Hello all, I am from South Florida and currently have a BS in applied management from Kaplan University (and yes, I feel that it's a BS degree), lol! Anyway... Here's my situation. I'm 34 and I'm at the point of seriously considering an MBA. The only issue is the school to choose. Since I completed my undergrad at a relatively bottom barrel school, I desire to get an MBA from a more reputable institution and pursue the online route due to convenience around my work schedule. Oh, and I also prefer to do a program that will not require me to take the GMAT (I do fear it!) So... There is a brick and mortar school nearby my home called Florida International University, aka FIU. They are AACSB accredited and offer a completely online MBA, and it's relatively inexpensive for me at $22,500 for the whole program (regular tuition is $32,500, but I get a $10k discount for being prior military). The other school I was considering was Northeastern University, but the cost is $62,500, also AACSB accredited (as you all already know!) This is my first time posting to the forum, and I've tried to research existing threads without much luck... This is a great site with knowledgeable folks, and I'm hoping you guys could throw a little advice/guidance my way. Between those two schools, I would like to know which one do you think has a better reputation (and note that I work in the logistics/supply chain field)? Obviously Northeastern costs considerably more, however, I'd be willing to pay a little more if the overall long term value is there. In addition, Northeastern offers a logistics concentration, and a Master's in Finance option (at an even higher cost). I'm also willing to consider other AACSB accredited schools... Just not sure of what other non-GMAT and reputable/highly regarded schools are out there (not saying that FIU is highly regarded, I just don't know what its perception is outside of South Florida, and of course, being in Florida, I never heard of Northeastern until I started researching schools recently). One last thing to keep in mind here is that I do not plan to stay in Florida too much longer, but no target destination has been identified as of yet. I just know it's time for me to go somewhere that has much greater Fortune 500 presence, like Atlanta. So hopefully whatever program I do attend has some name recognition outside of their geographical domain. Thanks again! Thank you in advance for your time and guidance!
I am also in Florida and know FIU is a great school. You can never predict what schools people may or may not know unless you go with a bigger name school with a college football team! A school to consider that does not get much attention here is LSU - Monroe. It is under $10K and AACSB.
I know nothing about FIU, but Northeastern has a pretty good reputation here in the New England area. However, my opinion is that a school's reputation won't get you as far as your own knowledge, experience, and genuine personality. A close friend of mine was telling me the other day about how he turned down a man with a Masters degree in Finance from the University of Chicago because he "was a cock and knew nothing about finance," hiring instead someone else with a degree from a much less-known local university. So... if you want to work for a fortune 500 company, it's you who will make that happen... not any school. So, in your search I hope that you find where is the best fit for you and what you hope to learn!! Best of luck, and welcome!
Well, in my own opinion Northeastern University has more reputation than FIU. However, if you live in Florida..I would recommend FIU to avoid distance learning curve for future employment. In fact, most of employers don't question whether you work in Florida, but attend school in the New England. But to be safe, attend the school closer to where you live as possible. If you want another better reputation without GMAT is Syracuse University's iMBA. You have to visit the campus every semester to take the exam. On the side note, I thought active duty and veteran receive $20,000.00 discount from FIU.
Northeastern does have a good reputation but if I was in your position I'd choose Florida International. It also has a good reputation but it's the cost differential that does it for me. I don't think there's any evidence that indicates you'd be better off with the Northeastern degree and I can't see paying the difference if there is no real difference. Also, having access to the campus is a big plus in my mind. I know that this is a DL forum but being able to go to the campus as a student and have access to all the facilities is a factor that, by itself, would be a tie-breaker in my opinion.
Hi TEKMAN, thanks for your feedback. You make a good point about the proximity of the school to where I live now, and how I may not have to explain myself, and whether or not it was an online program. In regards to the tuition at FIU, the program until JUST recently was $42,500. At that time, they offered a $20k discount. Now they dropped the regular tuition to $32,500 and $10 discount to military and veterans. Thank you!
Hadashi, yes, I am in agreement with you... My only concern is that these days one one applies for a job, recruiters have to screen through a substantial amount of applications. Since the applicant pool is usually very high, recruiters have to narrow down the playing field. One of the methods they use to narrow down the field is the education, and if everyone has the same education and work experience, they do start taking a look at the school attended and its reputation. Like you mentioned, it will all boil down to one's overall qualifications that determines whether or not one will land the job... But sometimes, the name of the school could be weighed heavily in the selection process to get one to the actual interview.
Randell, thanks! I checked it out and could not find an LSU-Monroe program, but I did find one for the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Is that the school you meant?
Go to FIU. Northeastern isn't worth the additional money. As an aside, take the GMAT, it will open up a slew of other opportunities.
If you're willing to pay the money for Northeastern's online MBA, there's little reason not to prep for the GMAT and pursue an MBA from Indiana's Kelley school, which is a top 25 program. The cost is about the same. Kelley even offers an MS in Global Supply Chain Management if that would be more professionally relevant to you.
I concur with Kizmet (and others) that Northeastern probably isn't your best option. In addition to LSU-Monroe as mentioned by others, I would suggest Jacksonville State University...AACSB and also relatively low cost; JSU - Office of Distance Education - Master of Business Administration If geographical proximity is important (likely not since you considered Northeastern), then go with FIU.
It's very human to be scared of the unknown, but if you can't handle the GMAT you probably won't do well in a real MBA program either. Get practice overcoming your fears now -- your later career will thank you. -=Steve=-
You live in Florida, you should seriously be considering the UF MBA. ~$45K for a solid top-50 MBA with a whole range of delivery options including site-based evening or weekend study and fully online programs in both 1 and 2 year flavors. Yes, you'll have to take the GMAT, but like Steve said, whether you take the GMAT or not, succeeding in any MBA program requires you to be able to solve the sort of problems one finds on the GMAT. Good luck!
Don't be afraid of the GMAT - if you need to, prep for it, take it and see what happens. Worst case is you don't score well, (I fell into that category), but I was still accepted provisionally into an AACSB MBA Program. No regrets. You have a wide variety of MBA options via DL in Florida and I'd look into all of them, and not fall in love with one school.
