- Start Here: MBA vs MS in Management
- MBA vs MS in Management at a Glance
- Curriculum, Skills, and Career Direction
- Business and Management Career and Labor-Market Context
- Cost, Salary, and ROI: How to Compare the Investment
- MBA vs MS in Management: Which Degree Fits You Better?
- Explore MBA and MS in Management Programs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
- Expert Reviewed By Soumen Chatterjee
Start Here: MBA vs MS in Management
An MBA (Master of Business Administration) and an MS in Management (MSM) can both prepare students for business and management careers, but they approach graduate business education differently.
An MBA typically provides broad, cross-functional business education spanning areas such as finance, accounting, marketing, operations, strategy, and management. Many programs also allow students to concentrate in a particular business area.
An MS in Management focuses more specifically on management and organizational topics. Individual curricula vary, but programs may emphasize areas such as leadership, organizational behavior, strategy, decision-making, and managing people and organizations.
That creates an important distinction:
An MBA is generally the broader business degree. An MS in Management is the more management-focused degree.
But that distinction alone does not answer the more important question:
Which degree is the better investment for you?
There is no defensible single “MBA salary,” “MS Management salary,” or universal ROI that answers that question for every student. A graduate degree does not map to one occupation, and the financial return can change substantially based on:
- What you pay for the degree.
- Scholarships or employer tuition assistance.
- Whether you continue working while enrolled.
- Income you give up while completing the program.
- Your earnings before graduate school.
- The occupation and position you pursue afterward.
- Your post-degree earnings.
- How those earnings change over time.
- How many years you remain in the workforce after graduating.
A lower-cost MS in Management could produce the better return in one scenario, while a more expensive MBA could produce greater long-term financial benefit in another. A degree with the larger eventual return may also take longer to recover its initial investment.
That is why this comparison evaluates cost, potential return, and payback together rather than declaring one degree the universal ROI winner.
Later on this page, OMC’s MBA vs MS Management ROI comparison will allow you to test these variables using your own assumptions. Readers who want the broader methodology behind this approach can also review OMC’s Graduate Degree ROI Study .
MBA vs MS in Management at a Glance
| Decision Factor | MBA | MS in Management |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Master of Business Administration | Master of Science in Management |
| Primary Academic Orientation | Broad, cross-functional business education | More concentrated study of management and organizations |
| Common Curriculum Areas | Finance, accounting, marketing, operations, strategy, economics, management | Management, leadership, organizational behavior, strategy, decision-making, and related management topics |
| Business Breadth | Generally broader | Generally more concentrated around management |
| Specialization Options | Often available across multiple business functions | Vary by program |
| Designed Only for Experienced Managers? | No — admissions expectations vary substantially by program | No — admissions expectations vary substantially by program |
| Requires a Business Bachelor’s Degree? | Generally no; program prerequisites vary | Generally no; program prerequisites vary |
| Single Degree-Level Salary? | No | No |
| Single Degree-Level ROI? | No | No |
| Financial Return Depends On | Cost, foregone earnings, career outcome, salary change, funding, and time horizon | Cost, foregone earnings, career outcome, salary change, funding, and time horizon |
| Consider More Closely If… | You want broad exposure across major business functions or flexibility across business disciplines | You want graduate business education centered more specifically on management and organizations |
These are degree-level distinctions , not guarantees about individual programs.
MBA curricula vary by institution and concentration. MS in Management programs can also differ substantially in required courses, electives, duration, admissions expectations, and career orientation.
Students should therefore compare the actual programs they are considering rather than assuming every MBA or every MS in Management follows an identical model.
The Financial Difference Is Not Just Tuition
Comparing sticker prices alone can produce the wrong investment decision.
Suppose one degree costs less but requires a student to reduce working hours substantially. Another program may charge more tuition but allow the student to remain fully employed. Employer tuition assistance could change the comparison again.
Likewise, the degree producing the larger post-graduation salary increase does not automatically have the better ROI if obtaining it requires a much larger investment.
A useful comparison needs to consider at least three different questions:
| Question | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Which degree costs less? | Upfront financial exposure |
| Which degree reaches payback sooner? | How quickly the investment may be recovered |
| Which degree produces the larger cumulative net benefit? | Potential longer-term financial advantage under the assumptions used |
Those answers do not have to point to the same degree.
OMC analysis: This is the central reason MBA vs MS Management should be treated as an investment comparison , not simply a curriculum comparison. A student deciding between actual programs needs to compare what each path costs them against what they reasonably expect it to change financially.
OMC Finding
The MBA is generally the broader cross-functional business degree, while an MS in Management concentrates more directly on management and organizational study. Neither distinction establishes which degree has better ROI. The investment answer depends on the student’s actual program costs, foregone earnings, funding, expected career outcome, salary change, and time horizon. A useful comparison therefore needs to measure both the academic fit and the financial consequences of each option.
Curriculum, Skills, and Career Direction
The MBA and MS in Management overlap in areas such as leadership, strategy, decision-making, and organizational management. The main difference is how broadly each degree extends beyond management itself .
An MBA generally combines management education with multiple business functions. An MS in Management concentrates more of the graduate curriculum around managing organizations, teams, strategy, and related management topics.
How the Curriculum Differs
| Area of Study | MBA | MS in Management |
|---|---|---|
| Management and Leadership | Core component | Core component |
| Strategy | Core component | Common component |
| Organizational Behavior | Common | Common/core depending on program |
| Finance | Typically part of the core | Varies; may be less extensive |
| Accounting | Typically part of the core | Varies by program |
| Marketing | Typically part of the core | Varies by program |
| Operations | Typically part of the core | Varies by program |
| Economics/Business Environment | Common | Varies by program |
| Decision-Making/Analytics | Common, with depth varying by program | Common, with depth varying by program |
| Electives/Concentrations | Often span multiple business functions | Vary substantially by program |
| Overall Orientation | Cross-functional business education | Management-focused graduate education |
The table describes the general distinction between the degree types, not a required curriculum shared by every university.
For an MBA, the cross-functional structure matters because students may study how finance, marketing, operations, accounting, strategy, and management interact within an organization.
An MS in Management can cover some of those same subjects, but the degree is generally organized more directly around management and organizational questions .
That does not make an MS in Management a “lighter MBA” or an MBA an automatically more advanced management degree. They are different curricular structures, and individual programs can overlap substantially.
How the Skills and Career Direction Differ
| Decision Area | MBA | MS in Management |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-functional business knowledge | Greater emphasis | Varies by curriculum |
| Management and organizational knowledge | Strong component | Central emphasis |
| Finance/accounting exposure | Generally broader | Depends on program |
| Marketing/operations exposure | Generally broader | Depends on program |
| Leadership and team management | Common | Common/central |
| Strategic decision-making | Common | Common |
| Career direction | Can support movement across multiple business functions and management contexts | More directly aligned with management-focused graduate study |
| Single occupational destination | No | No |
| Guaranteed management role after graduation | No | No |
| Guaranteed advancement into leadership | No | No |
Neither degree maps neatly to one occupation.
MBA graduates may pursue roles across finance, marketing, operations, consulting, technology, general management, and other business functions. MS in Management graduates can also pursue management and business roles across industries.
Because those outcomes are diverse, it would be misleading to attach one occupation’s BLS salary or growth rate to either degree and call it the “MBA salary” or “MS Management salary.”
The actual financial value of either degree depends heavily on the career transition it helps the individual make.
Does Work Experience Determine Which Degree You Should Choose?
Not by itself.
MBA programs are often associated with working professionals, but admissions requirements vary substantially. Some programs expect significant professional experience, while others admit students earlier in their careers.
MS in Management programs also vary in the students they target.
So a rule such as:
0–3 years of experience = MS Management; 3–7 years = MBA
is too rigid to use as a degree-selection framework.
A better approach is to compare the actual admissions profile and curriculum of the programs you are considering with what you already know.
OMC analysis: Prior experience matters most when it changes the value of what you will learn. Someone who already understands one business function but wants broader exposure to finance, marketing, operations, and strategy may find the cross-functional MBA structure particularly useful. Someone whose primary educational goal is concentrated graduate study of management and organizations may find an MS in Management more directly aligned.
Neither outcome follows automatically from a specific number of years in the workforce.
Which Academic Direction Fits Better?
| If You Want… | Degree to Examine More Closely |
|---|---|
| Broad graduate exposure across major business functions | MBA |
| Graduate study concentrated around management and organizations | MS in Management |
| Finance, accounting, marketing, and operations within the same core business degree | MBA |
| Management and organizational topics without necessarily pursuing the same breadth across business functions | MS in Management |
| Numerous business concentration options | MBA programs deserve closer consideration |
| A guaranteed path into management | Neither |
| A degree that guarantees higher earnings | Neither |
| The better financial investment | Cannot be determined from curriculum alone |
Students interested in the broader degree can explore online MBA programs , while students seeking the more management-focused route can compare online master’s in management programs .
The academic decision should then feed into the investment decision.
If both curricula could support your goals, factors such as program cost, time away from work, employer funding, and the career outcome you reasonably expect after graduation become increasingly important.
OMC Finding
The MBA generally provides broader cross-functional business education, while the MS in Management concentrates more directly on management and organizational study. That makes curriculum fit an important first filter, but it does not establish the better financial investment. Neither degree maps to one occupation or guarantees a management role, salary increase, or promotion. Once both degrees are academically viable for a student, their relative value increasingly depends on cost and the career change each degree is expected to support.
Business and Management Career and Labor-Market Context
The MBA and MS in Management can both support careers across business and management, but neither degree corresponds to a single occupation.
That distinction is particularly important when comparing salaries. Business careers span functions such as management, finance, marketing, operations, human resources, consulting, and other areas, each with different compensation, experience requirements, and career paths.
BLS occupational data can provide useful context for evaluating potential career directions, but those figures should not be treated as salaries produced by either degree.
Business and Management Occupations: Salary and Growth Context
The occupations below illustrate several career directions that can intersect with graduate business or management education.
They are not MBA or MS in Management outcomes . BLS reports wages and employment projections by occupation rather than graduate degree, and neither credential guarantees entry into these positions.
| Illustrative Occupation | SOC Code | 2025 Median Annual Pay | Projected Employment Growth, 2025–2035 | Typical Entry-Level Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 11-1021 | $102,950 | 5% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Financial Managers | 11-3031 | $161,700 | 15% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Human Resources Managers | 11-3121 | $149,280 | 5% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers | 11-2011 / 11-2021 | $165,780 | 6% | Bachelor’s degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections. Wage data are May 2025; employment projections are for 2025–2035.
The range illustrates why there is no defensible single “MBA salary” or “MS in Management salary.”
It also highlights another important point: BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for the management occupations shown above, and related professional experience is also common in several management career paths.
That means the median wage associated with a management occupation should not automatically be attributed to earning an MBA or MS in Management.
A graduate business degree may be one part of a student’s career strategy, but occupation, industry, prior experience, responsibilities, location, and career progression can all affect compensation.
Why Management Salaries Are Not Graduate-Degree Salaries
Consider management occupations with relatively high median wages.
A student might see the salary associated with financial managers, marketing managers, human resources managers, or general and operations managers and use that figure as evidence of what an MBA or MS in Management “pays.”
BLS data do not support that conclusion.
These occupational wage figures describe people already working in those occupations. They do not measure the salary increase caused by completing an MBA or MS in Management, and they do not establish that either graduate degree is required to enter the occupation.
This distinction matters especially for management careers because professional experience can be an important part of advancement.
For ROI analysis, the more useful question is:
What career outcome do I reasonably expect after this specific program, and how would that earnings path compare with the path I could pursue without the degree?
A student already working in business and pursuing an MBA to support advancement may have a very different baseline and expected salary change from someone pursuing an MS in Management earlier in their career.
That is why BLS occupational wages are useful for researching career and compensation assumptions , but they should not be inserted directly into the ROI calculation as assumed MBA or MS in Management salaries.
OMC Finding
Business and management occupations span substantially different salary levels and career paths, but those occupational wages are not MBA or MS in Management outcomes. BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for many management occupations, and professional experience can also play an important role. For ROI analysis, students should therefore estimate the career and earnings change they reasonably expect from the specific graduate program rather than assigning a management occupation’s full salary to the degree.
Cost, Salary, and ROI: How to Compare the Investment
An MBA and an MS in Management do not have one universal cost, salary, or ROI.
Neither degree maps to a single occupation, and students enter graduate school with different salaries, choose programs with different costs, receive different amounts of employer or scholarship support, and pursue different careers afterward.
That means the useful financial question is not:
Which degree has the better ROI?
It is:
Which degree produces the better financial result under the costs and career assumptions that apply to me?
What Goes Into the Investment?
Tuition is only one part of graduate-school cost.
| Investment Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Tuition and required fees | Establishes the direct educational cost |
| Scholarships and grants | Reduce the student’s direct cost |
| Employer tuition assistance | Can materially change the economics of either degree |
| Program duration | Affects how long the student remains enrolled and when post-degree earnings begin |
| Income retained while enrolled | Determines how much employment income continues during the program |
| Foregone earnings | Captures income sacrificed by reducing or leaving work |
| Expected post-degree earnings | Helps estimate the financial change associated with the targeted career outcome |
| Earnings growth | Affects modeled results across longer time horizons |
A program with higher tuition is therefore not automatically the larger economic investment.
A student who remains fully employed during a higher-tuition program could sacrifice less income than someone who leaves work for a lower-tuition option. Scholarships and employer tuition assistance can change the comparison again.
Students who need to estimate the underlying cost of a particular program can first use OMC’s Graduate School Cost Calculator .
Choosing a Salary Assumption for the ROI Comparison
As the occupational data above show, there is no single salary associated with an MBA or MS in Management.
For the ROI comparison, use an expected post-degree salary that reflects the specific career outcome you reasonably expect to pursue after each program . Consider evidence such as BLS occupational wages, industry and location, relevant employer salary information, your prior experience, and the responsibilities of the positions you are targeting.
The salary assumption can differ between the MBA and MS in Management if you reasonably expect the programs to support different career outcomes. It can also be the same if either program could support the same intended path.
These figures remain scenario assumptions rather than predicted degree outcomes . The calculator uses them to test how different career and program assumptions affect investment, payback, and ROI.
What the ROI Comparison Measures
OMC’s comparison evaluates three financial paths:
- Continue without either degree
- Complete the MBA
- Complete the MS in Management
Both graduate-degree paths are evaluated against the same no-degree earnings baseline.
The comparison then examines several different measures:
| Measure | What It Answers |
|---|---|
| Economic Investment | How much direct cost and foregone income does the degree require? |
| Payback Period | When does the modeled financial benefit recover that investment? |
| 5-Year Net Benefit | What is the modeled cumulative financial result over five years? |
| 5-Year ROI | How large is the five-year modeled benefit relative to the economic investment? |
| 10-Year Net Benefit | What is the modeled cumulative financial result over ten years? |
| 10-Year ROI | How large is the ten-year modeled benefit relative to the economic investment? |
| Incremental Comparison | What additional modeled benefit do you receive for the additional investment in the more expensive option? |
One degree does not have to win every measure.
A lower-cost program may reach payback sooner or produce the higher ROI percentage, while a higher-cost program could eventually generate the larger cumulative net benefit.
That is a tradeoff , not a contradictory result.
Compare Your MBA vs MS Management ROI
Use the calculator below to compare the MBA and MS in Management using your own program and career assumptions.
Enter your:
- Current salary.
- Expected salary growth without either degree.
- Tuition and required fees for each program.
- Scholarships or grants.
- Employer tuition assistance.
- Program duration.
- Percentage of income you expect to retain while enrolled.
- Expected post-degree salary for each path.
- Expected post-degree salary growth.
The calculator models all three paths month by month and compares economic investment, payback, 5-year and 10-year net benefit, 5-year and 10-year ROI, and the incremental financial difference between the two degrees .
The results are scenarios, not predictions. Salary, employment, advancement, program costs, and other outcomes can differ from the assumptions entered.
How to Read Your Results
Do not look only for which degree has the higher ROI percentage.
Instead, consider the results together:
- Lower economic investment indicates which option requires less modeled financial commitment.
- Faster payback indicates which investment is recovered sooner under your assumptions.
- Higher net benefit indicates which path leaves you further ahead financially at the specified time horizon.
- Higher ROI percentage indicates which path produces the larger modeled benefit relative to the amount invested.
- Incremental return helps evaluate whether spending more on one degree produces enough additional modeled benefit to justify the extra investment.
If one degree wins on every measure, the financial comparison is relatively straightforward.
If one reaches payback sooner while the other produces greater long-term benefit, you have a tradeoff result . In that situation, the decision depends partly on whether you value lower financial exposure and faster recovery or greater modeled long-term benefit.
OMC’s broader Graduate Degree ROI Study explains the cost, salary-lift, and payback framework behind OMC’s graduate-degree ROI analysis.
OMC Finding
There is no universal MBA or MS in Management ROI winner. The financial result depends on the actual programs being compared, income sacrificed while enrolled, funding, expected career outcomes, and earnings assumptions. Comparing both degrees against the same no-degree baseline reveals something tuition or salary alone cannot: one degree may require less investment or reach payback sooner while the other produces greater modeled long-term benefit.
MBA vs MS in Management: Which Degree Fits You Better?
The MBA and MS in Management can overlap in management, leadership, and strategy, but the better choice depends on both what you want to learn and what you expect the degree to change financially .
The academic distinction is relatively straightforward:
Consider the MBA for broader, cross-functional business education. Consider the MS in Management for graduate study centered more specifically on management and organizations.
The investment decision requires another layer.
A degree that fits your academic goals but requires substantially more cost or foregone income may not be the better financial choice. Conversely, choosing the least expensive program can be shortsighted if another degree better supports the career outcome you are actually pursuing.
Consider an MBA If…
An MBA may fit better if you:
- Want graduate education spanning multiple business functions rather than management alone.
- Want coursework that commonly includes finance, accounting, marketing, operations, strategy, and management.
- Are still deciding which business function or specialization you want to emphasize.
- Want access to MBA concentrations that can provide additional study in a specific business area.
- Already have specialized professional experience and want broader exposure to how different business functions interact.
- Are comparing career directions that extend beyond management-focused roles.
- Have identified an MBA program whose economic investment is reasonable relative to the career outcome you expect.
The MBA’s broader curriculum is a legitimate differentiator. It does not , by itself, establish higher earnings or better ROI.
A higher-cost MBA becomes financially compelling only if the benefits you expect from that particular investment justify its additional cost and opportunity cost.
Consider an MS in Management If…
An MS in Management may fit better if you:
- Want management and organizational study to remain the central focus of your graduate education.
- Do not need the same breadth of required coursework across finance, accounting, marketing, and other business functions.
- Want to strengthen knowledge of areas such as leadership, organizational behavior, strategy, decision-making, or managing teams.
- Have found a program that aligns closely with the management capabilities you want to develop.
- Are comparing programs where the MS in Management requires a materially smaller economic investment .
- Can reach your intended career outcome without paying for broader business education that you do not need.
A narrower academic focus does not make the MS in Management inherently less valuable than an MBA.
Its value depends on whether that focus matches the student’s goal and whether the program’s cost is justified by the expected benefit.
Final Decision Framework
| If Your Priority Is… | Degree to Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Broad business education | MBA | Generally covers multiple major business functions |
| Management-focused graduate education | MS in Management | More directly concentrated around management and organizations |
| Finance + marketing + accounting + operations within one degree | MBA | Cross-functional breadth is a defining feature |
| Management without needing the same cross-functional breadth | MS in Management | More focused academic structure may be sufficient |
| Multiple business concentration options | MBA deserves closer consideration | MBA programs commonly offer specialization choices |
| Lowest tuition | Compare actual programs | Degree type alone does not establish program price |
| Lowest total investment | Calculate it | Tuition alone excludes funding and foregone earnings |
| Fastest payback | Calculate it | Depends on total investment and incremental earnings |
| Highest 5-year ROI | Calculate it | Depends on individual cost and earnings assumptions |
| Highest 10-year net benefit | Calculate it | The higher-cost option can potentially overtake the lower-cost option over time |
| Employer-funded education | Compare net cost after assistance | Funding can materially change the investment result |
| A guaranteed higher salary | Neither | Neither degree maps to one salary outcome |
| Guaranteed promotion into management | Neither | A graduate degree does not guarantee advancement |
| Universal better ROI | Neither | ROI depends on the student’s costs, career outcome, and assumptions |
The Decision in Three Questions
If you are still deciding after comparing the curriculum and financial results, focus on three questions.
1. Which education do I actually need?
Choose toward the MBA if broad exposure across business functions is important to your goal. Choose toward the MS in Management if management and organizational study is the more relevant academic focus.
2. What does each path require financially?
Use the actual program costs, funding, program duration, foregone earnings, and expected career outcomes rather than comparing degree labels or sticker prices.
3. What does the calculator show about the tradeoff?
Look at economic investment, payback, 5-year and 10-year results, and the incremental difference between the two options.
If one degree requires substantially more investment, ask whether its additional modeled benefit is large enough to justify that difference.
If both produce similar financial results, curriculum fit, program quality, flexibility, and personal career goals can carry more weight.
OMC Finding
Consider an MBA when you want broader cross-functional business education and its additional investment is justified by the outcome you expect. Consider an MS in Management when management-focused education better matches your goal or when broader MBA coursework does not justify additional cost. If both degrees fit academically, use their modeled investment, payback, return, and incremental financial difference to decide whether paying more for one produces enough additional value.
Explore MBA and MS in Management Programs
Once you know which degree structure better fits your goals, the next step is comparing actual programs rather than degree labels.
Tuition, curriculum, concentrations, admissions requirements, program length, delivery format, and employer funding can vary substantially among programs within the same degree category. Those differences can also change the ROI calculation.
Students looking for broad, cross-functional graduate business education can explore OMC’s online MBA programs .
Students with a more specific management interest can also explore an MBA in Strategic Management .
If cost is a major factor, compare the actual tuition and total investment of the programs you are considering rather than assuming all MBA programs carry a similar price.
Students focused specifically on MBA pricing can also review OMC’s Online MBA Cost analysis.
Students who prefer graduate education centered more directly on management and organizations can explore online master’s in management programs .
When comparing programs, look beyond the degree title. Review the required curriculum, electives, total cost, program length, admissions expectations, and whether the program’s academic focus matches the management capabilities you want to develop.
An MBA and MS in Management are only two possible graduate business paths.
Depending on your career objective, these comparisons may also help:
- MBA vs Executive MBA — compare two MBA pathways with different student and program considerations.
- MBA vs Master’s in Finance — compare broad business education with specialized graduate finance study.
- MBA vs Master’s in Data Science — compare business-focused graduate education with a more technical, data-centered path.
- Master’s Degrees With Strong ROI — explore graduate-degree options through an ROI-focused lens.
If you are still deciding among degree types rather than individual programs, return to OMC’s graduate degree comparison hub to explore additional side-by-side comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither degree is universally better. An MBA generally provides broader education across business functions , while an MS in Management focuses more directly on management and organizations . The better choice depends on the curriculum you need, the programs you are considering, their total cost, and the career outcome you expect the degree to support.
Degree type alone does not determine cost. Tuition and fees can vary substantially by university, delivery format, program length, and other factors. For an investment comparison, students should also account for scholarships, employer tuition assistance, financing costs, and any earnings they give up while enrolled. The program with lower tuition is not necessarily the one with the lower economic investment .
There is no universal ROI winner. The result depends on program cost, employer or scholarship funding, foregone earnings, expected post-degree earnings, and the time horizon being measured. One degree may reach payback sooner or produce a higher ROI percentage while the other generates greater long-term net benefit. OMC’s MBA vs MS Management ROI calculator lets students compare those outcomes using their own assumptions.
Admissions expectations vary by program. Some MBA programs target experienced professionals or require professional experience, while others admit students earlier in their careers. MS in Management programs also vary in the applicants they are designed to serve. Students should check the admissions requirements and student profile of the individual programs they are considering rather than using a fixed number of years of experience to choose between the degrees.
Yes. Both degrees are available in online formats. Students can compare online MBA programs and online master’s in management programs based on curriculum, cost, admissions requirements, program structure, and other factors important to their decision.
An MBA with a management concentration typically retains the MBA’s broader business core while adding focused coursework in management. An MS in Management generally makes management and organizational study the central focus of the degree itself. Students who want broad exposure to business functions alongside a management specialization may prefer the MBA structure. Students who primarily want graduate study centered on management should examine the MS in Management curriculum more closely.