits-all. Specializations in high-demand areas like accounting, finance and business analytics can boost your credibility and job prospects for specific roles.
UMass Lowell’s MBA program offers nine specializations, from Finance to Marketing to International Business. The Master’s in Business Analytics and the M.S. in Accounting also provides various options to tailor your degree to your career goals. Whether you want to lead a start-up, advise corporate clients or run the numbers behind a growing business, you’ll find a degree path built for you.
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Online Learning Makes It Work for Adults
Today’s business programs are built with flexibility in mind. Many accredited universities now offer fully online, asynchronous MBA programs that fit your schedule, whether juggling a full-time job, family commitments or both.
Programs offered through UMass Lowell’s AACSB-accredited Manning School of Business offer multiple start dates per year, competitive tuition, and the ability to finish at your own pace. From engineers pivoting into management to parents earning promotions while studying from home, adult learners are making it work.
Check out our Student Success post for advice from real UMass Lowell students and see some of the career outcomes for Manning School of Business alums.
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Business Skills Are Transferable Across Industries
Business degrees aren’t just for Wall Street. The core skills, including strategic thinking, financial literacy, operations, leadership and data-driven decision making, apply to nearly every industry, from health care to nonprofit, tech to education.
Whether you manage budgets, lead teams, launch products or negotiate partnerships, a business degree can give you the tools to drive impact and get noticed.
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ROI Is Measurable: Here’s How
GMAC states, “U.S. business master’s graduates are expected to receive larger nominal and real starting salaries in 2025 compared to 2024.” When you invest in a business degree, you want measurable outcomes. Look for:
- Salary growth: For example, the MBA is a very high-earning degree type, with a projected median starting annual salary of $120,000 in 2024, according to Bestcolleges.com.
- Career mobility: Many graduates report promotions or successful career changes within months of completing their program.
- Professional networks: Graduate business programs connect you to alums, faculty, and industry mentors who open doors.
At UMass Lowell, our highly ranked MBA program and other graduate business alumni report real ROI, whether climbing the leadership ladder or breaking into a new industry entirely.
Is It Worth It? The Bottom Line
For adult learners, a business degree in 2025 is more accessible, specialized and career-relevant than ever. The right program can deliver measurable value if you’re ready to level up your career, expand your earning potential or shift into a more strategic role.