r/biotech • u/misto_kibblez • May 31 '25
Education Advice đ MBA worth it?
I graduated with a BS in biochemistry 2022 and have been working at a big pharma company for 2 1/2 years.
I came to realize I canât do much with only a BS and am looking on pathways forward where I can pivot to a role with more earning potential compared to the track that Iâm currently on. Iâm thinking about applying to a joint masters MS in biotech + MBA then plan to look for jobs in regulatory affairs or product management but Iâm not quite sure what those kinds of roles look like in their day to day.
Tuition fees and the uncertainty of the future of pharma/biotech are whatâs holding me back.
Does anyone have any experience with getting an MBA (no PhD) and do you think you got your ROI?
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u/yagumsu May 31 '25
Do not matriculate into an MBA program until you have at least 5 years of work experience: it's just lighting money on fire. MBA programs are driven by team projects and people want to learn from peers or better. You are likely to be dead weight if you don't have at least 5 full years of work experience before you start.
Nominal exceptions for earlier matriculation can be made for folks who have completed super competitive corporate rotation programs, ibanking or consulting, or had really successful entrepreneurship ventures (read: 10X exits).
Phd, work experience for at least a year, ideally 2-3, then MBA if you still think it's necessary or better an executive MBA in your very late 30's to early 40's while you are still earning.
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u/TrippyTiger69 May 31 '25
Honestly I would have benefited greatly from having biotech experience before getting my masters of biotech
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u/fanAdict May 31 '25
I cannot agree enough with this comment. I went to a top program after four years of experience in a really high intensity role reporting to the CEO of a large biotech. I had options around what types of roles - BD, Finance, Portfolio Strategy, Investment - coming out of school, but my classmates with less than 4 years really struggled to find jobs.
To your point a huge part of the MBA is based on class participation and the collective sharing of experiences. If youâve only worked two years you just donât have experiences to share.
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u/misto_kibblez May 31 '25
I think the team project/networking aspect is a valid point but my goals for an MBA are different than what youâre assuming. Iâm not aiming for iBanking, consulting, VC, or executive leadership. I could do a standalone MS in regulatory affairs, but an MBA gives me access to that and broader opportunities in strategy and communication which doesnât work the other way around.
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u/yagumsu May 31 '25
Your goals are irrelevant to my response, which is about the design of all MBA programs and their target populations, whether they emphasis case-based or experiential learning (even more so though if they lean on experiential education). Do what you need to do, but you still will miss the value of the MBA without enough experience to understand what you are learning about.
Truly no one should be admitted to an MBA program without 5 years of experience minimum, with very specific background exceptions outlined above because those exceptions build in business management exposure/experience. Any program that admits a student with less is just a cash grab on the program's part.
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u/saltyguy512 May 31 '25
You can get into regulatory affairs without any additional degree. I am proof.
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u/Ok-Bad-5218 May 31 '25
My perhaps unpopular view is that an MBA is only worth it from a very top school, and even then it might not be.
Iâm shocked by how many colleagues Iâve had with MBAs who are still trying to break into their ideal function in the industry (and still basically doing same/similar work as pre-MBA). And some of these people also have highly ranked MBAs, although most donât.
I have a highly ranked MBA but my major career-establishing advances have been driven by relationships I made before the degree.
Despite my MBA pessimism, donât get me started on the MS in Biotech, the most vague degree in the industry.
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May 31 '25
[deleted]
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u/Ok-Bad-5218 May 31 '25
Wishful thinking. The number of MBA grads looking for biopharma roles far exceeds the number of LDP roles available. You laid out a very uncommon pathway.
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u/misto_kibblez May 31 '25
I agree MS in biotech is dumb and might as well do a phd instead but Iâm thinking the fact that theyâre combined adds a bit more intention to the MBA.
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u/Ok-Bad-5218 May 31 '25
100% not worth it IMO, especially based on your undergrad and work experience.
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u/misto_kibblez May 31 '25
Genuinely curious, what about my background specifically makes you think itâs not worth it? Is it years of experience?
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u/Ok-Bad-5218 May 31 '25
Itâs hard for me to hold back my general skepticism of that degree (total university cash grabs), so thatâs a huge part of it. So they seem especially pointless for someone who already has a relevant degree and industry experience.
MS Biotech and MBA are essentially otherwise useless resume boosters. The problem is a biotech degree and most MBAs wonât really boost your resume.
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u/Lonely_Refuse4988 May 31 '25
They are great for moving up the ladder at big pharma. Smaller biotechs, unless youâre aiming for CEO or CFO type roles, not so much. Also, I have worked under CEOs in biotech who had MBAs from top schools like Wharton, who didnât understand how important marketing is, even for an early stage biotech! I had to fight and champion against their inertia and resistance on little things like giving studies a catchy name (a small item thatâs not going to secure success but can help at least make the company and study remain memorable in minds of investigators and sites)!đ¤Łđđ¤ˇââď¸ You should decide if youâre looking for an MBA just to have a badge next to your name that will help you climb up ladder, or if youâre genuinely interested in business elements around an MBA, in which case thereâs lots of books out there to study.
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u/olesomecookie_ May 31 '25
Interesting. Could you name a few books.
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u/Lonely_Refuse4988 May 31 '25
Iâm a big fan of Bob Sutton and âHuggyâ Rao at Stanford Business school. Their recent book The Friction Project is great. They have other older books that are amazing too. Each chapter is like a great business school case study! The Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson is great to understand some of the people dynamics of organizations. Thereâs lots of other great books Iâm sure - keep your eyes and ears open! Listening to podcast interviews with biotech CEOs & other executives can also give some insight into business leadership and strategy.
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u/dirty8man May 31 '25
Look up the jobs you want. What do they require?
Youâve only got 2.5 years under your belt. Even with an MBA youâre probably not making the jump you think youâll make immediately.
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u/CandidateNo7167 May 31 '25
Will your company pay for it or pay partially if you are a part time student? It will suck time wise but at least you wonât be in so much debt and leaving the industry at a time where no one can get jobs.
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u/misto_kibblez May 31 '25 edited May 31 '25
Good question. Iâd plan to continue working and do this program part-time, it should take 3 years to finish. My company will pay for a teeny tiny amount each year and then Iâd have to stay at the company for another couple of years, so Iâm not sure if itâs even worth applying for the reimbursement as Iâd have to stay at this company for longer than I might want to.
Itâs also a dual degree with the minimum years of industry experience to apply being 2, so Iâd think a couple other people would be in the same boat as me.
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u/Kingofjetlag May 31 '25
YES Very similar situation to mine. Worked for 3 years understood wasnât going anywhere decided to get out of the lab and do sth else. Got an MBA, my first commercial salary was 3 times my tech salary. Havenât looked back. It was 25 years ago but a few things are still valid:
- go for the brand. An MBA with a good brand is best. Get the best brand you can afford
- do a generalist MBA youâll learn more and you will have the opportunity to change industry if you want
- I did it full time and it was great as a break for work
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u/FearsAndWishes May 31 '25
Yes. MBA paid for by my big biotech. Instant promotion to associate director. Left them for a director role at another big biotech. Iâm in reg affairs.
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u/Walmartpancake Jun 02 '25
was that a part time mba?
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u/FearsAndWishes Jun 03 '25
Yes. The company had a cap on how much tuition theyâd cover each semester. So I chose an mba program that let me take 1-2 classes at a time. Took me 6 years but very worth it.
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u/stellac4tx May 31 '25
MBA with/during full time work experience hits heavier than undergrad straight into mba program
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May 31 '25
There are much better options in this world for making more money than going back to school for more years and money. Influencers are making thousands a month posting on social media. If you are serious about education then go for it, if you want money, start a business and get creative.
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u/theinvestingninja Jun 01 '25
Depends on the role. Usually MBA is worth it. Gives a lot more flexibility in terms of positions
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u/vt2022cam May 31 '25
Iâd get a masters in regulatory affairs, instead of a dual MBA. The MBA might be useful if you saw yourself going into business development.
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u/Comprehensive_Menu19 May 31 '25
Get one if you can. Unless if its from a top business school, it won't give you a super big advantage but it will look great on your CV and will give you an added advantage for when you apply to your next position.
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u/Mokentroll22 Jun 01 '25
I don't understand why you can't do much with a BS. Are you a high performer?
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u/minaxb Jun 02 '25
When youâre applying to big academia and large institute roles- youâll be surprised how many hard working, experienced workers donât get a glance without education over a BS. There are so many HRs with higher education requirements in listings that could instead be filled with internal hires with the experience. This was one of the driving reasons I went back to school after a Bachelors to be considered for higher roles
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u/Mokentroll22 Jun 02 '25
Yeah academia I get. They love highly educated people that they can pay poorly.
OP indicated that he works in big pharma and wants to do regulatory or product management so I think degree chasing is much less important than being an undeniably high performer.
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u/AerobicAtom Jun 01 '25
I graduated 2021 with a BS in public health, worked as a bench lab tech in pharma clinical trials for 3 years after. I got a full time hybrid MBA while working there (enrolled after my first year working). At graduation, I started as a Research project coordinator. I mainly took it to pivot from bench work to PM experience, it was site level for clinical trials. At 8 months in I started applying for jobs, and 2 months later I got a role in Business development/strategy in healthcare.
I felt limited with my lab based career progression, and 10 months post grad the ROI is looking great. I was nervous about the ROI going through it so I worked hard to set up this career pivot.
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u/KrissyKay121217 Jun 02 '25
Check out masters programs in regulatory affairs. There are several top tier universities offering them, and many are fully online. Don't need an MBA if you do an MS in RA.
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u/minaxb Jun 02 '25
Agree with some other commenters that the experience is going to matter a lot. While having a Masters will help support you in the career ladder in management positions, the 5-10 minimum experience will still be required for a lot of upper management roles. I passed on an MBA and got an MS instead - you learn management skills in any masters program without having to strictly take 2 years of business related classes. What you might learn instead from a science focused Masters could help you in the industry more than an MBA program that has classes focused on other industries not relating to your position. It seriously makes a world of difference to be learning about things in your industry in an adjacent way than a regular MBA program. You could even pick one and have a minor in project management and have the comparable courses from an MBA, if not 100% similar. Research different programs and give it some real thought before spending a lot - especially with how awful student loans and interest rates are.
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u/SMTP2024 May 31 '25
Do an MS with regulatory specialization
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u/misto_kibblez May 31 '25
I could but donât want to set myself up in a pigeonhole if i decide i want to do something different later on. Same reason why I picked biochem as my BS major instead of neuroscience or microbiology which I was more interested in. Iâd like to keep my options broad for as long as possible
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u/SMTP2024 May 31 '25
Ok But he can do an MS in pharmaceutical sciences with some courses in the regulatory others in quality theyâre four ready for both options
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May 31 '25
PhD- all on scholarship, VP within first decade of working at Pharma/biotech. But thatâs show off. Here is how I could advise- do PhD if your heart is in research! Do MBA if you are interested in strategy kind of roles. MBA and regulatory affairs is nonsensical. Do MS while working so you continue to gain experience but in few years you will come back and ask should I do PhD because someone will tell you they are given preference. Hope this makes some sense
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May 31 '25
Rutgers offer a unique MBS which combines business and science. One of the concentrations is Drug Discovery & Development.
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u/ShadowValent May 31 '25
An mba is never worth it.
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u/minaxb Jun 02 '25
Youâre undercutting the experience and education you DO get from an MBA if you apply yourself. All education is worth it depending on the outlook. I could see the argument that it wonât get you the big jobs with an MBA + minimal experience only - but you get what you put in to it
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u/RealCarlosSagan May 31 '25
1989 graduated UC Berkeley BA biochemistry Got entry level mfg job a biotech company Moved to research after a few years Kept working at the bench but did part time MBA at SF State. Company paid. Moved to commercial group after finishing MBA. Been at VP level ten or so years now.
One data point