Best master's degree to get if my ultimate goal is Ed.D

[Merlin]

Thanks for the reply, Merlin. From what I understand, Ed.D isn't considered a research-based degree. The Ph.D in education is research-based, but the Ed.D is not. 

From the research I've done, it seems that VERY few institutions offer an Ed.D without first having a master's degree. The ones I've found that do offer the Ed.D without a master's are so expensive that it's cheaper to just get an MBA for $15k or so.

I like your suggestion on working backwards. I might do that. From what I'm seeing, the Ed.D is much more expensive than an MBA. Have others found that to be the case? I'm finding MBAs for $15k, but I can find an Ed.D for less than $30k. Am I missing something?

I have to admit that I don't know much about Ed.D., but based on what I've seen so far, it sounds like it is a professional doctoral degree, similar a DBA in the business world. In that case, have you also considered looking into a Ph.D. instead? That will open far more doors and the difference in time investment is comparable. You may also be able to find less expensive PhD programs out there... or find options for subsidies or teaching to reduce your costs.

As a point of comparison, I have been considering doctoral degrees, including professional degrees like a DBA. I don't know how comparable the Ed.D. and DBA are, but as professional degrees, you're limited in what you can do with them. They have value at the highest levels in corporate and government work, but are all but useless in academia, for example. Where a Ph.D. is applicable to all of those sectors, and is generally better respected to boot. Given this, I have deprioritized any professional degree programs in my list since if I elect to spend 3-5 years working on a terminal degree, I don't want to limit my opportunities.

Personally, I am currently leaning toward pursuing a second master's degree, probably in CS or Data Science, but I'm not doing so specifically as a precursor to any followup degree. I'm doing so mainly to maximize my time since I know I can earn a master's degree in less than 2 years while a doctoral degree is 3-5 years on average. That said, I'm still considering research-based doctoral programs too. If I find one that checks all my boxes, particularly if I can earn an MS along the way, I may end up doing that instead. Though I'm not in a hurry, especially with the Covid-19 stuff going on.

1. Why are you recommending I do both the MSML and the MBA? I would imagine that two degrees are better than one (obviously), but if my goal is an Ed.D, does it really matter? 

2. Further to point #1, would it not look suspicious to have two degrees on my resumé from one university in such a short time span? Would it be better to at least diversify and get the degrees from different universities?

There is very little value in getting both the MBA and MSML since both are very similar business degrees. An MBA is generally more recognizable and valuable in the corporate world, while the MSML generally has more value in government and non-profit roles. Though having both could make sense for someone who works in senior management and doesn't plan to pursue a higher degree. In your case, since your end goal is a doctoral degree, I would suggest focusing on one or the other, depending on which will be closer to the target Ed.D. degree.

As for two degrees from the same school, there are some who suggest that it is best to diversify your education to expose you to different ideas, etc. But it really only matters if your goal is to become a college professor (as some schools value the diversity.) Beyond that, you should focus on the school that works best for you academically and financially.

3. If I got my MSML from WGU and wanted to get my MBA somewhere else (say Capella, Walden, or Purdue), would any credits transfer? Approximately how many would transfer, or in other words, what percentage of the program could be transferable to an MBA using MSML credits?

There is no way to know. Possibly zero. It really depends on how close the programs are and the second school's transfer policies. This also applies at the doctoral level. Unless your master's degree and the target doctoral degree are very similar in the courses required, you may get very little or no transfer credits towards the additional degree.

4. Why are you so confident that I can finish both the MSML and MBA in 18 months? I know that people on here talk about completing masters degrees in 6 months or less, but there's no way that can be the norm. I would imagine the people who do that are either super intelligent or have loads of time on their hand. I can dedicate probably 12-18 hours per week on average. Is 18 months for both degrees reasonable? My math skills are super shaky having been out of college for over a decade.

Most WGU students complete a single master's degree in 2-3 terms (12-18 months). Yes, some people can complete them quicker, especially if they have a lot of extra time, but it is by no means the norm. I completed my MBA in 6 months, but I was putting in 5+ hours per day (35+ hours per week) and I entered the program with 20+ years of business experience plus a bachelor's degree in business administration.

If you're looking at 12-18 hours per week, it is unlikely that you'll be able to complete either the MBA or MSML at WGU in under 12 months unless you already have a lot of related experience to draw on.

5. Last question, and maybe most important to me, if I have to choose between the MSML and the MBA, which should I go with? It seems like MBA will can get you behind the scenes-type positions like CEO or CFO whereas MSML gets you more of a customer-facing position like VP of Sales, Project Manager. I enjoy interacting with customers on the frontlines so I'm tempted to go with MSML; however, I feel like MBA is safer as it provides you with more "hard" skills like accounting and finance. Part of the reason I'm getting an advanced degree is for the security of broadening my options so I feel like maybe secruity is what I'm looking for. All in all, if what I've stated is accurate, it feels like I'm choosing between what I enjoy and what makes me feel more secure. Is that accurate? I've read that MBA is for experienced workers while MSML is more for people straight out of college. Is that accurate? I've got 10+ years experience so I don't want a degree that's perceived as being for kids straight out of college.  

It isn't exactly cut and dry. The MBA is more recognizable and is well-received in the corporate world, but it doesn't tie to any particular role. As a generalist business degree, it is probably the most common degree you'll see in most businesses at all levels. The MSML is typically more common in government and non-profits, but again it doesn't necessarily indicate any particular role. People pursue MSML because they are interested in organizational leadership, so it applies well to anyone in a management or HR role, and this also includes C-level people as much as an MBA does.

Ultimately it comes down to why you want the degree. MBA is targeted to business professionals who want a broad understanding of business, where the MSML is more applicable to people who want to focus on the management and organizational leadership aspects of business.

The true value of an MBA is usually the name recognition of the school and the network you build while getting it. Particularly if you're young and haven't built a real resume yet. However, that usually only applies to elite business schools. Since WGU is a no-name school, there isn't any name recognition or network benefits for getting the degree there. As such, its better suited for people with prior experience since you'll still need a strong resume to balance the degree.

I hope that helps.