Texas A&M-Commerce vs UMass Amherst

Hi everyone, just hoping to get some advice in taking up my MBA. Here's what I got:

1. 10 years experience, currently working an investment bank in Manhattan as an IT manager.
2. currently doing my MS in IT, expected to complete Q1 2010
3. Although I haven't decided, I may switch from the IT field to Finance, depending on market conditions. The more flexible, the better.
4. Current company may sponsor % of tuition but I'd rather pay for everything myself as I don't want any strings attached.
5. must be around $20-30K, online MBA preferred with a completion time of less than 2 years (I can take up to 2 or 3 courses at a time)
6. I don't have a very high GPA (2.5... I know, had too much fun in college)

Current choices:
1. Umass Amherst (Isenberg)
2. Texas A&M-Commerce
3. UMass Lowell
4. University of Florida (Hough) - longshot. too expensive for me.

Questions:
1. Which one has the best name recognition?
2. Does name brand matter with my years of experience or does accomplishment/experience play a bigger role?
3. With the exception of UF's one-year MBA, what would be the fastest to complete? (considering 3 courses per semester)

Thanks in advance!

 

It's hard to change fields with a DL MBA. Not to say it can't be done, but I would be lying to you if I didn't point out that it's a tough row to hoe. That said, here are my answers to your questions.

1. UF's on-campus MBA is consistently ranked in the top 50 in the US. Even if you don't consider the fact that UF's athletic programs have won multiple football and basketball national championships in the last 5 years, thus raising the school'd profile even more, it is far and away the most highly recognized of the four programs you listed. UMass Amherst would be next, but it's a pretty distant second.

2. If you're trying to change careers, then brand name is very important. Otherwise, private equity shops would be chock full of University of Phoenix MBAs. If you're trying to move up in your field, especially within the same firm, then brand isn't as important.

3. No idea. Note that the UF MBA is cohort-based, meaning you start with a class and are expected to move along with that class to the degree. The one-year MBA is an extremely aggressive time frame, fitting 32 credits into 16 months.

If you are currently completing an RA master's degree, your application will be evaluated in context of your graduate GPA as well as your undergrad GPA. So that 2.5 might not matter as much as you think, especially if you also do well on the GMAT. I flunked out of my first try at undergrad and got into Florida's on-campus MBA with a tuition waiver and stipend. YMMV, of course.

Good luck!

 

One important factor in your decision should be where you are planning to live and work with your degree. Florida has the best name recognition, like Fortunato said. The championship titles may raise the school's profile...unless you are in Alabama, Georgia, Tallahassee...you get the picture.

Since Florida is too expensive for you, let's focus on UMass Amherst and TAM. Both schools are well recognized all over the country, but I would say, if you are in the South, go with TAM, if you are in the North, go with Amherst.

If you have no idea where you will be working, go with UMass Amherst. Everyone seems to be raving about the UMass online experience.

 

Usually I recommend UMass because I know something about the school, the campus, the program, etc. but I think that Texas A&M is a very well known school with a good reputation. If those are your two main choices then I don't think you could make a bad decision. How do they compare re cost?

 

My recommendation is to always look for schools in the geographic area that you want to live and work in first, regardless of national rankings the local reputation may be such that you will find yourself with a built in network of grads. If you don't know where you intend to work/live in the future then go with the school with name recognition. Rankings aside, the opportunity to network is limited with a DL MBA so instant recognition may (or may not depending on the hiring person) be the ticket.

I like UMass but here in the south it won't count for much. (But Fortunato's Duke degree holds well.)

Of the ones you list Florida is the best for a combination of recognition, ranking, and least amount of negative image. We really don't consider Florida the true south (where's Randell? ) and most folks have a good impression of the school.

I also recommend to look at your age and number of years left to work. A higher dollar degree may be of much better benefit in the long term.

you can go to www.geteducated.com and check out some other MBA options.

Best wishes...

 

Where's Bear when we need him....

 

As a lifelong resident of the Triangle area of North Carolina, about 70%+ of the locals here are fierce backers of one of UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, or East Carolina who all believe that Duke is the University of the State of New Jersey!

 

My daughter is a Duke TIP participant but wants to attend UNC Chapel Hill and consistently runs around saying "Auburn who?" to me. I feel like Rodney Dangerfield somedays...

Still, a heck of an accomplishment for you...Kudos.

 

Thank you for the interesting responses. To follow-up, my company (like most investment banks in NY) is moving operations to Singapore so I just might move if we agree on the benefits but I'm not closing my doors to other opportunities in Asia or the rest of the world for that matter so the location maybe coming from a different angle here. In a nutshell, my targets would be MNCs in Asia, given the opportunity.

I'm also a bit hesitant to the the one year MBA from UF, between work and my family (one son and another one on the way), it might be too much. Also on the shift from IT to Finance, I agree that it will be tough. One of the reasons I'm planning to take MBA is to break free of the IT stigma and to somehow extend towards a more strategic management position (i.e. Director/SVP level). It looks like it's UMass for me given the circumstances as DL would be the best fit.

A question should I move to Singapore or any other country outside of the US, would a UMass-Amherst matter vs a UMass-Lowell?

Again, many thanks.

 

The TAM-Commerce isn't their main campus. Texas A&M-College Station's MBA program is also ranked in the Top 50, though that isn't one of the programs you mentioned.

I agree with the others on the board, UF but if that is out due to cost consider the UMass program. It is relatively inexpensive.

And since people are talking SEC in here; Auburn undergrad (Bear who? Isn't that guy dead?), Vanderbilt MBA.