MBA FAQs

Professionals who earn an MBA have many rewarding and dynamic career opportunities. Cedarville University's online MBA will prepare you for any number of careers in senior management and leadership roles for a variety of organizations.

The direction of your career may depend on the concentration of your MBA:

• If you hold a bachelor's in accounting, the Accounting track may provide you with additional hours toward the 150 hours required to sit for the Certified Public Accounting licensing exam.* You'll further expand both your accounting knowledge and your organizational leadership skills.
• The Business Analytics track will prepare you as a leader who uses statistics and data to help your organization operate more efficiently and effectively.  
• The Cybersecurity Management track will prepare you for advanced roles in the cybersecurity field.
• The Healthcare Management track will prepare you for a career as a healthcare administrator or executive in settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, and group physician practices, among others.
• The Innovation and Entrepreneurship track will prepare you to use innovative ideas to start or grow a business. 
• The Operations Management track will prepare you for a career as a business operations manager, operations research analyst, and management analyst, among others.

*State CPA requirements vary. If you plan to practice or seek certification in a state other than Ohio, it is crucial to verify whether this degree program and additional coursework meet the specific educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam in that state. Understanding any additional requirements in the state where you plan to work can help you prepare in advance to meet those requirements. Most states have additional requirements beyond completing the educational prerequisites. These requirements may include exams, background checks, or supervised experience. It is crucial for you to research and understand these additional requirements.

With an MBA degree, you should have no trouble entering an entry-level position in a field that interests you. The most common entry-level careers for recent MBA grads include public service manager, financial analyst, customer relations, marketing and sales, and product manager. And, with an MBA, you will have the skills to quickly move beyond an entry-level position in your chosen field.

U.S. News and World Reports lists the following jobs as some of the best for recent MBA graduates (depending on their undergraduate degree), because of robust job growth, generous salaries, and low employment:

• Compliance Office
• Business Operations Manager
• Financial Manager
• Medical and Health Services Manager
• Accountant

As you’re looking to advance your career once you’ve earned your MBA, take advantage of some of the following strategies:

• Stay in touch with your alumni or faculty network
• Attend professional conferences
• Explore career options
• Volunteer or join a board
• Get involved with rotary/civic organizations
• Find freelance work

An MBA equips you with skills in business management. You’ll develop foundational business practices, such as accounting, finance, marketing, and management. An MBA also provides you with valuable networking opportunities from your cohort and faculty.

Yes! Earning an MBA offers both professional and personal benefits, including:

• New career paths
• Increased earning potential
• Improved professional skills
• Greater job security
• Expanded professional network

In 2016, the median starting salary that U.S.-based companies planned to offer recent MBA graduates was $105,000. Because this number is going to be highly variable between programs and industries, it may be more helpful to think about how much more effective you will be with an MBA. An investment in an MBA is an investment in your ability to serve God in increasing levels of leadership. An MBA is the next step for most business professionals as they want to equip themselves for future leadership positions.

A recent study published by Forbes showed a 50% increase in salaries for professionals with an MBA Yet the question a future Cedarville University graduate should ask is, “How much will an MBA increase my ability to be a more effective servant for God in my vocational context?” We want you to become professionally equipped to become all God has planned for you in one of His primary mission fields: the workplace.