The MBA Experience at Michigan Tech

Choosing the right MBA program has the potential to impact your life in many ways: your career, your family life, and your goals. As a potential MBA student, understanding the important selection criterion for your needs is crucial when considering an MBA. Below you will find information highlighting types of MBA programs and five criterion that will help you through the selection process.

Learn more about, ‘Choosing the Right MBA Program’ in our free webinar on December 9, 2010 at 6pm EST. Ask Ruth Archer, Graduate Business Program Director, about any questions regarding the pursuit of your MBA degree.

Types of MBA Degree Programs

MBA Programs are typically grouped into two categories: full-time and part-time. Each person has to determine which program type works best with their career and work/life goals.

Note: Executive MBA programs have intentionally been left out of this conversation because they are targeted at seasoned executives with extensive work experience who are seeking an MBA.

5 Factors to Help You Find the Best MBA Program

The Tech MBA Online is built around factors that we use to define a quality program. Other programs tend to have a few of these areas covered, but typically not all of them. Recently, Businessweek noted our program’s presence in a listing of distance learning programs..

• Accreditation – Accreditation is the foundation of a credible MBA program. Confirming that the MBA your pursue is AACSB accredited will ensure your degree is from a credible institution with rigorous teaching and research standards. Upon graduation you want to be sure that your diploma  will be recognized by your employer or future employers. Non-accredited programs may not provide you the best results for your efforts.

• Curriculum – When you are selecting a program, be sure that the program focus aligns with your career goals. Although this sounds simple it can be easy to get drawn into a popular program that does not match your post-graduate career goals. You should also consider who will be teaching the curriculum. For example, the Tech MBA Online program has qualified professors who teach on-campus, you will not be taught by a graduate assistant.

• Networking – Typically online MBA programs cannot provide valuable networking experiences. The Tech MBA Online focuses on networking during the three face-to-face residencies and provides opportunities for networking through our alumni association. This ensures that you receive peer-to-peer interaction with the other students, faculty, and staff involved with the program.

• Professional Development – As the job market becomes increasingly competitive; presentation, etiquette, and writing skills will play a larger role in preparing you for career opportunities. We have developed a series of professional development workshops to complement the curriculum and ensure the development of well-rounded students.

• Cost – When considering an MBA program consider the cost drivers below. The Tech MBA Online is competitively priced to offer a quality education through the convenience of online learning.
  • Out-of-pocket cost: This is what you pay for tuition, books, and fees.
  • Opportunity cost: What you are giving up to complete your degree, i.e., if you travel to and from campus for a face-to-face program, the fuel cost would be an opportunity cost.
  • Long-term cost: Student loans or other costs that you will be repaying over a long period of time.

The Tech MBA Online was developed to meet these critical factors in MBA selection. Contact Ruth Archer, Director of Graduate Business Programs to find out more about choosing the right MBA for you (mba@mtu.edu or 906-487-3055). We have integrated many features to provide you with a valuable learning experience at a cost effective price.

Learn more about, ‘Choosing the Right MBA Program’ in our free webinar on December 9, 2010 at 6pm EST.