Trying to decide on an online MBA program.. Texas A&M, MSU?

[avb33]

Hi all,

First post here. I am a recent graduate with a BA in Accounting from a regionally accredited university. My cumulative GPA is a 3.65 and accounting specific GPA is 3.79.

I am currently working full time, so I am primarily interested in a solid online MBA program. I am interested mostly in schools that are known and have a respected brick and mortar location.. Is that important? I feel like it would lead to better recognition, rather than completing my MBA at a school like Phoeniz, Everest, etc.

As of right now, I have only 2 programs that I'm really considering.

1) Texas A&M University - Commerce: While Texas A&M is a respected university with a ranked school of business, Commerce may not hold the same credibility that the A&M name really holds. The positives of this program are no GMAT requirement with a 3.0+ GPA, and only 30 credit required. The cost per credit hour is OK, right at $750/hr + fees.

2) Mississippi State University: This is not a branch campus, and the degree/transcript will actually say MSU. This program does require GMAT (thought I didn't see a minimum score listed on their site), and the tuition is MUCH less at only $350/hr.

My location: I live in Florida. Does my geographic location to the school make it less credible if I am seeking employment in my State? Would it be better to do my online MBA at a local university that is less known such as Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Florida Atlantic University (FAU), etc. (These are all regionally accredited)

If anyone has any recommendations for a solid online only MBA program, PLEASE post any information you may have in this thread. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[rebel100]

I think your sort of shooting your goal in the foot if you choose an out of state program while you live in another...won't the hiring committee figure that one out?

I also think a local MBA gives you access to all the other MBA's...you guys and girls get to help each other out. I believe this benefit is dampened considerably if your fully online.

If your young I think there are benefits to a residence MBA, either a top program or at least a good in state choice.

With all that said I opted for a fully online out of state program....but I'm a little over 40 and had other criteria I felt trumped those you specify.

[Yanji]

You are right, Texas A&M Commerce is not even close to the same as College Park. In Texas, the best business schools are: UT (McCombs), Rice (Jones), Texas A&M (Mays), SMU (Cox), TCU (Neeley) and UTD (Jindal), roughly in that order. I wouldn't look any lower with your A- academic background. I'm not sure if any of them offer online options either, and Texas MBAs only have so much use outside of Texas, with the possible exception of McCombs.

The two best fully online MBAs state-side are IU (Kelley) and UNC (Kenan-Flagler). Kelley is a more established (and cheaper) programme with way more course offerings, but Kenan-Flagler is very new and keen to prove itself in the online sphere and probably has the edge down in Florida. These two programmes pretty much stand head and shoulders above any other online MBA, excluding the Duke CCMBA which is only partly online. Admissions is competitive, but not nearly as competitive as their full-time programmes. (I will be enrolling in Kelley F/T this autumn if I don't get into Yale SOM) If you take an online MBA with a 3.65 GPA, I recommend you look at schools which require GMAT, because it thins out the herd and your interactions with other students will generally be of higher quality. The "best of the rest" online programmes include ASU (Carey) and UF (Hough). UMass (Isenberg) and Northeastern are not bad either. As you probably know Hough is very respected in Florida and most of the SE. If you want a cheap, but respected online MBA which can get you places in Florida, I think Florida State's MBA is ~$27000 ($700 per credit). Good luck in your search!

With that all being said, I have to echo rebel100 when he says that getting a face-to-face MBA is generally favourable compared to an online MBA, even if it is P/T. Both UF and UM offer P/T MBAs. P/T programmes are much easier to get into than F/T programmes (even NYU, Chicago and Northwestern P/T programmes are pretty easy to get into with the right experience) but open up a lot more networking possibilities, albeit not the same career-switching and fast-tracking abilities of F/T programmes. An MBA is meant to accelerate your career and you'll never regret getting the best education you can get.

[rebel100]

You can do the UF Executive 1 year residence MBA for about $18K if memory serves. They may call it the accelerated...but at any rate it's a UF MBA in 1 year.

[taylor]

I agree with the previous posters. If you live in Florida, you seem like you have great online choices. $18,000 for a UF MBA is a steal! There are so many less reputable MBA's that cost a lot more than that.

[Yanji]

You can do the UF Executive 1 year residence MBA for about $18K if memory serves. They may call it the accelerated...but at any rate it's a UF MBA in 1 year.

Wow, $18k for the Hough 1 year MBA (it is indeed an Accelerated MBA, not EMBA) must count as one of the great bargains of American higher ed!

[rebel100]

Yeah, 18k ish Traditional MBA: One-Year Option A | UF MBA | Warrington
It's a residence MBA though.....and competative admissions