I'm thinking about working on my MBA online. Is it worth the investment or is it just another general degree that won't actually mean anything to potential employers down the road? It seems like everyone gets these things nowadays, so I'm debating whether or not it's really even worth anything.

Not in the context you described, no

If you're already in a General business environment like I am, it doesn't help. I've seen way too many people spend years on an MBA and then go nowhere on the next 5 or so years.


I would guess that being an engineer or a programmer with an MBA would make it worth it in those specific fields.

I think that if your undergrad was not business an MBA can round you up and keep you from being pigeonholed (the engineer who is just expected to engineer).

Mylesdinkelman95 said:

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I'm thinking about working on my MBA online. Is it worth the investment or is it just another general degree that won't actually mean anything to potential employers down the road? It seems like everyone gets these things nowadays, so I'm debating whether or not it's really even worth anything.

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The answer is "maybe" and it totally depends on your field, other credentials, current stage of your career, future goals and other factors. You won't get any real advice without disclosing much more of that detail.

My wife got one from like UT-Pan American or UT-Permian Basin or something like that and it was a box check to move up the ladder in a government job. It worked and her income has almost tripled in a few years as she got two internal positions she wouldn't have been qualified for without that box check.


If it's liteeally the only thing holding you back in a current long term position then get one and get the cheapest and easiest you can find.

There are basically two ways an MBA can be worth it in my opinion.

1) a situation like what Bo Darville described where it is just a check box for a guaranteed raise.

2) If you go to an M7 school.

If you're talking about a MBA where it's basically the future rich networking with each other like at Harvard, Stanford, or Wharton, then yes it is worth it. If it is a check box for a guaranteed raise, then do the math and be sure to add in for time value of money. If it's an on line program to say you have a MBA, it's a waste of time and money.

I don't know how this compares to going from a MS to a PhD, but I started my PhD (traditional, not online) thinking I would stay with my same employer but just be able to make a little more and do a few things I couldn't before.

However, during my program I decided to consider other positions. I really enjoy where I'm at now and wouldn't have been able to be here without the last degree. Sure, it cost me some money and convenience, but to quote Mr. Frost, "that has made all the difference".

Like the others above have said, put all considerations on the table and do what makes the most sense to you.

It really depends on cost and jobs/salary prospects in your field. Every situation is different. To be in any sort of real management position in my field, a master's is required.

My recommendation is if you are considering an online program, get one from a reputable, recognizable state school and not a program like Phoenix or other online-only school. It will likely be less expensive, and probably offer more in terms of clout on a resume.

If you are not going to be able to get into a top flight or upper mid-level MBA school, choose the best value. Note that "value" does not mean "cheapest."

Chem E + MBA is a powerful combo. Almost every plant/refinery manager I have known had this combo

Cheap aacasb online MBA's make the most sense for box check situations.

Certain positions in certain companies require a masters. If the one one you want does, then do it.

GarlandAg2012 said:

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There are basically two ways an MBA can be worth it in my opinion.

1) a situation like what Bo Darville described where it is just a check box for a guaranteed raise.

2) If you go to an M7 school.

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There are plenty of other ways they are worthwhile. One of them being a complete industry or function shift. In Finance but want to move into Marketing without taking a demotion? Or the other way around? In O&G but want to move to Tech?

You can do that very easily with a top 20 MBA (McCombs, Ross, Hass, etc.) and still build a great network. M7 is a life-changing two years for networking, but will generally get you the same opportunities at the same companies in the same hiring programs as the top 20.

If it's check the box, then do it online. If not, go in-person to top 20, M7 if you can.

blindey said:

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If it's an on line program to say you have a MBA, it's a waste of time and money.

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Is it? I'm genuinely curious.

I don't 'need' it now, where I'm at. But I'd like to have it in my back pocket for security if I ever needed it in the future. Seems like having it would open a lot more doors.

I'd also like to reach at the University level at some point. I'd need a graduate degree for that.

Seems like doing an online MBA, from a known/reputable school would benefit me.

I was told this very statement by an MBA advisor at a public university in the state of Texas. I was initially shocked, but they said the primary basis of participating in the program was to expand you network and to establish connections that would help you attain new employment opportunities within the metro area. If you don't live in said metro area, there is no need to pursue the degree.

Mylesdinkelman95 said:

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I'm thinking about working on my MBA online. Is it worth the investment or is it just another general degree that won't actually mean anything to potential employers down the road? It seems like everyone gets these things nowadays, so I'm debating whether or not it's really even worth anything.

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I have an MBA from a top school. Top 5 (or M7 as a poster above says). And here is my perspective. I was working and had a family with wife not working, so I had to do it Part Time. I had an engineering degree (Masters in Engg from TAMU).

If you want to do an MBA and it be "worth it", do it from a top 10-15 school. Otherwise don't bother. If you do it, do it when you are aged 25-30. I did it in my early 30s and I think I was a bit late but not too late. If you get an MBA when 27 then you can join a consulting company like BCG, McK etc and grow from there. My MBA cost me about 110k but overall it was worth it since I have a nice school on my resume along with TAMU. My salary has shot up since then but it's from my own efforts of switching jobs etc. MBA has changed my thinking a lot. Earlier, all I cared was the engineering aspect of it, now I think overall and can easily see when the top guys at my employers make mistakes. I am not C-suite, so I am careful about what I say.

Do it Full Time if you can. Part Time if you cannot.. DO NOT do it online. Online is useless, you might as well watch Youtube and learn.

AgGrad99 said:

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Seems like doing an online MBA, from a known/reputable school would benefit me.

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Sorry, but if you say you have an online MBA, you will get laughed at. The business world is snooty about these sort of things.
I have a Part Time MBA from an M7 with exactly the same curriculum and grading as Full Time and I remember sensing some snooty behavior at times from companies. Forget online, unless it is a checkbox ticking thing.

Again, saying online is worthless is completely misguided and wrong advice for many people in box checking situations.

Bo Darville said:

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Again, saying online is worthless is completely misguided and wrong advice for many people in box checking situations.

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I agree with you. But I think this is a small sliver of the crowd asking about MBA. The OP seems to be a younger guy.

infinity ag said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Seems like doing an online MBA, from a known/reputable school would benefit me.

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Sorry, but if you say you have an online MBA, you will get laughed at. The business world is snooty about these sort of things.
I have a Part Time MBA from an M7 with exactly the same curriculum and grading as Full Time and I remember sensing some snooty behavior at times from companies. Forget online, unless it is a checkbox ticking thing.

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Right. But who would say 'I have an online MBA from A&M'?

You'd just say you have an MBA.

Buford T. Justice said:

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I was told this very statement by an MBA advisor at a public university in the state of Texas. I was initially shocked, but they said the primary basis of participating in the program was to expand you network and to establish connections that would help you attain new employment opportunities within the metro area. If you don't live in said metro area, there is no need to pursue the degree.

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Makes sense.

But what if you also want a position which requires it? Seems worth it on that case too.

AgGrad99 said:

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infinity ag said:

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AgGrad99 said:

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Seems like doing an online MBA, from a known/reputable school would benefit me.

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Sorry, but if you say you have an online MBA, you will get laughed at. The business world is snooty about these sort of things.
I have a Part Time MBA from an M7 with exactly the same curriculum and grading as Full Time and I remember sensing some snooty behavior at times from companies. Forget online, unless it is a checkbox ticking thing.

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Right. But who would say 'I have an online MBA from A&M'?

You'd just say you have an MBA.

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Yes, but these things come out during a conversation. You don't want to be in a discussion and the other person has this wtf look when one is forced to reveal it. In an interview, they usually ask if you just got one. If you have one from Univ of Phoenix, then everyone knows. I think A&M Kingsville has an online MBA, someone from my wife's old place was doing it.

Right. But I'm not talking about U of Phoenix.

I'm talking about one from A&M. Pretty much all universities offer distance programs now.

It's not a big deal to explain you were running a business, raising kids, but still managed to get a graduate degree from a school like A&M at the same time.

I guess my opinion is...if the only way I can manage to get a graduate degree is through a distance program, from a reputable school like A&M, I'd rather have it than not.

AgGrad99 said:

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Right. But I'm not talking about U of Phoenix.

I'm talking about one from A&M. Pretty much all universities offer distance programs now.

It's not a big deal to explain you were running a business, raising kids, but still managed to get a graduate defree from a school like A&M at the same time.

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In my world, an online MBA means the same as no MBA. That's just how my company looks at things, and I tend to agree somewhat. I didn't even know A&M offered an online MBA.

You need to have a very specific reason for getting one. Your current company (who you plan on staying with a long time) having a "check the box" exercise linked to a guaranteed promotion and raise and you're already in your 30s is the only way I'd ever consider online. The only other piece that plays into the decision is if your company is paying for it.

I had plenty of people go through my full-time program with a family, and many people had kids even during the program. It can be done if you want to go full time. But as far as return on time and monetary investment outside of the check the box situation... either go top 15-20 full time, or don't go at all, IMHO.

AgGrad99 said:

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blindey said:

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If it's an on line program to say you have a MBA, it's a waste of time and money.

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Is it? I'm genuinely curious.

I don't 'need' it now, where I'm at. But I'd like to have it in my back pocket for security if I ever needed it in the future. Seems like having it would open a lot more doors.

I'd also like to reach at the University level at some point. I'd need a graduate degree for that.

Seems like doing an online MBA, from a known/reputable school would benefit me.

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In what field are you thinking of wanting to teach? Business?

An MBA is usually viewed as a professional degree.

Just wanted to provide you with a different experience. There are many of us that went to business school but did not go to an M7 school. In fact, there are many of us that studied finance in our undergraduate and still went to business school. As with all things, it works for some, but not for all.

I went to Rice for my MBA. It worked well for me as I graduated into a tight labor market and my income has risen significantly from the job I had pre-MBA. Doesn't mean yours will, but this blanket advice of M7 or nothing is not representative of my experience at all.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Quote:

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An MBA is usually viewed as a professional degree.

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I've had the opportunity to teach a couple times, but I need a graduate degree to do so long term (or, for some campuses, a certain number of hours towards a degree I'm working on).

It would be something I do on the side, or in retirement...not as a career. My career/experience would be enough to teach a course, but I'd need that piece of paper.

Not sure of your situation, but I would consider more traditional, or one of the part on line, part classroom programs. Networking is very real, and not just for job prospects. You can learn from the life experience of the other professionals in the room.

I would work for at least 2 years before I started any full time program. Doing it early is decent advice for some, but an MBA grad who went from undergrad to graduate IMHO, is a mistake. You'd be a graduate degree holding person looking for your first job with no real world experience. Being overqualified for entry level positions is not a great way to start your work experience.

Buck Compton said:

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GarlandAg2012 said:

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There are basically two ways an MBA can be worth it in my opinion.

1) a situation like what Bo Darville described where it is just a check box for a guaranteed raise.

2) If you go to an M7 school.

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There are plenty of other ways they are worthwhile. One of them being a complete industry or function shift. In Finance but want to move into Marketing without taking a demotion? Or the other way around? In O&G but want to move to Tech?

You can do that very easily with a top 20 MBA (McCombs, Ross, Hass, etc.) and still build a great network. M7 is a life-changing two years for networking, but will generally get you the same opportunities at the same companies in the same hiring programs as the top 20.

If it's check the box, then do it online. If not, go in-person to top 20, M7 if you can.

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Side note for people considering bold:

If you're switching business to business, look into a 1 year masters in new career field. From personal experience gets you same pay bump, but is much cheaper.

Otherwise this guy is 100% right. From having gotten my 1 year masters from a state school that didn't have a top 20 mba, the mba's students were all pretty unimpressive. We had a bunch of classes (ours were basically their electives) and our 1 year guys (business analytics, i needed a better coding background for my next step) were way more impressive and better to network with.

Buck Compton is right.

There are a few scenarios to consider.. If you are doing an MBA for personal satisfaction (you yourself are the audience) then go ahead. If you are doing it as a checkbox item for a promotion, then go ahead but try to get the company to pay. Keep in mind that at a later date it would be hard to get into a top MBA school because they typically don't admit people who already have MBAs unless you give them a good explanation.

If you want to impress others (external employers), then you are out of luck with an online MBA. You may be okay until you are forced to reveal that it was online and then you will see the color drain from people's faces. I felt that somewhat when I interviewed with a well known Boutique Consulting firm as a PT MBA student from an M7 school at their recruiting event. These guys are snobs about FT vs PT. If you go in as and they find out you are an online candidate, you don't stand a chance. Yes, even though you may be smarter than a PT MBA guy. It's all about perception. And yes, it is unfair.

To give you an example,let's say that Harvard has an online MBA and you do that. Then you go to an interview with an old Harvard alum and say that that "you too" are "from Harvard". That won't go down well.

PS: I see that A&M only has online at A&M Commerce. Not the Mays School which is College Station. I hope they never go down that route and devalue the brand.

I'd rather you know all of this now before you put in the time and investment, than after all of that