How to pick the right business school program for you

Congratulations! You’ve decided you want to attend graduate business school. You’ve made it this far, but now you’re wondering which program will best meet your career goals.

This article includes insight from our admissions team to guide you through this important next step.

Consider your target industry

In which industry do you want to lead? Arguably the most important factor in deciding what program best suits you is determining which industry you want to build your career within.

Our programs prepare you to thrive in any business sector. However, certain programs place more emphasis on specific industry standards, technologies, and practices.

Our alumni work in a wide variety of industries:

• Consulting  
• Financial Services  
• Health Care Products/Services  
• Real Estate  
• Government  
• Education  
• Accounting Services  
• Technology  
• Manufacturing  
• Consumer Packaged Goods  

Explore our programs via areas of interest through our program finder.

Consider your professional experience

Consider your current experience. How much professional work experience do you have? The good news is, we offer programs for all levels of experience. However certain programs require more than others. Our MBA programs and dual-degrees typically require three or more years of professional experience.

If you’re a recent undergraduate with less than a year of professional experience, our specialized master’s programs are the right program type for you. We offer six full-time and three part-time specialized master’s programs.

Factor in your timeline

Factor in your timeline: When considering what program is your best fit, it is important to decide between full-time and part-time degree formats. Full time programs allow you to earn your degree faster, while part-time programs allow for flexibility and learning at your own pace.

A good question to reflect upon is whether you are looking to advance your current career or make a pivot within your career.

Typically, if you have a career you enjoy and are looking to advance within, a part-time program would be a great option for you. Our flexible-format programs allow you to continue working full-time and attend graduate business school part-time on a schedule that works for your life. The format is online, in-person or a blend of the two. We offer three part-time, specialized master’s degrees and a Flexible MBA. All part-time programs are available online as well.

If you are early in your career or want to pivot from one industry to another, a full-time program is probably the right fit for you. A full-time program allows you to focus solely on learning the skills and developing the network needed to enter a new career. We offer a full-time MBA, six full-time specialized master’s degrees, and several full-time dual degrees.

Get the most value for your time

Looking to earn more than one degree? We offer several dual-degree programs for those looking to earn more than just their MBA. We partner with top-ranked schools inside and outside Johns Hopkins University to offer a wide array of dual-degrees spanning a breadth of disciplines.

Dual-Degree program highlights:

MBA/MA in Design Leadership: In partnership with the Maryland Institute College of Art, the unique integrated curriculum creates leaders unafraid to think differently, producing creative visionaries capable of transforming companies, marketplaces, and human welfare.

Master of Public Health/MBA: Set yourself apart from other MPH graduates with an MBA. Armed with a deep understanding of the business of health from both the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School, graduates are uniquely qualified to work in the dynamic world of public health.

Ready to take the next step?

• Explore all of our full dual-degree offerings here.
• If you’re ready to learn more about your program of choice, connect with us to request more information.