Is an MBA worth it in Australia?

Is an MBA worth it in Australia?

Why an MBA is worth doing - and will be for a while.

8 min read | 02 June 2025

Deciding to do an MBA is a big decision. It demands a lot of time and focus. So you have to weigh up whether you’re at the right point in both your career and personal life to pursue study at this level.

In fact, given the commitment, monetary investment and energy involved, you might be asking yourself whether an MBA is even worth doing in Australia right now.

The evidence suggests that many Australians would say ‘yes’.

Certainly, there’s no shortage of applicants to any of the leading MBA schools in Australia. High-ranking institutions are having to turn some candidates away so that the best and the brightest can secure this top-tier learning opportunity.

That’s not surprising when you consider that MBA graduates lead some of Australia’s best-recognised brands and companies.

For example, Matt Comyn’s MBA certainly didn’t hinder him from becoming the CEO and Managing Director of the Commonwealth Bank. Meanwhile, the former CEO of The Westpac Group, Gail Kelly, who Forbes listed in 2010 as the eighth most powerful woman in the world, also holds an MBA. Even the star of ABC’s Gruen series and former CEO of advertising agency Leo Burnett, Todd Sampson, has an MBA under his belt.

In short, the potential long-term career benefits of investing in an MBA are high. But it’s important to know what to expect before you enrol.

Why choose to do an MBA?

With so much free business education available online, you might wonder how an MBA offers any value. In this case, the best answer to the ‘Why MBA?’ question is that postgraduate business qualifications are about far more than just the coursework.

Yes, reading articles and watching videos online can help to increase your knowledge of a given topic. But if that’s all you do to upskill, you’ll miss out on some of the most valuable aspects of doing an MBA, such as:

  • Working on real-life projects and business simulations. These practical assignments do more than just enhance your technical expertise. They also help you to develop interpersonal, teamwork and problem-solving skills that are essential for your future career as a business leader.
  • Learning from experienced academics and key industry players. It’s important to learn from experts who are current leaders in their field. At RMIT, whether you study on-campus or online, you’ll be taught by academics and practitioners who are directly connected to today’s business world, so what you learn is practical and immediately applicable.
  • Networking with a diverse community of aspiring leaders. “If you’ve done an MBA, the network you build becomes really important,” says Dr Kevin Argus, MBA Program Manager and Senior Lecturer in Design Thinking and Marketing at RMIT. He adds that a network is valuable in a forward-looking way that creates future opportunity, rather than in the traditional, ‘old boys’ network’ kind of way.

The importance of less traditional leadership skills

Perhaps the best part of what you can learn from an MBA is the contemporary leadership and business skills that employers are looking for. The world’s best organisations are hungry for creative thinkers, collaborators and problem-solvers. They’re seeking leaders with empathy and the ability to approach real-world problems using design thinking.

At RMIT, both the on-campus MBA and the online MBA integrate design thinking into the curriculum. “Design thinking is human-centred design,” says Dr Argus. “It involves conducting deep research to ensure you understand all of the stakeholders that you affect.”

Today’s leading organisations are all too aware that they need skills like design thinking to grow and innovate. As they navigate the complexities of the global economy and agile management, many are also looking for leaders who can adapt to, and even optimise, new technologies.

Does an MBA increase your salary?

As well as adding a prestigious qualification to your business card, an MBA can significantly boost your salary packet. Today’s employers are often willing to pay premiums to secure MBA graduates.

While an MBA program in Australia can cost up to $90,000 depending on the institution, those with MBA qualifications can expect a significant salary increase. For example, RMIT’s 2020 Student Experience Survey results showed that our MBA graduates’ salaries increased by an average of 50 per cent.

What can you do with an MBA?

Irrespective of your industry, an MBA can help to accelerate your career into management and leadership positions. Recruiters consistently report that MBA graduates:

  • Tend to rise faster into upper-level positions
  • Often earn more than their peers without postgraduate business qualifications
  • Bring valuable business school knowledge into their roles

And the possibilities are diverse. RMIT MBA graduates work in industries such as:

  • Health and science
  • Public administration and safety
  • NGOs and not-for-profits
  • Startups and technology

As Dr Argus notes, many students today are motivated by impact as much as income:

A lot of Millennials and Gen Z folk will say it’s not only about the income but the impact. That’s a very different mindset to the traditional business approach.

- Dr Argus MBA Program Manager RMIT 

What you can expect from RMIT’s MBA

Whether you choose to study on campus in Melbourne or fully online, RMIT’s MBA programs are designed to help you thrive in a rapidly changing world. You’ll also benefit from RMIT’s rankings, which continue to excel across major and prestigious global ranking schemas.

Both variations give you:

  • Access to world-class academics and industry connections
  • A curriculum built around design thinking and innovation
  • Networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders
  • Flexibility to balance your studies with work and life

MBA (On-campus)

On-campus students take part in face-to-face classes, collaborative projects with industry links, and the vibrancy of studying in Melbourne.

Online MBA

Online students will join a global learning community, supported by cutting-edge digital platforms, with optional in-person networking sessions available.

Better yet, both programs offer flexible, accelerated models that let you complete your MBA faster — or pause and adapt your study load when life demands it.

Think differently with a new kind of MBA designed for impact

Learn how to make real, positive impacts on the world around you with RMIT’s MBA. Whether you study online, on-campus, or a blend of both, you’ll graduate with the leadership skills, networks and future-focused mindset to make a difference.

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