If you are a working professional, the value proposition of an accelerated online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is considerable, no matter what motivates you. You can earn the graduate business degree recognized by Fortune 500 companies and other organizations across the United States, and you can do it in a fraction of the time of a traditional MBA program. Even better, you can often do it at a fraction of the cost.
The University of West Florida (UWF) offers an online MBA program with eight tailored options, listed below (including program durations):
- MBA – General — as few as 14 months
- MBA with an emphasis in Accounting — as few as 16 months
- MBA with an emphasis in Business Analytics — as few as 16 months
- MBA with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship — as few as 16 months
- MBA with an emphasis in Finance — as few as 16 months
- MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources Management — as few as 16 months
- MBA with an emphasis in Cybersecurity — as few as 16 months
- MBA with an emphasis in Supply Chain Logistics Management — as few as 16 months
UWF’s business school is AACSB-accredited, the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.
Demand is rising among working professionals for accelerated MBA programs that minimize the expenses and time associated with traditional programs. In addition, the time has come for specialized MBAs that offer targeted knowledge- and skill-development, enabling employers to hire and promote management-ready professionals with industry-specific expertise.
Career Motivations for MBA Students
GMAC recently released a white paper titled The Value of Graduate Management Education: From the Candidate’s Perspective, detailing the results of a longitudinal study covering years of previous GMAC surveys and reports. The study followed over 3,600 individuals from when they were prospective graduate business school students through graduation, revealing the motivations of degree candidates and their assessments of the benefits and value of their education.
The paper identifies distinct motivations of business school candidates. The top six — representing important motivations for most survey candidates — help demonstrate why demand has grown for MBA programs like UWF’s. The six leading motivations are as follows:
- Increase job opportunities available
- Increase salary potential
- Develop general business knowledge, skills and abilities
- Accelerate career path
- Provide opportunities for networking
- Change career paths, including industry or job function
If you identify strongly with one or more of these motivations, an accelerated online MBA program may ideally suit your needs.
Online MBA Program Flexibility
Business schools are innovating MBA program delivery by offering online options that make an MBA more feasible for a wider range of students. UWF’s programs combine an accelerated format with online delivery to provide the flexibility working professionals need to fit the program in with their other obligations.
This format is ideally suited for working professionals who want the opportunity for career advancement within their companies and industries without putting their careers on hold. It is equally attractive to companies that want to fast-track employees they recognize as future leaders.
Facts and Finances for MBAs
GMAC’s 2023 Corporate Recruiters Survey reports an estimated median 2023 starting salary of $125,000 for MBA grads in the U.S., compared with $75,000 for bachelor’s grads. Clearly, earning an MBA can have a substantial impact on a professional’s earning potential.
Yet MBA programs can be expensive, with total costs for some degrees exceeding $200,000. Plus, on-campus degree programs can come with substantial additional expenses, which prospective students should factor into their return on investment (ROI) calculations. Here are a few examples of potential expenses associated with traditional campus-based programs, reflecting the opportunity for substantial savings with an online MBA program:
- Lost income from time out of work
- Room and board
- Higher tuition and fees
- Interest charges on student debt
- Moving expenses
- Higher costs of living in many larger cities
- Commuting expenses
- Dining-out expenses
Tuition for affordable online MBA programs like those offered by UWF may be far less than tuition in traditional programs. Further, online students may save substantially on expenses like those noted above. For working professionals who are contemplating earning an MBA today, an accelerated online format can be an excellent option.
Learn more about UWF’s online MBA programs.
