The Best Chicago Part-Time MBA Programs

Balancing a full-time job and graduate school isn’t easy. Often, students find themselves giving up all of their free time to earn their MBA at night or on the weekends. So, it’s of vital importance that MBA candidates choose the best part-time MBA program for them in order to have an optimal experience.

To help you out, we’ve high the best Chicago part-time MBA programs.

Booth School of Business – The University of Chicago

The Booth School of Business offers two part-time MBA options: the Evening MBA and the Weekend MBA. Both programs allow students to work full-time while pursuing their degree in downtown Chicago. Both formats feature the same faculty and curriculum as the full-time program, just in a more flexible format.

The Evening MBA takes place one evening a week from 6 to 9 p.m. On average, students require 2.5-3 years to complete the program, taking on average two courses a quarter (lasting 11 weeks each). In total, students in the Evening MBA program complete 20 classes over the course of the program, including classes on financial accounting, microeconomics, marketing strateg, and operations management. Students enrolled in the class currently are, on average:

• 30 years old
• Have 3-10 years of work experience
• 12 percent international students

The Weekend MBA is much like the Evening program except that classes meet either from 9 a.m to noon or from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m every Saturday. On average, students can expect to take 2.5—3 years to complete the program taking two courses per quarter. The Weekend MBA is ideal for candidates who live outside of Chicago and Chicago residents who want to pursue an MBA while keeping their career. Students enrolled in the class currently are, on average:

• 30 years old
• Have 3-9 years of work experience
• 25 percent international students

Kellogg School of Management – Northwestern University

The Kellogg School also offers a weekend and evening MBA program option for part-time students. The part-time programs are perfect for students looking to customize their downtown Chicago class schedule.

The Evening MBA is ideal for professionals who work and live in the Chicago metro. It allows students to take what they learn in class at night and apply it to work the very next day. Classes meet weeknights from 6 to 9 p.m. in downtown, and each class meets just once a week. Students can also add Saturday Program classes as their schedule permits. On average, students require 1.5—5 years to graduate and can take up to four courses a semester.

The Weekend MBA program is ideal for students commuting across the nation or local residents. Classes are held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Classes are held in downtown Chicago at Wieboldt Hall, which has convenient hotel options nearby. For students in town, weeknight classes are also available. Students should expect to take 1.5—5 years to graduate.

Kellstadt Graduate School of Business – DePaul University

The Kellstadt Graduate School offers both a Weekend and Evening MBA program. Both programs are ideal for working professionals.

The Evening MBA offers two paths for students. The traditional path is for professionals with 2-plus of experience. On this track, courses are offered online and on weekday evenings, and students can expect to take two to three years to complete the entire program. The accelerated path is for professionals with 5-plus years of experience. Students on this route should expect to take classes two nights a week for two years to graduate.

The Weekend MBA is ideal for working professionals who travel frequently or have family commitments that make it challenging to commit to classroom time. The program requires students to be on campus only two Saturdays per month, with online coursework between on-campus classes. To complete the program, students should expect to commit two years.

Liautaud Graduate School of Business – University of Illinois at Chicago

The Liautaud Graduate School offers both a Weekend MBA and a Flexible MBA program. The Weekend MBA is a two-year cohort program that meets on Saturdays. The Flexible MBA is a “set your own pace” program. Students can take classes at night on Saturdays or online and can earn the degree in as little as 18 months. For all students, the program is 54 credits in length with the option of concentrating their MBA in one of twelve areas.

Northern Illinois University College of Business

Northern Illinois University offers an Evening MBA program for students who require a flexible school schedule to fit within their busy lives. Students in the program can choose to take their classes either in Hoffman Estates or Naperville, and there’s also an opportunity for an international experience. Courses are offered one night per week Monday through Thursday and students can take one to three courses per semester. The average completion time is three years; however, it’s possible for some students to complete the Evening MBA in less than 18 months.

Quinlan School of Business – Loyola University

Quinlan’s part-time MBA program is among the top three programs in Chicago according to the U.S. News & World Report. Classes are held weekday evenings right off the Red Lin in downtown Chicago. Each course is 10-weeks in length and students can begin the program in any quarter. And for exceptionally busy students, some classes are also held online. Students must complete their degree within five years.

regions: Chicago

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