Business Master’s Degree Insights: 2023 Survey Research Findings

Overview

In the years leading into and following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in business master’s programs has been relatively steady, while the context in which business master’s programs operate has shifted. To illuminate how an evolving environment has impacted business master’s programs, this research brief examines characteristics of the candidate pipeline, program preferences, and application trends of business master’s programs across regions and over time. In addition, it also considers employer perspectives and projected hiring trends.

Quick Facts

• In 2023, total applications to business master’s programs meaningfully declined for the first time in the years leading into and following the pandemic, but candidate interest in business master’s programs remains strong.
• Prospective students show consistent interest in the Master of Finance and growing interest in the Master of Data Analytics.
• Hybrid and evening business master’s programs were the most likely to report growth in applications in 2023, while about half of in-person and online business master’s programs reported declines in applications.