Compared to in the past, online degree programs have now become one of the most popular options for many students. Studying online has become especially popular among adult students who may prefer the additional flexibility that comes with distance learning, making it easier for them to fit their education around other commitments such as raising a family and working full-time. Over the past eighteen months, studying online has also grown in popularity due to the COVID19 pandemic, with more students having chosen distance learning as a safer option to get their degree without taking time away from education.
Even before the COVID19 pandemic, however, online education was becoming more and more popular. Distance learning provides more students with opportunities compared to in the past and helps students who would otherwise struggle to get a traditional degree to achieve their educational goals. Many students who prefer online study are getting advanced postgraduate degree programs such as an MBA and find that the opportunity to study from home makes the workload lighter and gives them the flexibility that they need to achieve this qualification in a way that suits them best.
However, it’s important to look at the bigger picture when deciding to get your MBA online. Although it’s undeniable that there are many excellent benefits of getting your MBA online, it’s also worth considering some of the drawbacks of this type of education. Many students thrive better in a traditional environment where they have the chance to attend lectures and meet their peers in person and may struggle with the nature of studying online. So before you dive into the process of enrolling in an online MBA, it’s important to consider the following factors to ensure that it’s the best choice for you.
Table of Contents
Can You Handle Working and Studying at the Same Time?
The reduced opportunity cost of studying online for an MBA can be very appealing to many students who would rather not reduce their earnings for the duration of the program. With the added flexibility of the online MBA programs from Kettering University that are available today, it’s entirely possible to study for this degree and continue working at the same time. However, this is a significant amount of work, so it’s important to ensure that you are fully prepared and that you know what to expect before you begin. It’s worth taking the time to think about your current work commitments before you determine if the online MBA will be the right fit for you, and how easily you will be able to fit studying around your job. It’s also worth speaking to your employer to see if there is any further support that they can offer to you while you are studying. If you’re hoping to get promoted at work as a result of getting your MBA, getting this qualification could be beneficial for your employer too.
Will an MBA Help You Achieve Your Career Goals?
When it comes to pursuing a business career, the MBA is certainly not the only option that you have available to you. It’s important to think about where you want your career to take you in the future, and determine whether or not an MBA is going to be the best way to get you there. You may find that there are professional certificates and other qualifications that you can do as an alternative to get similar results. On the other hand, you may find that the career path you want to go down requires you to have an MBA. Or, maybe you would simply prefer to get an MBA over a professional certificate or similar due to the prestige and recognition that comes with getting this qualification, along with the high demand for MBA graduates around the world.
Would You Prefer a Certain Concentration?
There are various concentrations worth considering. The traditional MBA program is still the most popular, but there’s an increasing number of students who are now deciding to focus on specific areas of business while studying in order to prepare them for certain career paths. As an MBA student, the concentrations to consider include supply chain and logistics, marketing and digital marketing, leadership and management, environment, IT, finance, business intelligence, entrepreneurship, and more. Whether you want to start your own business in the future or have your heart set on a specific career path, it can be a wise idea to choose an MBA concentration that will help you become an expert in this subject and stand out from the crowd when applying for relevant positions.
Your Personal Circumstances:
When deciding if an online MBA is going to be the right choice for you, it’s important to think about your personal circumstances right now. Getting an online MBA is no walk in the park; it’s a very intense degree program that will require a lot of hard work and commitment from you. It might not be the best time to start studying for an online MBA right now if you have other big things planned for the near future such as expanding your family or buying a new house. And, weighing up your personal circumstances honestly will also help you determine the best type of online MBA for you. If you’re currently juggling a lot of different things, a part-time, fully flexible online MBA will likely be a more suitable option for you compared to a full-time program with set class times.
How to Pay for the Program:
Finances are another important factor to consider for any student. Despite a lower opportunity cost and fewer associated expenses for online students, the truth is that tuition is likely to be the same whether you decide to study online or on-campus. There are various options to consider when it comes to how you will pay for your online MBA. You can find the best student loan refinance company and other types of financial aid such as grants and scholarships. For students who are in a position to pay using their earnings from employment, many online degree programs may be eligible for payment in installments, which can make it more manageable.
Employer Support:
Finally, another factor that may be important to you if you are considering getting an online MBA is whether or not your employer is going to be supportive of you throughout the process. There are lots of benefits of getting employer support as an MBA student including the fact that many employers today are offering tuition support programs that can offer financial help while you are improving your education. However, even if your employer does not offer any such program, it is worth having a conversation with them to talk about your plans as there are many other ways that they may be able to help you. For example, your employer may be able to adjust your hours so that your timetable is more suitable for studying, or you could ask to work from home more often to save time on commuting that you can use to study instead. If you currently work in an industry where getting your MBA is going to benefit your employer as well as you, it’s likely that support will be available.
Choosing the Right Online MBA and School:
If you have weighed up all of the above factors and decided that an online MBA is going to be one of the best options for you, then it’s time to consider which MBA program and which school you are going to choose. With online study now more popular than ever, there are hundreds of different online MBA programs to choose from at a range of reputable business schools. Choosing the right school for you is an important decision as this can impact the rest of your career and life. Some of the main factors to consider when choosing your school and online MBA program include:
Location:
While the location is not usually as important a factor to consider for online students who are able to learn while enrolled at colleges that are hundreds of miles away, it might be something worth considering if you are interested in being able to use the campus facilities. In many cases, online students who live nearby can access facilities like the library for studying, which might be something that is appealing to you if you prefer the idea of being able to get out of the house to study.
Program Flexibility:
If you’re hoping to get your online MBA while you are working full-time and upholding other commitments, it’s important to consider how flexible the program is. There are different types of online MBA programs when it comes to flexibility. Some offer complete flexibility where you can choose when and where you’d like to study at any time of the day based on your needs and requirements. On the other hand, some are more structured and will require you to be present at online lectures and classes at set times.
Accreditation:
Another major factor to consider when choosing the right online MBA and school for you is accreditation. A school that is not accredited should always be avoided; even if the programs look great, this might cause problems for you further down the line. Accreditation is provided to business schools by a range of accrediting bodies and organizations. Look out for an accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education or similar since this will ensure that you are receiving an education that is in line with strict academic rules and guidelines.
Online Program Experience:
Another main thing to look at before you make a firm choice on the school that you will attend for your online MBA is the experience that the school has in delivering online programs. Bear in mind that while some universities might be more prestigious than others, they may not be as experienced as some schools when it comes to teaching programs to distance-learning students. Ideally, you should choose to study at a school that has a fair amount of experience in delivering online programs and is well-versed in what works well and what does not. While a school that has only recently started offering online programs might still be a good fit, there will often be a higher risk of issues as staff and students get used to the new program format.
Program Formats:
Whether you want to study for your online MBA full- or part-time is an important factor to think about when you are making your decision. A full-time MBA can be entirely possible to get online even if you are working full-time, as long as you have the dedication and motivation needed to manage the high workload. On the other hand, if you are already juggling lots of different commitments in your life, getting your online MBA full-time may be a huge amount of work that will be difficult to manage.
Concentrations Available:
Another factor that might be important to you when choosing a school is the MBA concentrations that they offer. If you want to get an MBA degree that focuses on a certain subject area of your choice to become an expert in this topic and improve your career options for the future, this will be important to look for.
Networking Opportunities:
It’s also important to consider the networking opportunities that are in place for students at the school of your choice. While online students will understandably have fewer options than traditional students when it comes to meeting their peers in person, the good news is that any good online MBA program will ensure that you are provided with opportunities to build your professional network. Before you enroll, it’s a good idea to find out how students can contact each other and how often networking events are held that you may be able to attend.
While online MBAs have become easier to access, there are several important factors to consider before deciding if it’s the right option for you.
Tom Fogden is a writer for Itseriestech with a range of experience in the world of tech publishing. Tom covers everything from cybersecurity, to social media and website builders when he’s not reviewing the latest phones, gadgets, or occasionally even technology books.