Can You Get an MBA without a Bachelor’s Degree?

Getting a Master of Business Administration (MBA) offers numerous benefits, including sharpening your leadership skills, making you a more attractive job candidate, and increasing your earning potential. In 2024, MBA graduates are expected to have a median starting salary of $120,000 in the United States, according to the Corporate Recruiters Survey from the Graduate Management Admissions Council [1]. 

As an advanced degree, MBAs typically require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree by the time they start the program. That being said, your bachelor’s degree does not need to be in business. In this article, we’ll discuss typical requirements for an MBA, ways to get an MBA without a bachelor’s degree, and other MBA alternatives. 

Can you get an MBA without a bachelor’s?

Usually, to get into a school's MBA program, you need to have a bachelor’s degree. In fact, it’s one of the major requirements. 

That being said, your bachelor’s degree does not need to be in business. Many students interested in earning a graduate degree opt to study a different subject than their college major. Students with degrees across many other areas, like communications, engineering, marketing, health care, finance, and political science, often make great candidates for MBA programs. 

Many business schools welcome a diversity of students with unique backgrounds because it creates a more well-rounded experience for all students in the program. It can lead to lively discussions, create an environment that challenges perspectives, and bring more creativity and originality to the program. Some may even value specific skills, like leadership or ethics, over a business background. 

Ways to get an MBA without a bachelor’s

Unfortunately, because MBA programs require a bachelor’s degree for admission, there is no easy way to apply for admission to an MBA without first obtaining an undergraduate education. However, there may be faster ways to earn your bachelor’s before moving on to your MBA. Let’s review some of them. 

Bachelor’s completion programs

If you’ve earned some college credit but did not finish your bachelor’s degree program, you may want to consider looking into bachelor’s completion programs. These largely online offerings are often designed to accept a higher number of transfer credits so you don’t have to repeat what you’ve already learned and you can graduate with your bachelor’s in a timely fashion. 

Online colleges

Earn your bachelor’s degree online so you can learn around your other commitments, like work or family. When you earn an online degree, there are many benefits, including not having to relocate or travel to campus. You can also learn at your own pace, so while it may require a longer time commitment to first earn your bachelor’s before moving on to your MBA, you can work on that goal on your own time. 

Dual MBA programs 

If you do not yet have your bachelor’s degree, you may want to explore dual MBA programs. Many universities offer the option to get your bachelor's and master's degrees, such as an MBA, at the same time. Essentially, you attend school for a longer period—usually around five years— and when you graduate, you've earned both degrees. 

Alternatives to the MBA

If earning your bachelor’s degree in order to achieve an MBA is not feasible at the moment, there are other types of education you can consider to strengthen your business acumen and skill set. 

Online courses

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) can be an effective way to bolster your knowledge without having to travel to campus or formally enroll in a school. Whether you’re interested in learning about business foundations or want to study something more advanced, such as business analytics, there are a range of options to explore. 

Professional Certificates

Earn a Professional Certificate from an industry leader in business. The Microsoft Business Analyst Professional Certificate or the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate are excellent ways to add to your skill set while gaining a credential you can feature on your resume. 

Learn more: 9 Alternatives to College

Earn your MBA through Coursera 

Once you have a bachelor's degree, earn an MBA through an esteemed university partner on Coursera without applying. Thanks to performance-based admission programs, you’ll gain full admission when you take and pass a select number of courses as part of each program’s required coursework. Learn more about Illinois’ iMBA and Illinois Tech’s MBA—or get started in one of their open courses to see if either could be a good fit.