In a tough economy opportunities for career advancement are not as widespread as they were a few years ago, but the online MBA cost might be less than you think. Higher competition in the workforce has encouraged thousands of professionals to go back to school for their MBA, but education can be inconvenient and expensive. Fortunately, new online MBA programs like those at the Penn State World Campus, Norwich University, and the University of North Carolina give students an opportunity to slash costs and take classes at their own pace. Courses at these universities cover all things business, from finance to leadership, and from marketing to management. Most experts say that an online MBA is just as valuable to employers as a brick and mortar MBA, so these new programs should be appealing to any professionals looking to enhance their resumes, gain leadership experience, and open the door to new promotions and management opportunities.
How Much Does an Online MBA Cost?
Education is an investment, and like all investments it poses some significant up-front costs. The biggest online MBA cost is, unsurprisingly, tuition. Tuition increases or decreases depending on region of the country and quality of the program, but most universities will charge between $25,000 and 40,000. The online MBA cost is usually comparable to brick and mortar tuition, but online programs can save students money in other ways. For example, online programs often use online textbooks, which are typically cheaper. Also, studying online allows students to save money on travel expenses, including gas, over the course of the entire degree. Online students also don’t have to worry about paying steep fees for university parking, or dealing with heavy traffic. Ultimately, there are a lot of factors to consider before deciding if an online or in-person school is best for a particular student. If you’re considering pursuing an MBA, comparing your top schools using online MBA rankings is an excellent way to choose. Doing a side-by-side comparison of your preferred schools will help you to evaluate many factors about the specific programs, including the online MBA cost.