Which would you choose and why? Need help selecting MBA program.

I have narrowed my search for AACSB-accredited online MBA programs down to three schools:

- Texas A & M University - Commerce
- Morehead State University
- East Carolina University

I am an adjunct at a community college and plan to pursue full-time instructor jobs at both community colleges and junior colleges after my degree is complete. I will teach Accounting.

I am a North Carolina resident, so the tuition at ECU would be about $3800 total; however, based on the way their waivers work for foundation courses, I would have 13 courses to take in order to complete the program.

At Morehead State, I can transfer in some previous grad work and complete the program with only 9 courses for about $10,000.

At Texas A & M, I can also transfer in some previous grad work and will only need 7 courses to complete the program. The cost will be about $7,800.

Based on name recognition alone, I think that Texas A & M may be the way to go.

Anyone have any direct experience with any of these programs?

Which would you choose and why?

Thanks.

Carla

 

Carla,

If ECU has good name recognition, and if you intend to teach in your local area regardless of the extra classes you may want to consider ECU, especially if you can carry on a good dialog with the professors regarding teaching opportunities. Otherwise, accreditation being equal I would probably go with the fastest route. I don't have any experience with these universities.

 

Purely a "gee whiz" question

Is there a difference between the two?

 

All other things being equal,
1) Which is faster?
2) Which is cheaper?
3) Which is closer?
a) Even if the program is 100%non-residential you never know if you might have to or want to visit at some point.
b) Networking with Professors and alumni regarding employment opportunities might be easier and more productive if the school was nearby.
4) I agree that name recognition counts for something. You'll have to hope that the association is a positive one. For me, Texas A&M = football. Would this help you in a job interview? Maybe. Maybe not.
Jack

 

Note: Texas A & M University - Commerce is not THE Texas A & M University, which is in College Station, it is one of the OTHER Texas A&M schools. (I mean who cares but another Aggie).

Nmae recognition is also very regional, ECU might (or might not) have more weight in the arolina's then either of the other schools.

I find it unusual that three programs could have a 50% differnece in course requirments (7 - 9 -13) unless they are covering different areas. As every program has strengths and weaknesses, and often different options, which program fits you best?

 

The reason for the discrepancy in the number of the courses is:

ECU's program requires 60 credits, but I can waive out of 21 credits. This leaves me with 39 credits needed (13 courses ). They will ONLY transfer in prior graduate work from other AACSB-accredited schools. I have earned 12 hours already at an RA school.

Both TAM-C and MSU will allow me to transfer 9 credit hours into their program from a RA school. MSU has a 36-hour program and TAM-C's program is a 30-hour program.

In all honesty, ECU's only name to fame is being a "party school". Most people view NC State and UNC as the major North Carolina schools.

I'm leaning toward TAM-C, especially since I can waive out of the GMAT with my high GPA and only need 7 courses to graudate. I want to finish as quickly as possible, because my next goal is the CPA exam.

 

reply

I would go with the school that you can get done faster. Sure, you could probably save money with ECU. However, if you can get done more quickly at another school, and as long as it is accredited, then that would be the route that I would go. I doubt that it is really going to make that much difference if you graduate from one school over the other. If you were going to become a lawyer, then if you were considering UNC v. Harvard or Stanford -- then I would say to go with the latter. Otherwise, I would just get done with whichever is going to allow you to get the degree faster.

Good luck!

 

Blaketots,

As a casual observer in this thread, it seems you have to have narrowed your decision down to Texas A &m vs. ECU. From what you have said, Texas A&M offers the most flexibility and the fastest path toward graduation. ECU offers low cost. In my opinion, I think both schools are generally looked upon favorably in terms of brand recognition--they are not prestigious like the Ivy Leagues, but they don't have the negative stigma of for-profits such as UOP and AIU. So, when it comes down to it, you have to decide what is more important to you--cost or flexibility and quickness. If low cost is more important to you, I would recommend ECU. If a quicker route to graduation is more important, then I recommend Texas A&M.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck!

Rob