Is a Part-Time MBA Worth It?
If you are thinking about pursuing a Part-Time MBA, you may be wondering about the return on your investment. The good news is that enrollment in Part-Time MBA programs continues to climb and obtaining an MBA equips you to boost your career and salary faster than any other graduate degree. So, is a Part-Time MBA worth it? Here is a list of top factors to reaffirm your choice.
Learn Today, Apply Tomorrow
One of the advantages of enrolling in a Part-Time MBA program is that you can maintain your full-time job while you’re in the classroom. Not only does this allow you to immediately apply what you’ve learned, it enables you to accelerate your career in real time. Many Part-Time MBA students decide to stay within the same field, which opens the door for companies to recognize your new knowledge and skills while you’re currently employed (promotion, anyone?).
Less Debt
Another advantage of a Part-Time MBA is keeping your salary while enrolled, an automatic savings (you won’t have to worry about two years of lost income). Generally, Part-Time MBA programs cost less in comparison to Full-Time MBA Programs. In addition, employers may be able to contribute to or reimburse tuition. So, between employer assistance, scholarships, personal savings, and other forms of financial aid, you can graduate with less debt to pay back and keep more of your increased salary.
Academic and Community Involvement is Still a Priority
One of the greatest concerns for Part-Time MBA students is less opportunity to be involved outside of the classroom due to work and family responsibilities or workday conflicts. This reality has shifted in recent years as programs expand their experiential learning offerings, which allows participation from students with classes in evenings and weekends. For example, at Goizueta Business School, Evening MBA students can be fellows in one of three centers or our Delta Air Lines Leadership Coaching Fellows (LCF) program. LCF fellows are advised one-one-one by an Executive Coach to develop specific leadership skills to coach individuals and teams, a necessary skill for future business leaders.
Finally, students can still travel abroad and join clubs and organizations. Goizueta’s Evening MBA program has an exclusive student government where students can lead and directly serve their fellow classmates. The days of “going to class and going home” are nearly nonexistent.
Reputation Matters
Selecting a Part-Time MBA program with a strong reputation and commitment to quality is important. Not only will you be taught by world-class faculty, but you will have access to a wide array of resources and an alumni network to set you up for success. After all, an MBA degree is a huge financial investment. Goizueta is proud to be the #1 Part-Time MBA in Georgia and the #13 Part-Time MBA in the Nation (US News & World Report, 2022).
With the leadership of our dynamic Graduate Career Management Center, Evening MBA graduates have a 137% increase in salary within 6-8 years after graduation and often leverage the knowledge and skills gained to earn a promotion while still in the program (69% of the class of 2019 changed their job level since starting their MBA program). In addition, lifetime career services are available to Goizueta MBA graduates and thus many graduates increase their salary much sooner.
Earning an MBA degree is certainly a big decision and financial investment. However, you can be assured that the answer to the question “Is a Part-Time MBA Worth It?” is yes. Students see strong return on investment in the form of personal and professional growth. Not only will you have a new set of knowledge and skills, you will be ready to take the reigns of your career and your life. Best of luck with your MBA journey!