Should You Do an Online MBA?

[@CareerProtocol]

Please prove us wrong! We're happy to update as Online MBAs evolve.

[@charlesan4888]

I saw this video the morning it was posted and knew I had to respond. My online MBA worked for me despite agreeing with everything mentioned. Interestingly, I completed the program a few weeks ago and simultaneously accepted a job offer resulting from my education. The job offer is a 50% increase in salary, breaking me into a six-figure income, and it came with a signing bonus. Although my response would echo your concerns, it will explain why I believe the online degree was worth it for me.

[@charlesan4888]

As an older and working professional, I have more constraints regarding options for an MBA. Picking up to move for school is not in the cards, so an online MBA from a highly-ranked university was better than most options in the local area. This also saves me time from attending classes in person, which was critical when I had to travel for work. I genuinely believe that being a student from a highly-ranked business school helped my resume stand out and got me interviews with well-known companies. I also believe that the company for which I accepted the job targeted me as a candidate because of the business school, and I would not have received the same targeting had I attended one of the local universities.

[@charlesan4888]

I was able to network with people who were like-minded working professionals through my online program. Many of my classmates were marketing managers, accountants, medical doctors, lawyers, and even a CFO, and my classmates spanned across the globe in some major brand companies. There were two key elements to an online program regarding networking: 1) The program has in-person opportunities, and I took every opportunity to attend them. 2) I was intentional in reaching out to people in my classes. Half my classes required group assignments, and we had group Zoom calls outside class time. In contrast, I was enrolled in one of the full-time MBA classes on campus, and most of my classmates had limited experience.

[@charlesan4888]

Many full-time MBA programs start only at the beginning of the fall of the first year, and students are required to be in the program for two years. My online program had quarterly start dates throughout the calendar year, and I could set my own pace, which allowed me to complete an MBA in 18 months (16 months, to be precise). For some of my classmates, their companies were paying a certain amount of their tuition each school period or calendar year. They could work full-time, not go into debt from school, and pace themselves until they could complete the program. I had a time limit on my GI Bill and needed to attend school as quickly as possible, and the online MBA was the best option for that.

[@charlesan4888]

I learned from my full-time MBA classmates that we shared many of the same professors. The difference was that the professors could complete an entire lecture without interruptions during their online recordings, i.e., questions and limited class periods. And I could rewatch the lectures from the online program as much as needed. If I had any questions, I could ask them during our required weekly calls with our online professors.

[@charlesan4888]

My online MBA program has staff dedicated to career services, and we can schedule Zoom meetings with them regarding resume reviews, practice interviews, etc. We also have access to an online career program called Handshake, where we can connect with potential employers, and many of them reached out to me after I updated my profile. Most career fairs with major employers take place on campus, which is inconvenient for me because that would have required me to fly in to attend. But there is a virtual forum in collaboration with other quality schools like Darden, Fuqua, Ross, and Tuck, to name a few.

[@Tbot2020]

Well…whether it’s worth it or not, I’m doing one…got 2 weeks left 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@CareerProtocol]

😅

[@AfroNerd-cv1dl]

Congratulations! I wish you the best on your new journey.

[@jeremymoore145]

Congratulations. I’m starting one in the fall.

[@11gwu11]

😂

[@chrisdavis6264]

Online MBA’s are worth it, however, you need to do the research to determine which universities offer the best bang for your buck. Top schools based their admissions on “affirmative actions” or a “supply and demand” based model (depends on the university). Like Harvard charges enormous amount for students who doesn’t have “rich parents.” The university gets most of their revenues from donations (scholarships, grants, etc), and so they have to charge other students that are not “scholarship based” because they have to keep up with the economic costs of running the company (university). If the University didn’t have as much donations from the wealthy, then the cost of Harvard would be significantly lower across the board since most students would have to pay tuition. This isn’t difficult to understand. So, a person who is not from a wealthy background and desires to pave their way in workforce, an online program is the best way to go. If you are a family head, you have bills, you can’t go to class like a 18 year old can. So, online programs are legitimate. Another thing too, is that the GMAT and GRE exams are just an absolute way to be judged on your “success”. Who gives admissions the power to determine if you will be successful or not?- nobody has that power. So, for an adult with family obligations, the last thing you need to worry about is studying for and coming up with the money to pay for an exam that has no purpose in life except to make money for either the university or third party affiliate. So just do your research…

[@CareerProtocol]

Good points! Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@anthonypipia6990]

Which programs do you suggest?

[@dantepeterson556]

I appreciate all your qualitative advice that really reads between the lines!

[@mrchopsticks3]

I did 80% of my MBA online and, even though I preferred the in-person classes, the way online classes were structured at my school was nearly as good as the in-person experience. Online is not for everyone and it requires a great deal of self-motivation, but if that’s not a problem for you, I would definitely consider doing it online.

[@CareerProtocol]

Awesome!! That is great to hear!!!!

[@cjmhall]

Having just completed an online MBA I would say that the biggest value is for mid-career professionals who just need the credential or are looking for a career change. In my program there were plenty of physicians and engineers who wanted to break into corporate and management roles. It doesn't make financial sense for many of these types of people to quit their jobs to study an MBA full-time.

[@CareerProtocol]

WONDERFUL perspective!! Makes total sense! Thanks for sharing!!

[@RM-dc6zd]

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on him not understanding it” - Upton Sinclair. This woman’s job depends on people believing the myth that residential, full-time degrees are better. They are not, and that is why online students now outnumber traditional students. She admits she has no experience or specialized knowledge of online MBA programs, and yet she made a video on the topic anyway. Spoken like a traditional MBA graduate indeed.

[@CareerProtocol]

Online MBAs outnumber traditional MBAs not because some quality myth is being debunked. It's because physical seats are extremely capacity-constrained while online programs can scale to infinity and the barriers to entry are extremely low. There are over 14,000 MBA programs in this world, and a lot of them are not worth the paper the degree is printed on. And even top ranked full-time MBAs are a VERY bad investment for many people, something we talk about in other videos. In still other videos, we recommend books and courses that could replace the MBA altogether: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4mUcnqNq6mYgqM. The point here is you shouldn't automatically accept that any MBA program (in person or online) is good (or good for you) just because it has the name MBA or even a good brand name behind it. Do your own research to decide what's best for you. We're not experts in online MBA programs, but we are experts in helping people achieve diverse career goals, which is why this video outlines the factors you should consider in your own personal research to determine if an online MBA will help you achieve your goals. Several people have provided valuable perspectives on their own positive online MBA experiences in the comments, and if whoever left this comment is an expert in online MBA programs (or even in ONE online MBA program), your constructive contribution would be most welcome and appreciated by our audience, many of whom are trying to decide whether an online MBA program is the right path for them.

[@eliseomata1494]

I really value your channel and content. I will religiously continue to watch your content. Clearly your target audience are the best and brightest that are seeking to get in the best 5-6 B schools. I would love to see you drop a video on B schools in the lower ranks and educate me/us about those specific schools. Benefits/concerns/strengths. Also discuss the Augment Program.

[@CareerProtocol]

Thanks for the kind words!! We've got several videos on programs outside the top 10! Please check them out. The Augment Program is not an MBA (though it claims to be). It is just one of thousands of programs that claim to help you start your own business. I do not know if this is actually one of the good ones. There are programs that are worth your time and others that aren't. I haven't heard of this one before, so I can;t vouch for it. But if your goal is to start a business quickly, you might consider something like this that attempts to expedite entrepreneurial learnings.

[@husainismaeel2981]

I've been searching the internet for an answer to this question for a while and from the many websites/forums/channels I visited, I must say this video offers the best advice. Thank you!!

[@CareerProtocol]

[@mrmartywaring]

The online MBA program I completed was well worth it!

[@CareerProtocol]

AWESOME!! Thanks for this valuable perspective!

[@jeremymoore145]

I’m going to the University of Alabama in Birmingham Collat School of Business in the fall for my MBA online. What school did you attend?

[@mrmartywaring]

@@jeremymoore145 I went to Eastern University College of Business & Leadership. It was a good program

[@federicoleguizamon7000]

I was ready to disagree, but I think I agree with nearly everything you said. I'm interested to hear what you have to say about Masters of Science in a specific branch of business. For example, I am doing an MS in Supply Chain Management fully online at a reputable school and I think it was the right move for me. One of the main reasons why I did not go for an MBA is because I was and am certain that I want to continue my career in supply chain. I am aware that not everyone feels that way. So, in that light. would you say that if you are certain you will continue your career in Marketing, Finance, or MIS and you are considering doing it online, that it could compensate for areas an online program lacks? (Meaning doing the MS in Marketing, MS in Finance, MS in MIS as opposed to an Online MBA)

[@CareerProtocol]

Hi Federico. Great question. The alternative programs you describe are a lot closer to a trade degree - where you are learning essential hard skills that will allow you to enter, rise, and perform in these fields that can require highly technical skills, without which, you can't even get started. Hard skill training is always valuable if it's aligned with your goals. I'd still tell people to be very very thoughtful about whether a full Masters credential is worth the investment for them and whether it also provides employment and networking opportunities if that is essential to achieving your next steps. Best of luck!!

[@ChiamakaObianke]

I just watched this video, and I am so grateful! After a lot of introspection, I’ve concluded that I cannot afford to forego two years of income and work experience for a degree at this stage in my career. I’ve also evaluated all four values you mentioned against my decision to pursue an online MBA, and I’ve come up with a plan to 'boost up' areas where an online MBA might fall short. My question is: On the degree awarded by these top business schools, will it explicitly state "ONLINE MBA"? Will the degree be different from what is awarded to students who completed a full-time MBA?

[@CareerProtocol]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!! So happy to hear you used our input to find your own true answer. That's the whole idea!! To answer your question, yes. The Online MBA degree will most likely note that and it will be perceived differently by some employers. But for most employers it should not have a significant negative impact as long as you have a strong track record of job performance and a solid network - two things you need with or without an MBA. Good luck!!!

[@peterkoncz]

I understand why a full time MBA is better in many ways than an online one. What if the comparison is between a part-time MBA or an online MBA for working professionals?

[@CareerProtocol]

Part time definitely beats Online if you can attend in person: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWKlo3R3jrSDmtE

[@rogi827]

I work in pricing and had been waffling between pursuing the Certified Pricing Professional credential vs an online MBA in Finance. Not looking to leave my current position but rather to enhance my skills and fine tune our processes. I think the MBA accomplishes 2 things for me: 1. Teaches me additional skills I can use throughout my career and 2. Increases my career opportunities since an MBA is more well known then a CPP credential

[@CareerProtocol]

Totally agree!!!! Online MBA sounds like a great fit for your goals!

[@celinepark6855]

thank you for the breakdown!

[@준석박-c3x]

If you want to switch your career to another industry, on-line wouldn't be a good option since the credential and network of off-line is better.

[@monicasanchez6572]

the way I see it at the end of the day an MBA is an MBA. If you feel better learning in a class in person or if you like the online you go for that. It also depends on the your experience and knowledge an MBA will get your resume select it but is you in the interview who will show your value and knowledge to get the job. This is my way of thinking I respect everyones why of thinking and value all the different opinions.

[@aedocruz654]

I loved it thank you so much. I am thinking of starting an online mba because I work at night and most grad schools classes are from 6pm to 9pm. USI was my pick if you know other affordable ones with out of state tuition fixed fees and AACSB accredited let me know. 🙂

[@theclown888]

There are state schools that offer courses online as part of their normal curriculum. Are you considering these alongside full time online programs at basically online universities?

[@CareerProtocol]

The deciding factor is whether the MBA is completed MOSTLY online as opposed to in person. Most programs have online components, but there is a clear line between whether a curriculum is mostly delivered online (Online MBAs) or in a classroom in person (Non Online MBAs)

[@jamesgriffin7734]

Most fortunate 100 companies require MBA for internal promotion. They don’t care where it from. I understand your reasoning however you are completely incorrect.

[@CareerProtocol]

I am not sure what data you are sourcing here, but it is absolutely not true that most Fortune 100 companies require an MBA to advance. In fact, less than half of Fortune 500 CEOS have an MBA. And that is the highest level. Here are two articles that outline the reality in the C-suite: fortune.com/education/articles/fortune-1000-executives-mba-alma-mater/ finance.yahoo.com/news/many-fortune-500-ceos-mbas-220537736.html As you move down in the ranks to upper and middle management, the percentage of MBAs is way way lower across the entire business world. It's extremely rare for a company to require an MBA. Not even consulting firms require it - they take MPHs, PhDs, JDs, MDs, and many others all the time. The broader point of this video is just to be judicious about what you need from the program and what you hope to gain from it. If the online MBA's value and deliverables align with your needs then go for it! Sounds like you may already have. Congrats!