Last Updated on January 4, 2022 by MBA Gateway Team
How to Choose the Right MBA PROGRAM?
Introduction
If you’re considering an MBA, you’re in good company. An MBA has long been one of the most popular graduate degrees in the U.S. Since 2010- 2011*, the MBA has been the No. 1 choice of students who continue their education beyond a bachelor’s degree. Even more important, the vast majority of graduates of MBA programs credit the degree with advancing their careers and boosting their incomes.
Much of the MBA’s value lies in the skills and perspectives the degree program provides. Strong MBA programs combine the fundamentals with an emphasis on strategic thinking, teamwork, flexibility, and leadership. That combination can pay dividends—in personal and financial fulfillment— throughout your career.
Seventy-five percent of business school alumni say their degree provided opportunities for faster career advancement. Eighty-two percent say their degree increased their earnings power. — 2017 Alumni Perspectives Survey Graduate Management Admission Council
Significant ROI
MBA students come from a variety of disciplines and professional situations. Some have bachelor’s degrees in business administration, and others haven’t taken a single business class. Some enroll in an MBA program immediately after earning an undergraduate degree. Others work full or part-time and are looking to advance professionally, change careers or launch their own businesses.
Almost without exception, they view the MBA as an investment in their future. In many cases, that investment starts paying dividends soon after the program is completed—with job offers at significantly higher salaries than those paid to graduates who do not have an MBA.
A Multitude of Options
Today’s MBA students have more options than ever before. Like Miller, students can attend a full-time, residential program and earn an MBA in as few as nine months. Or, students can work full time and choose from a variety of part-time options:
- On-site evening or weekend-only programs.
- Online courses, available anytime, anywhere.
- Hybrid on-site/online programs, which combine the convenience of online classes with opportunities for in-person interaction with faculty and peers.
Many programs also offer certificate and dual-degree options for students
who are interested in adding a specialization in areas such as environmental
management, global supply chain management, or healthcare management.
Christopher Wszalek, director of MBA programs at Clarkson University’s
School of Business, emphasizes that program decisions are personal ones,
based on each student’s goals, circumstances, and preferences.
“We never push students to choose one type of program over another,” he
says. “It’s very much a process of self-discovery.”
Timing and life circumstances are important factors to consider. For example,
are you a new graduate who can more easily adjust to a year of full-time,
accelerated coursework? If you’ve already begun your career, can you
afford to take a year off to pursue an MBA full-time? Given your existing
commitments, can you handle the rigor and workload of an MBA program,
whether full or part-time?
Clarkson’s MBA
Clarkson University offers a variety of MBA and certificate options to meet the needs of
today’s students and working professionals.
• An accelerated, full-time, residential MBA program on-site at the Potsdam, N.Y.,
campus. Classes begin in August. Students can earn their MBA in as little as
nine months, depending on their business background.
• Dual-degree options:
MBA / Engineering
MBA / Data Analytics
MBA / Environmental Politics and Governance
• A hybrid MBA program that offers online courses anywhere as well as on-site
evening classes at the Capital Region Campus in Schenectady, N.Y. Students
can complete the program full time or part time. They also have the option of
attending all classes on-site, taking all courses online or choosing an on-site,
online combination. Students can complete the program in as little as 18 to 24
months or on an extended schedule, if they prefer.
• Advanced certificates in:
Accounting (on-site: Potsdam)
Business Fundamentals (online, hybrid, on-site: Capital Region)
Environmental Management (onsite: Potsdam)
Global Supply Chain Management (online, on-site: Potsdam)
Healthcare Management (hybrid, onsite: Capital Region
Human Resource Management (hybrid, onsite: Capital Region)
Innovation and New Venture Management (onsite: Potsdam)
Management and Leadership (hybrid, onsite: Capital Region)
Clarkson’s program has been named “A Top 50 Best Value Online MBA.” — Value Colleges
Clarkson’s MBA programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).
Almost three-quarters (74 percent) of graduate
business majors lead to “six-figure median
mid-career salaries.”
— PayScale 2016 College Salary Report
