Common Questions About Online MBAs

• Is the School Accredited?
• Is the Degree the Same as for Full-Time Students?
• How Flexible is the Program?
• What Kind of Technology Does the Program Offer?
• Are the Same Resources Available to Online Students?

As popular as the MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree program continues to be, many aspiring students still have many questions about an online MBA. Unlike traditional MBA programs that take place on campus, online MBAs allow the student to earn the degree at home at their own convenience. Are online MBAs credible? How long do they take? What is the cost? The questions may seem to go on and on, but most of them are legitimate questions asked by students considering online MBAs. Here are 5 popular questions, along with the answers, regarding the online MBAs.

1. Is the School Accredited?

Although you would think this one would be a no-brainer, you’d be surprised how many students just assume a school is accredited. If a school is not accredited, students are just wasting their time. Ask the school about its accreditation status and go online to double check that the school is accredited. At the very least, go on the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) website and see what they have to report about the school. Almost any employer worth anything will shy away from someone with a degree from a school that’s not accredited.

2. Is the Degree the Same as for Full-Time Students?

All MBA degrees are not created equal, and it’s important to find out if the degree given to online graduates is the same as for their on-campus students. Some institutions have one degree for traditional on-campus students and another for online graduates. Ideally, the degree should be the same for full-time MBA students as it is for the online MBA students. Few things would be as disappointing then to appear for a job interview only to discover the online degree isn’t as recognized as the traditional MBA credential.

3. How Flexible is the Program?

Most online students will say that flexibility is the main factor in deciding to go with an online program. Many online MBA students are trying to earn their degrees while continuing to work and meet other obligations. Students should determine how the online platform and how many years they will have to complete the program. Other concerns that should be addressed are how much of the program is synchronous and how much is asynchronous and also how easily they can move between the on-campus portion and the online portion of the program. U.S. News & World Report states that this is probably one of the most important questions an aspiring online MBA student can ask. They’ve probably chosen this particular online-based program because they needed flexible, so it’s important to get as many details as possible.

4. What Kind of Technology Does the Program Offer?

Digital communication is a large part of online programs, so students will want to ensure that their interactions with instructors go as efficiently as possible. Some schools have specific teams for the sole purpose of supporting their online programs. Technology-based things students should look for are prerecorded lectures, interactive discussion boards and programs. There are many learning tools used in online programs, and it’s important that students choose a school or program that utilizes as many as possible.

5. Are the Same Resources Available to Online Students?

There are some resources and services, like on-campus recruiters, that online programs obviously can’t provide, but there are still many that are included in online programs. It’s important for students to find out what their program offers for off-campus students. They should find out if and how they can access the school’s career resources center. Do online students have 24/7 access to the school’s help desk if technology happens to go down on the weekend? It’s also important to find out if online MBA students can participate in job interviews through distance learning. Financial aid is also a concern that online students should address prior to enrollment.

The MBA continues to be the world’s most popular professional business degree program. Online programs offer students who might not have been able to attend college the chance to earn degrees while continuing to work. Asking the right questions about online MBAs is the best way to ensure students make a good choice on a program and school.