Updated: Monday, November 30th, 2009

Students who choose to delay matriculation into a MBA program to gain work experience may stunt their business careers and financial gain, recent research suggests.

A new study from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College found that begin pursuing a MBA degree immediately after an undergraduate program may have higher earnings over the course of their careers than those who enter the workforce first.

Researchers reported 30 year-old professionals who obtained a MBA degree immediately following a bachelors program earned approximately the same salaries as those who worked one to five years after completing an undergraduate course of study.

However, MBA holders with no work experience averaged a 96 percent increase in salaries after completing business school, while students who worked before pursuing a degree showed an 80 percent gain in their incomes.

Mark Zupan, dean of the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, said these findings suggest "it is advantageous for students with the right attitude and aptitude to pursue an MBA directly out of college, or shortly thereafter."

Associates and bachelors programs in business can provide prospective MBA degree candidates with the preparation they will need to complete difficult coursework and nurture their careers.

PayScale.com, a research company, says that average salaries for holders of MBA degrees ranged from $73,510 to $171,583 in 2008, depending on the field, position and years of experience.

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