Master’s Degrees in Business

Explore Graduate Business Programs for Many Specializations

Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business offers a range of business master’s programs to help you position yourself to possibly take the next step in your career and further your knowledge in your field. Built on the pillars of servant leadership, ethics and entrepreneurism, our business college offers evening, hybrid and online master’s in business degrees.

If you are looking to prepare yourself for possible potential leadership positions in your organization through knowledge and business savvy, consider one of our many Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs. If you want to step up as a servant leader in your organization, consider our Master of Science in Leadership or one of our other leadership degrees. We also offer plenty of other business master’s programs that can help you in your field.

ACBSP-Accredited Business Degrees

Many of our GCU’s business master’s programs have attained accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The ACBSP aspires to strengthen business education through research, excellent teaching and positive student outcomes, and accredits programs that meet its educational standards.

GCU is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our HLC accreditation reflects our commitment to providing a quality education to our students. Since 1968, the HLC has granted accreditation to GCU, acknowledging that it meets the criteria and standards established by the organization.

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Master’s Degree in Business FAQs

Our frequently asked questions are here to provide you with more information on earning your master’s in business and planning your career.

The knowledge and skills taught in a master’s in business degree can make it a worthwhile choice for those looking to obtain positions in business and management. As of May 2023, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, project management specialists have a median annual wage of $98,580,2 and top executives have a median annual wage of $103,840.3

Graduate degrees are meant to be challenging and to push so you can position yourself to be prepared for potential advanced career opportunities. Master’s programs for business often come with a heavy workload and require dedication and a substantial time commitment. However, if business is your passion, you may appreciate learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be a knowledgeable professional in your industry.

Yes. Candidates must have a previous master’s degree to be eligible for doctoral programs.

Master’s programs for business can prepare you for a variety of jobs. Graduates with this degree may go on to pursue jobs such as:

  • Chief executive
  • General and operations manager
  • Human resource specialist
  • Project management specialist
  • Training and development manager
  • Social and community service manager

Business master’s degrees can provide you with the leadership, communication and strategic skills needed to establish and manage a business. MBA degrees with different emphases such as leadership or even business analytics can provide you with even more insight on how to best develop, optimize and run your business.

Online master’s degree can provide the same quality education to students as a traditional on-campus degree. There are several factors to take into consideration when pursuing an online degree, such as the strength of the curriculum and the accreditation of that university and its programs. These aspects are more reflective of the quality of the master’s program, rather than the modality in which you choose to complete it.

Examples of Graduate Business Programs

GCU offers various graduate business degrees for those looking to expand their education and position themselves for potential career advancement. Explore our graduate programs to find the one that best complements you and your career goals.

Master of Science (MS)

A business master’s degree from GCU could be the next step you need to position yourself to potentially advance your career in business, IT or accounting.

The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) can help you advance your skills in financial reporting, auditing and taxation, with an emphasis on knowledge in public accounting practice, economics and marketing. The MSA culminates with a review of the concepts typically found on the Uniform CPA Exam.

Prepare to help your organization make tactical and strategic decisions with a Master of Science in Business Analytics. Core competencies of this business master’s program include data analytics, critical thinking and problem-solving, with a goal of helping your organization solve business needs using creative approaches.

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management is a 34-credit, online business degree program that focuses on the managerial side of cybersecurity. Risk evaluation, network security and compliance and governance are all part of the extensive curriculum that follows the standards set by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Develop knowledge that can help you prepare yourself for possible managerial roles in the cybersecurity industry.

If you want to equip yourself with the skills needed to potentially become a leader in the information technology field, consider the Master of Science in Information Technology. This advanced business master’s program offers management courses that can provide the necessary business knowledge and skills to lead information technology teams.

Explore leadership models and theories and study the traits and practices that empower leaders. Whether you take classes online or in the evening, you will have the opportunity to examine topics such as organizational politics, servant leadership, leadership communication and building synergy with diverse groups. By the end of the MS in Leadership program, you will have been taught the skills necessary to develop and build your self-confidence as a leader in your field.

Learn how strong leadership, preparation and organization can prepare you for a career helping others. Work to become equipped for crisis relief with the homeland security and emergency management emphasis through intentional classes designed to accentuate the role of disaster preparation and emergency planning.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Future business leaders can gain skills in organizational growth and operations management by earning GCU’s Master of Business Administration. Work to advance your business knowledge while honing your leadership skills, and prepare yourself to potentially pursue various management or upper-level positions in business.

We offer a variety of emphases to help you gain relevant skills for your field, including accounting, finance, marketing, project management and sports business. If you want to earn your master’s in business degree exclusively online, choose our online MBA. If you prefer to be in person, take evening classes that meet just once per week.

Bridge Master's to Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

If you have a master’s degree in a field other than business administration and wish to earn a Doctor of Business Administration, GCU is pleased to offer bridge programs to help you prepare for your doctorate in business degree. Discover your opportunities and emphasis areas.

Female business master's degree student at GCU giving presentation

Ways To Earn Your Master’s in Business From GCU

GCU is pleased to offer convenient ways to advance your education and potentially prepare yourself for the next step in your business career. Take business classes exclusively online, in person through evening classes or choose hybrid learning. Whichever modality you pick, you will learn in small environments from knowledgeable faculty.

1 Niche.com. (2024). 2024 Best College for Business in Arizona. Retrieved April 22, 2024.

2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Project Management Specialists, as of May 2023, retrieved May 8, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as project management specialists, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Top Executives, as of May 2023, retrieved May 8, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as top executives, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.

If you are ready to apply for a business master's program at GCU, or have additional questions, contact us today!