Online vs. Traditional MBA

[woolleyca]

I am currently pursuing mt MBA online at Strayer. Will my degree hold the same weight in the job market vs. other applicants with an MBA from a "traditional" institution?

[BusinessMan]

Woolleyca,

Your degree should hold the same weight as any 'traditional' degree. Whether a degree was earned online, by correspondence, or on campus does not matter. What is important is the accreditation of the school, and its reputation. Strayer is regionally accredited, which implies that its MBA program meets some kind of minimum standard and should readily be accepted by other schools and employers. The accreditation holds for the degree, not whether someone earned the degree on campus or at a distance.

Years ago, there may have been a stigma attached to online or distance-learning (pre-internet) credentials since not many colleges and universities had these kinds of programs, and many of these schools were not accredited. Recognized accrediting agencies were slow to embrace the benefits of distance education and balked at accrediting schools that had such programs.

However, times have changed. Today, there are many accredited and respectable schools who offer online degrees. Many such schools are traditional schools that have on-campus students, but also offer online programs as well. I believe that Strayer is such a school, which further blurs the difference between online and on-campus degrees. Since a degree earned by a resident and a non-resident is the same in the eyes of the school and the accrediting agency, the implication by anyone that the non-resident student's degree is inferior, also implies that the resident student's degree from the same school is also inferior.

[mba-options]

woolleyca,
I totally agree with BusinessMan about this.

I did not earn my MBA from a distance learning school, but that was my original intent.

I have been researching distance MBA programs since 2000 and the attitude toward them has changed. At my last count, over 40 AACSB accredited schools have distance MBA programs. That should tell you something.

Keep in mind, your degree will NOT read "distance" or "online" in any way, shape, or form. If asked, you should proudly declare that you earned your MBA from a distance.

It potentially says a few things about you: 1. You are motivated - a self-starter. 2. You know how to use technology at a functional level. Last time I checked, those are great qualities for any business person.

A couple other thoughts...I can guarantee that your program is not any "easier" than a comparable traditional MBA program. It is just delivered differently.

I am amazed how much we used technology in my traditional MBA program. I was always in front of my computer during my program. Most group work, presentations, and assignments involved technology. I even had notes, lectures, and grades available online in some classes.

I hope this helps.