Hello all,

I am looking at getting an MBA and have the chance to go to SMU or TCU through work;
However from what it seems SMU is a bit of a degree mill at the moment for MBAs.

Is there any recommendations on places that are worth attending (online due to working full-time) and actually look good on a resume.

I'm working on my distance-learning MBA through Auburn and have encountered many Aggies in my classes. They often make top 20 lists for online MBAs. I like the structure of their classes and have made friends with classmates due to group work and projects.

Agreed with Heisenberg's comment on whether you are looking for a checking the box MBA, which is the case for me, or if it's intended for pursuing loftier career goals.

Also want to reiterate the point you made about access to career resources. I think that's the differentiation for programs that are an "MBA with online students" vs an "online MBA." Auburn, Indiana, and many other programs have it like that where the online student is still a regular student of the B school, takes from professors who teach on campus, access to their professors and classmates through Zooms or Teams, same standards of grading as in class students, etc. With Auburn, I still get emails about what's happening on campus and career/recruiting opportunities.

Based on OP's hesitancy for diploma mills, you'll want to look for schools who consider you as an extension of their campus program, with the only difference being how your education is delivered.

DP

I will reiterate previous sentiments that it truly depends on what you want to do with your degree.

If you just want to learn, pick the program that is best fit for your schedule and online is fine. But if you are trying to switch careers, online programs aren't going to cut it regardless of whether you have access to the career center or not. Fair or not, online is viewed as bottom of the barrel from a quality standpoint out of all the MBA options.

However, if you have finance, consulting, or tech ambitions - you must go top 10 or maybe 15 full time. Forget about anything executive or part time, even if it's a name brand like Booth or Wharton as prestigious firms won't even talk to you. There's a direct correlation between how difficult a program is to get in vs. perception of quality and non full time programs have become degree mills with near 100% acceptance rates.

Sure you will always find exception to the rule but I am speaking as someone who has recruited, hired, and worked extensively with MBA students from top programs in both banking and consulting. Don't let these programs sell you a false dream that somehow your part-time Booth MBA that you got in with a 650 GMAT is going to open up the same doors as someone who went through the full-time ringer.

SMU> TCU

Went to COX. They are all diploma mills

Where do you want to work after graduation? If its DFW, SMU is your answer. If it's Houston, Rice is your answer. I'm not sure if TCU is ever the answer.

I got my MBA at SMU online. FWIW, we were considered full students, with all rights and privileges that come with that (sports tickets, library access, cafeteria, etc). As well, we got access to the recruiting and career center same as full time. It may not be the most impressive MBA, but Cox School still has some cache. I chose SMU over A&M, Texas, and Tulane because of the cache of the school and the career center access. As well, having done A&M undergrad, I already had that network and didn't want to double it up, so figured the MBA should be from somewhere else. Also, at the time, A&M and Texas weren't offering fully online, still had some in person requirements. They are all expensive, but I was surprised that while SMU was more, it wasn't as staggeringly more as you would think.

I am in Houston, also applied to Rice, didn't get in. Had I gotten in to Rice, I would have done it there, just for full disclosure.

On line is something of which I do not have any experience. I got my Ex. MBA at Penn State in 1985, State College, Pa. Very good and rigorous. They actually brought in professors from other schools as guest lecturers. My previous degrees were BS ad MS in engineering.

I worked with and hired the McKinsey types who were from Harvard. Good people but no better than those from TAMU, TU, UH, etc.

The most important thing is real experience. Those with a technical background were stronger than those with only business or accounting background. I.e. If your business is finance then an accounting undergrad is fine but if you are dealing with technical deliverables then engineering is best as a undergrad.

Obviously your end goal is what really matters.

I wanted the finance knowledge and credentials to be able to participate in real business discussions and business decisions.

I lived in Denver so I did the Executive MBA at Colorado (Leeds). I can't imagine doing an online MBA because one of the biggest values is the networking and classroom discussions with your classmates. The trips to Old Chicago or The Blue Martini after class with your professors. The group outings to an Avalanche game, or the Denver Chop House.

In my case, CU was great for regional recognition and networking. Working nationally and internationally, the name hasn't made much difference but the education has.

Money wise, the cost of the program, I've made that back in spades and I was already making $100k when I started the program.

A funny thing one of our professors said when people were asking about whether they should quit work and go full time, he said, you students doing the Exec MBA already have good jobs. The students who are quitting work and going full time are trying to get good jobs.

That's my two cents. So if you want a good regional network, go to a good regional school. If you just want the education, probably doesn't matter where you go to a point.

Colorado was heavy finance. I've got a friend who went to St. Edwards in Austin. He said they did a lot of critical thinking. That guy was making $35k the last I spoke with him 15 years ago. But, he's also borderline unemployable because he's got 2 DWIs and his main function in life is hanging out in Austin and smoking weed.

Good Luck!