This is the second article on MS vs MBA in the USA. If you have not read it, please read the first article: Should I apply for MS or MBA in the US ? difference ? It talks about the differences between MS vs MBA and what each of the degrees focuses on. In this article, we will look at aspects of funding, fee and other aspects.
Fees MBA vs MS? Which is cheap? State University Vs Private Schools
MS tuition fee is typically much cheaper than MBA. Business schools have their own course fee structure. Also, in terms of fees, US State schools fee is always cheaper than Private Schools. For instance, MBA at private school like University of Chicago will cost you ONLY the tuition for NINE MONTHS is $74,919 as of year 2022.
As a non-resident, MBA at a state school like University of Wisconsin will cost you $47,013 for a 9 months for the year 2022. Also, fees at University of Houston Masters program for MBA is around $1397 per credit in 2022, which comes to $12,573 per semester if you take 9 credits. Not going into specifics, but if you look at MS fees as well, it is cheaper to study in state schools.
The summary is that state schools always have a lesser fee as they are state-funded. For more details, read Cost of MS / MBA in US – Apply for Cheaper Schools
Funding – TA, RA, GA for MBA and MS ?
Funding is a big thing for students and most common types of funding as we have explained are in the form of Teaching Assistantships(TA), Research Assistantship(RA) and Graduate Assistantship(GA). Check the post about what are TA, GA and RA for more info if you do not know with funding info.
Let’s think logically first, MS is more technical and research oriented, logically speaking if the University has more research funding then, there is more funding for MS. On the other hand, MBA, it is not tied very much to research, where do funds come from? The only source for MBA funding is Fellowships, scholarships, or TAs for Undergrad Business students.
If you notice, for MBA, the research part is almost not there unless you are in Ph.D. Guess what, if you are MBA and applying for funding in Business school, MS people of Marketing or Finance are competition to you for that too. So, your option is to work in other departments or have no funding at all.
But for MS, you have many options like working as RA, TA or GA in your department or other department based on your background. Not only logically, but in reality too, there is less funding for MBA than for MS due to the research focus and other related aspects. You may get in-state tuition in state universities if you stay long enough like year or so and pay taxes in that states by working on a work visa, but in private schools forget about funding…
Should you study MS or MBA? How to decide ?
I know most of you want to be managers and entrepreneurs in future by jumping into MBA right after B.Tech, B.A or B.Com… Let me tell you the truth folks, You will learn very little if you go to MBA without two to three years of work experience. You have to work in an organization setting to fully comprehend and appreciate the full potential of MBA. For this reason, most of the business schools have a requirement of 3 to 5 years of work experience as a major factor.
Think about this, “if you were never a team member, how will you understand the team member’s problems and their perspective if you were never a team member and directly have become a manager”. So, start at the base and then climb up ! My recommendation is if you are starting your career, then do not go for MBA, work and then go. Read MBA after B.tech or With Work Experience ?. As of MS is concerned, as I said in previous posts there are many types of students who would like to come to the US for education and some for jobs only. Depending on your situation, you may pick one of the below.
- Typically, MS is done for anyone with career path of PhD or research.
- If you want to do Ph.D. someday and be professor, then MS and PhD integrated program.
- If you worked for two years, and have money to support your MBA financially, then MBA
- If you are not sure what you want to do, then take time to think about what you really like and where you see yourself in next 10 years and take a decision on what makes sense for your career path.
Overall, it is up to your passion on where you want to be in the next 10 years, try to do something that will help you get there…it is your decision, plan well and go for your passion… I am not trying to discourage anyone to do MBA right after B.Tech, but just telling you the facts I have learnt. Good Luck ! Make an informed decision….It is your future !
What are your thoughts ? Anything to add that I have missed ?
Hi . I liked your article a lot . I gave GRE and also got selected for MS in food science in Washington State University . But now I am very confused whether I should go for MBA or MS .The main reason for this dilemma is the extremely high fees for MS (approx 40-44lakhs for most of the graduate schools in US ) . With such high fees and no job security after 2 years , I am unable to decide whether I should stay in India or go for MS ?
hi kumar
thanks for the wonderful website. I am a 3rd year btech student in ece. I am confused between MS or MBA. I am not so good at my ece courses and heard that computer jobs are paid high and opportunities are also high in computers field. So i am thinking to do MS in CS but i want to finally start a business in the future. I have an idea to do MS and work in USA and make money and with the experience i earn, i can even start a business without a MBA. But donno how far it is a right option.
What is the average salary for MS and MBA graduate??
Please help me to decide whether on MBA or MS.
Hi,
I have working experience of 2.3 years and still working in TCS as Security Analyst.Now i want to go for my post graduation.I am confused as most people whether to go for MBA or MS in some security related courses only.Can you please help me with my dilemma.
Thanks and Regards,
Awaneet
MR KUMAR THANKS FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS..I AM A FRESH BTECH GRAD AND I WANTED TO DO MBA NOW BUT LIKE YOU SAID MS IS A GOOD OPTIONS AND YOU DID MBA AFTER MS..AFTER HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU DO YOUR MBA AFTER YOUR MS.WILL I BE ABLE TO FINANCE MY MBA AFTER DOING MS?I WILL BE THANKFUL IF YOU ANSWER
hello sir!!
m pursuing btech from CSE branch(3rd yr)…i want to do mba from abroad…should i start preparing for GMAT and TOEFL…as hardly one year is left in completing my btech…also i dont want to go for MS..as m not tht much intrested in doing advance topics related to CS…and wat will be the total budget if i do MBA from US or UK…kindly guide me..your suggestions will be highly appreciated…thank u.
hi
I am one yr away from completing my Btech degree in CSE.I am interested in pursuing a career related to comp security.The way i see it,I have 2 options in front of me-1 is of taking up a job and doing related certification courses,and probably an MBA somewhere down the road, and the other is to pursue a related MS degree after college.PS-I have no intention of getting a PHD/becoming a professor.
Alternatively,I can take up a job,and after gaining some work ex,look for a MBA related to managing in the IT field.I would like to know the career paths for these options.
Any advice will be appreciated.Thanks
Hello Sir,
please help me…i m a 2011 passout btech graduate from computer science..wanted to pursue mba but cam to knw that without exprnce its nt worth..i hav 0 work exp..didnt got job..n also dnt like Masters from computer science as in my graduation too i somhow ran away frm subjcts like dbms,oops etc so would Masters frm management/finance/marketing be gud for me???
and aftr pursuing this do i hav a scope for job back in india aftr 1 or 2years of job in USA maximum…
cz in india mostly jobs are for mba specialists….could u help me regarding this???
n may i hav ur emailid so that i can hav a direct communication from u..it wud b highly benefitial if u can provide me wd any sort of useful information…thanks a ton in advance….u r doin gud by helpin the needy…carry on ur gud work 🙂
hi kumar,
i am in 3 year of engineering doing mechanical….. i want to do ms in usa so please can u advice in which stream can i do ms and even university.
Dear sir,
my name is A.praveen. i complted degree in 2011 march. i worked one company computer operator. now i was leaveing my job my mens iam no’t interst to work that job i intrest to do computers only can you give any solution for me. my famile can’t give so much of money for me. waht may have to do. i hear that mba is the best one to get jobs fast. and iam no’t intrest in account but iam bcom student. so i deside to do mba /it. can you guide me which one is the best in my carear. please email me my eamil id apraveen0009 at gmail dot com
iam watting for your replay please please
thanks & regards
A.Praveen
I have done my B.com and want to do MS in IT to become a software expert in future and get a good and a sponsored job in USA.I have almost 6 years of experience in BPO Sector in customer service and like to move to USA with a good prospect.Please suggest the best.Thank You.
Hi, I have done my MBA and have 5 years of work ex in procurement/supply chain management. wat kind of learning/course would you prefer if I want to upgrade myself to the changin business scenario..
Rashmi,
If you are looking to continue in the same field, attending conferences related to your area of work will be the best way to upgrade yourself. Also, you can do some research around B-Schools courses around your area to take up those courses.
Thanks for the help, Kumar!! It was helpful 🙂
Hiii
This is vikas.Am i eligible for pursuing masters in usa after completing b.tech in 5 years(57%) with 15 backlogs? Due to health problem i couldn’t complete b.tech in time(4 years).If No what could be the solution to pursue masters in usa?I am a hard worker. Will good GRE and TOEFL score will help me?
Kindly help me.
Thanks.
Vikas,
Yes, you are eligible. Yes, it will. As long as you can convince the Visa officer in visa interview, you should be fine. You may need to step up and get some real good GRE and TOEFL scores.
Hi,
I did B.Tech and then MBA in India and have 1.7 yrs of experience. I want to pursue MBA in USA……Could you please suggest me what to do and how much it costs and whats the procedure???? Reply to my email id.
Thanks,
Manasa
Manasa, No sure why you want to pursue MBA again….In any case, it is on the blog, browse through the articles.
i’m sindhu. thanq so much for clearing my confusion about to go ms or mba….
ya u’r right,ms is good first. i will also try mba after ms. but i’m not yet prepared for gre or toefl. wat will i do? i hav to go in aug 2013…… give me some suggestions please………………..
hello sir,
I like to do MS in abroad. I have 70% in UG. I dont know where and how to join MS. Please help me to join in MS.
Hi,
I am B.Com graduate with Experience as IT Trainer. After that i got break for couple of years.
Recently Learned SAP FICO and moved to USA and got Green card.
Is it good to find a job in SAP FICO as Fresher using B.Com Degree or is it better to finish M.S in accounting/Finance first and find a job after that. Is it mandatory to do GRE/Tofel for any M.S ? How many sems we should finish ?
I am from NJ and decided to relocate to any where in USA. I am very new to this. What are the universities are best to do M.S . Can you send some links for the whole process for new comer.
Sir,im seriously in a dilema…
i completed btech(cse) in 2011,gave my gre and toefl exams,got qualified with average scores.Due to some family issues i could not apply for i20’s for 2012 jan and september.i even have no work experience.feel like wasted 1 yr of my life..same with my frndz.
My First question is:
is there any possibility for us to get i2o”s in good university and visa when we apply for jan2013?
Secondly,
wanted to do masters in cse but please can u tell me which 3 subjects i should select so that aftr ms i get job in u.s?(subjects which have scope)atleast give me list of subjects which hav scope in india.
Thirdly.
my cousin sister who stays in u.s dont want me to study there because she tells me that life in u.s for a girl is too hard.but i think being a hosteller for 4 years in my btech is enuf for me to face any hardships in u.s.What extra problems we get other than roomies collegemates?
Finally,
please list some of the statecolleges in us for masters in cse or atleast suggest hw to select a college to apply as fast as i can??
………………………..i feel very depressed thinking about all these things about u.s because there is no one to clear my doubts.my parents support me for whatever decision i take so its all upto me.at times feel like joining mtech in india and get a govt job.
Sir u have cleared doubts of m.s Vs m.b.a…..please clear our doubts of m.s Vs m.tech too..which has more scope to get well-settled soon?
waiting for your reply sir
Hello,
I am a B.Tech final year student. I am bit confused that whether i should opt MBA or MS. I mean i just want a high pay scale. I want to be a CEO of some reputed company no-matter whether it requires 3 or 8 years of hard work. By doing MS Will i be eligible to become a CEO.
I am to go for foran
i am btech from computer science and after that i have done cdac but did not get job,
now its been 2 years now and am still unemployed.
so please tell me how i should start my carrier,i should go for mtech,ms or i should go for mba.
i have done my engineeting in electrical and electronics i want to work along with my further stuides in usa , can i do it there , i am planning to do MS ………..my puc percentage is less wil i get job there………if i want to get job in usa what qualities i should have please reply with u suggestions
hi,
I ve done my mechanical engg and then worked as software Tester with 3 1/2 years of exp. now i would like to pursue higher studies, but in little confusion, whether i should do MS or MBA. If MS then in Mechanical filed or in s/w field
please suggest
thank u
sir,
i m doing my final year btech. i will be graduating by may 2012.
simply let me open my heart 2 u.
i have a big charm for states. i will be doing every possible effort to land myself in states.
now i want to go for mba but my folks told me dat dey can’t bear d mba fee in states but they can allow me to go for ms as it will be done within 20 lakhs.
now i hv plannned dat i will do ms and land myself in states and later iafter 4-5 years i would afford an mba fees in states by myself…now u suggest me what to do???
hello sir ! I’m in my final yr btech, i always wanted to pursue m.b.a in india i will be giving my SNAP xam in 2012 but i’m not sure if i can get through . I’ve a very less aggregate in my btech -56% so if i dont get through snap i got to write it nxt year or work for around 2 years and then write GMAT ! what do i do for these 2 years ??my aggregate is low and all the companies are expecting minimum of 60-65%.
I’m very confused about my future . atleast to work i’m not eligible and i should be workin in a very good company to go to abroad after 2 years and showcase my experience. please do show me a way
Hi Everyone please can any one suggest me about my future education, i had my PGDM course from MBA AICTC certification, i just want to go UK for my Higher studies can any advice me what i have to do for that.
HI my name is Abhimanyu from Jammu India .. I done my graduation in B.com with 52% marks !! i want to go Uk for my continuous study please suggestion can i get job in Uk after my MBA or Ms …. please brother share ur own Experience i need a suggestion plz help me !!!!!!! im so worried !
can i hv ur email id pls
Hi,
Could any one tell me how is Nanayang university, Singapore for MS information management ? I am trying for fall 2012.
hi!! i m from Pakistan.doing Electrical Engg from uet Lahore,i want to study abroad but my percentage is 65% till i m in final year can you ppl plz give me idea that which university should i go for Ms in power or Engineering Management.. should i give GRE or ilts…plllllllllz i m in a very tension
Hafeez, where do you want to study (which country)? Most of the US universities require international applicants to take the TOEFL. Very few universities accept IELTS instead of TOEFL. So, it makes sense to take the TOEFL if you want to study in the US. Also, for getting into a graduate program (MS or PhD), you will have to take the GRE exam in addition, as it is a requirement of most US universities.
Regarding universities, do some research on your own and figure out what you want to do. (I have no idea about Power Engg or Engg Management; even if anyone tells you a list, you will have to do research by yourself as to which university suits your background, requirements, etc.)
thank you so much admin for ur kind info…
hey kumar,
what happened.. why are you not replying to us.. we r so much eagerly waiting for ur reply.
ur opinion is very important to me and my other frnds over here…
please take out some time and solve our queries.
is ms or mba is suited for a perrson done his b.tech in information technology after completing his degree in 2007 and working in a small buiseness company which his brother owned
Hey Pawan, we both have same problem.I ahve also done BE IT 2007 passout. now i also think which is better? i feel MBA will be good but fees in US is issue. what are ur options India or abroad?
You do have some substantial work experience. What do YOU want to do in your life? Do you want to become a manager? In that case, an MBA is better suited. If you want to work in a technical role, then MS is better for you. Like Kumar has pointed out in the article, you can always do MBA after MS, if you feel so. If you want to do research in technical fields, you should do MS, and ideally, do PhD after that. It’s more of what you want to do.
If you want a career switch to go into a management/finance/marketing/consulting etc. industry, you should consider doing an MBA. Again, this is just my opinion.
You should be opt based on ur interest and financial position. Looking at long term vision is important
hi fella i’vb completed my b.tech(ece) n mba(marketing)…now i’m planning to pursue my higher studies in usa..pls assist me in selecting a best course……..like any diploma courses r shld i again opt 4 ms….pls do hlp me
What do you want to do in the US? If you want to work in marketing, you can look at doing another MBA from a good university in the US. If that is too much for you, many universities offer programs such as MS in Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Risk Management etc. Is that something that interests you? ‘I FEEL’ that diploma programs don’t add much to your profile and won’t help much in your job search. You should consider either an MBA or an MS degree in a specialized field, if you want to go that route. Remember, though, that an MBA is a very general and broad program and will be an acceptable job requirement for most job postings.
does puc marks count for better uiversity selection for ms in us.Iam doing my 3rd year BE in cs
What do you mean by ‘PUC marks’? Are those your marks/grades in 11th and 12th grade, before you went for your BE program? In that case, for your MS/MBA, no one cares about your PUC marks. All universities will require you to submit your marks/grades for the 4 years of your BE program; no university asks for PUC marks.
Hi Kumar, you are doing great job by helping people. I hope you could find time for my problem too. I am working In IT industry and have 4 yrs exp in development.I want to go fro MBA but I feel fees will be very expensive for me.As I am techically sound, I feel MS can be good option for me.Can you suggest Is it ok for MS in CS after 4-5 years of exp, or it wont help much in my profile. otherway, I should try for dream MBA? I have heard people from IT say 4 years dont have management experience, so I wont be able to get TOP-B school in US.
I am not Kumar, but trying to help you by answering your query. I hope you find it helpful.
Who says that 4-year IT experience is not valuable for entry into a good MBA program? MBA programs want to know whether you had an impact in your workplace and whether you were able to contribute to the role. They want to know if you developed good skills. The name, stature, industry do matter, but to a lesser extent.
I believe, your IT experience will be in IT consulting. Go to your dream MBA program websites and see the background of students who got accepted into their MBA. I am sure a lot of those students had either a consulting (however, that could be management or strategy or IT consulting) or an engineering background. As an example, look at Stanford’s MBA program Class of 2013 profile: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/
17% were in some form of consulting, 10% were in high-tech, and many others were in engineering-related fields such as biotech, manufacturing, energy etc.
At NYU Stern, http://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admissions/full-time-mba/students/class-profile/index.htm#undergraduate-majors
21% admits had an undergrad degree in engineering/math/science and industry-wise, 12% had worked in some consulting firm and 5% were in engineering.
Do some research on the programs you want to get into. That will give you a better picture of how you may possibly fit in.
Hello,
I am a final year engineering student,i want to do MS in US
I just wanted to know is it really possible if i in study MS and after completing MS return to india for job,
and will it be possible for me to recover the education loans on job in india.
and i just also wanted to know what will be the total average of expenditure for persuing MS in US
Thank u…
There is an article on this website regarding expenses for MA/MBA: http://redbus2us.com/msmba-cost-of-living-in-usa-%E2%80%93-250-or-950-why-difference/
Like Kumar has pointed out, these are the ‘general’ expenses. They will vary drastically depending on your university location, tuition fees, and your lifestyle. If you manage to get funding/on-campus jobs/internships, some of your expenses will be taken care of. Some programs provide full-funding; in that case your expenses are very minimal. Are you in that situation? Hence, the answer to your question is: It depends!
I am sure, you know better about the salaries prevalent in India, and the job market. You can do a simple calculation to figure out how much time it will take to repay the loan. It will surely take you a few years, at the very least.
sir,
i am a student pursuing b.tech in 2nd year.my brach is applied electronics and instrumentation sir can u suggest me i want to study in US for MS degree can i study there and my another question is there any way i can continue my b.tech now in US in 2nd year.
Yes, you can do MS after your undergrad (i.e B.Tech.)
Yes, there is a possibility of continuing your undergrad in some US university. Look at some universities’ undergrad programs. You will be considered a ‘transfer student’. Look at the admission criteria for transfer students to get a clear idea.
Hi Kumar,
Thank you so much for this article.. Its given me a lot of insight on both MS & MBA..
I’m currently doing final year B.E in CS and have a good percentage throughout..
After my BE i plan to work for 1 or 2 years n then go to USA for my higher studies but m very much confused for MS or MBA..
No matter i do MBA or MS i will put my 100% hard work but as a long term plan I do wanna climb up the hierarchy and reach top levels in my work..
So I wanna come to USA just for job sake and to make money and settle there if possible..
So i just have 2 questions..
1. What are the job opportunities in US after MBA and MS?
2. What about the money? which course will fetch me a job that gives me a good pay..
hi kumar
i would like to ask about your status of job right now. Because i am also planning to do MS and then MBA may be..so i want to know about your income ..and you are working in usa or india ?…
Hi Kumar,
I really wanna appreciate ur interest in helping people Queries and i hope you will answer my query too 🙂
About Myself:
– University Rank holder in BE – ECE (2009 passout)
– Working in a software company as Sr. software engineer ( testing) exp 1.5 years
I am really confused which course i should choose MBA or M. Tech
As i m currently working in banking domain will MBA- finance will go good?
what future i can expect from MBA – finance?
i really want to do MBA in a reputed college as full time but financial also matters for me?
Give me your valuable suggestions,
Thanks in advance,
Uma.
Thanks for the clear vision!! This helps me a lot.
sir,
need a advice from you, i am currently pursuing b.tech in ece, final year and got 1150(quant: 720, verbal: 430) in GRE, i know my score iz not good but i desperately want to pursue MS either in VLSI technology or embedded systems, it’ll be really helpful if you could tell me whether i could check out in universities with this score or not. secondly, i want to know about the prospective of these courses in US, mean about the salary offered after pursuing MS from there…plz help..
regards
neha
Hi Kumar,
firstly i would like to say that your article is very good. i’m sure it is helping many ppl out there who are as confused as i am..
one of my major confusions is that I’m not sure on my subjects.. i have a work experience of 1 yr 2 months. and my field is BI (Business Intelligence).
and my Bachelors degree is ECE (Electronics and Communication)
now that i have some work experience, i want to finish my education. but i’m confused.
i want to do Masters in Engineering Management.
do u think its a Good idea?
or would you suggest me to complete my two years work experience and go for an MBA?
i have applied for a few university’s for MS in EM and i got acceptance too.. but i’m still not very sure if it a Good idea to go for it or to stay back now and go for an MBA at a l8r stage. now tht the Econamy is low do you think its a Good idea to leave my job?
If u r feeling u r very good in technical and want to grow in technical u can choose MS. If you very ambitious with respect to position and interested for managing things, complete ur work experience go for MBA.
As a friendly suggestion get 2 yr exp then do MBA in IIM or XLRI.
hi miss vaishnavi…..this post may nt b useful to u bt wld be hlpfl 2 me…wld u pls say me abt career opportunities 4 BI..i’m a mba fresher n planning 2 do this course…….so pls hlp me
i am in btech 3 yr i wanna do my ms from us for is thre any way please sort it out
can i apply for MS/ M-Tech after the B-Tech(hons) and how much requirments of B-tech(hons) degree in worlds?
Hi Kumar,
Your article is really awesome and helpful. I need your help.
I am working in SAP CRM in MNC for 1 year and I want to continue another 1 year. My experience will be of 3 year after that. After that I want to do MS in US or MBA in India. Suggest me what to do. Kindly reflect some light on MBA in India.
Thanks.
Hai sir,
Im pursuing bachelor degree in electronic and communications stream in an engg college.. i have a lot of interest to do my ms in either UK or US in Automobiles.. Is it possible for an electronics based student to do the MS in automobiles?? If possible please let me know the universities and also how to apply for them.. I would be very glad if u can even let me know whether US is better or UK for pursuing the masters degree…
Hi Sir,
I am working in IT for past 3 yrs. I wanted to pursue higher education. I want to learn more , interact with different people and travel the world.
I feel that I have more caliber in management rather than research kind of work. Thus I feel that I should go for MBA. I am planning to give GMAT. But I have this thought in mind that is MBA from abroad specially US really worth spending so much? What is the difference in quality of education in good colleges in India and those in US ?
Thanks in advance.
Akanksha.
i am i b com second year i dont know wht to do in side studies totally confused
Hi,
this is abhi.am doin my final year BSc cs.i wish to join MS after this. but, i’ave checked some universities where they have mentioned that ppl with 8 sems can only pursue MS..Is there any university that would accept 6 sem of study? 🙁 plz help mee
hello sir,
I am in b tech final year. Got done with my gre and TOEFL. I am unable to decide whether to go for MS or not? I want to pursue MS (Thesis) and will take loan to do so. The only reason i want to go to US, is to make money. If i dont get a job after MS, i will not be able to repay back the loan so i am worried about all this. Please guide me and tell me what to do. I would be grateful if you denoted some time to answer my query. Thank you.
Hi,
I have 3 years of IT exp and I have been working in Supply chain management domain. Now I don’t want to do coding any more but love the domain SCM and want to become functional. Is doing MS/ MBA in SCM in US will help me achieving my goal. I did B-TECH in ET &T from NIT Raipur.
Also If I go for any one year program in SCM from university of Texas Dallas or any other university fair.
Thanks,
Nilesh