Is An MBA From Canada Worth It? ROI Examined

If you’re aiming to climb the corporate ladder, an MBA can offer career acceleration, helping to fast track you into a leadership role. It can also lead to a generous salary uplift. According to the annually published Financial Times MBA Ranking, some schools boast graduate salary increases of more than 100% between pre and post-MBA. 

The financial benefits of studying an MBA aren't the degree's only advantage, however. Here are some factors that show why pursuing an MBA in Canada can offer a strong ROI beyond the paycheck.

An MBA abroad offers access to a new job market

An MBA is a popular choice for people looking to pivot careers or live in a new location. Studying in Canada can provide students with access to new job markets in the country. This was the case for Sumit Kapoor from India.

“One of the biggest benefits of doing an MBA in Canada is how well it sets you up for the job market here,” he says. “I honestly don’t think I would have been able to build the career I have in Canada without the MBA from SFU Beedie School of Business. It had always been a goal of mine to study, live, and work here, and I’m really glad I made that decision.” 

Sumit says that his MBA gave him both the skills and confidence to take on more strategic roles, and that the network he built while studying has been invaluable for giving him career advice and new opportunities. 

“Just staying connected with classmates and alumni has opened doors I wouldn't have found otherwise.”

An MBA can make securing a role easier

Fernanda Berumen earned her MBA at John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, and went on to secure a role as operations leadership associate at TD Bank. She says that when exploring the professional landscape, she found that recruiters often prefer candidates with local work experience or degrees: “As an international student without either, completing my MBA at a Canadian institution opened up a wide range of professional opportunities for me.”

The MBA program was, she says, instrumental in helping her achieve a specific goal: transitioning her professional career to the country without starting from an entry-level position. “In that regard, the MBA provided exactly what I needed and proved to be a valuable investment.”

Fernanda also says the MBA provided her with a smooth transition into not only a new country but a new lifestyle, culture, and language.

For Sumit, the MBA gave him a much better understanding of how businesses really work. 

“After nearly 10 years in sales and operations, the program helped me see how my role fit into the bigger picture and how to work more effectively with other departments," he explains. 

That broader perspective, combined with his previous experience, helped Sumit land a role at STEMCELL Technologies in Vancouver after graduation. 

With an MBA you’ll gain access to a diverse range of opportunities

A Canadian MBA offers graduates diverse career options: the country is experiencing growth in sectors where MBAs will be in demand, including environmental consulting and clean energy.

Montreal—Canada's second-largest city—is a hub for AI, tech, and startups. And, thanks to being a bilingual city, it appeals to students seeking a cosmopolitan outlook and to develop international and multicultural communication skills.

Given its location and trade ties, Vancouver, meanwhile, is a strategic hub for international business, especially in the Asia-Pacific markets, and has vibrant tech, film, finance and sustainability opportunities for MBA grads.  

An MBA helps you harness technological developments

As AI and developments in technology rapidly transform the workplace, recruiters are increasingly looking for applicants with AI skills. GMAC’s Corporate Recruiters Survey—2024 Report found that while 26% of global employers currently see AI as crucial, the number is expected to rise. A recent Amazon Web Services survey found 42% of employers are actively searching for talent with AI development capabilities.

An MBA at a respected school in Canada will equip you with the tools you need to navigate developments in AI and business strategy, data science, analytics, and machine learning applications. For example, at SFU Beedie, MBA students can dig into a range of digital transformation and analytics specialized coursework, where they can learn to harness the power of AI to improve business operations.  

An MBA helps you develop softer skills

GMAC’s 2025 Prospective Student Survey found that alongside these emerging skills, both applicants and employees agree that strategic thinking and problem-solving are top skills for students to learn at business school.  Employers also place a greater premium on human skills such as emotional intelligence, adaptability, and coachability. Such skills are nurtured during an MBA. 

At John Molson, for example, MBA students can access a combination of lectures and activities—such as case discussions, experiential exercises, and projects—all of which aim to help develop their interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills.

How can you ensure you get the highest ROI from your MBA?

Ultimately, Fernanda says, the best way to ensure a strong ROI from your MBA is to understand your goals and priorities.

Now an operations leadership associate at TD Bank in Toronto, she tells future candidates to answer a couple of questions: "Why do you want to pursue an MBA? What are you hoping to achieve?"

She suggests the answer should not just consider cost: "It's about what you are seeking. Once you have answered these questions, you can conduct a targeted search and find a program and school that align with your needs and objectives. For instance, the John Molson School of Business was the perfect fit [for me] because it also offered great value for my money."

For Sumit, being open-minded is key. "To get the strongest ROI from your MBA, it helps to start with a general sense of where you’d like your career to go—but be flexible and open to new possibilities. The MBA will expose you to fresh ideas, perspectives, and career paths you may not have considered.

"Go into each class with an open mind, and be willing to challenge your assumptions and adapt your thinking based on what you learn," he concludes.