Help guide me to an MBA program

Preface:
I've perused these forums for a while looking at information on the various online MBA programs. There is a multitude of wonderful information on here, but I was looking for a bit more help in narrowing my options.

My Background:
I have a BS in IT Management with a 3.4x GPA. I currently work in a medium sized school district as a Director of Technology (soon to be titled a CTO), but have the option of moving to a CBO/CFO opening. The latter is contingent on finishing an MBA. I have been at the district for 8 years, if that helps. I have, however, not taken the GMAT yet and am currently studying for that and my PMP credential.

Conundrum:
My work is not going to pay for the MBA and I'm not sure that I will stay in the school district. What would you guys recommend as a decent online MBA with a decent reputation that is AACSB accredited?

I have looked at ASU, Univ of Arizona, UMass Amherst (Isenberg), and Indiana (Kelley) as they all seem to be the pinnacle of online MBAs. Out of these I find that Isenberg is the best ROI. However, if I choose to go into the private sector (out of education) the main employment options here are in oil and the companies like to recruit out of ASU and UofA.

What programs would you guys recommend as the best ROI? Am I overpricing the MBA for what I need? Do you think it would just be a check box on the HR check list for any outside work after having 10+ years experience?

 

That's what I was thinking, but I just wanted to talk it out. Thanks!

 

A lot depends on the job requitements and the hiring people.
But is AACSB accreditiation neccessary?
For best ROI I would go for lowest cost RA MBA available.
In my opinion isa that in most cases MBA is just a check the box unless the job requires certain knowledges (for example in the defence area a knowledge of C/SCSC, cost estimating, and proposal preparations are sought after areas. In my experience it is what you bring to the position is what counts the most.

 

I guess the AACSB accreditation is not needed, but I can't see it hurting. I have seen some sub-20k AACSB programs, but I don't know ANYTHING about them. I'll have to take some peeks at some of the RA programs.

 

What is in the ROI formula? I am familiar with roi = r/i. The i is much easier to control, just earn the cheapest most reputable MBA. If you have good experience, then the r may be more easily influence. With a cheap MBA, one then can avoid the cost of debt. With a cheap MBA, earning a 6 figure salary immediately after graduation will not be a failure plus no stress about repaying student loan, even $50k will do in the short-term.

 

If you settle on continuing your career in the school district education arena (i.e. Chief Business Officer, Finance Director, School Business Manager, CFO, etc.); in my experience, AACSB would add little to no benefit beyond a RA M.B.A. degree in this C-level position. Too, external an education related school district Central Office position (e.g., HR and/or the district business, administration, operations, or financial services); the M.B.A. degree would likely be regarded no more /no less than an Ed.M. /M.Ed. in administration by countless school districts. In the public school environment, many of the top business office (e.g., HR, administration, operations, financial services, etc.) positions will be filled by Ph.D. /Ed.D, Ed.M. /M.Ed. in leadership /educational administration, and additionally, the Registered School Business Administrator (RSBA) certification … not M.B.As. The M.B.A. is not within the customary succession diagram /progression or organizational /educational culture employed within most all public school districts. A somewhat exception with larger districts; it is more likely that the financial services area C-level position will be held by a CPA. Of course in that you’re employed in the industry … you already are aware of this.

In that you are 1) at present an 8-year district employee 2) will individually fund your M.B.A. and 3) the district CBO position is an offered opportunity—AACSB accreditation is doubtful to be a prerequisite /thus likely pointless as regards this particular C-level (chief business officer) position. However, if AACSB is in addition independently important to you, there are a number of online AACSB options that are reasonably competitive in tuition/s.

AACSB Online MBA Rankings | Best MBA Online AACSB Accredited Programs | Best Online Colleges | Best Online Universities | GetEducated.com

Online MBA Rankings | Best Affordable Online MBA Degrees Accredited | Best Online Colleges | Best Online Universities | GetEducated.com

 

The CBO/CFO spot we have open in the district will not go to anyone inside of the district other than me. The only reason I was looking at AACSB was because of the possible ability to go outside of the public sector and into the private sector. I'm currently in speaks with the UMass Amherst (Isenberg) school because it isn't terribly expensive compared to the others. A lot of the "lower cost" MBAs are requiring that I take more courses than the cores, which drive up the costs significantly.

 

Frostburg State University is AACSB. The online MBA for out-of-state students is under $14k. You may have to take up to 3 prereqs, depending on your undergrad work.

 

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a AACSB school with an Online MBA and has a Management Information Systems specialization (of which I'm enrolled.) I did have a number of classmates who were out of state. I'm about to start my fourth semester in a couple of weeks.

NJIT: School of Management: Graduate Degree Programs

 

Short of fortune 500 firms … AACSB accreditation will not be all that significant in my view. Nonetheless, there are AACSB programs, including Isenberg, that are price competitive. You may want to consider programs within your resident state (CA) and/or external AACSB programs which do not differentiate their tuition rates based on residence.

Such as:

University of Louisiana-Monroe (30-credit hour program): $9,000
eULM: The Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Mississippi State University: (30-credit hour program): $10,500
Mississippi State Online Distance MBA

University of North Dakota (33-34 credit hour program): $12,000
Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Online & Distance Education

University of South Dakota (33-hour program): $12,200
Online MBA - USD

Jacksonville State University (33-credit hour program): $12,700
JSU | Educational Technology & Support | Program Information

Note: Foundation courses could be applicable, as with any MBA (AACSB or not), depending on your individual academic background.

 

Here is a cheaper DBA. It also has the prestigious ACSBP accreditation.
Accreditation | Horizons University

 

Before you sign up with Horizons U. , you might want to look at the three-page thread on Horizons, including a threat-of-the-week from its Head and correspondence from the Florida site of this French school. (?) http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/43727-horizons-university-3.html

I said then and I say again - ACBSP is good programmatic accreditation, but it is not institutional accreditation. ACBSP tends to march to its own drummer, when it comes to "sufficient degree-granting status" it requires of non-US schools. This school is legally allowed to offer degrees in France - but they cannot be in the National format - hence they do not have the standing of degrees from mainstream French Universities.

I also said before that I don't think ACBSP would approve a substandard Business program in a million years - but as I see it, it tends occasionally to overestimate "sufficient degree-granting authority." It has accredited programs at Swiss cantonally-approved schools that issue degrees with little standing anywhere.

I notice also that Horizons U. has recently acquired the academically meaningless accreditation of ASIC, which that org. admits does not confer any degree-granting powers. It looks like even a strong program can sometimes result in a weak degree.

Window dressing!

Johann

 

In fact, one such school's degrees score a "deficient" rating from neighbouring Germany - despite ACBSP accreditation of many of its programs. Another case of strong program, weak degree.

Johann

 

There are some awesome links in here guys. Thank you very much!

I am going to firmly stick with an AACSB accreditation. I keep getting recruited by IE Business School, but unfortunately, I cannot afford their costs. I was definitely looking at the Mississippi State University one as I work with a graduate from there and it seems solid.

I really like the schools that have a focus for entrepreneurship, finance, and/or information systems. I could even do some health care management/administration as I know a lot of people in that field. UMass Amherst (Isenberg) hits these, but are there any others that hit entrepreneurship? I can always do a certificate in finance or information systems, if need be.

 

That's a fair comment, Steve -- as yours always are. :smile: I used this example - perhaps mistakenly - to illustrate that despite ACBSP accreditation of a worthy program, it is possible that an institution's degrees will not meet with widespread acceptance. Germany was the only country I could find that published any rating whatsoever for that particular school. I should add that the acceptance of degrees from the Swiss Cantonally-approved schools varies considerably.

One such school offers an MBA program that has the "Triple Crown" of accreditation for European business schools - EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. The program costs close to six figures and last I looked (around 2011) grads enjoyed a median first-year salary of over $130K. Now that's "acceptance" in spades! There are other programs from some of the Cantonal schools that come bedecked with some equivalent to Institutional accreditation - e.g. Robert Kennedy College, that confers degrees validated by a British University. At the other end, there are schools of this type that may/may not offer accredited programs, but have a lesser degree of acceptance.

My point is solely that ACBSP programmatic accreditation, while it does indicate a program of high standards, doesn't guarantee any particular acceptance of the degree. ACBSP pretty well says as much, itself:

"For institutions located within the United States, regional accreditation of the institution is required for membership and accreditation eligibility. No other country has the equivalent of regional accreditation. In countries outside the U.S., the government or agency designated by the government may provide the authority to grant degrees. The government or the authority may be local, regional, national, or on occasion no government entity exists to assume this authority.

When considering business programs, students are encouraged to contact institutions they may wish to attend in the future as well as the human resource department of specific employers. Degree acceptance policies will vary by institution and employer."

When in doubt, check 'em out.

Johann

 

The other interesting thing I've noticed about A LOT of these "cheaper" programs is that they have an incredibly long list of prerequisites that aren't included in the cost of the program. Overall, they wind up being closer to that 20-25k+ range when it's all said and done.

 

MBA programs will require foundation course work for those whose undergraduate academic background is not in a business discipline or closely related field of study.... regardless the per credit hour tuition rate.

 

Also being professionally active and looking to boost my cv with an MBA I thought this thread was helpful. Thanks!