What Degree Is Higher Than MBA? Your Guide to the Next Step Up

If you’ve got an MBA and still feel like you’re hitting a ceiling, you’re not alone. Plenty of people wonder if there’s a higher degree, and if so, whether it’s really worth the trouble. Spoiler: yes, there absolutely is, but it’s not for everyone.

Think about the MBA as the gold standard for managers and business leaders. But if you’re after research, college teaching, or C-suite consulting gigs, you’ll want to look at doctorate degrees like a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) or a PhD in Business. They aren’t just more theory—they open doors MBA alone usually can’t.

Before you start seriously thinking about more school, consider what drives you. A doctorate in business takes years, piles on research, and usually means you won’t be raking in Wall Street cash right away. On the other hand, if you’ve been bitten by the research bug or dream about influencing global business trends, it could be your next move.

• Is There a Degree Higher Than an MBA?
• Meet the Doctorates: DBA and PhD Explained
• Why (or Why Not) Go Beyond the MBA?
• What It Takes: Admissions and Commitment
• Career Moves: What Doors Open After a Doctorate?
• Alternatives: Executive Education and Certificates

Is There a Degree Higher Than an MBA?

Let’s get straight to it. Yes, there are degrees higher than an MBA. When you start looking past the MBA, you’re in doctorate territory. The two heavy hitters here are the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in business-related fields.

Unlike the MBA, which is known for prepping people for leadership or management jobs, these doctorates focus on either advanced research or super-high-level business problem-solving. They ask for more time, more dedication, and usually some prior work experience, especially for the DBA.

Here’s what makes them different in a nutshell:

• The MBA is usually the go-to for working professionals aiming for management and executive roles.
• A DBA targets experienced leaders wanting to solve real-world business problems with research-backed insights.
• A PhD in business gears you toward research, teaching at the university level, or digging deep into how business works on a global scale.

Check out this simple comparison:

The bottom line: If you’re happy with corporate roles and hands-on leadership, the MBA probably does the job. If you want to produce new knowledge or drive change at a much higher level, doctorates like the DBA or PhD might be for you.

Meet the Doctorates: DBA and PhD Explained

So, what’s the real deal with degrees even bigger than the MBA? Two heavyweights stand out: the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and the PhD in Business. Both earn you the right to call yourself “Doctor,” but they’re definitely not the same thing. The main difference comes down to what you actually do with them, and how you get there.

The DBA is made for working pros who want to dive deeper into real-world business problems. You’ll focus on applying research to practical challenges, like improving a supply chain or tackling leadership issues. It’s pretty common to see senior managers and consultants roll into a DBA while keeping their day job. Most DBA programs are part-time, and you’ll usually spend three to five years finishing everything up.

The PhD in Business leans more academic. This one’s for folks who want to become professors, researchers, or thought leaders shaping business theory. You’ll be neck-deep in developing new ideas, published research, and teaching university classes. Most PhD tracks are full-time, stretch out five to seven years, and often cover tuition plus a stipend. If you geek out over business theory and dream of influencing what’s taught in B-schools, this is your jam.

"A PhD is about creating new knowledge, while a DBA is about applying existing knowledge to solve complex business problems." — Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Here’s a quick breakdown so you can spot the differences at a glance:

When thinking about which is “higher” than an MBA, both doctorate options technically fit the bill, but your daily life and future career after each one will look totally different.

• DBA: Apply research, solve business issues, stay in industry
• PhD: Build theory, teach, publish, build a name in academia

If a high-level corporate role sounds best, the DBA is probably your move. If you see yourself on stage at business conferences, writing textbooks, or teaching the next generation of leaders, the PhD is your lane.

Why (or Why Not) Go Beyond the MBA?

So, you’re weighing the idea of a doctorate after your MBA. Here’s the plain truth: not everyone needs to climb higher, and a lot depends on what you want out of your career. Some folks chase a DBA or PhD because they love digging into complex business problems and want to publish their research. Others do it to teach at the university level, where it’s basically a must-have. But honestly, if your dream job means leading a company or thriving in upper management, most employers are still looking for an MBA with proven real-world experience—not necessarily another diploma.

Here’s a closer look at what motivates people to go further:

• Research Passion: If you like investigating big-picture business trends and influencing future policy, a DBA or PhD opens up these doors.
• Teaching Ambitions: Universities usually expect their business professors to have a doctorate. The MBA alone won’t cut it for most tenured spots.
• Consulting at the Highest Level: Some consulting gigs, especially with big names or for government projects, ask for more academic firepower.
• Personal Goals: For some, going beyond an MBA is about personal achievement or standing out in a very competitive market.

But there are some real reasons to think twice:

• A doctorate is a drain on time and money—most programs run 3-5 years full-time (or even longer if part-time).
• Not all employers pay more for a DBA or PhD. In fact, some firms actually see you as too academic for hands-on business roles.
• The payoff is biggest in research, teaching, or niche consulting, not always corporate boardrooms.

Here’s how things stack up when it comes to time, money, and outcomes:

There are no shortcuts—doctorates change what kind of work you do and how people see you. If you’re in it for higher corporate titles or better paychecks, it’s usually smarter to climb the ladder with your MBA and hands-on results. But if you’re passionate about research, teaching, or consulting at the very top, then the extra years might just be worth it.

What It Takes: Admissions and Commitment

Getting into a business doctorate—whether it’s a DBA or PhD in business—means clearing a different bar than your average MBA program. Schools want to see that you’ve mastered the basics, but now they're looking for something more: proof that you can do original research or solve business problems nobody else has cracked.

Let’s break down what most top schools expect right up front:

• MBA or equivalent master’s degree (some programs accept candidates straight from undergrad, but most want job experience)
• Work experience—usually five to ten years if you’re going for a DBA
• Solid grades (think 3.0 GPA or above—top programs are higher)
• GMAT or GRE scores (this might be waived for experienced execs or some DBA programs)
• Research proposal or statement of purpose that shows you know what you want to study
• Letters of recommendation from people who actually know your work
• Personal interview—sometimes with more than one professor

If you get in, here’s where commitment gets real. DBAs usually take about 3 to 6 years part-time. PhDs in business can stretch to 4 to 7 years, mostly full-time—think grad school plus lots of hours writing and defending a dissertation or research project. You’re not cramming for a big final; you’re slowly building something new for the field. One eye-opening stat: at Harvard Business School, roughly 60% of business PhD admits finish their degree in six years, and about 85% for DBA programs at places like IE Business School finish in five years.

The bottom line: if you’re thinking about a business doctorate, get ready for a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a huge time and energy investment. If you love research or want to teach at the college level, it could be worth every late-night study session. But if you’re just after a title or a quick boost to your paycheck, a doctorate probably isn’t the answer. Weigh your options carefully before signing up for a half-decade of hard work.

Career Moves: What Doors Open After a Doctorate?

Finishing a doctorate like a DBA or PhD in business isn’t just another line on your résumé. It totally changes the playing field. Those three extra letters can unlock teaching, research, and top-level consulting jobs that just aren’t open to MBAs alone. Recruiters and universities see these degrees as proof you know how to tackle complex business problems—and help others do it, too.

Let’s get real about what jobs you could land. If you love the idea of shaping future leaders, professor roles pop up at business schools all over the world. There’s a huge demand for business PhDs at universities, and, believe it or not, the supply isn’t keeping up. According to AACSB data, top business schools are often short on qualified doctoral faculty.

If research and influencing policy or strategy get you going, a PhD will help you open doors at global think tanks, government agencies, or corporate R&D units. A DBA, on the other hand, is more likely to lead to higher management or consulting gigs—think C-suite roles or teaming up with Fortune 500 companies as an in-house expert.

• College Professor or Business School Faculty
• Corporate Research Director
• Executive Coach or Organizational Consultant
• Chief Innovation Officer
• Director roles at international organizations and NGOs
• Author or Thought Leader (yes, those business books have to come from somewhere)

If you want some numbers, take a look at the salary differences:

Demand for doctorates is strong in places outside the US, too—especially if you like the idea of moving abroad. Countries like Singapore, the UK, and Australia actively hunt for business professors and research leads, partly because business education is exploding in those markets.

You don’t have to switch tracks completely, either. Plenty of grads bounce between academia and industry—teaching a few semesters, then leading corporate projects or advisory boards. Bottom line: the real advantage of a doctorate is freedom of choice. You’re not boxed into one path anymore.

And for those still wondering, MBAs are the entry fee—but doctorates? That’s your all-access pass.

Alternatives: Executive Education and Certificates

Not everyone with an MBA wants—or needs—a doctorate. Sometimes, a big promotion or industry pivot is one smart course away. Business schools and top universities offer executive education programs and specialized certificates that make you stand out without having to commit years of your life to full-time study.

Executive education is all about turbocharging very specific skills. Think: negotiation at Harvard, data analytics at Wharton, or global leadership at London Business School. These short-term programs cater to busy pros who want practical upgrades, not theory marathons.

• Executive education: Usually lasts a few days to a few weeks. Examples include MIT Sloan’s Digital Business Strategy or Stanford Graduate School of Business LEAD.
• Certificates: Can be 100% online, last a few months, and are laser-focused—like Kellogg’s Digital Marketing or Cornell’s Financial Management programs.

According to a 2024 GMAC report, over 70% of business professionals considering career change picked certificates or executive short-courses over another full degree.

One huge tip? Look for programs through universities whose names pop on resumes, or directly partner with your employer for tuition coverage—many companies foot the bill if the skill improves your job performance. Don’t forget, hands-on projects and networking are huge perks in these programs, so pick ones that connect you to industry insiders or high-level classmates.