The Better Investment: MBA or MBR?

Student loan debt is crushing female grads – MBAs included.

And, the wage gap is widening. Women MBAs, on average, now earn five cents less on the dollar than they used to in their first post MBA jobs when compared to men.

So, is the better investment in a MBA or a Master’s of Business Reality (also known as the school of experience)?

The average tuition and fees at America’s top programs is nearly $100,000. The average startup cost for a small business? $30,000.

What’s most beneficial depends on your career goals, says Katie Hughes, CEO and founder, Slip-On Dancers. She opted for an MBR over a company-sponsored Princeton MBA.

“Academic discourse is important, but real world experience beats everything.”

“MBAs are a credibility indicator to upper management,” she tells PINK. “If you only have a Bachelor’s degree and little management experience and you want to move up in the company or industry you’re in, an MBA might be better.”

But, if your career aspirations are entrepreneurial?

“I’m often asked how my MBA helps run my businesses,” says Emily Worden, CEO, eThreads.com, who received her MBA in 2008. “The dirty truth is, it doesn’t.”

A former English and politics student, she tells PINK, “Academic discourse is important, but real world experience beats everything.”

COMMENT: Has your MBA paid for itself? Tell us!

BONUS PINK LINK: The infidelity gap is closing alongside the wage gap – is there a connection?

By L. Nicole Williams

Nicole is the Editor at Little PINK Book. Follow her on Twitter @iamnicwill.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Anais Nin

Image Shutterstock: Andresr