Online MBA

[wizards8507]

Wondering if any of you guys have experience with an online MBA program and whether you'd recommend any particular one. I'm not in a position to stop working full time and my employer will pick up part of the tab for a graduate degree so I'm thinking it's time. I have my BBA from ND and a Master's in Accounting already. I'm looking for something that's legit enough to be respected but not so legit that it costs $100K, since I'll still need to pay for a chunk of it. Some of the more affordable options I've seen so far are Florida State, Auburn, and Marist.

 

[IrishLax]

Pointless, unless all you're looking for is the letters. Everyone I know who has done it has said it was a waste of money UNLESS there was a specific reason they needed an MBA (e.g. their employer said "get an MBA and we'll promoted you.")

Getting a real MBA tends to be value-added for the networking and the client/job contacts that come with it.

 

[wizards8507]

Pointless, unless all you're looking for is the letters. Everyone I know who has done it has said it was a waste of money UNLESS there was a specific reason they needed an MBA (e.g. their employer said "get an MBA and we'll promoted you.")

That's exactly all I'm going for, which is why I'm shopping primarily based on cost. I just want to be able to check the box on "MBA required" job postings. I have the GMAT score to go to a top program (maybe not HBS, GSB, or Wharton but definitely ND or a lower Ivy), but even with the degree there's no chance I move to New York or Chicago to work in investment banking. My career path won't justify that kind of cost. I like being home for dinner every night.

Getting a real MBA tends to be value-added for the networking and the client/job contacts that come with it.

That's a bit old-school. I think the majority of working professionals I've encountered from Financial Analyst up to Senior VP either don't have an MBA or got it through some kind of distance learning program. An MBA that's delivered online from a "real" university is not the same thing as an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

ETA: And as I said, my career path won't include rainmaking.

 

[tussin]

That's exactly all I'm going for, which is why I'm shopping primarily based on cost. I just want to be able to check the box on "MBA required" job postings. I have the GMAT score to go to a top program (maybe not HBS, GSB, or Wharton but definitely ND or a lower Ivy), but even with the degree there's no chance I move to New York or Chicago to work in investment banking. My career path won't justify that kind of cost. I like being home for dinner every night.

Do you want to stay at ESPN? In my view, there's no need for an MBA if you are happy where you are, want to stay long term, and don't need the piece of paper as a necessary stepping stone to a promotion. If the latter is true, then I would inquire about a full time sponsorship or part time program over an online alternative.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I thought ND did a program where you meet once a month. I could be misremembering the details, but I'm sure that you can find something that works into your schedule if you actually want the paper.

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[IrishLax]

That's exactly all I'm going for, which is why I'm shopping primarily based on cost. I just want to be able to check the box on "MBA required" job postings. I have the GMAT score to go to a top program (maybe not HBS, GSB, or Wharton but definitely ND or a lower Ivy), but even with the degree there's no chance I move to New York or Chicago to work in investment banking. My career path won't justify that kind of cost. I like being home for dinner every night.

ND's MBA is pretty mediocre, actually. I'd really just go for your most affordable, local option. If you're in Connecticut I'd look at any of the New England schools in Boston or wherever if you're not interested in Yale, etc. Even if you're doing it strictly online, if you plan on staying in that area having a local name attached to your MBA I think helps a lot from what I've seen. People around here get as much mileage out of a Maryland, UVA, or Georgetown MBA as they do Kellogg.

That's a bit old-school. I think the majority of working professionals I've encountered from Financial Analyst up to Senior VP either don't have an MBA or got it through some kind of distance learning program. An MBA that's delivered online from a "real" university is not the same thing as an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

ETA: And as I said, my career path won't include rainmaking.

Yeah, it really is. Even from the "good" online progam like UNC.

 

[wizards8507]

Do you want to stay at ESPN? In my view, there's no need for an MBA if you are happy where you are, want to stay long term, and don't need the piece of paper as a necessary stepping stone to a promotion. If the latter is true, then I would inquire about a full time sponsorship or part time program over an online alternative.

True, if I knew for certain I'd be here forever you're probably right. But nobody can guarantee that far out.

FWIW, my reimbursement amount is $700 per credit, plus books. Some of the more affordable options would be free or close to it.

I thought ND did a program where you meet once a month. I could be misremembering the details, but I'm sure that you can find something that works into your schedule if you actually want the paper.

The problem with that wouldn't be schedule, but cost.

 

[wizards8507]

Yeah, it really is. Even from the "good" online progam like UNC.

Except that neither your resume nor your degree say "online" anywhere on them. If I post for a position and my resume says "Master of Business Administration, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill," nobody will know any different.

 

[ACamp1900]

You can get a good degree from online programs, but you obviously do want to avoid the degree mills like Phoenix unless you just need the alphabet soup for a promo and nothing more as was stated earlier. There are good options that you can grow both personally and professionally from though, my wife got her MBA in an online setting, I completely one of my teaching credentials the same way...

 

[wizards8507]

You can get a good degree from online programs, but you obviously do want to avoid the degree mills like Phoenix unless you just need the alphabet soup for a promo and nothing more as was stated earlier.

Right. The crux of my question hinges on balancing the two. I reject the notion that "more expensive" definitely means better. But I also know that my online Master of Accountancy degree was mostly a joke designed to get me the credits I needed for my CPA.

 

[IrishLax]

Except that neither your resume nor your degree say "online" anywhere on them. If I post for a position and my resume says "Master of Business Administration, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill," nobody will know any different.

Oh I thought that was a given/implied. Of course the more prestigious the name on the degree the better, and most legitimate schools don't say "online" anywhere on their MBA.

I was speaking to the actual value of the education you receive. From friends who have gone to Wharton/Kellogg/etc. in person they got some really valuable experiences out of it, and also met a lot of great people. From friends who have done strictly online programs, they said they learned next to nothing of value... just got a degree with the letters they wanted.

 

[zelezo vlk]

FWIW, my reimbursement amount is $700 per credit, plus books. Some of the more affordable options would be free or close to it.


The problem with that wouldn't be schedule, but cost.

I'm sorry, you have a Masters in Accounting. I thought you would know how to work the books in your favor regardless.

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[ACamp1900]

Right. The crux of my question hinges on balancing the two. I reject the notion that "more expensive" definitely means better. But I also know that my online Master of Accountancy degree was mostly a joke designed to get me the credits I needed for my CPA.

Well Park is fairly inexpensive and ranked among the 'respectable' online programs... There is also programs like Brandman, which is usually ranked among the better online schools in the country, I would guess their MBA program is among or around the top 100 in the country... My assumption is both schools would be 'cheapish'... You may not get the top level quality that you'd get from a UNC's or Carnegie Mellon's programs but it's certainly many steps up from the degree mill schools that were mentioned earlier...

I will share this, when I got my second teaching credential it was all online as I mentioned, I found when I really dove into the coursework I learned a lot... when I got lazy and skimmed I still was successful with the coursework but really took nothing from it... online is definitely more for the self directed learner if you really want take-aways.

 

[wizards8507]

Oh I thought that was a given/implied. Of course the more prestigious the name on the degree the better, and most legitimate schools don't say "online" anywhere on their MBA.

I was speaking to the actual value of the education you receive. From friends who have gone to Wharton/Kellogg/etc. in person they got some really valuable experiences out of it, and also met a lot of great people. From friends who have done strictly online programs, they said they learned next to nothing of value... just got a degree with the letters they wanted.

Can't rep you again, but I think we're on the same page and I agree. I'd love to go up to Tuck for two years but with the wife home with the baby, that kind of thing is just off the table. I'm vehemently anti-debt so I wouldn't even consider something that I wouldn't be able to pay cash for. My brother-in-law went to Booth and he's making big piles of money as an investment banker in Philadelphia, but that lifestyle holds zero appeal to me. I'm a suburban cubicle warrior and quite happy with that. Very content to climb the ladder.

I will share this, when I got my second teaching credential it was all online as I mentioned, I found when I really dove into the coursework I learned a lot... when I got lazy and skimmed I still was successful with the coursework but really took nothing from it... online is definitely more for the self directed learner if you really want take-aways.

That's how my online MAcc was. You could get a B in a course by logging in once a week and going through the motions, but if you engaged with the material there was value. I picked my battles in that program and focused my efforts on the topics that would help me for the CPA exam.

 

[tussin]

Oh I thought that was a given/implied. Of course the more prestigious the name on the degree the better, and most legitimate schools don't say "online" anywhere on their MBA.

I was speaking to the actual value of the education you receive. From friends who have gone to Wharton/Kellogg/etc. in person they got some really valuable experiences out of it, and also met a lot of great people. From friends who have done strictly online programs, they said they learned next to nothing of value... just got a degree with the letters they wanted.

I think the prestigious programs are really valuable for people who want to switch their career. The M7 will give you the opportunity to switch to IB or consulting from an unrelated field. Top schools are also valuable if you want to use it as a purely networking experience to say find business partners for an entrepreneurial venture.

I agree with your prior posts that regional schools can cost effectively get Wiz where he wants while still providing the benefit in advanced education.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I have a MBA in IT. My salary increased immediately after receiving it and so did the multiple career offers.

I truly believe an MBA helps within three criteria - field of study, region you live, and experience in the field of study.

A 25 year old with a MBA and no experience will not be the same as someone like me that has 27 years of experience. A MBA in IT in Silicone Valley vs. Pittsburgh PA is also a big difference.

So, I believe it varies on those three reasons.

Diz

 

[BobbyMac]

I was looking into this last year because I had some down time coming up. Without digging back into it I got info from these NE schools.

Villanova, Northeastern, Lehigh and Quinnipiac. I think Lehigh and Quinnipiac were the higher rated. Out of those I would have chosen 'Nova for the name. I'm self employed and it has the best name based on sports.

Now if you can get in, Temple's Fox Business School was the #2 online MBA and the toughest to get into. Kelley at IU was the best and Carey at ASU was third. UNC was 4th or 5th.

I'm going to look back into it next year when I'm in AZ and weigh Carey vs Thunderbird (Who also does online btw) Probably wouldn't be able to tackle it until 2018 plus I can drive to both campuses if need be. But I won't rule out a good / well known school that I can get an MBA online from. For me it's more about the letters on a wall or a bio, though I look forward to learning amap.

The one thing I'm most excited about is getting an Executive Certificate in Negotiating from Notre Dame. It's $5k and gets me out of the Subway!


Look into Quinnipiac Wiz, that one sticks out in my mind as interesting me then and it's nearby in CT with you.



.

 

[wizards8507]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. The combination of the baby at home, wife not working, etc. means cost was pretty high on my priority list so I'm going to go with Auburn. I got some good feedback from my SVP that I shouldn't worry too much about a "sexy" program if I don't have any plans on going into a field where that kind of thing is paramount (investment banking, consulting, law). I'm on a pretty solid track to advance here even without the MBA, and I think this will just help to lock things down a bit more. I like that the lectures are filmed live in the classroom where the full time students study rather than the canned content that plagues many online programs. Thanks again and, uh, WAR EAGLE I guess.

 

[GowerND11]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. The combination of the baby at home, wife not working, etc. means cost was pretty high on my priority list so I'm going to go with Auburn. I got some good feedback from my SVP that I shouldn't worry too much about a "sexy" program if I don't have any plans on going into a field where that kind of thing is paramount (investment banking, consulting, law). I'm on a pretty solid track to advance here even without the MBA, and I think this will just help to lock things down a bit more. I like that the lectures are filmed live in the classroom where the full time students study rather than the canned content that plagues many online programs. Thanks again and, uh, WAR EAGLE I guess.

Finally he admits to his and ESPN's bias for the SEC.