Online MBAs in Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions professionals help companies stay financially solvent by sourcing, valuing, buying, and selling business assets. This lucrative career demands at least five years of professional experience and a strong business education background. A master of business administration (MBA) in mergers and acquisitions may be your next step if you pursue this career.

First established in 1908 at Harvard University, the MBA is the flagship degree for business professionals. Thousands of business professionals enroll in MBA programs every year, and corporations often reward MBA graduates with raises or promotions. The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) reports that MBAs can earn $3 million more over a lifetime than people with bachelor's degrees.

Adding a concentration in mergers and acquisitions to your business degree can help sharpen your career focus. Use our guide below to learn more about online MBAs in mergers and acquisitions, including what to expect, how to choose a program, and what you can do with your degree after graduation.

Why Get a Mergers and Acquisitions MBA Degree?

What to Expect From a Mergers and Acquisitions Program

An online MBA in mergers and acquisitions can prepare you for a leadership role in corporate development. At its core, this degree is a management program. By adding the concentration in mergers and acquisitions, you emphasize the distinctive blend of salesmanship and financial analytics that make up the professional life of a mergers and acquisitions specialist.

Traditionally, the MBA required two years of full-time study. However, many schools now offer one-year accelerated programs. Others allow you to take fewer classes per semester, extending your timeline. Many online students take six credits per term to finish in 6-8 semesters.

Choosing an institutionally accredited school is crucial, as universities transfer credits only to other accredited schools.

Degree and Format Options

Concentrating on mergers and acquisitions adds depth and specificity to your MBA program, but not all mergers and acquisitions degrees use the same title. You might learn many of the same concepts and skills by concentrating in business strategy, analytic finance, or strategic management.

Many schools offer MBA programs through online, on campus, or hybrid options. If you choose an online program, consider whether you want asynchronous coursework or set class times.

Finally, explore the merits of accelerated, one-year MBA programs or five-year bachelor's-to-master's degrees. Although intense, these degrees can quickly thrust you into the working world.

Should You Get an Acquisitions MBA or a General MBA?

Modern MBAs come in several formats. Some are general business leadership degrees, while others emphasize specific aspects of corporate life. Before deciding which educational path to pursue, consider the critical distinctions between general and acquisitions MBAs.

A general MBA offers advanced training in core concepts of business leadership. You take marketing, management, accounting, and leadership courses in this program. Upon graduation, you can possess new skills and knowledge in analysis, ethics, and problem-solving techniques.

An acquisitions MBA offers the same fundamental education as a general MBA but with additional coursework in mergers and acquisitions. Because an MBA with a concentration may require 9-12 more credits than a general MBA, you can expect to take 1-2 semesters longer to finish the program. You may also pay more tuition for those additional classes.

However, your degree will also provide you with career-specific information and skills. You could also meet other acquisitions experts, get mentoring from your professors, and build your network through the program's alumni association.

Admissions Process

Each business school determines its admission requirements, and some schools set much higher barriers to entry than others. However, the following requirements apply to many MBA programs in the U.S.

Popular Mergers and Acquisitions MBA Courses

An MBA program typically includes core business leadership courses, specialization classes, and credits for an internship or capstone. In a mergers and acquisitions MBA, you can take general courses in management and marketing before diving deep into the details of corporate development. The courses below are a few of the most common mergers and acquisition offerings.

• Mergers and Acquisitions: In this fundamental course, students learn about the challenges companies face when restructuring amid company purchases or incorporations. Topics may include valuation, negotiation, antitrust issues, and managing integration. The course also covers deal-structuring and post-merger integration. After the course, students can create basic merger models.
• Structuring and Leading Deals: This course introduces the stages of a deal, risk mitigation strategies, and laws related to acquisitions and mergers. Topics include domestic vs. cross-border acquisitions, friendly vs. hostile mergers, and whole company vs. partial acquisitions. Students also learn to identify partners, structure deals, and integrate two entities post-merger.
• Cost Analysis and Negotiation Techniques: Students learn to analyze cost proposals using various methods and techniques. Topics include contract audits, estimating processes, and cost/price analysis. The course also covers relevant federal regulations. After the course, students should be able to examine a proposal and develop a cost objective.
• Acquisition and Contract Law: This course covers legal issues relevant to corporate acquisitions and mergers. Topics include antitrust considerations, accounting and tax issues, anti-takeover defenses, federal securities law, board fiduciary responsibilities, and shareholder voting and appraisal rights. This course may be cross-listed with the university's law school.

How Much Do Mergers and Acquisitions MBAs Cost?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, an online master's degree in business or management costs an average of $10,995 annually. Your costs could vary quite widely, however. Some MBA programs cost less than $10,000 for the entire degree, while others can cost over $125,000 for just one year.

Various factors affect an MBA's price, including the university's prestige, its public vs. private status, and your state of residence. Most students pay their living costs and school fees on top of tuition.

Although Pell Grants cannot cover the cost of graduate school, financing options include scholarships, employer reimbursements, and loans. Scholarships are merit-based and competitive, while employer reimbursements depend on your company's policies. Federal and private student loans require repayment with interest.

Jobs for MBAs in Mergers and Acquisitions

Earning an MBA can be one way to scale up your career. Specifically, an MBA in mergers and acquisitions can position you for a job in corporate development, which is the side of a business focused on developing strategic partnerships.

Because these roles are intensely focused and require a deep skill set, they rarely lead to C-suite positions. Corporate development professionals may, however, earn outstanding bonuses based on their work and its results.

Selecting the Right Concentration

With so many universities offering high-quality MBA programs, what search criteria should you use to determine the right degree for you? Before starting, limit your research to institutionally accredited schools. Then, consider the following factors:

• Career Aspirations: Does the program offer the coursework, internship opportunities, alumni network, and institutional prestige you need for the job you want?
• Competitiveness of Admissions: Do you qualify for admission? If not, can you quickly complete any necessary coursework or professional experience?
• Staff Credentials and Diversity: Look for a program where faculty members' scholarship and leadership reflect diverse experiences, identities, and backgrounds.
• Cost and Financial Aid: Can you afford this school's tuition or access financial aid without assuming excessive debt?
• Location: While online degrees are location-independent, a school near your home may offer access to critical internship and job opportunities in the area.

Common Questions About Degrees in Mergers and Acquisitions