MBA Graduates' Preferences of a Doctorate Degree Program: Your Guide Towards your Future

A Conjoint Analysis of Preferences in Pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Business What makes an MBA graduate choose to pursue a doctorate—and what kind of doctoral program would make that decision worthwhile? A Conjoint Analysis of Preferences in Pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Business explores this question by examining how MBA graduates evaluate the different features of a potential Doctorate in Business program. Using quantitative conjoint analysis, the study examines the trade-offs graduates make among program location, learning experience support, faculty qualifications and engagement, and schedule. The findings reveal that the quality and credibility of faculty matter most to prospective doctoral students. In particular, graduates strongly value faculty who combine academic research expertise with industry experience. Research mentorship and publication opportunities also emerge as highly valued forms of learning support, while flexible delivery and weekend-only schedules appeal strongly to professionals seeking to balance advanced education with work and other responsibilities. More than an examination of educational preferences, this study offers a practical perspective on how doctoral programs can become more accessible, relevant, and responsive to the realities of working professionals. It provides higher education institutions, employers, and prospective doctoral students with evidence that the future of business education lies not only in academic excellence, but also in flexibility, meaningful mentorship, professional relevance, and accessibility. At its heart, this work is about making advanced education more responsive to the people who aspire to pursue it—and about understanding the choices that shape the next generation of business scholars and professionals.