There are lots of differences between online vs in person MBA and we are going to consider all the differences here in this article, today. Do you prefer to learn alone, or in a group setting? If you have an introverted personality and feel more comfortable tackling schoolwork on your own, then earning your MBA through an online program may be the best fit for you. On the other hand, if you are extroverted and enjoy working with others to accomplish goals and solve problems, then an in-person MBA program may be more personally rewarding.
Do you prefer visual learning, or auditory learning? If your preferred method of learning is through written text and video lectures, then an online option will likely be a great fit for you. However, if you prefer listening to lectures in a classroom environment where verbal cues are given to facilitate learning, then attending traditional classes on campus will probably be a better choice for you. Whatever your personal preference is when it comes to learning styles, there are plenty of options out there that will allow you to earn while doing what works best for YOU!
No matter how you choose to complete your studies and earn your degree—online or in person—you can still rest assured that completing this demanding journey towards earning an MBA will give rise to many personal benefits. Some of these benefits are listed below:
Choosing an online program can be convenient for those who want to study in their own time
Setting your own schedule
When you study online, you can decide when to study. You will not have to attend lectures or miss them if you are busy with other aspects of your life. This means that even if you are on a tight schedule, you can still choose to study for your MBA in the evening after work or at night.
Learning in your own home
If you choose to learn your MBA online, then there is no need for you to leave the comfort of your own home. You can stay at home and make learning into a more relaxed experience by settling yourself down on the couch with a laptop.
Taking breaks when you want them
If you do not feel like studying today, then there is nothing stopping you from taking some time off and having a break day where you do not have to worry about working on an assignment. Studying online means that there is no one following up on whether or not an assignment has been handed in late and it also means that there are no rules as such regarding how long until an assignment should be handed in. Because of this freedom, it also becomes easier for students who wish to take breaks from studying.
However; It’s important to note that although it’s great being able to take breaks whenever we want, sometimes too much freedom can result in us procrastinating our way through our entire study program and ending up with a lot of assignments due at once – which is definitely something we could all do without!
With an online MBA program, you might have less direct access to faculty than in a traditional classroom setting
In a traditional classroom setting, you’ll have access to your professors and peers outside of scheduled class times. This provides an opportunity for you to ask questions during office hours or talk to classmates over coffee after class. With an online MBA program, you might have less direct access to faculty than in a traditional classroom setting. However, some online MBA programs offer robust peer-to-peer interaction that makes up for the loss of face-to-face contact with faculty.
No matter which format you choose, be sure to find out how accessible your professors will be outside of class time. If accessibility is important to you, try to select an institution where your professors will be in town and easily reachable on a regular basis. This way, if any questions arise at any point during the course work, you will have ample opportunities for clarification from your instructors as well as fellow students.
Online MBA programs tend to be more flexible than a traditional program in terms of the specific courses you take
Put simply, an online MBA is more flexible than a traditional program in terms of the specific courses you take. When it comes time to choose your electives and tailor the program to fit your career goals, you have much more freedom with an online degree. You can choose your own pace at which to complete the program, up to a point—some programs are designed around students completing a specific number of credits per semester and may be less flexible if you need to slow down or speed up for any reason.
For example, if there’s a course at another university that would be beneficial for your education but isn’t offered through your school’s online MBA program, many schools will allow you to transfer credit from that course toward fulfilling the requirements of your own degree. This is one way in which some online programs are more flexible than others; some schools require students complete all their courses in-house, while others allow students to pursue courses (and teaching styles) as they see fit and apply those credits toward their degree.
However, remember that flexibility does come with a price—the more flexible the program is for you as a student, the higher its cost will be on average.
An in person MBA Program can help build relationships with other professionals in your industry and within your school’s alumni network
An in person MBA Program can help build relationships with other professionals in your industry and within your school’s alumni network.
- An in person program provides excellent networking opportunities for you to learn from professionals in your field who are also attending the same program.
- The advantage of an in person MBA Program is that you will have the opportunity to create connections with future employers, recruiters and industry professionals which will last well beyond graduation day.
- You’ll be interacting with working adults inside and outside of the classroom who are able to offer their experience, advice, and connections that can benefit you throughout your career.
- Building strong relationships with professors is one of the most challenging but ultimately rewarding parts of obtaining an advanced degree. Professors often have years of experience not only teaching but also working in industry or consulting roles.
There are pros and cons to both options
Now that you know what to look for in an MBA program, it’s time to think about the type of program that works best for you. There are pros and cons to online vs in person MBA programs.
Universities Offering Online MBA
The following schools offer the best online MBA:
University of North Carolina
As one of the most acclaimed academic institutions in the US, it’s not surprising to see University of North Carolina offering a top-notch online MBA program. US News ranks this school #1 among business schools with online programs. If you dream of graduating from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and earning an MBA, but you can’t go to on-campus classes because you have family or employment commitments that prevent you from doing so, then its online MBA program may be a great option for you.
It’s named “MBA@UNC” and provides a wide variety of concentrations for students who want to use their degree in different industries (accounting, consulting, technology management, etc.) Additionally, if you want to earn another degree alongside your business degree (perhaps a law or medical degree), UNC offers several dual-degree options as well.
The admissions process is fairly straightforward: applicants need two years’ work experience, letters of recommendation and GMAT/GRE scores which may be waived if they meet certain conditions.
University of Washington
Ranked #9 by US News, the University of Washington is a public research university in Seattle that has been offering business degrees for more than a century. It now offers an online Executive MBA. The program requires two years of study, and students attend two residential workshops per year in locations such as Shanghai or Milan.
Students will also be able to make use of the school’s robust alumni network within the state and internationally. The school’s alumni include several CEOs and founders of companies including Costco, Microsoft and Amazon.com; notable faculty includes AnnaLee Saxenian, dean at UC Berkeley’s School of Information and author of “Regional Advantage,” which focuses on Silicon Valley’s success over Boston’s Route 128 technology corridor.
George Washington University
With proper accreditation, this school is ranked #1 for online graduate business programs and #1 for online MBA programs. Whether you are looking to get a bachelor degree in business, an MBA, or a master’s degree in any of their other specialized graduate level business fields, George Washington University is one of the best options that you have. With this top rated MBA program offered completely online and the affordable tuition rates that GWU provides to their students, getting your graduate degree from this university can be the best decision that you make for your education and your life.
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private, Catholic university that offers a 1-year online MBA with concentrations in:
- accounting
- entrepreneurship
- finance
- international business
- marketing
- supply chain management and analytics
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Indiana University-Bloomington’s Kelley School of Business was the first school to earn accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for its online MBA program.
- The Kelley School’s online MBA program is designed for working professionals. It offers a flexible schedule with eight-week courses that students can take from anywhere in the world as long as they have access to an internet connection.
- The Kelley School’s online MBA costs $1,250 per credit hour for residents and $1,750 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Full-time students generally finish their degree within two years, while part-time students typically take 3–4 years to graduate.
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private Christian university that offers an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The Pepperdine University MBA program has received accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
There are several options for students interested in pursuing an MBA at Pepperdine University. The school offers both full-time and part-time programs, as well as a specialized MBA in Entertainment, Media, and Sports. Additionally, Pepperdine University has a 16-month accelerated online MBA available that allows students to earn their degree without interrupting their career. Students can begin the program during either the fall or spring semester.
Carnegie Mellon University
Started in 1906, Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business is one of the top business schools in the country. While it offers traditional MBA programs on campus, it also offers a variety of online programs for working professionals.
Carnegie Mellon’s online MBA program comes in four tracks: interactive data analytics, innovation and entrepreneurship, finance and marketing. Each program is tailored to help students gain skills and knowledge that builds upon their previous experiences. The school itself has an overall score of 88.9 on US News & World Report’s list as well as a graduation rate of 85% and an average starting salary for graduates of $135,000. Tuition for the school’s online MBA program is $1,200 per credit hour and students are required to complete 57 credits hours to earn their degree. Additional fees may apply including registration fees, technology fees, books and supplies costs and graduation fees bringing total estimated costs up to $92,000 not including living expenses which can bring total expenses up over $150,000 depending on where you live while attending the program.
Ohio State University
Ohio State University offers an online MBA program. This program is ranked #3 in the country by US News, and it can be completed in as few as 15 months. It consists of a total of 49 credits and includes coursework on business strategy, data analytics, ethics and leadership.
Students complete courses covering applied business knowledge, technology platforms and information systems in the first year. The second year consists of advanced study in one of 11 areas: accounting; business analytics; finance; human resources management; logistics and supply chain management; marketing; operations management; real estate development/entrepreneurship; hospitality management or sport facility management.
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management offers an online MBA program that is ranked #21 by US News. The program can be completed in as few as 15 months, or you can extend your studies into a second year to take additional courses and complete one of ten specializations.
#Courses are asynchronous and include video lectures, interactive assignments, and discussion boards.
#In this school’s cohort-based program, students progress through the same set of courses at the same time.
Babson College
- Online MBA program
Ranked #1 in the U.S. by Bloomberg, CEO Magazine, The Princeton Review and US News & World Report.
Ranked #2 by Financial Times and Poets&Quants.
Auburn University
Auburn is a public institution in Alabama, and the online MBA program requires 30 credit hours. The program is ranked 24th by US News, with the most popular concentrations being general management and supply chain management.
Auburn’s online MBA program requires you to complete ten core courses and two elective courses in accounting, analytics, economics, finance, information technology/systems and marketing. Auburn’s online MBA programs cost $1,050 per credit hour.
US News has a ranking of online MBA programs that is updated annually.
As you explore online MBA programs, you might want to consult US News. The education information resource has recently released its annual ranking of online MBA programs, which ranks business schools based on their performance in areas such as student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer reputation and student services and technology. As the ranking system is data-driven and based on an objective methodology that uses publicly available data sets and peer surveys, it can be a good way to judge the quality of schools’ online offerings.
The first school on the list is Temple University’s Fox School of Business, which offers an AACSB-accredited 37-credit hour program that takes just over a year to complete. The school climbed from third place last year – when it was ranked behind Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business in first place and Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business in second place – following improvements in factors like admissions selectivity and graduation rate performance.
Universities That Offer In Person MBA
The following schools offer the best in person MBA program:
Cornell University
The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers a 3-2 program with its School of Hotel Administration, where you spend three years studying for a bachelor’s degree and two years studying for an MBA. You’ll be able to specialize in the areas of real estate and hospitality investment, revenue management, or technology. If you’re interested in exploring other graduate programs at Cornell University, you can also apply to their MBA/MS dual degree programs.
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League school located in Philadelphia, PA. The Wharton School offers an MBA program that takes 21 months to complete. You can earn your degree both on campus and online. The school is ranked number 2 for its MBA program by US News & World Report.
The application deadline is in April, and the application fee is $275. You must submit your GMAT or GRE score (the school does not specify the minimum score), two essays (one about your professional goals and one about how you’ll use the knowledge you gain), two letters of recommendation, transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you attended, a resume, answers to five questions on an online form, a TOEFL or IELTS score if you are applying as an international student and cannot speak English as a native language, and pay the application fee.
In 2018 there were 648 students enrolled in full-time programs at this school; 310 male students (47.7%) and 338 female students (52.3%). About 22% of these students were international; the rest came from across the United States or Puerto Rico.
The average starting salary after graduation was $130K per year; 84% of graduates received job offers within three months of graduating; 91% had jobs at graduation; 95% reported being employed 3 months later; 98% had jobs six months after graduation.
Of these students: 36% went into finance/accounting jobs after graduating; 29% worked in consulting jobs; 17% took sales/marketing roles; 15% went into tech roles; 3% pursued non-profit work
Stanford University
Stanford University offers a two-year full-time MBA program that allows you to gain experience in the classroom and in the professional world though internship opportunities. The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) also offers an Executive MBA for seasoned professionals that can be completed part-time over five consecutive weekends per quarter. Both programs are located at the GSB campus in Stanford, California.
Columbia University
Columbia Business School (CBS) is one of the top MBA programs in the country. We’ve had some great success stories from our graduates, and we’re proud to be a part of that. As for specific admissions information, there are many schools that offer on-campus interviews, but Columbia does not. Typically schools accept your application after you have studied through the MBA program, which may take as little as 3 months or as long as 18 months. It often takes more than 1 year after you apply to study and get into an MBA program before you can start classes.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan
The part-time MBA program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan offers students the opportunity to earn their degree in Cambridge or Boston, Massachusetts. The campus is located in MIT’s vibrant Kendall Square community and provides access to many networking opportunities at its location near technology companies. Students in the program will take part in a flexible curriculum that focuses on innovation, leadership and entrepreneurial thinking. The program is open to individuals who have had a wide variety of work experiences and backgrounds but do not necessarily need an undergraduate degree in business or related disciplines. The coursework consists of core requirements, electives and specializations that can be tailored based on individual interests and goals.
Harvard Business School
If you’re interested in a traditional MBA program, Harvard Business School (HBS) is one of the top options. Located on the Charles River in Boston’s Allston neighborhood, HBS offers its two-year, full-time MBA program to over 900 students per year. The estimated total cost of attendance is $111,700, but grants and scholarships can help reduce that number significantly. According to U.S. News & World Report, 98% of MBA graduates found employment within 90 days of graduating, earning an average starting salary north of $150,000.
While HBS does not offer a fully online program, it does offer some classes that use distance learning technology to connect with students at satellite campuses around the world for class sessions and team meetings.
Berkeley – Haas
- Full-time MBA: If you want to go full-time, your best bet is the Berkeley MBA for Executives. This program offers a 2 year MBA that holds classes on the Berkeley campus during weeknights and allows students to attend classes in person.
- Part-time MBA: The part-time Berkeley MBA for Executives holds courses on weekday evenings and weekends, which gives professionals with busy schedules an opportunity to earn their degree while working.
- Executive MBA: The Executive Program at Haas is a flexible, 21 month option that allows students to attend class in person and also offers online coursework for those who can’t make it onto campus regularly.
Dartmouth College-Tuck School of Business
Dartmouth College – Tuck School of Business
Hanover, New Hampshire
Tuition: $95,000
Average starting salary: $146,857
Total number of students in program: 295
For more information on Dartmouth College or to apply, visit their website.
MBA schools that offer in person MBA
- List of MBA schools that offer in person MBA
- University of Phoenix
- Harvard University
- Yale University
