MBA vs MCA: What is Better after BCA

After finishing their Bachelor's degree, many students face the challenge of choosing between MCA and MBA. A student may find it tough or confusing to choose between MCA and MBA.
Students from all fields can enroll in a variety of postgraduate courses. MBA vs MCA is still the most popular choice among BCA graduates. Both courses are professional programmes with a variety of specialities. MCA and MBA degrees lead to higher salaries and more employment chances.

There is no shortage of options when it comes to selecting a postgraduate course for a candidate in almost any stream. This might cause some confusion in the mind of a student. Choosing the correct postgraduate course is very important for any student to ensure that they follow the correct career pathway for their goals.

Two courses that are often considered particularly by students with a background in BCA are MBA and MCA. Both MBA and MCA are professional postgraduate courses but in different streams. Both courses have an excellent career scope and potentially good salary prospects. In this case, the question that arises is whether is it equally beneficial to take up MBA or MCA after BCA?

In this article, we provide a comparison between the MBA and MCA to help you make the right choice. When choosing between the two courses, it is important that you first identify your interests and define your career goals. This will not only help you in choosing the right course but also make it easier.

Quick Facts about MCA vs MBA

• The MCA employment market is expanding, with over 2,05,000 new job vacancies each year and an annual growth rate of 7.7%.
• Applicants who complete the MCA can expect a quick job placement with a starting salary of INR 4 lakh per annum.
• Promising MCA candidates may also expect to get hired by the world's greatest corporations and IT organisations, such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and others, where their INR 13lpa minimum pay will grow tremendously over time.
• According to the current situation, many students go for an MBA programme to obtain the skills needed to establish a business/start-up/become an entrepreneur.
• The MBA provides a solid foundation for a career and contributes to a wide range of professional development and abilities.
• Experienced professionals enrol in an MBA programme and change careers.
• MBA programmes enhance innovative thinking.
• MBA graduates get access to network with the finest in the business.
• An MBA degree provides you with a certain brand value.

MBA vs MCA: About the Courses

Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a management course that imparts and nurtures managerial and administrative skills in a candidate. The course provides in-depth knowledge to a student about how by using various logical and analytical methods, they can help a business manage its various resources such as Finance or HR.

Master of Computer Applications (MCA), on the other hand, is a core technical course. It provides advanced knowledge in the core technical aspects related to computer applications. An MCA course involves the study of subjects including software development, database management, networking, various programming languages etc.

A large fraction of the students considering the choice between MBA and MCA are those with some level of work experience. It is common knowledge that having work experience is recommended for an MBA degree (it is even mandatory for some colleges or courses). There is no such conception about MCA, even though work experience before MCA is desirable for better results.

Choosing the right course is as simple as aligning it to your career goals. Let's take a look at how some key factors of the two courses compare.

MBA vs MCA: Overview

MBA vs MCA Specializations

Here are some of the top specializations for MBA and MCA in India.

MBA vs MCA: Course Curriculum

The exact course curriculum of MBA and MCA depends upon the specialization. Here is a comparison of some of the subjects included in an MBA (IT) and MCA courses.

MBA vs MCA: Career Scope

An MBA makes you eligible for some of the top-level administrative positions in the business. MBA is one of the most in-demand courses today and MBA graduates earn some of the best salary packages in any industry. Plus, since subjects such as Finance, Accounting, Marketing etc. are common across industries, MBA is a very versatile degree and can open up career prospects in a wide range of sectors.

Some of the job profiles available for MBA graduates include the following.

The case with MCA is quite different since it is a highly specialized course that targets technical aspects of the software development and IT industry. MCA graduates are hired for roles that include writing software, providing custom software solutions for a client's needs, taking care of the networking requirements of a client, managing the IT department of a business etc. MCA graduates are generally hired in tech-based or software development companies.

Some of the popular job profiles for MCA graduates are given below.

MBA vs MCA: Salary

The salary prospects for MBA and MCA courses are compared in the table below.

MBA vs MCA: Which is better?

Now that we have seen how the basic aspects of each course compare, let's analyse which course is better suited for which type of candidate.

It is very important to consider each and every aspect of a course before making a final choice. Carefully analyse your interests, skills and think of where you see yourself working down the line. Here are some other articles to help you choose the right postgraduate course.

If you have doubts, ask our experts on the CollegeDekho QnA Zone. For help with admissions, fill our Common Application Form (CAF) or call our toll-free student helpline number 1800-572-9877.