UNL Vs UMass Lowell MBA

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by nyfaisal, Jan 26, 2011.

Loading...
  1. nyfaisal

    nyfaisal New Member

    I have been researching online MBA programs with the following criteria: 1) widely recognized and AACSB accredited, 2) 3+ years duration and 9+ credit transfer allowable , 3) under 48-50 credits, and 4) cost can be up to 75k, if I can take 4-5 years to complete.

    I narrowed my choices down to University of Nebraska Lincoln and UMass Lowell. I am in NY/NJ Metro area, and not many people recognize Nebraska as a competitive school, even though USNews and other research seem to say otherwise.

    I ruled out SUNY IT, NJIT/Rutgers and SUNY Binghamton. Baruch and NYU do not have an online MBA program and would be inconvenient to commute from my location. I ruled out PSU and Drexel because I thought they are just money making programs.

    I have 700 GMAT score, and was wondering if I missed some good schools that recently started offering online MBA program? It'd be great if UC system had AACSB accredited mba programs.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 26, 2011
  2. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

  3. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

  4. mark74

    mark74 New Member

    I'm not sure about the transfer credits for either, but I would look at UMass-Amherst before UMass-Lowell due to reputation and I think Indiana meets your other requirements and probably has a better reputation than anything else that will other than North Carolina.

    I think, in general, the better the reputation of the school, the less likely they will accept as many transfer credits as you want.
     
  5. nyfaisal

    nyfaisal New Member

    Thanks guys for the responses. I did not find that much of a ranking difference between Amherst and Lowell. Lowell has cheaper per credit rate, and I like that they have an IT concentration. UNC seems to cost 89k, but I know people who went there (b&M), and got full or really good scholarship. ULM is also great for the price and it seems to be only 30 credits.

    I think a lot of scholarship opportunities in bschools are only reserved for international students. Schools seem to think that US citizens can load up on guaranteed student loans and do not need the financial aid.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 27, 2011
  6. major56

    major56 Active Member

    In that your first selection criteria are that the MBA be widely recognized and AACSB accredited:

    And that you’re located in the NY /NJ metro area, have you considered Syracuse University’s (Whitman) iMBA (3-year 54 credit hour (18 crs.) program? However, not an entire online program e.g. Whitman iMBA students are required to attend one-week residencies three times per year during their enrollment in the program. There are five areas of concentration offered. The Whitman iMBA was ranked 41st in 2010 by US News & World Report re part-time MBA’s. Each 3-CH course runs $3,486 x 18 courses = $62,748.
    iMBA

    Do you have any interest in a distance MBA program from a notable UK university? If so, what about the University of Warwick–Warwick Business School (WBS); ranked in the top 1% of global business schools (three-year ranking average at 36th re Financial Times)– 10th in the world for value for money by the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2010, and ranked number 1 in the UK for distance learning The Economist. The fees are £6,200 ($9,850) per year with the typical distance MBA study for three years; however, if the student needs to extend their studies, the continuation fee is around £750 ($1,192) for each extra year of study. Per the WBS website, program fees include study materials, essential textbooks, project & dissertation supervision, and specialist tutor support. WBS holds triple accreditation – AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. External accreditation | WBS

    The Warwick MBA by distance learning | WBS
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 27, 2011
  7. nyfaisal

    nyfaisal New Member

    Thanks, I looked at UK MBAs (specifically Imperial College, UofL and Open University), but I want to pursue a US program, as some HR departments hesitate with foreign degrees.
    ULM seems to have 5 pre-req courses, but seem to accept CLEP (Umass does not).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 27, 2011
  8. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    At first blush between Nebraska and UMass-Lowell, I'd choose Nebraska for no other reason than the fact it's the flagship campus of a Big 10 school.
     
  9. mark74

    mark74 New Member

    Cheaper is definitely better. I think there is a significant ranking difference though. For example, US News ranks their part time business programs 70 and 182. (and for general undergrad 99 and 183). Business week ranks Amherst 6th in the Northeast, and does not even list Lowell among the unranked schools.

    Whether that ranking difference amounts to anything in the real world is another question. Both are solid state universities, but obviously neither is elite.

    I think major's Syracuse suggestion is a good one too.
     
  10. mark74

    mark74 New Member

    Scrolling down a little lower on the rankings page, 182 is actually tied for last of the ranked schools.
     
  11. major56

    major56 Active Member

    It would be difficult to think that any credible HR department would be reluctant in recognizing a Warwick MBA; nevertheless, seemingly there are HR /personnel decision makers who are severely limited and/or biased withinin their functional areas of expertise.

    Have you ever considered the much closer Syracuse-Whitman iMBA?
     
  12. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    Your statement about scholarships being reserved for foreign students is incorrect, but I think most school reserve their scholarship dollars for full time, B&M students. I believe the schools think that if you're attending a distance program it is because a. You're making good money in your current job and can afford the classes b. Your company will pay for the courses so the high ticket price doesn't phase most applicants, or c. Both a and b. Of course there are those that will be willing to take out loans to cover the cost of the programs at elite schools with near six-figure price tags, but I think they are in the minority. I have a very good friend that attended The Kennan Flagler MBA program at UNC and got a full scholarship. He also had a 780 on the GMAT, a bachelors degree from a top 20 university and solid work experience.
    I don't know your other stats, but with a 700 on the GMAT if you have a decent gpa from a decent school and good work experience and the MBA program grants scholarships for part time/ distance students, you would be competitive. I know for a fact that with a 700 GMAT alone you would qualify for a good deal of scholarship dollars from full- time programs ranked between 20-50.

    Edit: after looking at the MBA@UNC page, they do provide merit and needs based fellowships for students in this program. With your GMAT score I truly believe you would likely qualify for some merit aid from them.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 27, 2011
  13. nyfaisal

    nyfaisal New Member

    I wanted to remove the scholarship rant, but I actually experienced that firsthand with B&M schools in New York city area. In particular, a 50% scholarship was proposed thinking I am an international student, but was retracted by the chairperson of the department when I told her during final interviews that I was a US Citizen. She simply said, "Oh you can take loans then, you only get 10% off for being a nice alumni". This was about 2 years ago, and not sure if the economy was the issue.

    My personal experience dealing with HR that sorts the resume for interviews has been that, unless they heard of a particular school (widely recognized in the US), the additional degree does not really add value in terms of getting you the interview, or helping in salary negotiations. I also hate that most employers would base your salary on last earnings, no matter if you have an additional degree or credential on hand. This is especially true for mid-career IT professionals.

    After hearing from the folks here, I am leaning towards UMass Amherst too. I PM'ed ITJD, who is in IT and doing is MBA there also.

    Thanks again for the kind responses.
     
  14. nyfaisal

    nyfaisal New Member

    I narrowed my choices down to UMass Amherst Online and a B&M weekend program. I previously looked at an AACSB accredited program from SUNY Binghamton--it's weekend only, and I guess I can travel to the city for 3 Saturdays/month. The cost is very reasonable ~27000, and it's a one year program. The only caveat is, that it's called Professional MBA, and probably not considered as a full MBA.

    Binghamton University - Academics: Schools and Colleges: School of Management: Prospective Students: Professional MBA: Course Information
     
  15. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    That program would be considered a "full MBA". (I'm not aware of any "half" or "three quarter" MBAs). MBA programs have different formats to suit different people's needs. If it has the term professional in front of it, it likely means it is geared towards individuals with 8-10 years of professional business experience.
    Don't choose one program simply because it is of a shorter duration, if that diminishes the overall quality of the program (I am not saying that is what the SUNY program does).
     
  16. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Certainly not attempting to talk you out of the UMass-Amherst online MBA or beyond your program fee limit (up to $75K), but in that your physical location is the NY /NJ metro area here’s an additional prospect:

    The Cornell University (Johnson)-Queen’s University (Queen’s School of Business) EMBA ($106,890): “Tuition includes all instruction, academic services, books and printed materials, room and meals for the residential sessions, and expenses related to the Global Business Project. The Cornell-Queen's Executive MBA Program's learning model features a combination of on-campus residential (classes typically held 3 Saturdays per month) sessions and multi-point, interactive videoconferencing sessions. The videoconferencing sessions are held on weekends in selected cities across North America. The possible down-side to your program length requirement, “…classes are lock-step and conclude within 16 months...”

    The CQEMBA is offered in several metro areas including NY City and Ithaca, NY. And both Cornell and Queens are definitely considered as well recognized in graduate business schools. BTW, the 24th Financial Times ranked Cornell (AACSB) awarded MBA ought to off-set those foreign-degree reluctant HR departments with one’s additional Queen’s University awarded MBA – QU is ranked number 1 in Canada with a 23rd in the world ranking and is AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS accredited.
    Johnson at Cornell | Cornell-Queen's Executive MBA

    Anyway, the very best to you with your MBA endeavor/s …
     
  17. nyfaisal

    nyfaisal New Member

    I did not like about Cornell EMBA that I have to commute to a classroom, just to see the instructor through a Television. I understand I can learn a lot from peers, but I'd rather have face to face access to the professor if I am travelling about 2 hours to NYC each way :(.

    The description says" Delivered via multi-point videoconferencing to boardroom sites in select cities across the US and Canada".

    Not to go against what AUTiger00 said, but I am still not sure if Executive or Professional MBA has a different perception (by employers) than traditional full or part-time MBA. For me, the knowledge gained is more important, not how long it takes to learn the stuff. I am perplexed that some reputable executive MBAs are designed for shorter duration, which makes it almost impossible for a middle-class person to come up with the money within 1-2 years. If the same program (100k) lasts allows 5 years completion time..to me it's 20k a year, and employer reimbursement/ stafford loan can pay most of it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 27, 2011
  18. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    An executive MBA and Professional MBA are not the same. Executive MBA programs are shorter duration because the individuals enrolled in them have at least 10 years work experience and therefore require less instruction/fewer courses. For example, if you were the Director of Finance for a division of a Fortune 500 company, would you want to sit through an introduction to finance course? Of course not, and those entry-level courses are eliminated from Executive MBA programs because the people in them have been working in industry for a number of years. Beyond that, the people in Executive MBA programs at schools like Cornell, UNC, Georgetown, etc. are typically doing the program to be able to move up in their existing organization, not changing careers. The company sponsors the employee for the program, the employee agrees to stay for 2-5 years post degree, upon completion of degree the employee is put into a higher level position. The people in these programs aren't concerned about the perception HR has of their Executive MBA because they already have a wealth of experience, have most likely been successful because their employer sees enough in them to pay 80-120k for an MBA program for them, and won't be leaving their existing company for a few years post degree completion. When they do move on, they will have experience in upper level management and HR won't be looking at the degree, they will be looking at the work they did at their company. At that point, the "does the applicant have an MBA" is really just a check box and nothing more. Beyond that, if you did the right things while enrolled in a top-tier MBA program you will never go through HR for a job again, you will use your network to find out about opportunities and have hiring managers pull you through the system as opposed to trying to push yourself through. One of the advisors at my MBA program always told us, if you're going through HR you're doing something wrong.

    A Professional MBA is really just another way of saying part-time MBA, geared towards people with 2-5 years work experience that don't want to leave their job to pursue the degree. They tend to require more course work than a professional MBA so they take longer to complete.

    You're not going to find a part-time MBA program from a top university (when I say top university, I am talking about top-tier business schools at elite universities) that lasts more than 3 years, it's just not going to happen.

    I'm not trying to sound smug or arrogant here and you can question what I am telling you, but I've been through the MBA application process, attended what I consider to be an elite program, currently work at Harvard Business School and attend conferences geared towards staff working in MBA programs several times a year. I know what I am talking about.
     
  19. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Dove-tailing on AUTiger00’s comments /insight … the CQEMBA is certainly a pricey program (but compared to what?), and the graduate receives his /her MBA from not just one top-tier University … but two top-tier business graduate schools with the award of two separate MBAs. In fact, Cornell offers a 22-month stand-alone EMBA that is actually more expensive ($145,380) vs. the CQEMBA 16-month program at $106,890. Not to be repetitious, but the EMBA in comparison to the customary MBA is the amount of pre-existing industry experience development and maturity the student brings to the program at the outset and not wasting valuable academic learning time on foundation courses or in subject areas the student has previously mastered. The average experience-level for the CQEMBA is the highest at 12-years vs. 5-6years for Cornell’s other MBA and EMBA program offerings.
     
  20. mark74

    mark74 New Member

    AuTiger,

    Not sure if Indiana/Kelley would meet your definition, but their online program can be done in as long as 5 years.

    MBA Online through Kelley Direct
     

Share This Page