While the economy continues to struggle, more people or enrolling in or returning to school to pursue a higher education, such a degree in business. Academic institutions have seen an increase of female students pursuing an MBA in order to improve their job opportunities and salary.
The flexibility that comes with earning a business degree has prompted more women to choose this field of study, allowing them to balance a higher education with work or family, according to Forbes.com. The class of 2010 at Harvard Business School is 38 percent female, a 10 percent increase since 1995. Harvard's 2011 business class will be 40 percent women, up by 8 percent from 2007.
Female students earning an MBA degree are also taking advantage of online education, which costs less and offers similar degrees that are available on campus.
"Women think that managing work, school and family is easier than quitting and taking the financial risk," said Elissa Ellis Sangster, executive director of the Forte Foundation, quoted by the news provider.
The U.S. Department of Education reports that in 2007, 44 percent of women earned business degrees, up from 39 percent of MBA degree holders who were women in 1997.
