Widespread use of the Internet for many businesses has increased to enormous proportions. It is also no exception for educational purposes, as the number of MBA programs being offered over the internet are also becoming more ubiquitous. As many MBA programs are offered online, this necessitates a greater need to thoroughly evaluate these programs to find one that is of good quality. In general, these online MBA programs fit into one of two categories: those offered by “virtual” schools like the University of Phoenix and the Devry Online MBA, and those offered by traditional brick-and-mortar institutions like the University of Maryland and Duke University.
There are more MBA programs offered by “virtual” schools compared to those offered by traditional schools. For those with a modest budget who yearn to pursue an MBA, the online MBA is certainly the way to go. Tuition for online programs in the 2004-2005 academic year ranged from $9,120 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to $18,070 at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
An interesting attribute of the MBA programs offered by “virtual” schools is that there is no restriction as to the timeframe for completing the course of study. It is definitely a good option for those who want to study but are busy with other commitments like family or work. Another feature worth noting is that these online MBA programs generally have somewhat lax admission requirements. For some programs, a bachelor’s degree is enough to enter the MBA study. Unlike MBA programs offered by “virtual” schools, those offered by traditional schools tend to have higher admission requirements, cost more, and also have a more rigorous curriculum.
The best MBA program from “virtual” schools is widely recognized as the Global Executive MBA from Duke University. This program is special because it is not completely online. Students are required to attend 5 two-week class sessions, including time on the North Carolina campus and two weeks each in Europe, South America, and Asia. Other well-known online programs that have little or no classroom study as part of their requirements include those offered by Syracuse University, the University of Maryland, the University of Michigan at Flint, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. .
