MPA vs. MBA: Which Degree Is the Best Option for Your Future Career?

When looking at executive-level jobs, you will probably come across some terms such as “MPA credential” or “MBA degree” as some of the most common requirements. But, what do those mean?

Both MPA and MBA are professional-level degrees that have a prerequisite for students to have an undergraduate-level degree from an eligible university.

If you decide to continue with graduate school and are interested in one of these degrees, you will have to decide which one to choose. Do not worry. The difference between MPA and MBA is not only that middle letter, and we have all the information regarding MPA vs. MBA degrees.

This article will help you decide which one is the best fit for you by pitting MPA versus MBA in several areas such as curriculum, skills, and job opportunities.

What Is an MPA?

MPA stands for Master in Public Administration. It is a degree suitable for people intending to work globally in upper-level management positions, emphasizing public service. The degree includes roles in governments, non-governmental organizations, and many other non-profit institutions.

An MPA degree is aimed towards professionals seeking specific knowledge and skills related to leadership, public affairs, and management, as it combines elements from business management and public policy. It is also an excellent choice for anyone looking to move from private sectors into other fields.

To obtain an MPA degree, you need to dedicate one to two years to your studies. However, the exact time it takes depends on the program and the institution.

What Do You Learn in an MPA?

Pursuing an MPA degree and a career in the public or non-profit sector is highly rewarding. However, as all good things require effort, MPA programs can be very demanding. So, it is best to know what you are getting yourself into and the skills you can expect to acquire through this journey.

Curriculum 

So they can prepare students for serving in high-level positions, MPA curriculums often offer a combination of traditional business and finance classes and public policy courses. Programs are designed to enhance political science and systems and policy analysis knowledge.

In addition, they prepare you to lead and manage within the public or non-profit sector by focusing on core business areas such as professional communication and organizational management.

Common MPA courses often include:

  • Public service leadership;

  • Policy issue analysis;

  • Research methods in public administration;

  • Organizational leadership;

  • Urban politics and planning;

  • Organizational theory.

The degree also includes other courses covering subjects like ethics, law, funding, population growth, natural resources, human resources, international affairs, workforce development, and political theory.

Most MPA degrees include required internships and capstone projects. Furthermore, depending on the university, you may have the option of choosing a field of specialty. Possible concentrations include international affairs, policy data analytics, public sector, healthcare administration, urban policy, human rights, global policy, and finance.

Skills

By pursuing an MPA degree, you will learn strategies for analyzing administrative problems, fundamental budgeting, how to put administrative decisions into action, etc. The degree will help you qualify for senior leadership roles by developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, you will obtain data collection and policy research skills by working on different projects during your studies.

In addition to the skills mentioned above, an MPA degree will also provide you with skills like:

  • analytical thinking,

  • problem-solving,

  • written and oral communication, 

  • collaboration, and

  • decision-making.

MPA Job Opportunities

The job opportunities for graduates of MPA programs seem highly promising, considering how sought after they are for many upper-management positions. MPA holders generally find employment in private and nonprofit sectors due to their understanding of public affairs and policy, plus the impact these two have on business and economics.

Many MPA graduates begin their professional careers in entry-level positions such as researchers, analysts, or even program managers. However, upon combining MPA with more job experience, these positions can quickly become executive ones.

An MPA degree offers you the opportunity to work with various groups, organizations, nonprofit centers, and government agencies in the public and nonprofit sectors. Some of the most common career paths you can pursue as an MPA graduate are:

What Is an MBA?

The MBA could be the right choice for you if you’re interested in developing skills for business and management careers in various industries, expanding your network, and improving your professional reputation.

MBA refers to Master of Business Administration, and it is a graduate-level degree that teaches you basic business practices in fields like finance, marketing, and accounting. The program provides essential management knowledge and qualifies you for senior management roles in various business areas. 

Traditional full-time programs usually take two years to complete, while an accelerated program can help you graduate as early as 12 months. In addition, during the second year of your MBA degree, you can choose a concentration that will allow you to specialize in the field you are interested in. 

What Do You Learn in an MBA?

Although an MBA is designed to make you a master of business administration, the program also offers you exposure to various other areas related to business, thus, providing you with many transferable skills and knowledge.

Through its curriculum and the skills you obtain, you will not be trapped into one specific career path. Instead, an MBA degree will present you with many lucrative job opportunities.

Curriculum

MBA programs prepare you for various industries; thus, their curriculums involve a wide range of topics. In addition to the core curriculum of subjects, elective courses are available, allowing you to choose based on your interests.

Furthermore, MPA programs usually offer various specialization opportunities and often require internships, further enhancing your employment.

Core courses that you can expect from an MBA program include:

  • Accounting;

  • Organizational Management;

  • Business Ethics;

  • Human Resource Management;

  • Financial Management;

  • Marketing Management;

  • Operation management;

  • Business Communication;

  • Business Strategy; and

  • Data Analytics.

Meanwhile, elective courses may cover HR management, business analytics, non-profit management, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, data visualization, etc.

When it comes to specializations, you can choose among various industries such as healthcare management, business analytics, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, general management, human resources, international business, information technology, etc.  

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Skills

By pursuing an MBA degree, you will explore skills such as organizational management, business communication, innovation quantitative reasoning, business ethics, and more. In addition, to help you qualify for business executive roles, MBA programs will make you proficient

  • in leading a team;

  • analyzing large amounts of information quickly;

  • doing strategic planning;

  • creating smart solutions to business issues;

  • motivating people; and

  • commanding respect. 

Through the curriculum, group work, real-world projects, and case studies, a master’s degree in business administration will equip you with the following skills:

  • communication;

  • strategic thinking;

  • decision making;

  • leadership;

  • analytical thinking;

  • risk management;

  • critical thinking; and

  • entrepreneurial skills.

MBA Job Opportunities

MBA degrees open many doors towards excellent job opportunities in various fields and industries. Most employers value MBA graduates’ abilities to explore the latest business trends, apply the newest tools and technologies, and use various methods and strategies to improve their companies and adapt to the always-changing environment of the business world.

Although as a fresh graduate, you will most probably begin your journey with an entry-level position such as assistant manager, or financial analyst, with some more experience up your sleeve, you can easily climb up the ranks and occupy executive positions.

MBA graduates can thrive in sectors, including health care, technology, and finance. Some of the top roles a MBA graduate can go after include:

Differences Between MPA and MBA

First and foremost, it is worth noting that MPA and MBA are graduate degrees that you can complete in about two years. Both degree programs prepare students for lucrative careers in different fields and are considered excellent choices. Still, we can quickly draw distinctions between MPA and MBA degrees, with some of the most apparent differences noticed in the curriculum focus and common employment sectors, areas of specialization,  salaries, and career paths.

So, one of the essential differences between MPA and MBA programs is the areas on which they put more emphasis while preparing students. MPAs focus on preparing students for leadership and management positions in public institutions, including federal, state, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and even non-profit ones.

On the other hand, MBA degree programs focus on equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to operate private companies and for-profit organizations. To put it simply, MPAs are often regarded as the public sector equivalent of what MBAs are for the private sector.

Furthermore, MPAs guide their students to work towards influencing social change, and the available areas of specialty showcase this. Whereas MBAs are designed to help professionals boost profits in their private enterprises.

As seen from the lists provided beforehand with the job opportunities and expected salaries, MBA graduates are generally expected to earn more. However, this does not mean that it is a better choice since there is more competition in the jobs related to MBA when compared to the MPA ones.

Bottom line: Which Degree Is Better for You?

When it comes down to making a choice, it depends on your personal goals and interests. If you are more interested in working in the public and non-profit sectors, an MPA degree would be ideal.

On the other side, an MBA degree would be a better fit if you prefer working in the private sector. It is highly valued by employers and comes with a myriad of job opportunities.

There is no wrong choice between MPA and MBA degrees. Simply think of who you are and who you want to be, then follow that vision.

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