Executive Education is the term used for programs at graduate-level business schools that aim to give classes for Chief Executives and other top managers or entrepreneurs. These programs do not usually end in a degree, although there is an ever-growing number of Executive M.B.A. programs that are very similar and offer a Masters of Business Administration upon completion of the coursework. Executive education programs are seen as a boon to both the school (as it usually comes with a hefty price tag in the form of tuition and fees) and the younger, traditional Masters of Business Administration students. The alumni network of the business school is bolstered by the ranks of these high executives, who can help the younger M.B.A.'s with finding jobs.

Estimates by Business Week magazine suggest that executive education in the United States is approximately an $800 million per year business, roughly 80% of which is provided by universities (mostly business schools). The fastest growing segment of the market is so-called "customized" programs, which are tailored for and offered to executives of a single company (as opposed to "open enrollment" programs).

Master's degrees | Business | Business schools