OVERVIEW
An Online Master's Degree in Management and Leadership Designed by Business Leaders
Develop the skills to lead organizations and motivate teams with this online management and leadership master’s degree.
The Master of Science in Management and Leadership (MSML) program was developed by business leaders who serve on the WGU Business Program Council. Its curriculum prepares you for leadership roles in businesses, government organizations, start-ups, and nonprofits.
Build essential skills in strategic leadership, management, and communication that can help you pursue a new role or advance in your current organization.
Graduates can finish within
12 Months
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
Tuition per six-month term is
$4850
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps students control the ultimate cost of their degree. Finish faster, pay less!
Average salary increase of
$9,171
M.S. Management and Leadership graduates report an average salary increase of $9,171 after completing their WGU degree.
COURSES
Management and Leadership Courses
Program consists of 10 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.
This master’s in leadership and management program was built with significant input from WGU’s Business Program Council. The council helped shape a curriculum that builds the leadership and management skills needed to create inclusive, high-performing teams and support organizational growth.
With WGU’s competency-based learning model, you can complete courses one at a time and advance when you demonstrate mastery. This lets you focus on each subject before moving on to the next. Your Program Mentor will help you create a personalized Degree Plan with target dates that align with your graduation goal. Many students complete all their coursework in just two WGU terms, earning their master’s degree in one year.
10 Courses
Program consists of 10 courses
Build practical leadership skills through coursework shaped by business leaders.
Capstone Project
Special requirements for this program
Apply knowledge from across the program and use research to address a management or leadership challenge in a real-world organization.
Skills For Your Résumé
As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for.
- Leadership: Fostered an inclusive and collaborative environment, valuing input from all team members, resulting in increased team cohesion, productivity, and innovative solutions.
- Management: Demonstrated exceptional ability to identify the needs of others, enabling effective coaching, mentoring, and skill development, leading to professional growth and improved performance.
- Coordinating: Successfully implemented managerial functions, utilizing planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling strategies.
- Communications: Utilized persuasive and effective communication techniques to guide outcomes, facilitating successful negotiations and driving positive results in various projects and initiatives.
- Performance Management: Implemented comprehensive systems for managing, evaluating, and influencing work performance and employee engagement.
- Planning: Conducted rigorous assessments of plans, ensuring their efficiency and effectiveness in achieving specific goals, leading to enhanced performance and goal attainment.
"WGU allowed me to continue doing the things I love, spending time with my family, and traveling for my job. Another major plus was that the competency-based system enabled me to focus my time in the areas I needed to learn to further my career.”
—Shonna Wessels
M.S. Management and Leadership
WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
Western Governors University
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in 1 year
Traditional Universities
Western Governors University
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in 1 year
Why WGU?
Earning Potential
After graduation, WGU management and leadership master's degree graduates report earning $9,171 more per year. Are you ready to make more money?
Entirely Online
The M.S. in Management and Leadership degree at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world, or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
Ready for Your Next Step
Competency-based education means you can move as quickly through your degree as you can master the material. You don't have to log in to classes at a certain time—you are truly in the driver's seat of your education.
Accredited, Respected, Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and the quality of this program has been recognized by ACBSP.
COST & TIME
An Affordable Master's Degree in Leadership and Management
By charging tuition per term rather than per credit—and allowing students to accelerate through material they already know or learn quickly—WGU helps students manage the total cost of the program. Finishing faster can lower total tuition costs.
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
A Different Way to Learn: Degree Programs Designed to Fit Your Life—and All the Demands on Your Time
Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for adult students. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how education should be. No rigid class schedules. Just a solid, career-focused teaching program that meshes with your current lifestyle. You'll be challenged. You'll work hard. But if you commit yourself and put in the hours needed, WGU makes it possible for you to earn a highly respected degree as a busy working adult.
"WGU was a game changer for me. I had tried before to get my master's, but all the online schools seemed so complicated. WGU made it easy, and the support was great! As a father of two with a full-time and weekend job, I needed support and they were great."
—Joseph Ancona
M.S. Management and Leadership
CAREER OUTLOOK
Elevate Your Career with the M.S. in Management and Leadership Degree
Prepare for senior leadership roles across businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, or start-ups. WGU's Master of Science in Management and Leadership helps you build the skills to lead organizational change, advance strategic initiatives, and develop high-performing teams—capabilities that employers value in senior leaders.
Return on Your Investment
Many WGU graduates may see an increase in income post-graduation
Average income increase in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary from all degrees. Source: 2024 Harris Poll of 1,655 WGU graduates.
Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.
4%
Employment of top executives is projected to grow 4% through 2034.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Where Are WGU Management and Leadership Graduates Now?
Every industry needs effective leadership and strategic management. More than 700 graduates have earned WGU’s M.S. in Management and Leadership. The program helps you build the judgment to make informed decisions about people, business plans, policies, budgets, and resources.
Graduates work in many roles and industries and with many companies, such as:
Job titles
- President
- Vice president
- Branch chief
- Director of operations
- Executive director
Diverse industries
- Private companies
- Healthcare organizations
- Nonprofit organizations
- Government
- Colleges and universities
Major employers
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Adventist Health
- HCA Healthcare
- Scholastic
- State of Nevada
WGU Grads Hold Positions with Top Employers
ADMISSIONS & TRANSFERS
Master of Science in Management and Leadership Admission Requirements
To be considered for this master's program, students must submit all transcripts verifying receipt of your bachelor’s degree from a recognized, accredited institution.
NOTE: You do not need to take the GRE or GMAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.
Transfer Credits
WGU offers a generous transfer policy, but many graduate-level degrees do not allow for transfer credits. Some graduate programs allow the transfer of individual courses or certifications and others do not. Please speak to an Enrollment Counselor for the specifics of your desired program. You will still need to send in your transcripts to validate your bachelor's degree—this can be done independently or with our free transcript service.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to a WGU Enrollment Counselor.
FINISH FASTER
One-Year Master's Degree in Management and Leadership
WGU's competency-based model lets you progress as soon as you demonstrate competency, which may help you graduate faster. This online Master of Science in Management and Leadership program gives you the flexibility to study on your schedule, with no set class times. You can continue working and managing other responsibilities while earning your degree.
WGU's one-year* MSML allows you to finish your degree program in only 12 months for just $9,610.
*Program can be completed in as little as 12 months. Pricing is based on 12-month completion of the program. Students who do not complete in 12 months and need longer to complete the program will need to pay for additional terms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Management and Leadership
A master's degree focused on leadership and management can help you pursue new roles that require or prefer graduate-level degrees. It may also support career advancement and salary growth. Whether it is worthwhile depends on your career goals, experience, time, and budget.
Depending on your experience and industry, a master's degree in leadership can prepare you for roles such as:
- Recruiter
- Business manager
- Project manager
- Operations manager
- Project manager
- HR manager
- Branch chief
- Executive director
- Vice president
- CEO
- COO
- President
Earnings vary by role, experience, industry, location, and employer. Some senior management positions offer six-figure salaries, but having a degree does not guarantee a specific salary.
You can keep working full-time while earning an online master’s degree in leadership. You do not have to put your career on hold. At WGU, your experience and prior knowledge may help you move through some coursework faster, saving time and potentially reducing tuition costs.
Courses in a management and leadership degree program may cover subjects such as:
- Managing human capital
- Managing organizations and people
- Communication
- Business acumen
- Ethical leadership
- Strategic management
- Change management
An online master’s in management program can help you build leadership and communication skills that apply across industries. Enrolling in the M.S. in Management and Leadership degree program could be the right choice for you, depending on your career goals, experience, schedule, and budget.
A master’s degree in management may be a better fit for people earlier in their careers or those seeking focused training. An MBA may be a better fit for professionals seeking broader business training.
The best master’s degree for management depends on your goals, experience, schedule, and budget. WGU’s M.S. in Management and Leadership offers a flexible online path designed to build skills in team leadership, organizational change, and strategic management.
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?
