Graduate Certificate vs. MBA Degree: Which Path Is Right for Me?
Both a graduate certificate and an MBA degree will help advance your career in a number of ways, as each offering is unique and provides different levels of flexibility as well as distinct benefits. We’ll take a look at a graduate certificate vs. an MBA degree and will help you determine which path is best for you!
A Graduate Certificate from Kent State
When looking at an MBA vs. a certificate, the most fundamental difference is the amount of time it takes to complete one over the other. A certificate can be completed in as few as 12 credit hours while an MBA degree is a more extensive program.
Our available MBA certificates include:
- Business Analytics – With only four courses required for certification, the business analytics graduate certificate will help you develop proficiency in the framing of business and analytics problems. It also helps you to hone leadership skills, as well as data identification and acquisition skills, and more.
- Financial Management – Welcoming participants from all fields, the financial management graduate certificate program prepares participants to serve as leaders in public, private, and nonprofit organizations.
- Human Resource Management – Our newest graduate certificate will provide students with advanced skills in human resource management.
- Leadership and Management – A graduate certificate in leadership and management helps participants understand the difference between ethical and legal elements of a dilemma. Participants will gain the ability to articulate their position and apply ideas, and so much more.
MBA vs. Certificate: Stacking Certificates to Earn an MBA Degree
A unique and beneficial feature of our graduate certificates is that students have the opportunity to stack certificates to earn an MBA degree if they so choose. The ability to do this helps identify one of the core differences when looking at a certificate vs. an MBA degree – a certificate can become the foundation of an MBA degree.
Our Financial Management Graduate Certificate and Leadership and Management Graduate Certificate can be stacked with completion of Capstone requirements to earn an online MBA.
Benefits of a Certificate
Earning a certificate offers a number of benefits, including:
- Transcripts – A graduate certificate will appear on an academic transcript
- Asynchronous structure – There are no set meeting times for most of our certificate programs
- AACSB accreditation – The Kent State Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Quality Matters (QM) certified – All MBA courses are QM certified, meaning they meet rigorous standards of quality
An MBA Degree from Kent State
From a salary increase to invaluable business skills, the benefits our program offers makes an MBA degree from Kent State University one of the most popular and useful graduate business degrees today. As we take a look at an MBA vs. a certificate, it’s important to consider the wide range of program styles available for an MBA from Kent State.
These include:
- EMBA in-person/online hybrid – The hybrid design of the EMBA program offers the ideal blend of in-person and online learning. It allows participants to balance classes and their career with a once-monthly weekend meeting format.
- Full-time in-person – With a modular, eight-week course structure, the accelerated program can be completed in as few as 12 months.
- Online – Our online MBA program is accessible from almost anywhere! The curriculum is rigorous but manageable and allows you to continue working full time. In addition to a diverse learning style, with our MBA degree programs, participants also have the option to pursue a dual degree. This allows for students to pursue two master’s degrees simultaneously.
Available MBA dual degrees include:
- Architecture
- Communication Studies
- Library and Information Science
- Nursing
- Podiatric Medicine
- Sports Administration
- Translation
A specialized master’s is another option for those seeking to pursue a graduate degree from Kent State. The Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship offers master’s degrees in the following:
- Master of Science in Accounting
- Master of Science in Business Analytics
- Master of Arts in Economics
When looking at a certificate vs. an MBA degree, it’s important to take into consideration the specialized areas of study available in each.
Benefits of an MBA Degree from Kent State University
An MBA is designed to supply you with an in-depth understanding of business – an understanding crucial for any business leader. Earning your MBA will give you both a wide understanding of business knowledge, but also a detailed understanding of business within your specific field.
Even if your undergraduate degree is not rooted in business, an MBA will open new leadership opportunities within your current field. With a combined understanding of your industry and business operations, you will become a viable candidate for management and leadership positions within your field of study.
Additionally, Kent State’s Online MBA program has been ranked 23rd in The Princeton Review’s list of top 50 online MBA programs for 2022, and is the highest ranked online MBA program in Ohio.
Still Debating Between a Certificate vs. an MBA Degree?
Both an MBA degree and a certificate from Kent State offer flexibility, career growth, and unique areas of study, so we understand that it’s a difficult choice. We recommend taking a look at the application process for each, as well as the completion requirements to help you make a decision. Examine the hours required for completion for the degree or certificate you’re considering and choose the path that’s best suited to your interest and scheduling ability.
If after careful consideration, you still aren’t sure which path is right for you, you may consider starting out with a stackable certificate so that you can work toward earning your MBA degree at your own pace.
At Kent State University, we understand the importance of your career and your professional development, which is why an MBA degree and a certificate both allow participants to advance their careers while maintaining a full-time job.
Contact Us Today for More Information
Interested in learning more about our graduate degrees and certifications? We’re happy to discuss each program with you! Contact our team today with questions or to request additional information.