What to Consider when Choosing a Part-Time MBA Program

There are a number of factors to consider when selecting between different part-time graduate MBA programs. There are multiple factors to consider when choosing any MBA program, but the way in which these factors should be considered differ when choosing between full- and part-time programs.

Tuition Costs

Whereas most people who attend graduate school full-time pay for it via loans, often part-time programs can be paid for by your employer. You should ask your Human Resources department for information about tuition reimbursement and tuition assistance plans. If there are no formal plans in place at your firm, consider asking your employer if the firm will consider sponsoring your education. Couch your request in terms of the benefits you can bring to your firm after you have earned your degree, and make sure that they are clear that your work performance will not suffer as a result. Also, make sure that you understand what your employer expects in terms of how long you will stay after you have earned your degree.

The amount of tuition that can be offset by your employer is a strong consideration when determining the appropriate part-time MBA program for you.

Ranking

Rankings play perhaps a lesser role here, specifically if you intend to use your degree to be able to take on more responsibility at your current firm. If you are, then far more important is the quality of the education, which is not always wholly reflected in the rankings.

Employment Placement

If you are looking to segue into other work, employment placement statistics are important. Also important is how the program's career service accommodates part-time students. Often, especially with smaller MBA programs that have both a full- and part-time program, career services are structured to accommodate full-time students comprehensively and part-time students in passing. Review the career service schedule of office hours and the times at which they hold networking events. The more frequent are their evening and weekend events, the more appealing the program.

Schedule

Of course, the sequencing of course requirements and course scheduling are important considerations, more important than those of a full-time program. Before applying, look at the current course schedule and ascertain whether the average start time during the evenings is feasible given your average departure time from work.

Student Life

Even though you will attend school in the evenings and/or weekends, you should review student club schedules to determine how accessible they are to part-time students. One of the biggest advantages to obtaining an MBA is obtaining a lifelong network of professional contacts. Make sure you consider how involved you are able to become in student clubs, regardless if you do not plan to join any.