Maximizing The ROI Of A Business Graduate Degree With W. P. Carey

For those considering a graduate business degree, the primary concern is whether it’s worth the investment. Not only do graduate degrees cost money, but they also require a significant amount of time and effort to get the most out of them.

When finding the right school and program, there will likely be a lot of questions that you’ll be considering: Will I be able to find a job after graduation? Will this degree allow me to keep up as technology and industries change? Will I still have support long after graduation?

Students who choose to come to the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University can confidently answer “yes” to all of those questions, thanks to the school’s commitment to offering a long-term ROI. W. P. Carey offers both MBA and specialized business master’s degrees in numerous fields of study.

Customize Your Education To Fit Your Goals

For students looking to build deep knowledge within a specific discipline, the W. P. Carey School’s specialized master’s degrees offer a path to becoming a subject matter expert.

Alex Holt was working in wealth management but wanted further education, which led him to the Master of Science in Finance. “I had a desire to dive deeper into the subject material in a traditional setting and transition to a portfolio management role,” he says. “I decided to pursue this degree to deepen my expertise in finance and enhance my skills in technology and analytics.”

An MBA is a versatile degree that can open many doors and accelerate your career growth. There are many ways to customize your MBA at W. P. Carey, including unique electives and concentrations in areas such as artificial intelligence or real estate.

“You can tailor your learning experience as much as you want,” says Full-time MBA alum Francisco Javier Morales, who added concentrations in entrepreneurship and marketing to his degree. “Little by little, I started assembling my learning experience. I loved being immersed in different functional areas.”

Future-Proof Your Career

All of W. P. Carey’s academic programs are led and taught by renowned faculty, many of whom are still practitioners in their areas of expertise with their fingers on the pulse of what is happening in the industry. Each program’s curriculum is regularly reviewed, and updates are made to ensure that students are well-prepared for the industry when they graduate.

The school is constantly looking at new and emerging fields of study within the business world. In 2024, W. P. Carey launched the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Business (MS-AIB), a first-of-its-kind program from a U.S. business school.

“I chose W. P. Carey because of their incredible focus on innovation,” says Tyler Lai, a member of the MS-AIB program’s first cohort. “They are leading the way with forward-thinking programs like this one, which blends AI and business in a truly unique way.”

Build A Global Network And Perspective

W.P. Carey attracts students from all over the world to learn with and from one another. Being exposed to global perspectives every day in your courses is an invaluable experience for today’s business world.

The school has partnerships with universities worldwide, creating distinct opportunities for international students in Arizona and abroad. Latifa Alneyadi was a student at Khalifa University in the UAE while also earning a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ASU.

“The W. P. Carey community is incredibly diverse and welcoming to individuals from all industries and backgrounds,” she says. “These collaborative discussions have added depth to my learning experience, as my peers often bring fresh perspectives and practical insights to the table.”

Increase Your Earning Potential

Of course, you can’t talk about the ROI of business school without talking about salary. The good news is that business graduate degrees continue to lead to salary increases year over year. According to GMAC’s 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey, U.S. employers expect higher salaries for all business master’s degree graduates in 2025 compared to 2024. This applies to specialized master’s and MBA graduates alike.

W.P. Carey master’s and MBA graduates are highly sought after in the job market based on their relevant skills and hands-on experience. In fact, more than 650 organizations from 35+ industries partner with W. P. Carey to recruit talent — including employers like Amazon, American Airlines, American Express, Applied Materials, Bayer, EY, Gartner, Intel, and Microsoft, for example.

Pivot Into A New Field

A business graduate degree isn’t just a good investment for those with a background or previous education in business. Those looking to make a career change can benefit greatly from a graduate degree to prepare them for their new path.

Brennan Lawson joined the Evening MBA program after being a member of the Air Force. “As I transitioned from the military to the tech industry, having that MBA resume bullet and being able to explain the experience that I gained there was super valuable,” he says. “I wouldn’t have gotten my first job without it.”

Mari Funabashi had been working as a music composer within the film industry when she decided to pursue a career in taxation. She took advantage of the resources W. P. Carey offers for those from non-accounting backgrounds to be well prepared for the program.

“With the MACC/MTax Bootcamp and Pathway Program, I’ve been able to pursue this MTax degree without an accounting background,” she says. “I think this is particularly what makes W. P. Carey such a great choice for those coming from similar backgrounds.”

Continue To Work While You Advance

You don’t have to put your career on hold to go back to school. W. P. Carey offers many of its master’s degree programs — including degrees in AI in business, marketing, and business analytics — in an online format, which offers flexibility for working professionals.

“The flexible online format was a huge plus, allowing me to balance my education with my professional responsibilities,” says Online Master of Accountancy graduate Natalie Goudarzian. “W. P. Carey has truly given me the tools and connections to take my career to the next level in finance, consulting, or auditing.”

The school’s top-ranked MBA is available in multiple formats to suit your needs and preferences. The fully online version features multiple start dates throughout the year. For those who still desire that in-person connection, the Evening MBA enables students to attend classes on campus one or two nights a week, with the option to take other courses online, for added flexibility.

“I was a busy working professional and appreciated the flexibility of online, asynchronous learning with lots of great group assignments,” says Online MBA alum Grace O’Sullivan. “At ASU, the online degrees are taught by the same faculty as campus immersion courses, so the quality of the program was definitely a reason why I chose it.”

Gain Lifelong Career Management Skills

Being well-prepared for your career at graduation is maybe the best ROI a graduate degree can provide you. The W. P. Carey Career Services Center provides countless resources to all students, including personalized career coaching and recruiting events that are hosted throughout the year.

“After talking with my career advisor, I have been able to learn helpful job-hunting techniques, career fair etiquette, and resume tips,” says Master of Science in Supply Chain Management alum Bethany Farmer. “My graduate advisor has offered me tailored advice for my specific career goals. My professors have also offered me amazing insights into the job market and how to find the right jobs at the right companies.”

Access to these invaluable resources doesn’t go away when you graduate; W. P. Carey alumni can also receive career coaching and attend online workshops from the W. P. Carey Career Services Center.

Business school can be one of the best investments anyone can make in their career, and the W. P. Carey School’s dedication to providing an accessible, innovative education ensures that our students see an ROI in their degree long after graduation. Find the right business master’s or MBA degree for you at W. P. Carey.

The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is the largest business school in the United States, with more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students — and 130,000+ alumni around the world. There are more than 60 ways to earn a W. P. Carey degree, including our first-of-its-kind master’s in AI in business. Entrepreneurship and innovation are key to our curriculum and your experience.

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