Pursuing an MBA in Your 20s vs. Your 30s

The average age of an MBA student ranges from 27 to 29.

But there are always exceptions to the average. For instance, at the University of Florida and the University of Georgia the average age of the MBA student is 26, with just 41 and 39 months of work experience, respectively.

Business Insider spoke to MBA grads, who went to B-school at different times in their lives, on how to decide when to go to business school.

YOUR 20’s

The average age of entering MBAs leans heavily to 20-somethings. For many, the 20’s represent an ideal age for the MBA as these students can devote all their energy into B-school, with fewer responsibilities holding them back.

Lexy McGranahan left her job at age 25 to pursue an MBA at Michigan Ross.

“It was about the escalation of commitment,” McGranahan tells Business Insider. “It becomes harder and harder the further you are in your career. I knew that I wanted to go back and get an MBA, it wasn’t a question, and I felt like this was the last time that I could walk away from an opportunity to do it.”

McGranahan, who graduated in 2017 and now works as a global retail manager for Nike, says that going to B-school with the “right mentality” was the driver of her success.

“I was personally and professionally prepared to contribute all of my energy to the program, as I believe this translates to the most enriching experience — not just for the individual, but for the entire class,” she tells Business Insider.

YOUR 30’s

For those in their 30’s, the MBA can be a wise choice for a career switch. While these applicants are further along than those in their 20’s, they still tend to be open enough to change.

“It [had been] 10 years since I’d been at college, and in that time I’d done a lot of living,” Anjelica Jones, who started a full-time MBA at Michigan Ross, tells Business Insider. “I was at a crossroads in my career. It was a pivotal time for me to take that leap. I went at a time when I was old enough to impart some life knowledge onto younger classmates, but still young and humble enough to be taught a few things.”

Whether you’re looking for a title bump or a career change, the MBA is a worthy investment that can offer strong return – no matter what age you are.

Read the rest of the MBA grad stories here.

Sources: Business Insider, P&Q

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