Education is still the key financial success for most people around the globe. Pursuit of education should not cease with a degree. You should continue the pursuit of education throughout your career. With each relevant course, certification, and degree you are increasing your employability and your potential to earn a higher salary.
If you are in management, sooner or later, you will be either be required to earn an MBA or would realize that an MBA would help you climb the ladder.
If you are a successful professional seeking growth, you probably don’t have the time or flexibility to attend a normal MBA program even if the classes are offered in the evenings. This is the primary reason online MBA programs are becoming increasingly successful. An online MBA degree is a popular choice of mid-career professionals who want to earn a degree but don’t want to sacrifice their career and family life.
Over the last two decades, online learning technologies have improved significantly. Simultaneously we have also changed in the sense that we are more tech savvy than before and more of us now have access to high speed internet and devices connected to the Internet.
Online MBA programs offer several advantages over traditional university programs but all online MBA programs are not the same. They vary in accreditation, area of expertise, and quality of learning material delivered. You need to first do your homework and then choose the program which best suits your requirements.
How is an online MBA different from a traditional MBA?
Online MBA programs generally have a similar curriculum as a traditional MBA and are generally taught by an equally qualified member of faculty. The lectures, readings, assignment and participation is online and there is a lot of independent study. Group study is generally online and there are time zone handicaps such as a 12 difference between US and China. However, due to the global nature of the student body, group discussions are richer in content and more relevant to a globalized world.
Just because a program is online does not mean that there are no deadlines. There are deadlines for assignments and projects. You might also be required to go to a nearby testing center to present your take a written exam on a specific date.
Does the market value online MBA degrees?
An online degree is valued as much as a degree you acquired by attending lectures in physical classrooms. The value of a program, online or traditional, is determined by its accreditation. An online MBA from an IVY league institution is just as valuable as a traditional MBA from an IVY league institution. Avoid unaccredited programs unless you are only seeking a piece of paper.
Why pursue an online MBA?
People from different educational backgrounds move up in their careers over the years and reach a level where they can no longer continue climbing up the ladder without management qualifications. This is when professionals start seeking an MBA. An MBA from a reputed institution can cost from $30,000 to $100,000 and takes about 18 – 36 months to complete. This is a hefty investment of time, effort and money but the cost of not making this investment is higher in the long run.
Tuition-free MBA
University of the People (http://www.uopeople.edu) offers tuition free online. It costs $50 to register and $200 per exam. You don’t need to buy any books or supplies. Everything you need is provided online. You are probably thinking, this must be a scam or fraud. No. It is true. This university exists it is not a low quality institution. It is accredited by Berkeley. If you don’t have $80,000 for an MBA program, go with University of the People.
Final Word
Online MBA is the best way to move up the career ladder and get promoted. It is the best decision an experienced professional can take. It is a hefty investment of time, money, and effort so do your homework so that you choose the program that is most suitable to your needs.
