Help me select a best buy MBA

Hey everybody

Up until a while ago, I was considering the online Hi-Tech MBA program at Walden seriously for my masters degree. However, things have changed recently that made me reconsider my choice financially.

So I began looking for more online MBA choices factoring out the ones that are overly expensive. I sumbled by this "best buy" list from geteducated.com:

http://www.geteducated.com/rankings/best_mbaaacsb.asp

I need your help guys narrowing down my scope of search to few universities or colleges. So based on your experience or knowledge, which ones (from the above list or otherwise any) would you recommend in terms of quality-cost ratio?

Thanks alot in advanced.

AL

 

My first choice for quality-cost ratio would be the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Cheaper than pretty much every half-baked for-profit and a good national reputation. I can't imagine a better MBA for the price.

 

If you don't need student loans to pay for it, Amberton.edu has a great low-cost program.

 

See also geteducated's non-AACSB RA list.) And add American Military University or American Public University of the American Public University System, a 'half-baked for-profit' perhaps but the lowest-cost among the RA ones, to the broad field out of which you'd pick your shortlist.

little fauss is right; UNL should absolutely make such a shortlist. On the non-AACSB list, note Southern Adventist University, which is US News Comprehensive Colleges–Bachelor's (South), 29 (tier 1 in that group, none of which are nationally famous, but all of them certainly unimpeachable).

California State University, Dominguez Hills has considerable experience in distance delivery and is a sentimental favorite in distance educationland at least.

For a fine international option, the MBA in International Management from Royal Holloway, University of London is 9 200 pounds, or about 17 500 USD at current exchange.

Good luck!

 

The lowest-cost for-profit RA, I meant, to clarify. Not quite the lowest cost RA, costing more than Amberton for instance.

 

My first thought was "Best Buy MBA - taught by Geek Squad!" (with extended warranty).

On a serious note, you may want to PM Ultimale if you want more info on Amberton's MBA program. If I recall right, he had a thread on degreeforum.com that detailed his experiences. Good luck!

Dave

 

Chadron State College in Nebraska offers an on-line MBA thats RA and very easy on the wallet. $174 a credit hour I believe...

http://www.csc.edu/distancelearning/MBA.asp

 

Thanks!

Thank you all so much. I will put the ones you mentioned on my investigation list. Meanwhile, I need little clarification on the difference it would make to go with an AACSB-accredited university and a one with no such accreditation.

Thanks again.

 

Re: Thanks!

AACSB is professional accreditation(they accredit schools of business exclusively) and recognized by CHEA . AACSB is considered the premier accreditation for business schools inside the US. Is it going to make a difference ? Well, the jury is out..Most people in industry don't know what AACSB is, but in academic circles it is well known. So if you are looking to work in academia AACSB is the way to go. It definitely can't hurt to have an AACSB accredited degree, it's better to have and not need then need and not have. If cost is a major factor then there are viable alternatives.

The alphabet soup of B-school accreditation:

AACSB-Gold standard
ACBSP-Silver
IACBE-Bronze

RA only-Iron

unless doing it for personal and not professional reasons I don't recommend anything less than regional accreditation.

DETC-myrrh

 

Though I'm not convinced that much difference is perceived between an ACBSP or (especially) an IACBE school and an RA-only.

Also, if you're looking to work in academe, there's likely a doctorate ahead of you, and if that degree comes from an AACSB-accredited school and your master's doesn't, my sense is you'll probably be set on that score, and better off than if the master's were AACSB and not the doctorate. Of course, many business academics come from outside business schools per se, and the MBA is perhaps surprisingly uncommon among professors at top MBA schools, specialized training in component disciplines some of which might be studied in a specialized non-MBA programs in business schools (accounting), some just as well or better in a liberal arts department (economics), etc.

 

Re: Re: Thanks!

I love it! So what is the Frankincense of MBA's?

 

Re: Re: Re: Thanks!

Seeing that Frankinscense has a little more value then myrrh, I would say St. Joseph's College of Maine wins the frankinscense award. It's MBA program is not what most people(or employers) expect from an MBA(it is heavy qualitatively but lacks Quantitatively). It is also not professionally accredited.

* as a side note: I always think of the Beginning of the movie Monty Python's Life of Bryan, when I think of myrrh. The wise men accidently walk in to Bryan's house and offer the gifts and Bryan's mother tells them they can keep the myrrh.

 

Re: Re: Thanks!

To be honest I have never paid any attention to ACBSP and IACBE. I only know of the AACSB from this board. I question how many employers in the real world have heard of any of them, or care if they have heard of them. Most employers I have come across don't even know the difference between RA and NA, let alone specialized business accreditation.

Pug

 

I have seen a few that ask for a NA accredited MBA in Texas....... however I don't know that it would necassarily be a deal breaker. If I had an MBA and the job required a NA MBA per the educational requirements, it wouldn't stop me from applying and I honestly don't think most employers would care. But that's just my .02. If you have gone to a college/university most people have heard of or think they have heard of, you're okay.

For instance, St. Josephs was pointed out earlier as being a bit weak on the math, etc. and not "really" being what an MBA is (I'll hold my opinion on that) but St. Joe's has a relatively good name in Texas because most people I've asked, (albiet not an official study) have heard or think they've heard of St. Joe's because of St. Joe's NY, Mass, Indiana or St. Joe's U...........which are not necassarily affiliated, (I honestly don't know if they are) but the name sounds comfortably familiar.

Chadron State College on the other hand, has NA and RA, but I haven't found a single person who has heard of them.......and I've asked a LOT of hiring personnel that I work with on this as well.

 

Re: Re: Re: Thanks!

Quite true.


Abner

 

This is one of the best deals out there.

Total cost=$6264.00 for the MBA. The school is ACBSP accredited.

http://www.csc.edu/distancelearning/cost_online.asp

Flat Rate Cost

Online Courses are the same flat rate cost for out-of-state or in-state students.


Online Graduate Costs

2006-2007 Academic Year
(August 1, 2006 - July 31, 2007)

Hrs
Total

1
174.00

2
348.00

3
522.00

4
696.00

5
870.00

6
1044.00

7 1218.00
8 1392.00
9 1566.00

 

I agree. There's no question in my mind that this MBA program is quite the bargain. That said, I think I like the course offerings at Amberton a bit more, both for their MBA and various MA degrees. Amberton is only $25 more per hour. I think it comes down to choice. I even like the Master of Liberal Studies more from FHSU. I REALLy like the accelerated nature of the CSC program...I'm just not all that interested in the courses. Bummer.

Pug

Pug