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The degree most closely associated with politicians is, of course, the law degree. But, it appears that the Masters in Business Administration is becoming more popular among those headed for a life in politics, and likely for good reason.

Many MBA programs offer specialties within the MBA curriculum. One of these specialties is leadership, which is a good choice for those headed for a political career. In addition, any MBA program will offer its candidates a wide range of business skills, which can be quite useful in managing the multitude of priorities that face many elected officials. Mayors and governors, of course, must have budgeting and staff management skills, which can both be major components of an MBA curriculum.

In recent years, we’ve seen more of our elected officials carry MBA’s. In fact, President George W. Bush was the first president to hold the degree. In addition, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven holds an MBA from Northwestern. Two senators from North Dakota, Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad also hold MBAs.

The MBA degree has proven to be a good foundation for politicians. Though the law degree is likely to continue to be the most popular degree for politicians for the foreseeable future, the MBA is likely to gain popularity among those interested in political careers.

In addition, another draw of the MBA is that it prepares you for many different careers. The skills and experience gained through an MBA program are useful in a variety of fields, since the underlying principles taught are needed in every business, whether it’s running a government or running a trucking company.

In the business world, MBA holders are in high demand, and this is where they make the most money. Consider the salary of a member of Congress, which is about $174,000 a year compared to that of a highly skilled management analyst, who is likely to make well over $300,000 a year. So, while politics might be a great place to use your MBA skills, it’s not where you’ll make the money using those skills.

If you’re considering a graduate degree, the MBA is one of the best all around degrees you can pursue. With so many specialties offered today, you can also pinpoint your degree to match your chosen career field very closely, making the MBA even more valuable.

Financial assistance is fairly readily available today, making it easier than ever to get your MBA. And, since many MBA students are already employed full time, class schedules are usually designed with those students in mind. There are also MBA degrees which can be pursued partly or completely online, which makes it even easier for working students. Some of the best MBA programs, in fact, have recently implemented online programs for at least part of their MBA requirements. Many of the best programs still, however, require at least some of their classes to be taken in person.

Whether your career choice is politics or some other field, an MBA can be extremely helpful in helping you land the right job, and in helping you succeed in that job after you land it.

Phyllis Zerkle writes about the top masters degrees for career growth.

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