Hello all. I am in the last few hours finishing up my Operations/Supply Chain Management undergrad degree at East Carolina and can’t choose which path to go next.
I currently have a pretty good gig working full time as a systems coordinator at a large regional distribution center. I plan on keeping this job while working on my masters. Since my undergrad is taught in the business school I thought about specializing a bit further and getting a masters in the Engineering School in Industrial Distribution/Logistics. The other choice is to get my MBA with a concentration in Marketing/Supply Chain.
I’m leaning more toward the engineering school path right now. I like the idea of combining the business side with the engineering side. The MBA though might open more doors for all the other upper level corporate positions to be had. Thinking upper level QA or HR if the opportunities presented itself. Afraid of being pigeon holed as strictly a logistics guy only.
I am from North Carolina and am only considering East Carolina for grad school. With my GPA I was offered early admission and whichever I choose it wouldn’t cost me much of anything out of pocket. I could do much of it online and keep my job which is very important to me. I got into other public programs ranked in the top 50 overall but having to move, quit my job (and go traditional day student), take out loans of at least 30k a year… I could swing NC State but with loans and no good job I’d be in the hole about 70k a year compared to ECU. it just doesn’t make much sense for my situation since I sort of already have my career on track.
Industrial Distribution/Logistics (engineering school) vs MBA (concentration in Marketing & Supply Chain)
An engineering degree from ECU is probably more valuable than an MBA. Have you asked your employer which degree would give you a better opportunity to advance in the company?
If you are only considering ECU for graduate school, then I’d recommend the engineering MS/M.Eng over the MBA. Business is a somewhat prestige-driven field, and the best ROI for MBAs are at top business schools. Besides, at many scientific/technical careers, a technical degree is just as useful for moving up as an MBA - but also gives you the flexibility to move up among separate paths (e.g., going into management but also just become a senior leader in the IC stream).
However, the best thing to do is - as @xraymancs already suggested - talk to your manager and others at your company to get a sense of which degree would be better for your career goals.
I talked to a few of the managers awhile back. The regional planning manager is an ECU grad in the industrial distribution program. The regional gm is an ECU mba grad. The Regional QA is ECU in marketing. The top management seems to be 80% ECU grads and the rest from NC State. I was aware of the ROI from the top MBA programs but like I said it would be free and I could continue to work 4 days a week making 60k a year. Could switch to weekend shift and just work 3 days a week and spend the rest of the week on school. I figure I can work full time and complete either program in less than 2 years. I don’t ever plan on leaving the NC area so national prestige is not really a concern. Housing here is cheap and the jobs pay well. My company is a fortune 50 headquartered in NC.
I think I’m going to go ahead with the engineering side. Maybe in a few years I’ll swap to an employer that would pay for an MBA if needed. Or go to the corporate side where I think my company will pay for it. got into UNC Chapel hill. Just can’t swing the 100k tuition with no job.