The advent of the Internet has helped several industries flourish, and increased convenience in numerous ways makes it easy for people to make the most of the services offered by these companies. Thanks to innovative applications that are making learning more accessible, online education is now an option for getting various degrees, including a prestigious MBA.

Some universities even offer online MBA degrees to students across countries. Here’s everything you need to know about getting an online MBA degree.

What are the types of online MBA degrees?
There are four types of MBA programs, which are categorized primarily on the basis of the extent to which the course is taught online. The types of online MBA degrees you can choose from are:

  • Part-time MBA
    The duration of this type of an online MBA degree is usually 3 years, and students are offered a generous deadline to complete the projects and assignments. This is ideal for you if you need to get an MBA degree but have to juggle a lot of things on the personal or professional front. By enrolling in this program, you can complete your projects easily according to your preferences and schedule.
  • Hybrid MBA
    The duration for completing a hybrid MBA is between 3 and 5 years, similar to a part-time MBA course, but this type of an online MBA degree offers some amount of campus experience. This experience is usually for less than a week or a couple of days, wherein you are invited on the campus for discussions once during the course. This provides you with an opportunity to network within the campus.
  • Accelerated MBA
    An accelerated online MBA degree is the shortest in duration and can be completed in 12-18 months. This is a fast-paced course that packs everything taught in 2 years within this duration, and it is an ideal option for professionals who already have a good idea of business functions and fundamentals. This course can add to your credibility if you’re a professional, and your experience can make it easier for you to grasp the concepts easily in a short time.
  • Executive MBA
    The duration of an executive online MBA degree is 1-2 years and is designed to meet the needs of working students. It requires you to have substantial full-time work experience, and this type of online MBA course is characterized by regular class meetings.

The type of online MBA degree you choose to pursue will depend on various factors, the most important of which is the eligibility criteria for the course.

What factors should you keep in mind when choosing to pursue an online MBA degree?
You must consider several factors when choosing an institution from which to obtain an online MBA degree. Here are a few things to look out for before enrolling for an online MBA course:

  • Ensure that the institution is accredited
    Find out whether the university you want to enroll in has the required accreditation. The accreditation will vary regionally, so do your homework beforehand to ensure that the educational institution you pick meets all the required standards. Approval from a third party in the form of accreditation shows that the institution is being monitored regularly and maintains good educational standards.
    This is important for much more than ascertaining the quality of the institution or the online MBA degree. As a student, you are eligible for a federal loan or grant to pay for the course only if the university is accredited. Some of the agencies whose accreditation matters are the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), and the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). An accreditation by the last agency is the gold standard when it comes to B-schools. Additionally, it is much sought-after as it admits less than 30% into its coveted ranks of top schools that get its approval.
  • Check the ranking of the institution
    You should also check the online ranking of the institute you plan to enroll in. A wide array of business media and publication companies announce their list of the top-ranked B-schools annually, and each of these publications has a different criterion for selecting the colleges on their list. Some of them are based on surveys filled by current students, alumni, and even employers who hire students from the institution. Some of the popular publications that release these lists are Bloomberg Businessweek, The Economist, and the US News & World Report.
  • Verify their student support services
    You may also want to check out the student support services offered by an institution for its online students. Ideally, students pursuing an online MBA degree from any university should get equal access to services as the students pursuing a full-time, regular MBA. That being said, only a few universities follow this, so ensure that you pick one that gives you access to all its facilities. These services or facilities include placement opportunities, access to job fairs, and career counseling.
  • Get in touch with alumni to understand their experience
    Reach out to alumni across platforms like LinkedIn to find out about their experience at the institute. You may also want to check out online reviews about the course. There are cases where a highly prestigious university fails to offer an online MBA degree that matches its name, position, and reliability in terms of quality. Speaking to someone who has completed the online MBA course recently or is currently pursuing it may help you get a better idea of how close the real experience is to what’s advertised.
  • Check the technology and infrastructure requirements
    Find out about the technology used by the institute to deliver the course. Consider your schedule at work and your personal commitments to help you find the right course to enroll in to get an online MBA degree. For example, find out whether the forum can be accessed at any time, for how long the teaching videos are available on the portal, and what infrastructure you need to arrange for, apart from a computer and high-speed internet connection, to access the system.
  • Check the professors’ qualification and experience
    Thoroughly research about the faculty, their experience, and whether the ones assigned to your batch are qualified. You can also find out whether any of the professors for the course have any experience in teaching an online MBA degree.

Why should you opt for an online MBA degree?
Modern online MBA programs are as rigorous as regular full-time MBA programs and have the same credibility. Here are a few advantages that are pushing an increasing number of people to get an online MBA degree instead of opting for a full-time one:

  • Flexibility of schedule
    An online MBA program is highly popular among working professionals as it allows them to advance their careers without taking a break from their work life. Most online MBA programs are designed keeping in mind the limited time the candidates may be able to put in. If a program offers live interactive classes, they are scheduled on weekends so that you do not have to miss anything important at work to attend the classes. Several other universities offer online MBA degrees with recorded lectures that can be accessed at any time of the day.
  • Exposure to international experience
    With several universities offering their online MBA programs for students across the world, it becomes easier for you to interact with peers and faculty from different places. This helps you get a global understanding of how different concepts are applied in the real world and a peek into the perspective of others around the world.
  • Excellent IT infrastructure
    Universities try their level best to ensure easy access to the learning material by adopting top-notch technological tools. Students come across a variety of collaborative tools as part of these courses, and many who have been in the workforce but have not found an opportunity to upskill use this as an opportunity to enhance their technological fluency.
  • No compulsory test requirements
    Preparing for an entrance test for a full-time MBA degree can be time-consuming and may be difficult for working professionals. In contrast, many universities offering online MBA degrees do not require candidates to pass any tests to apply for the course.
  • Affordable alternative
    Individuals who have been unable to pursue an MBA through a full-time course due to high university fees can opt for an online MBA degree. The online variation of the courses is cheaper than the full-time course, and you won’t have to spend time or money on relocating near the university. You can also continue working while pursuing the course.

What are the disadvantages of getting an online MBA degree?
You may want to understand all the facets of getting an online MBA degree before enrolling in a course. So, here are some of the cons of getting an online MBA degree, although they may not essentially be deal breakers:

  • No campus experience
    While some online programs may have a few visits scheduled to the campus during the course, most of them are completely online. This means you will miss out on the atmosphere created in a physical class, and discussing with peers and faculty on an online forum is very different from doing it while sitting in the same room. Missing out on the campus experience also means missing out on events like job fairs or the university's career support committees. Having said that, since most students who opt for an online MBA degree are already working, this drawback is not a major issue.
  • Complete focus and need for greater discipline
    Completing a course online requires you to be cautious, as distraction is easy. You will need to improve your focus to make time for your online course amid the various things in your personal and professional lives. Some may argue that an online MBA program can teach effective time management, and it cannot be denied that getting an online MBA degree requires much greater discipline and much more effort.
  • Cost of technology
    While the university provides most technological tools to access learning materials and complete the course, you need to make some of the arrangements. This includes arranging for a computer or laptop and high-speed broadband connection. Additionally, you may also need to have reliable power backup to deal with a power failure. This can be a roadblock for those who have to attend live classes or may be asked to appear for online examinations.
  • Recruiter bias
    Modern-day online MBA courses hold the same amount of credibility as full-time ones, but some recruiters may be less enthusiastic about hiring candidates with an online MBA degree. Although this apathy seems to be reducing over time, you must prepare yourself to face such a situation confidently while interviewing.
  • Experience criterion
    Like executive MBA courses, some online MBA courses may require students to get a certain amount of experience as a professional to apply for an online MBA degree. This may not work out for freshers who have chosen to go the online way to get an MBA due to various reasons. This criterion makes it difficult to get into some of the top business schools, even if you can pass the entrance. That being said, this factor is not a cause for concern if you aren’t keen on which university to pursue your online MBA degree from.

This is some of the vital information to keep in mind for deciding whether an online MBA degree is your cup of tea and when choosing a university for an online MBA degree.