LinkedIn is a popular social networking site for business professionals: think MySpace for corporate-types. LinkedIn has recently implemented a Yahoo! Answers-type feature, where members can both ask and answer questions in a variety of areas. If someone who poses a question is satisfied with a particular response, he or she can select that answer as a "Best Answer."
Naturally, my interest was piqued by questions asked in the "Education and Schools" category, so I took some time to reply to questions about online degree programs and online colleges. Looks like I've had two answers (of five so far) designated as "Best Answers," so I wanted to take a moment to gloat -- I mean, share my response with y'all.
J.C. asked:
"Can someone recommend a good MBA program offered on-line or part-time?
I would like to be able to work full-time while working on it? Costs
associated? Length? Any help would be appreciated, I know very little
about these programs except that I will probably benefit from having
been through it."
Here is my reply:
"This is a very difficult question to answer, however, I'd like to
give it a try. Asking for a general recommendation for a good MBA
program is like asking "What kind of car should I buy?" The answer is
"It depends."
Cost depends, obviously, on the school. On the continuum of
colleges and universities, public universities will generally be more
inexpensive [e.g. New York University, Stern School of Business's:
$1,370 per credit. The Evening MBA Program is 20 credits]; private,
not-for-profit universities will be most expensive [e.g. Kellogg
School's Part-Time MBA Program: $4,112 per one unit course. Part-Time
students must complete a total of 20 1/2 units of courses in order to
earn an MBA from the Kellogg School]; and private for-profit
universities in between [University of Phoenix's cost per graduate
credit is $612 and the MBA program is 39 credits].
Length depends on a variety of factors, such as your expected course
load as well as the length of a class, and how often courses are
offered. Generally speaking, a part-time MBA can be completed anywhere
from 3-5 years.
I would advise you to think carefully about what it is that you
envision for yourself in the future and how earning an MBA will help
you reach that goal. Your statement that you "will probably benefit
from having been through it" suggests to me that you might want to
investigate your needs and motivations further, before even beginning
to research schools. Having a clear understanding of what it is you
ultimately want to accomplish will also help you to select the kind of
school and delivery method that makes the most sense for you.
If you are ready to search now, I think that the best advice comes
from the Wharton School of Business's website
(http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/admissions/decision/index.cfm):
"When
choosing an MBA program, research the program's accreditation,
curriculum, faculty, career opportunities, student body, and
reputation. Base your research on rankings, conversations with current
students and alumni, MBA receptions and forums, published guides, test
preparation resources, websites, your company's human resources
department, admissions materials, and school visits."
Also, in 2005, Forbes.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9006844/) ranked part-time MBA programs as follows:
1. New York Univ. (Stern)
2. UCLA (Anderson)
3. Northwestern (Kellogg)
4. Chicago Univ.
5. Univ. of Michigan (Ross)
6. Univ. of Minnesota (Carlson)
7. Univ. of Maryland (Smith)
8. Carnegie Mellon Univ. (Tepper)
9. Fordham Univ.
10. Southern Methodist Univ. (Cox)
11. Washington Univ.-St. Louis (Olin)
12. Wake Forest Univ. (Babcock)
13. USC (Marshall)
14. Rollins College (Crummer)
15. Boston College (Carroll)
16. UC Davis
17. Georgia State (Robinson)
18. Michigan State (Broad)
19. Pepperdine (Graziadio)
20. Univ. of Denver (Daniels)
21. Univ. of Iowa (Tippie)
22. SUNY Buffalo
Hope this is helpful to you. Good luck to you in whatever it is your heart desires!"
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