Hi -- I've spent a few hours researching (including this forum), and I'm curious to get some current opinions. I have an advanced degree and an established career, but an MBA may open up more opportunities at my current company. It won't make enough of a difference to be worth a significant financial investment, but my employer provides enough tuition reimbursement that I can get an MBA for free if I stick to programs that cost around $30k. It appears that at that price point, two of the stronger options are UMass (Isenberg) and Auburn. Their online MBA programs seem to be similarly ranked, and the costs are similar. I live and work in the Philadelphia region, so neither is exactly "local," although I have a personal connection to (and therefore slight preference for) UMass. Does anyone here feel that one of those programs is clearly a better choice than the other? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
I like UMass but it's more of a sentimental thing with me. Both have good name recognition. You a football fan? Go with Auburn. UMass football is average at best.
I admit I'm biased towards UMass, being a UMass-Lowell alumnus, but they're also ranked higher (#57) than Auburn (#83) in the US News rankings, if that matters. UMass Online is also a very established and smoothly-run operation, whereas Auburn isn't that well-known for DL programs.
Auburn all the way. Then again, I'm biased myself. Frankly, either would be good programs for you. But I advised one of my directs a while ago to go with Auburn and never heard any objections since she graduated.
I am a football fan, although one of my prior degrees is from Rutgers, so I chose my thoroughly mediocre team a long time ago! :wink1:
Thanks for the replies. The personal connection I mentioned is that my wife went to UMass undergrad, and we occasionally go up to the campus for homecoming or other events. All other things being equal -- and aside from the football programs, I think they essentially are -- that may be what tips the scales. Thanks again for your thoughts!