Is the MBA on the verge of a resurgence?

A new study reveals an MBA resurgence after a decade of decline. Applications, enrollments, and job prospects are rising, with growth projected through 2030, driven by online programs.

Is the MBA poised for a rebound? New study shows upward trends in MBA applications, jobs, and more

After a decade of decline, the MBA degree appears to be on the rise again. This is according to a new study published on January 15, 2025, by Validated Insights, a marketing agency specializing in higher education.

The number of MBA graduates, enrollments, and applications is increasing again from 2024, while the job market for MBA graduates is improving, despite the overall tight job market, according to the company. This growth is expected to continue until 2030 with an annual growth rate of 3.2% (Compound Annual Growth Rate).

"What keeps striking us, and what is reflected in the documentation, is that we seem to have hit a low point (in the MBA decline). We should at least expect some kind of growth curve to follow in the near future," says Brady Colby, author of the report and head of market research at Validated Insights.

"Another interesting finding from this study is that in this highly competitive market, the average program size is decreasing. Schools really need to think about this if they are trying to scale an online MBA."

ENROLLMENTS AND DEGREES ON THE UPWARD TREND

Validated Insights publishes detailed white papers and research reports on education markets every quarter. This report is the first to specifically address MBA studies. It uses data from various public and private sources, including the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, BestColleges, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Council of Graduate Schools, Graduate Management Admissions Council, Poets&Quants, U.S. News & World Report, and other sources.

The MBA is more than a century old, and it's easy to view it as the old man by the swimming pool, surrounded by a plethora of shiny, sexy master's degrees in all sorts of fields from AI to Business Analytics. Although the MBA is still one of the largest degree programs in U.S. higher education, enrollments and degrees have been declining for at least a decade.