Is a Master in Management worth it?

TL;DR

• MiM degrees are aimed at recent graduates hoping to build their business acumen and accelerate their careers
• MiM programs tend to cost $50k to $70k, with most of the top-ranked programs located in Europe
• MiM graduates command average salaries of $90k, which can exceed $100k if you study on one of the leading programs
  
  

Studying a Master in Management (MiM) is a popular route for those looking to build the skills and connections needed to kickstart a managerial career.

This one-to-two year program is designed for recent graduates, covering the fundamentals of business while helping build connections with future employers and develop the basis of a strong professional network.

But enrolling in a Master in Management can be a significant investment. Top programs like the HEC Paris MiM cost over $50k in tuition fees, and you also have to consider that you'll be delaying the start of your career to study. With such a significant investment of time, effort, and money on the line, is a Master in Management worth it.

How much does a Master in Management cost?

Typically, you can expect to pay between $30,000 and $50,000 for a highly ranked MiM program.

Most of the leading Master in Management programs are based in Europe—around 80% of the top 100 programs listed in the annual Financial Times Master in Management Ranking are European—but you can find good quality Master in Management programs all over the world.

Schools that have the most expensive European MiMs include France’s INSEAD at €57,870 ($67,000), HEC Paris which charges $57,700 ($66,800), and IESE Business School (Spain) which requires students to pay €52,000 ($60,200) in fees.

However, there are also more affordable programs in the continent. The University of St Gallen Master in Management has topped the Financial Times Master in Management ranking for 14 consecutive years, and offers one of the most affordable MiMs costing around CHF 9,987 ($12,579) for international students.

You could also study your Master in Management in the US, at institutions like Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Michigan Ross School of Business. However, you should expect to pay more. At Michigan Ross, MiM tuition is $60,690, while Fuqua's program costs $69,900.

Meanwhile, there are programs in Asia that tend to be more affordable. Tsinghua University's MiM, ranked by the Financial Times as the best program in Asia, costs $4,400 for international students.

Wherever you choose to study, it's important to bear in mind that most schools offer scholarship opportunities that can dramatically reduce your tuition fees. For instance, London Business School offers MiM scholarships for women in business, future leaders, and students who've demonstrated academic merit.

What salary can you earn after a Master in Management?

As well as a broad range of career options, Master in Management grads can also expect to earn large salaries and see a strong return on their investment. Our 2025 Corporate Recruiters’ Survey revealed the median salary for MiM graduates sits at $90,000.

If you graduate from a top-ranked program, this figure can be even higher. According to Financial Times data, graduates of the MiM program at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad achieve an average weighted salary of $181,239. That's a 43% increase compared to their pre-MiM salaries.

In Europe, recent alumni from top programs can also command six-figure salaries. HEC Paris MiM graduates earn an average of $141,611, while London Business School graduates can expect an average salary of $122,909.

What jobs are available for Master in Management graduates?

Because it’s a generalist degree, a MiM can act as a gateway to a wide range of career paths. Some of the most popular industries for MiM graduates include finance, tech, and consulting.

A MiM can also position you well for roles with the world’s leading companies. For example, graduates from the University of St Gallen Master’s in Strategy and International Management (SIM)—ranked as the world’s best MiM by the Financial Times in 2025—have joined employers such as Bain, Google, Deloitte, Credit Suisse, and GSK.

Equally, there are ample opportunities for MiM grads outside of Europe. After completing the MiM program at China’s Tsinghua University, 41.9% of students enter consulting roles, and 32.6% land jobs in media, tech, and telecommunications.

In the US, consulting and tech are also popular industries. Among grads from Hult International Business School, which has US campuses in San Francisco and New York, 8% go into consulting, 16% into tech, and 19% into financial services. Other popular industries include consumer goods and entrepreneurship.

Master in Management success stories

After graduating from IESE Business School, Alejo Artagaveytia launched a career with Big Three consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He says it was the connections he built during the MiM that showed him what career paths were open to him.

“I was surrounded by classmates with big goals, which was such an enriching experience. It was a community of everyone pushing one another and this helped me to see my own potential.”

Because of its broad curriculum, a Master in Management opens the door to a wide range of careers. That’s exactly what happened for Zenan He, who landed a role as a project manager at Dior in Paris after studying the MiM at ESCP Business School. The two-year degree gave Zenan a wealth of international experience and helped develop her business acumen, so she was fully prepared for her new role.

“I felt like I started to fall in love with what I was learning there, and that’s why I decided to pursue a career in business,” she says.

Andrea Mannori studied the Master in International Management and Strategy at Vlerick Business School. While studying, he gained global experience travelling to Germany and the US to work with big companies such as DHL, Microsoft, and PwC. He's now launched a career with jewellery brand Pandora in Paris.

“There’s always this environment of innovative, stimulating ideas that have interesting results, which is exactly why I wanted to launch a global career after business school,” he says.