Online MBAs: The Rising Trend

Whether you’re a working professional in a grueling full-time job or a fresh graduate who dreams to make it big in the corporate world, the appeal of a Master of Business Administration degree is not lost on anyone.

And the numbers speak for themselves. According to the 2010 compensation data available on Payscale.com, the average annual salary of an MBA graduate with less than one year of experience is $49,496. MBA graduates with one to four years of experience earn an average of $55,662 per year. (payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Business_Administration_(MBA)/Salary/by_Years_Experience )

     

Given its perceived worth, it is natural for both current and prospective students to gravitate towards an MBA degree.

Online MBAs: Education Par Excellence

However, going back to school to get an MBA degree may be beyond the reach of many for a variety of reasons. But that doesn’t mean they have to quell their ambition. It just means they have to hunt for other avenues of education - online MBA degrees.

Online MBA programs have emerged as a popular and potent means of fulfilling your desire of reaching the higher echelons of an organization, taking on leadership roles, and moving in step with the powers that be.

Different people may have different reasons for pursuing an online MBA degree, but its importance is universal.

Importance of Online MBA Programs

First and foremost, an online MBA, as with a traditional MBA, will provide a much wider scope of employment, as the degree is extremely versatile and has relevance across industries. MBA graduates not only have a broad array of industries from which to choose, but can also pick a career from several business disciplines.

Online MBA programs will also help you retain and increase your marketability. The landscape of the current job market is highly competitive and you have to keep upgrading your skill set to remain valuable. Pursuing an online MBA degree can give both job hunters as well as working professionals an edge over their rivals. Also, the career mobility enjoyed by an MBA graduate far surpasses those who have a basic college education.

Busting the Myths about Online MBA

Even with all its advantages, there are several myths associated with online MBA programs. The biggest misconception is about its value in the academic and corporate world. True, there are benefits of face-to-face learning that an online MBA cannot compare to, but it in no way means that it’s any less valuable. After all, what you get out of your education depends to a large extent on you.

There is also a belief that anyone can get an online MBA degree as it’s easy. Wrong! Pursuing an online MBA requires the same amount of (and sometimes more) hard work, dedication, and commitment as a campus-based program.

 

Then there are questions about the quality of online MBA programs. Sure enough, the quality of programs offered by diploma mills is suspect, but the same is not true of an online MBA degree earned from a reputed and accredited institution. In fact, the curriculum followed by an online MBA program is often times exactly the same as a classroom-based degree.

So, now that you know the difference an online MBA can make to your career prospects and we’ve cleared some common fallacies about it, it’s time to hop aboard this speed boat to success!

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About the author

Stevens-Henager College® was established in 1891 and is distinguished as one of the oldest colleges in Utah, offering campus-based and online degree programs for Master's, Bachelor's, Associate's, and Associate of Occupational Studies degrees. Working professionals can enhance their career and qualifications with online degrees offered by Stevens-Henager College.

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