Types of MBA: A List of Top Concentrations
Today’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs provide plenty of options to focus on particular aspects of business through a specialization or concentration, giving you a competitive edge in today’s job market. Specializing can be beneficial if you’re looking to break into industries where you lack work experience — or a great way to improve skills that are most relevant to you in your current field.
“A concentration allows you to dive deeper into a specific area, like digital marketing, accounting, human resources or project management,” said Dr. Jessica Rogers, a senior associate dean of online business programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with more than 16 years of experience in operations, management and marketing. “This allows you to gain targeted skills that employers value. It also helps you signal a clear career direction on your resume.”
How Many Types of MBA Are There?
Depending on where you earn your MBA, you might have over a dozen types to choose from. For example, SNHU offers over 15 different MBA concentrations.
But not all MBA specializations or concentrations are equal. To get an idea of what to expect, research what types of classes and experiential learning opportunities are available within a particular program.
Which MBA is Best?
There isn’t a simple answer when it comes to which MBA is best. What’s more important is finding out which one is best for you.
“Begin with curiosity,” Rogers said. “Ask yourself: What do I enjoy doing? What problems do I like to solve? What industries fascinate me?”
With your answers to those questions in mind, here are 11 popular options to consider:
MBA in Business Analytics
With a business analytics background, you can prove yourself valuable in all types of departments — including marketing and operations — as well as industries such as sports and healthcare.
The job market for business intelligence experts is growing as fast as big data itself.* According to BLS, operations research analyst jobs will increase by 23% through 2033 — much faster than the average 4% growth rate projected for all occupations.*
Keep reading about the MBA in Business Analytics.
MBA in Entrepreneurship
Want to build a start-up? The entrepreneurship concentration teaches you how to start your own business or develop new initiatives within an existing company.
This concentration can also be helpful if you’re looking to get into related fields, such as venture capital, as it focuses on capital and venture capital opportunities, franchising, consulting and small-business management.
Get more information about the MBA in Entrepreneurship.
MBA in Finance
Finance concentrations prepare you for jobs in financial services, banking and risk management, or corporate finance positions in other firms. This concentration focuses on corporate financial management, investment and portfolio management, forecasting and core cash management.
Learn more about earning an MBA in Finance.
MBA in Healthcare Management
A healthcare management concentration develops leaders, preparing them to expand, diversify, improve healthcare quality and contain costs within an organization or health network. Coursework focuses on the business of healthcare, providing both an academic and real-world foundation in healthcare issues, trends and practices.
Jobs for medical and health services managers are projected to grow 29% by 2033, according to BLS.*
After earning her bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, Sheralyn Hernandez ’21 ’25MBA earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from SNHU to advance her career. She said the courses reviewed scenarios that you might encounter in the workplace, which was immediately relevant to her current role.
“They were able to teach me new things, but also kind of see it on a higher level with the goal of becoming a leader in healthcare administration,” she said. “I feel like every course was essential.”
Discover more about the MBA in Healthcare Management.
MBA in Human Resources
For those looking for human resources leadership roles, this concentration provides insight into recruitment, hiring, compensation and benefits, training, human resource information systems and career development, all from an organizational and employee perspective.
Job outlook for human resources is expected to grow by 6% through 2033, BLS said, which is as faster than the average projection for all occupations.* The median annual salary for human resources managers was $140,030 in 2024, BLS reports.*
Keep reading about the MBA in Human Resources.
MBA in Information Technology Management
With this concentration, you could pursue a variety of management roles in tech — like computer and information systems manager. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $171,200 in 2024, and roles are projected to grow 17% by 2033, according to BLS.*
MBA in International Business
Today’s businesses are truly global, and this concentration trains you to lead globally, emphasizing international business in a variety of cultural, political, social and economic contexts.
MBA in Leadership
A concentration in leadership can prepare you for a managerial role or a position as an organizational leader. In this program, you’ll learn about leading teams and navigating a complicated business landscape.
Jeffrey Harris ’23MBA earned his MBA in Leadership from SNHU after having worked in business for over a decade. He said he was surprised by how much the program was able to develop his expertise.
“I didn’t realize how much I could expand my understanding and depth in the field of business,” Harris said. “I didn’t think there was a whole lot I could learn, and I was exceptionally wrong.”
MBA in Marketing
In addition to advancing your business knowledge, an MBA in Marketing teaches you about brand management and consumer behavior, preparing you to become a leader within the world of marketing.
Marketing managers made a median salary of $161,030 in 2024, according to BLS, with an 8% projected growth rate through 2033.*
Get more information about the MBA in Marketing.
MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management
An MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management can prepare you to become an operations manager or a variety of other positions. For example, you could also become a logistician.
Roles for logisticians, who work in supply chain management, are projected to grow at a significantly faster-than-average pace of 19% by 2033, BLS said.*
Learn more about the MBA in Supply Chain Management.
MBA in Project Management
Learn how to plan, manage, budget and monitor projects to improve organizational efficiency with a concentration in project management. Project management methodologies are used in the information technology, construction, manufacturing and consulting industries to help define projects and ensure a cost-effective bottom line.
Students who successfully complete QSO 645: Project Management for PMP® Certification as part of their MBA in Project Management can meet the 35 hours of project management education required in order to take the PMP® certification exam.**
After completing a bachelor’s in business administration, Theresa Dominguez ’21 ’23MBA decided she should get an MBA. She chose to specialize with a project management concentration. The field interested her, and the concentration would help her qualify for an industry credential.
“The concentration helped provide the credit hours I needed to test for my Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification,” Dominguez said.
SNHU students pursuing an MBA in Project Management can choose to take a course that fulfills the educational requirement of the certification exam.
Students also learn from SNHU instructors who have participated in and completed the PMI’s Authorized Training Partner Train the Trainer – PMP® exam prep program.** This program equips select SNHU faculty with the authority to deliver PMP exam prep and training content to PMI’s quality standards.**
With just the project hours requirement left until she was ready to sit for the certification exam, Dominguez already saw the benefit of her MBA and concentration on her career.
“This degree has helped open many new doors, and in fact, just a month after graduating, I was promoted within my current company to a senior project program manager position,” Dominguez said.
While her degree was only part of the reason she was qualified for the new role, she knew that having it (and being well on her way to a PMP® certification) helped position her for advancement.
Interested? Learn more about the MBA in Project Management.
What Other Options Are Available?
The list of concentrations doesn’t end there. More MBA types include:
- MBA in Accounting
- MBA in Engineering Management
- MBA in Public Administration
- MBA in Sport Management
- MBA in Sustainability & Environmental Compliance
While a concentration can help you specialize within the world of business, there are also plenty of students who choose not to pursue one, instead opting for the general track. That’s what Cheri Federico ’25MBA did.
Federico worked while earning her MBA online from SNHU, and she found the courses were immediately applicable in her role.
“We were going through a big organizational change, and my last two classes were all about change management,” she said. “So I was able to directly use that right at the time.”
A general MBA can be versatile and flexible across roles and industries, according to Rogers. “Think of a concentration like a minor enhancement to your degree — it can be a great asset, but it’s not mandatory for success,” she said.
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