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MBA On-Line
Online MBA Degrees
Overview of MBA Degrees
In many careers, an MBA Degree can gain you a position of greater responsibility and the ability to switch from one area of business to another - from marketing or sales to strategic planning or finance, for example. Getting an MBA is often a typical strategy for those looking to change their career altogether. Many people seek management positions after acquiring expertise in different fields with their Master of Business Administration.
Employees may aspire to a field that requires an MBA as an entry. An MBA will also let prospective employers know that you have the knowledge and skills above others to meet the demands and management skills of a high level job. Obtaining specific management training and expertise is another common reason for pursuing an MBA. The MBA is a general management degree, but most provide the opportunity to focus one's studies in specific areas. If you are involved in a specialized field, there are also specialized master's programs and seminars that may better suit your specific coursework needs. If you need to learn something about a few specific topics, consider an executive education program. These are usually workshops or seminars that require several hours or even days to complete.
MBA's usually have higher salaries than other workers with like experience. Salary can vary greatly between an employee with a Bachelors degree and one with an MBA. There is a cost to having an MBA. While you're working on your degree, you may need to leave your job and paycheck for a couple of years. You will have to devote a great deal of time and energy in to obtaining a Master of Business or an Online MBA. This can leave you with little time for your family and leisure activities.
An MBA Program is an investment in yourself, and as with any investment, you need to decide whether the potential return is worth the time and money spent. Having an MBA offers no guarantees that you will get the higher paying jobs that you seek. Look at the financial costs and benefits realistically. There are also many returns beyond financial ones. Having your MBA can allow more job freedom as you would have access to better job opportunities - that can lead to better job satisfaction. |
Top Ten Online MBA Programs
Do you want to pursue an MBA but can't find the time? Maybe you don’t feel like being out of a job for 2 years is worth the investment? Maybe all the online MBA programs you know seem too generic? Do you want a quality MBA without sacrificing your job, your family, or your earnings? This is a quick summary of the top ten online MBA programs based on rankings/reputation, structure, networking opportunities, gained skills, and tuition investment. The Rankings and Tuition Fees published on this article are believed to be true for the academic year 2008-2009.
1. IE Business School
| Location: |
Madrid, Spain |
Program: |
Global MBA |
| Rankings: |
#4 by Forbes, #8 by Financial Times, #9 by The Economist (#2 for Distance Learning). |
| Description: |
IE offers a 16-month Global MBA program for English and Spanish speakers. The program allows students to connect to the virtual classroom from anywhere in the world. In addition to virtual lectures and videoconferences, students are required to participate in two short residence sessions in Madrid. Each session lasts 5 days and take place during different years. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students from 48 countries with background and expertise in a diverse variety of fields including financial markets, banking, marketing, and technology. |
| Gained Skills: |
Strategy, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Information Systems, Intercultural Skills. |
| Tuition: |
€ 36,100 (approx. $56,000 USD) |
| Website: |
http://www.gmba-eng.ie.edu/ |
2. Thunderbird School of Global Management
| Location: |
Arizona, USA |
Program: |
Global MBA |
| Rankings: |
#1 in International Programs by U.S. News & World Report, # 1 in International Business by Financial Times, # 1 in International Business by The Wall Street Journal. |
| Description: |
Thunderbird offers a 19-month global MBA program where students participate through virtual classrooms and on-site seminars in the USA, China and Switzerland. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students have lived and worked in over 16 different countries with backgrounds in a wide variety of companies ranging from Coca Cola to Boeing to the U.S. Department of Defense. |
| Gained Skills: |
Cross-Cultural Communications, Global Political Economy, Global Finance, Global Operations, Global Marketing, Global Negotiations, Global Leadership, Global Strategy. |
| Tuition: |
$61,650 USD (includes on-site costs for international study trips except airfare) |
| Website: |
http://www.thunderbird.edu/ |
3. Manchester Business School
| Location: |
Manchester, UK |
Program: |
Distance Learning MBA |
| Rankings: |
# 15 by MBA Career Guide Survey, #22 by Financial Times. |
| Description: |
This flexible 2-year program combines self-study with face-to-face workshops in one of six destinations worldwide – UK, Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Malaysia and Jamaica. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students are located in over 90 countries worldwide and possess years of work experience in industries such as construction, engineering, and finance. |
| Gained Skills: |
Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Managerial Economics, Quantitative Methods, Corporate Strategy. |
| Tuition: |
£19,200 (approximately $37,914 USD) |
| Website: |
http://www.mbs-worldwide.ac.uk/ |
4. Duke University
| Location: |
North Carolina, USA |
Program: |
Cross-Continental MBA |
| Rankings: |
# 9 by BusinessWeek, #14 by U.S. News & World Report, # 28 by Financial Times. |
| Description: |
The program lasts 20 months blending Internet-enabled distance learning with 9 one-week residential sessions that take place in North Carolina, Europe and Asia. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students from 23 countries average 3 to 9 years of experience and are currently employed full-time in a variety of industries. |
| Gained Skills: |
Finance, Accounting, Decision Models, Cross-Cultural Communications, Marketing, Strategy, Global Financial Management, Global Economics. |
| Tuition: |
$101,900 USD |
| Website: |
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/mba/executive/cc/ |
5. Warwick Business School
| Location: |
Coventry, UK |
Program: |
Warwick MBA Distance Learning |
| Rankings: |
#3 (Distance Learning) by The Economist, #29 by Financial Times. |
| Description: |
The Warwick MBA consists of 3 parts that can be completed in 3 years (one part/year) or extended up to 8 years. The program uses a variety of delivery methods including print materials, online resources, virtual study groups and a compulsory September Seminar at Warwick each year. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Participants include students from more than 90 countries with an average of 10 years of experience. Many students are in middle-management and upper-management positions. |
| Gained Skills: |
Strategic Advantage, Finance, Accounting, Modelling and Analysis, Economics, Market Analysis, Operations Management, Organizational Behavior. |
| Tuition: |
Approximately £15,500 for 3 years. (approximately $30,259 USD) |
| Website: |
http://www.wbs.ac.uk/students/mba/learn/dl.cfm |
6. University of Florida
| Location: |
Gainesville, Florida - USA |
Program: |
Internet MBA |
| Rankings: |
#1 (Distance Learning) by The Economist, #6 by The Wall Street Journal, #34 by U.S. News & World Report. |
| Description: |
The Internet MBA program at the University of Florida provides students with two options: The Two-Year MBA and the One-Year MBA option. The Two-Year MBA program starts in February, offers a 27-month curriculum and requires 8 weekend campus visits at the end of each term. The One-Year MBA option is provided for students with a business degree and 2 to 7 years of work experience. It starts in January, offers a 16-month curriculum and requires 5 weekend campus visits at the end of each term. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students in these programs average 6 years of work experience in a variety of industries such as telecommunications, banking, and international trade. |
| Gained Skills: |
Personal Finance, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Marketing Management, Professional Writing, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, E-Commerce, Brand Equity, Business Policy, Business Law. |
| Tuition: |
$36,000 USD for the One-Year MBA option; $41,000 USD for the Two-Year MBA option. |
| Website: |
http://www.floridamba.ufl.edu/ |
7. Indiana University
| Location: |
Indianapolis, Indiana - USA |
Program: |
Master of Business Administration (Kelley Direct) |
| Rankings: |
#18 by BusinessWeek, #23 by U.S. News & World Report, #61 by Financial Times. |
| Description: |
This flexible program can be completed in 2 to 5 years. It focuses on general administration, but can be tailored to meet the needs of individual students. The program is offered almost exclusively over the Web with two in-residence clinics that last one week in Indiana. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students in the program come from almost every state in the USA as well as over 20 countries from around the world. Almost all students have several years of corporate or military experience. |
| Gained Skills: |
Accounting, Finance, Economics, Quantitative Analysis, Project Management, Strategic Marketing, Human Resources, Global Business, Business Law, Strategic Capabilities. |
| Tuition: |
$48,195 USD |
| Website: |
http://kd.iu.edu |
8. Pennsylvania State University
| Location: |
University Park, Pennsylvania - USA |
Program: |
Penn State's Online MBA |
| Rankings: |
#40 by U.S. News & World Report, #58 by Financial Times, U.S. Second Tier Programs by BusinessWeek. |
| Description: |
This 2-year program combines online courses with 2 residency experiences – the first one at a U.S. company (anywhere in the USA) and the second one at Penn State’s University Park campus. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Penn State iMBA students represent employers from 37 states and 5 countries. |
| Gained Skills: |
Finance, Accounting, Organizational Behavior and Change, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Marketing, Corporate Strategies, Global Operations, Global Management. |
| Tuition: |
$49,000 USD |
| Website: |
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/iMBA_Home.shtml |
9. Babson College
| Location: |
Boston, Massachusetts - USA |
Program: |
Fast Track MBA |
| Rankings: |
#1 in Entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report, # 1 in Entrepreneurship by Financial Times, #48 Overall MBA by U.S. News & World Report, # 84 Overall MBA by Financial Times. |
| Description: |
This 24-month program combines face-to-face learning, web-based learning, and field-based projects. Face-to-face instruction is based on two-day sessions that are held at Babson or in Portland, Oregon approximately every six weeks - all day on Fridays and Saturdays. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students in this program average 10 years of work experience and come from almost every state in the US and approximately 10 countries. |
| Gained Skills: |
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Creativity, Human Behavior, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Ethics and Law. |
| Tuition: |
$50,766 USD |
| Website: |
http://cmweb.babson.edu/mba/ |
10. University of Massachusetts - Amherst
| Location: |
Amherst, Massachusetts - USA |
Program: |
Online MBA |
| Rankings: |
#2 Best Overall Academic Experience by Princeton Review, #4 Best Professors. |
| Description: |
The entire 37-credit degree program can be completed online. No campus residencies are required. The program can be completed in 2 years. |
| Networking Opportunities: |
Students in the program are from the 50 US States and 15 countries and have experience in a variety of industries. |
| Gained Skills: |
Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Business Data Analysis, Independent Research. |
| Tuition: |
$24,790 USD. |
| Website: |
http://www.isenberg.umass.edu/MBA |
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