The Rise of the Online MBA
I Thought Online Degrees Weren’t as Good?
There’s no doubt that the face of education has changed. Just a few years ago, an online education was either considered sub-par, or it didn’t even exist. Now, the online MBA is soaring in popularity and welcoming a new wave of students.
The truth is that from 2012 to 2013, the number of students taking, at least, one online course grew from 570,000 to 6.7 million. And in 2014 study, 70.8% of academic leaders reported that e-learning is critical to their long-term strategy while 74% said that online learning was the same as or superior to face-to-face instruction.
Yeah but Online Learning Wouldn’t Work for an MBA Right?
Online schooling is the new future of education, but what about for MBA programs? MBAs have always been the crème-de-la-crème of the academic world, and, for many, that means an online education doesn’t make sense. However, that perception is changing.
Why Would Anyone Prefer an Online MBA to an On-Campus MBA?
Why Would Anyone Prefer an Online MBA to an On-Campus MBA?The online MBA isn’t a “cheap” or “cut-corner” way to accomplish Business School; it’s for older professionals, typically around 33-years-old, who have impressive professional accomplishments but, potentially, lackluster academic credentials. Although most admissions officials say their online MBA programs have the same standards as their brick-and-mortar counterparts, they do admit that their online programs attract different candidates with unique strengths.
According to an article in US News, Cheryl Oliver—the Assistant Dean for Graduate and Online Programs at Washington State University’s College of Business—they look at different qualifications for their online MBA class.
“In online learning, when we are looking at people who have been out seven or eight or nine years, we know that [academics and standardized test scores] might not be the best measurement for that learner,” she said.
Although, in general, the more experienced generation is most attracted to and best fitted to the online MBA, admission into the top online MBA programs is still highly competitive and becoming more selective. In fact, in a recent report by US News, for 26 online MBA programs, only 40% of applicants were accepted, while the average is a 75% acceptance rate.
Why Are Online MBAs Becoming So Competitive?
The reason for the new selectivity is most likely thanks to the increasing popularity of online MBAs. Just as traditional MBAs become more selective as they grow in prestige and applications, so too do online MBAs. However, interestingly enough, the top schools for performance don’t necessarily match the top schools for selectivity.
Every year US News releases their report on the Best Online MBA Programs. The ranking evaluates schools based solely on data related to their distance education MBA programs. The ranking specifically looks at five different categories, rating them based on their importance. The categories are:
- Student Engagement (28%): It looks at the quality of online MBA programs in promoting participation in courses allowing students to readily interact and engage.
- Admissions Selectivity (25%): Looks at the entering MBA student bodies and their proven aptitudes, ambitions, and accomplishments.
- Peer Reputation (25%): Reviews a survey of high-ranking academic officials to account for intangible factors affecting program quality.
- Faculty Credentials & Training (11%): Compares the quality of the online MBA instructors with their campus-based counterparts.
- Student Services & Technology (11%): Looks for MBA programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies.
About the Author
Kelly VoKelly Vo is a writer who specializes in covering MBA programs, digital marketing, and personal development.
