Which graduate level degree is more profitable once you retire or ETS out of the service MBA or MPA

2014-01-15T21:49:18-05:00

MBA is Masters in Business Administration
MPA is Masters in Public Administration

Which is better? Are their one too many MBA's? Are their too few MPA's?
Your thoughts are welcomed. Lastly why did you choose your graduate level degree? and how has it benefited you over your peers? This is inside and outside the military.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 15 at 2014 10:12 PM

2014-01-15T22:12:34-05:00

Personal opinion, I think the MPA would serve better, especially in the government sector as it opens those doors for the GS-14 level and above positions that seem to always be listed but that no one ever seems to fill, that could be due to budgetary reasons, but it seems as you stated that there are too many MBA's out in the job market at the present time and many are unemployed or under employed for the way the economy is running and continues to head.

I am actually going to be pursuing an MPA and think my prospects are going to be much better within the next year.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2014 10:49 PM

2014-01-15T22:49:59-05:00

These are vastly different degrees. As a gross oversimplification the MBA graduate should how to run a business earning money effiviently and an MOA graduate should know how to run an agency spending money efficiently. In general MBA graduates have far more diverse opportunties. MBA earnings should eclipse MPA over years.

I chose my graduate degree because I am a nurse. I should have gotten an MBA.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jun 28 at 2014 6:55 AM

2014-06-28T06:55:52-04:00

Which is better, MBA or MPA?
Some would say that if you want to be a CEO ...get the MBA. If you want to be a City Council member, mayor, Senator, House or Congressman/Congresswoman, or work for the Department of State and become a US Ambassador get the MPA.

IMHO. It doesn't matter.

I have a masters in management, MSM. When I apply for AmeriCorps a bachelors was all that was needed. When you obtain the masters, it does not matter if it an MBA, MPA or MSM because these advance degrees all share a common grid with leadership and management. Yes, they are specific, but job marketing is very dynamic in the business of employ ability and the needs of the economy.

Some jobs hire by likability and overall personality regardless of the job.

I chose the MSM with a concentration of Project Management because in the military everyone is a project manager, leader or some kind of detail baby multitasking projects that somebody left behind or somebody at higher headquarters thinks, dreams or conjures up.

And they all have to be done yesterday.

So my own personal and professional Time Management, Risk Management, Earned Value Management, and Strategic Management etc, all fell into place.

At the masters level of work....
How would you plan organizations and people in solving problems? This question is given as a standard at job interviews. Civilians do not go by crisis management per se, but they do go by conflict resolution. Whats the difference? It depends on how the organization is designed, structured and what norms of behavior are within.

The thing is that if one has obtained the masters degree in anything, that person would be required to interpret the business at hand both vertically and horizontally, and cross sectionally to the masses; interpersonal communication skill sets.

How does my masters benefit me over my peers?

I could not obtain either a degree let alone a masters while serving as an enlisted soldier from 1976 to 1996. College was not wired or designed in my career management field.

I believe that I am where my peers are in the advance degrees. The term "over peers" IMO does not apply or fit in the civilian norm or free world mindset because work is work. No one is over anybody on the outside... organizations are mostly flat versus hierarchical.

There is a civilian stigma that the masters degree is impressionable and equates to higher positioning, responsibility, and leadership.

On the other hand, I have experienced people with graduate degrees that could not lead individuals, teams or organizations effectively, but could raise multi million dollars in a marketing campaign. How does this happen? Again, it is different out here in the civilian world.

A person with a masters, they say can make much more than a person without. I personally know people that cannot write their name on a check book, yet have tons of money or personal wealth.

Some people look at profitability as a capitalistic construct; money or property.
Some people look at profitability as a non-monetary value; satisfaction.

In for profit as well as non-profit organizations that serve the community, people with a masters degree are leaders in the community and at the workplace. This is true, but there is a long road before that happens. Building trust takes time.

It takes longer for a graduate to get the dream job versus a non-graduate in getting any job. That is why in my demographic area, one would see a college grad even at the masters level accepting any kind of work just to survive out on the economy. They go from job to job until they get to where they are close to achieving their dream job.

Being a civilian is different out here.

If a SM, service member has a masters degree, he/she is employable so as long as they can interpret and communicate effectively in a civilian setting, when they retire.

A lot of retirees stay near an active duty military installation. Why? We are creatures of habit, and it is easier on the senses, language and skill sets obtained while serving.

These are just a few of the many challenges.

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 13 at 2014 11:24 PM

2014-10-13T23:24:44-04:00

Well that depends on what you want to do. Private is all about how your investing money and public is all about how your spending money. Its all about net present value and future value of money. Either way they are many spreadsheets in your future sarge. However I would say MBA cause it's just so generic and there are many more opportunities because of that.

Response by SGT Jonathan Gutierrrez made Jun 17 at 2020 9:55 PM

2020-06-17T21:55:02-04:00

Both are highly valuable and both are paid very well. Typically, an MBA is for knowing all aspects of managing a business and is geared more for for-profit or corporate employment. MPA is more for working government jobs. I am biased for the MBA only because I have had more exposure to the for-profit side and I hold an MBA. Maybe other folks here can speak to the MPA.

Response by SGT Jonathan Gutierrrez made Jun 17 at 2020 10:00 PM

2020-06-17T22:00:16-04:00

If you really want to stand out but not get the phd or doctorate, get the CPA license after either of the MBA or MPA. You already meet the credit req. for education and both teach you some kind of accounting. There are courses to sit down for the Certified Public Accountant. No one ever said you don’t need to know budgets or auditing for a leadership position. Both, public and private sector value a CPA for any leadership. Again, this is only optional.