[LoveBug]

I was wondering how some of the other members of this forum feel about the validity of online degrees? Traditionally they have not been held in the same esteem as brick and mortar schools, I was wondering if this sentiment has started to change as the world has become more internet driven?

I am thinking about going back to school and getting my MBA. There is really only one University that offers this within an 75 minute drive, and it is very competitive to get into. Therefore I did some searching and found an online University, that is regionally accredited (although not AACSB accredited - top tier accreditation), cheap, and would allow me to work at my own pace (not to mention the other perks like not having to deal with other people constantly, no oral presentations etc)

I wonder how this degree would be recieved in society?

[presidentcarter]

And what does this online MBA cost? The whole point of an MBA is the network and the "brand recognition" of the b school you attended. Rule of thumb is if you can't get into a top 10-20 program, don't bother.

However, if you NEED "MBA" next to your name to advance in your current situation (as stupid as that may be), online may be an option for you to just tick the box.

Also fwiw, I know UNC Kenan-Flagler is offering an online MBA with the marketing slogan "the only online MBA program that you probably can't get into"...and UNC is a legit program.

[LoveBug]

Cheap, the entire program, school materials and fees included would run a little over 15 K...

UNC might be beyond my ability to get into.. I had a great, cum laude undergrad GPA but didn't do so hot on the GMAT..

I'm not really looking for the experience I will get out of this degree, just looking to puff up the resume if I'm ever on the job market again

[chakri]

Don't do it man. It's a complete waste of money. Regardless of the actual quality of the education, if other people see online degrees as a complete joke (which they tend to do), then there is no point in doing it.

Also, like what PresidentCarter said above, specifically for the MBA programs, it's all about the networking that you get from it.

If you have $15K+ lying around, invest it in other more worthwhile endeavors.

That's my two cents.

[peterthephoenix]

What profession are you in? And what are you seeking to accomplish by having an MBA?

[UrbanNerd]

If the online degree is from a known "brick and mortar" school, then there is NO difference between the classroom-only degree and the online/distance version. I have a M.S. in Engineering from University of Wisconsin. It's pretty obvious from my resume that if I was PHYSICALLY working at some employer in the DC area between 2001-2003 and completed my M.S. degree between 2001-2003, then my M.S. degree must have been done online. It has not harmed me one bit.

BUT.....

That is engineering. The non-technical business world is more about your B-School ranking than rankings in engineering. I have heard that if your MBA is not in the "top 20", then folks do not take it seriously. I would look for the "highest ranked MBA program that is online".

PS: Thank God that I am engineering where we don't have to deal with "what was your engineering grad school?" as the very first question.

[Smitty]

I personally wouldn't pay for a degree that isn't from a regionally accredited institution. Most companies don't know the difference between regional and national accreditation, but I wouldn't take the chance with $15k.

[el mechanico]

It's near the end..

[JohnKreese]

Ok, everyone telling you that programs outside of the top-20 are a waste of time don't know what they're talking about. For one, you're going to look at this list: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandre...a-rankings and tell me that people don't take a USC, WashU, Georgetown, Rice, Notre Dame, Vandy, GT, Texas A&M, aren't going to help you out because they're outside of the top-20? Now, if you're trying to get into IB up in New York, sure, the threshold is MUCH higher, but for a guy looking to go into a more general career field or something that any of these schools specialize is and/or stay in that school's general region, you'd be more than ok. Second, the US News Rankings and Businessweek's MBA rankings can vary greatly; which top-20 do you go with?

I will echo some of the previous posters' points in that the networking is important (although with the rapid expansion of online learning, people are finding other ways to network) and that B&M schools that offer online programs are the best. Luckily, US News has also started analyzing these programs and has put a list together that can be found at this link: http://www.usnews.com/education/online-e...atures/mba . Some will have residences and some won't and the costs will vary.

Don't get an MBA just to get an MBA, though. It is a nice credential to have, but without the experience, most people won't really care. If you really want something practical to fall back on, look into a more credential that is easier to put into actual practice and isn't so common. I feel like half the country has a friggin' MBA.

[presidentcarter]

(09-12-2012 09:42 AM)JohnKreese Wrote:  

Ok, everyone telling you that programs outside of the top-20 are a waste of time don't know what they're talking about. For one, you're going to look at this list: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandre...a-rankings and tell me that people don't take a USC, WashU, Georgetown, Rice, Notre Dame, Vandy, GT, Texas A&M, aren't going to help you out because they're outside of the top-20? Now, if you're trying to get into IB up in New York, sure, the threshold is MUCH higher, but for a guy looking to go into a more general career field or something that any of these schools specialize is and/or stay in that school's general region, you'd be more than ok. Second, the US News Rankings and Businessweek's MBA rankings can vary greatly; which top-20 do you go with?

I will echo some of the previous posters' points in that the networking is important (although with the rapid expansion of online learning, people are finding other ways to network) and that B&M schools that offer online programs are the best. Luckily, US News has also started analyzing these programs and has put a list together that can be found at this link: http://www.usnews.com/education/online-e...atures/mba . Some will have residences and some won't and the costs will vary.

Don't get an MBA just to get an MBA, though. It is a nice credential to have, but without the experience, most people won't really care. If you really want something practical to fall back on, look into a more credential that is easier to put into actual practice and isn't so common. I feel like half the country has a friggin' MBA.

While I agree to an extent, the cost-benefit starts to fall dramatically outside of say top 25 at best. The tuition doesn't vary greatly between #10 and #40, but the return on investment you'll see coming out with the MBA will not be comparable in most cases.

If you are making ~$50k and attend a relatively good program, you can expect to double that coming out. When the program itself runs ~$100k, plus housing/living expense, MINUS foregone salary by not working, you start really having issues when the #40 MBA only boosts your income by 25%.

Also, if you are making $100k+, a top program will most likely double that for you, while a #40 could do absolutely nothing for you.

If you can get a cheap and reputable (those two don't usually go together) online MBA to improve your resume, go for it. Otherwise improve you skillset another way (CFA CFP CPA CPCU CRM and other industry designations may offer much more ROI).

[JohnKreese]

(09-12-2012 10:08 AM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

(09-12-2012 09:42 AM)JohnKreese Wrote:  

Ok, everyone telling you that programs outside of the top-20 are a waste of time don't know what they're talking about. For one, you're going to look at this list: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandre...a-rankings and tell me that people don't take a USC, WashU, Georgetown, Rice, Notre Dame, Vandy, GT, Texas A&M, aren't going to help you out because they're outside of the top-20? Now, if you're trying to get into IB up in New York, sure, the threshold is MUCH higher, but for a guy looking to go into a more general career field or something that any of these schools specialize is and/or stay in that school's general region, you'd be more than ok. Second, the US News Rankings and Businessweek's MBA rankings can vary greatly; which top-20 do you go with?

I will echo some of the previous posters' points in that the networking is important (although with the rapid expansion of online learning, people are finding other ways to network) and that B&M schools that offer online programs are the best. Luckily, US News has also started analyzing these programs and has put a list together that can be found at this link: http://www.usnews.com/education/online-e...atures/mba . Some will have residences and some won't and the costs will vary.

Don't get an MBA just to get an MBA, though. It is a nice credential to have, but without the experience, most people won't really care. If you really want something practical to fall back on, look into a more credential that is easier to put into actual practice and isn't so common. I feel like half the country has a friggin' MBA.

While I agree to an extent, the cost-benefit starts to fall dramatically outside of say top 25 at best. The tuition doesn't vary greatly between #10 and #40, but the return on investment you'll see coming out with the MBA will not be comparable in most cases.

If you are making ~$50k and attend a relatively good program, you can expect to double that coming out. When the program itself runs ~$100k, plus housing/living expense, MINUS foregone salary by not working, you start really having issues when the #40 MBA only boosts your income by 25%.

Also, if you are making $100k+, a top program will most likely double that for you, while a #40 could do absolutely nothing for you.

If you can get a cheap and reputable (those two don't usually go together) online MBA to improve your resume, go for it. Otherwise improve you skillset another way (CFA CFP CPA CPCU CRM and other industry designations may offer much more ROI).

This isn't entirely true as you have to look at the disparity in sector placement, geographic placement, and industry. If I'm into energy, it wouldn't make sense for me to apply to Wharton, pay out the ass in tuition and living expenses, to get a comparable job as someone that went to Texas A&M, paid much less in tuition with miniscule living expenses.

You look at many of the Top-25, many are putting out a plurality of finance/consulting guys (I think HBS' numbers are like 44% and 24% respectively). If you want to be a player in these industries at the most competitive firms, yeah, you have to be at one of those schools, but this is a rather niche category when you consider how many geographic locations and industries exist to conduct MBA-level business in.

On the topic of foregone salary, (which I assume is somewhat irrelevant in this case) many firms/companies will pay for their students to attend MBA programs so that can offset some of those costs. In many cases, the students are still working full-time as well, although this arrangement seems like it would be pure hell.

[babelfish669]

Who is offering a full online MBA for $15k?

[LoveBug]

(09-12-2012 11:08 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  

Who is offering a full online MBA for $15k?

Western Governors University, a non-profit, accredited, university founded by 19 governors in the U.S. is what I was looking at. 3250 per term and I believe you can get out in 4 terms, might even be less than 15k.. I was reading on one of the message boards that there weren't really any tests either, but primarily papers, that you can re-write, on a pass/fail basis.

[presidentcarter]

(09-13-2012 04:34 PM)LoveBug Wrote:  

(09-12-2012 11:08 PM)babelfish669 Wrote:  

Who is offering a full online MBA for $15k?

Western Governors University, a non-profit, accredited, university founded by 19 governors in the U.S. is what I was looking at. 3250 per term and I believe you can get out in 4 terms, might even be less than 15k.. I was reading on one of the message boards that there weren't really any tests either, but primarily papers, that you can re-write, on a pass/fail basis.

Admission requirements? GMAT, essays, recommendations, GPA?

[LoveBug]

(09-13-2012 04:38 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

Admission requirements? GMAT, essays, recommendations, GPA?

You have to take a readiness examination for them, to show that you have the aptitude to hang in their program.. I haven't seen any other base level requirements.

Part of the reason for this is that unlike at Universities, or even online MBA programs given by traditional brick and mortar Universities, they have the resources to accomodate an unlimited amount of people as the program is individualized/self-paced and not cohorted.

[Roark]

Athabasca offers an MBA that is fairly well rated and is the only MBA recognized by accrediting bodies in both Canada and the USA.

I switched from a brick and mortar university to Athabasca for my undergraduate degree, and if anything it got harder with the homework and projects because they have to prove themselves. It is a Canadian government university, somewhat like Open University in the United Kingdom.

Their programs are distance ed, not strictly online. Distance ed was a great way to be able to travel and work anywhere while getting my education.

I think their MBA was in the top 75 by the Financial Times, the only online/distance degree in the list.

[JohnKreese]

That's a negative on Western Governors'. Look at that list I posted and make a choice from there.

[RichieP]

Read "The Personal MBA" before you consider dropping thousands on an MBA...

[JohnKreese]

(09-14-2012 04:22 AM)RichieP Wrote:  

Read "The Personal MBA" before you consider dropping thousands on an MBA...

OP asked how an online degree would be perceived in society. Putting "The Personal MBA" on your resume may get you laughed out of the office/interview/etc. quicker than an MBA from the University of Phoneix.

I have no doubt that those books provide a lot of practical wisdom, but as far as the societal acceptance, the Personal MBA does nothing as an actual credential.

[jcrew247]

Has any one recently completed an Online MBA?
I'm looking at applying to some depending on the cost.
Most top colleges are offering the online mba these days
so I don't think the stigma is as bad anymore.
But they are usually very expensive.

[Dr Mantis Toboggan]

(03-02-2019 05:11 PM)jcrew247 Wrote:  

Has any one recently completed an Online MBA?
I'm looking at applying to some depending on the cost.
Most top colleges are offering the online mba these days
so I don't think the stigma is as bad anymore.
But they are usually very expensive.

There are pros and cons relative to full time MBA programs.

Pros:
-Course material is the same and classes are usually held over Skype/Xoom/similar
-No need to sacrifice income while in school
-With most schools that offer online MBAs it's the same degree as their full time program (ie you can legitimately put "MBA from X University" on your resume)
-Many schools offer periodic in-person sessions on campus so you can network a bit with your classmates


Cons:
-No matter how much they try to bridge the gap with the full time program (and schools really do try to do this) it simply isn't the same in terms of networking and job recruiting
-Juggling work/school/life can be tricky
-Although you can put the degree on your resume employers will see that you were working while studying (often in a different location) which will lead to you explaining it was an online degree, which may be a negative for some employers (this stigma is changing, but slowly)


Happy to go into more detail if you PM me, I can share more about my experience that I don't want to post publicly (could easily dox me).

[jcrew247]

(03-03-2019 12:40 PM)Dr Mantis Toboggan Wrote:  

(03-02-2019 05:11 PM)jcrew247 Wrote:  

Has any one recently completed an Online MBA?
I'm looking at applying to some depending on the cost.
Most top colleges are offering the online mba these days
so I don't think the stigma is as bad anymore.
But they are usually very expensive.

There are pros and cons relative to full time MBA programs.

Pros:
-Course material is the same and classes are usually held over Skype/Xoom/similar
-No need to sacrifice income while in school
-With most schools that offer online MBAs it's the same degree as their full time program (ie you can legitimately put "MBA from X University" on your resume)
-Many schools offer periodic in-person sessions on campus so you can network a bit with your classmates


Cons:
-No matter how much they try to bridge the gap with the full time program (and schools really do try to do this) it simply isn't the same in terms of networking and job recruiting
-Juggling work/school/life can be tricky
-Although you can put the degree on your resume employers will see that you were working while studying (often in a different location) which will lead to you explaining it was an online degree, which may be a negative for some employers (this stigma is changing, but slowly)


Happy to go into more detail if you PM me, I can share more about my experience that I don't want to post publicly (could easily dox me).

Awesome, thanks! Was it a state school you attended or a top 50 B-school? How was the price tag? I'm considering JHU new MBA online program but its super expensive, so I will need to find an employer who will pay for it. What state or region was your B-school in? I'm also looking at ASU online MBA program which seems cheaper. I guess it helps to network if you want to find a job in the same area as the college that way you can network with alumni from that school even if its not in the same classmates. I got a 600 on the GMAT which is about average but my undergrad GPA is below a 2.9.

[Dr Mantis Toboggan]

(03-03-2019 12:53 PM)jcrew247 Wrote:  

(03-03-2019 12:40 PM)Dr Mantis Toboggan Wrote:  

(03-02-2019 05:11 PM)jcrew247 Wrote:  

Has any one recently completed an Online MBA?
I'm looking at applying to some depending on the cost.
Most top colleges are offering the online mba these days
so I don't think the stigma is as bad anymore.
But they are usually very expensive.

There are pros and cons relative to full time MBA programs.

Pros:
-Course material is the same and classes are usually held over Skype/Xoom/similar
-No need to sacrifice income while in school
-With most schools that offer online MBAs it's the same degree as their full time program (ie you can legitimately put "MBA from X University" on your resume)
-Many schools offer periodic in-person sessions on campus so you can network a bit with your classmates


Cons:
-No matter how much they try to bridge the gap with the full time program (and schools really do try to do this) it simply isn't the same in terms of networking and job recruiting
-Juggling work/school/life can be tricky
-Although you can put the degree on your resume employers will see that you were working while studying (often in a different location) which will lead to you explaining it was an online degree, which may be a negative for some employers (this stigma is changing, but slowly)


Happy to go into more detail if you PM me, I can share more about my experience that I don't want to post publicly (could easily dox me).

Awesome, thanks! Was it a state school you attended or a top 50 B-school? How was the price tag? I'm considering JHU new MBA online program but its super expensive, so I will need to find an employer who will pay for it. What state or region was your B-school in? I'm also looking at ASU online MBA program which seems cheaper. I guess it helps to network if you want to find a job in the same area as the college that way you can network with alumni from that school even if its not in the same classmates. I got a 600 on the GMAT which is about average but my undergrad GPA is below a 2.9.

Top 25 school (based on the F/T program) and price tag for online was comparable to the F/T program.

I don't know anything about JHU's program but for the top even online programs I'd suggest getting your GMAT up to at least 680 (ideally over 700) especially with your GPA.

Will answer your other questions over PM

[jcrew247]

If anyone is a military veteran, have you heard of the online college at University of Maryland - University College (UMUC)?? It seems like a popular place for veterans seeking online degrees. Does it have a good reputation?

[IronShark]

(09-11-2012 06:17 PM)LoveBug Wrote:  

I was wondering how some of the other members of this forum feel about the validity of online degrees? Traditionally they have not been held in the same esteem as brick and mortar schools, I was wondering if this sentiment has started to change as the world has become more internet driven?

I am thinking about going back to school and getting my MBA. There is really only one University that offers this within an 75 minute drive, and it is very competitive to get into. Therefore I did some searching and found an online University, that is regionally accredited (although not AACSB accredited - top tier accreditation), cheap, and would allow me to work at my own pace (not to mention the other perks like not having to deal with other people constantly, no oral presentations etc)

I wonder how this degree would be recieved in society?

An increasing number of people with college degrees bring down the value of going to university anyway. If you can get a degree online, then why not? Unless you are a Harvard graduate, I don't see much difference to go to an online uni or an on campus one.