If you’re considering an MBA, you probably aren’t worried about whether you can handle the coursework. You’re wondering if you can handle the coursework on top of everything else.
TL;DR
- MBA coursework is designed for working professionals.
- Most Iowa MBA students spend 10–15 hours per week on classes and coursework.
- Learning is practical, collaborative, and immediately applicable.
- The degree can open doors to leadership roles, career pivots, and long-term professional growth.
Unlike most undergrads, MBA students are often balancing full-time jobs, family responsibilities, travel, community commitments, and careers that don’t pause when classes begin. So, of course, you ask, “How does the workload of an MBA compare to that of an undergraduate degree?”
Well, the comparison isn’t always apples-to-apples.
An undergraduate degree is designed to help you build knowledge. An MBA is designed to help you use it. Instead of focusing primarily on exams and individual assignments, you’ll spend time analyzing business problems, collaborating with classmates, and connecting what you’re learning to situations you’re already facing at work.
In other words, the question isn't just how much work an MBA requires. It's what kind of work you'll be doing — and how that work fits into your life.
What is the workload of an MBA?
To understand the workload of an MBA, it can be helpful to think less about college and more about how it fits into your existing schedule.
For many MBA students, coursework is only one of several competing priorities. Classes, assignments, and group projects must fit around careers, family commitments, and everything else life demands. As a result, success in an MBA often depends as much on time management as it does on academic ability.
That doesn't mean the workload is overwhelming. It means you’ll need to approach it differently.
The exact time commitment varies by program and course load. For example, students in the Iowa MBA program can generally expect to spend 8-15 hours each week attending class and completing coursework. Some weeks may require more time, depending on when major projects and exams are approaching.
"In the program, you’ll see folks from all different kinds of backgrounds, holding babies, kids coming in—all different kinds of circumstances. There’s no time like the present! If you want to make time for it, it’s possible."
For working professionals, flexibility is often one of the most important factors when choosing a program. The good news is that today's MBA programs offer far more flexibility than they did in the past. You no longer have to step away from your job or commit to spending several evenings a week in a classroom to earn your degree.
MBA programs come in all shapes and sizes, including online, in-person, hybrid, full-time, and part-time. Whether you’re looking for flexibility, face-to-face interaction, or a mix of both, there’s likely a program out there that will fit your goals and lifestyle.
"The Iowa MBA made it possible for me to run my boat charter business, work full-time in finance, and earn my degree—all at once."
Prospective students ask, how many years for MBA degree completion. While many students finish in 1 to 5 years, some programs offer the flexibility to go at a slower pace, depending on the format and enrollment status.
How does the workload of an MBA compare to that of an undergraduate degree?
As an undergraduate student, your entire schedule is built around school. You might spend 12-18 hours a week in class, with lectures spread throughout the day, giving you time to study, grab lunch with friends, or hunt down decent coffee.
MBA students are typically working around an existing schedule and career. In part-time MBA programs, classes are usually held in the evenings because working professionals are balancing coursework with careers, families, and other commitments. While the workload varies by the program, individual learner, and course, students can generally expect to spend about 8-15 hours per week on a single MBA course — including class time, reading, and group work.
The challenge isn't always the amount of coursework; it's that part-time MBA students are completing it after a full day at work.
Undergrad vs. MBA Time Commitment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Different Degree. Different Grind. | |||
| Undergraduate | Full-Time MBA | Part-Time MBA | |
| Schedule | Daytime, M-F | Daytime, M-F | Evenings, online, or hybrid. |
| Weekly time spent in class | 12-18 hours | 10-15 hours | 2-6 hours |
| Responsibilities outside of class | Reading, studying, homework, exams | Case prep, projects, networking events, and team meetings | Reading, assignments, group work, applying concepts to your job, and optional networking events. |
| Program focus | Build foundational knowledge | Applying experience to real business challenges | Applying learning in real time while managing a career and other commitments |
| Total weekly time commitment | 40-45 hours | 40-60 hours | 8-15 hours |
The Bottom line? Undergrads put school first. MBAs (especially part-time) put life first—and school fits in.
As an undergraduate student, you’re learning concepts for the future. In an MBA program, the future has a way of showing up tomorrow morning.
You might bring a real workplace challenge into class on Tuesday and leave with a new approach to try on Wednesday. Through case studies, team projects, and discussions with classmates from different industries, you’re constantly testing ideas against real-world experience.
That’s what makes an MBA feel different. It often feels less like traditional coursework and more like rigorous professional development.
How much harder is an MBA than a Bachelor’s?
So, is an MBA actually harder than a bachelor’s degree? Not necessarily.
The coursework is different, but that doesn’t mean it’s inherently more difficult. Some MBA students find the material more engaging because it’s directly connected to their daily workplace challenges.
One reason people ask is an MBA difficult for average students, is because MBA programs often attract ambitious, experienced professionals. It’s easy to assume everyone has it figured out.
Here’s the truth: There’s no single profile of a successful MBA student.
If you're willing to put in the work, stay organized, and engage with the material, an MBA is absolutely within reach for the average student.
Does an MBA guarantee a higher salary?
Let's start with the obvious caveat: no degree guarantees a higher salary.
That said, the evidence that MBA salaries are climbing is undeniable. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council's 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey, employers projected a median starting salary of $120,000 for MBA hires in the United States.1
Additionally, Coursera’s 2025 Salary Guide2 showed that the average salary for MBA graduates over time grew between 7 and 32%.
While those results vary depending on your industry, experience, location, and employer, the trend is clear: an MBA can have a meaningful impact on your earning potential.
Of course, your potential MBA degree salary depends on more than the degree itself. Many professionals use an MBA to move into leadership positions, switch industries, or qualify for opportunities that may not have been available previously.
MBA programs help students build leadership, management, and strategic decision-making skills while preparing them for a variety of career paths.3 In GMAC's 2026 Prospective Students Survey,4 nearly three-quarters of prospective students said gaining business knowledge was a key reason they planned to pursue graduate business education, reflecting a growing focus on practical skills and long-term career growth.
If you're curious about salary growth, return on investment, and long-term earning potential, we've taken a much deeper dive in How Much Does an MBA Increase Your Salary?
34 %
Based on a survey of 2025 Iowa MBA graduates
73 %
GMAC Prospective Students Survey 2026
What does an MBA set you up for?
The short answer? More options.
Some professionals pursue an MBA because they want to move into leadership positions. Others use it to switch industries, launch a business, strengthen their management skills, or prepare for greater responsibility within their organization.
Natalie Schreffler, Assistant Director of Tippie Graduate Career Services, says:
"The Iowa MBA is a fantastic option for switching careers. In recent cohorts, about 30% of our MBA graduates have reported getting a job in a different function. Career pivoters make up a large percentage of our MBA student population."
An MBA gives you the chance to regularly sit at the table with people who have different ways of thinking that extend far beyond your own industry. One day, you might be discussing a leadership challenge with someone in healthcare. Next, you're hearing how a supply chain manager, entrepreneur, or financial analyst would approach the same problem.
"The Iowa MBA is a great opportunity to understand what else is out there. You will meet a lot of really fantastic people in the program who are doing a myriad of different things. The networking aspect is really big."
Those conversations introduce new ideas and help you think beyond the way things have always been done in your own organization. The relationships that grow from those discussions often become a lasting source of support, advice, and opportunity throughout your career.
When considering how many years for MBA degree completion, it's helpful to think beyond the time commitment and focus on the long-term return. An undergraduate degree helps you build a foundation. An MBA helps you build on it.
Whether you finish in two years or take a more flexible path, the skills, confidence, relationships, and potential MBA degree salary benefits can continue paying dividends throughout your career.
Undeniable Opportunity
The workload may only last a few years. The opportunities can last much longer.
Learn more about the Iowa MBA
Related articles
Sources
- Corporate Recruiters Survey 2024 Summary Report. Graduate Management Admission Council, 2024.
- "MBA Degree Salary: 2025 Guide." Coursera, January 6, 2025.
- “What an MBA Degree Is and What You Need to Know.” U.S. News, 2023.
- Corporate Recruiters Survey 2026 Summary Report. Graduate Management Admission Council, 2026.