Between the devil and the digital sea: Doing an online or in-person MBA

The online option doesn’t have the status of traditional education yet, but things are changing fast

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most sought-after degrees for those who aspire to the C-suite or see themselves occupying a seat at the boardroom table. The availability of online MBA programmes has paved the way for professionals to return to their studies while still maintaining their career. And while this is undoubtedly a convenient way to get a qualification, prospective students often grapple with the question of whether an online MBA can really challenge an in-person MBA education, and whether prospective employers will attach as much weight to remote learning as they would to the more traditional in-person education.

It’s undeniable that there are benefits to pursuing either. Online offers increased flexibility in learning and offers students more control over their own schedules, while students completing a full-time or on-site programme often have access to more personalised coursework, stronger engagement with their faculty and the opportunity to take full advantage of internships, networking and other career resources. Prospective students should take these pros and cons into consideration when deciding on the pathway to further learning.

Let’s get digital

As the world went into lockdown in 2020, forcing the closure of schools and universities globally, the online space quickly came to dominate as the learning and teaching space of choice. Virtual classrooms replaced brick-and-mortar buildings, and e-learning became the norm. But while the Covid-19 pandemic certainly accelerated the mainstreaming of online learning, research has shown that the popularity of online education has been on a steady increase for the past decade.

It’s no surprise that business schools sat up and took notice. Here was an opportunity to increase accessibility for students who might not otherwise enrol by offering a programme that is self-paced, with greater freedom and flexibility — qualities that have undeniable appeal to working professionals, who were previously often forced to make a choice between their jobs and their studies.

Ash Soni, executive associate dean of academic programmes at Indiana University’s Bloomington Kelley School of Business, a United States institution that offers both an on-site and online MBA, says: “Online students want to advance within their industry — perhaps into management roles at their current company. The students who are interested in our in-residence programmes generally tend to be career switchers. They’ve been doing other things or they may be working in business, but are looking to do something different. For example, they may be in operations but are looking to go into brand management or banking.”

Other benefits of an online qualification include the fact that these programmes are cheaper to run, and therefore tend to cost less to do. Some of the downsides to pursuing a digital MBA include the loss of networking opportunities and limited in-person connection. One also needs high-speed internet, a reliable power supply and access to a personal computer, which means that while the course fees may be less, the start-up costs might be high.

Face-to-face

The traditional in-person MBA degree has its own benefits and disadvantages to keep in mind. Educators and experts agree that the biggest advantage of sharing a physical classroom with like-minded students is networking. The formal, scheduled approach to learning that in-person classes offer is also often of more benefit to students who prefer more structure, stability and accountability.

Another benefit of an in-person approach is the work-integrated learning that takes place, and its associated opportunities. Many online programmes do not require practical work as part of their course completion criteria. The full-time MBA courses also offer students more opportunity to customise their experience to better suit their needs.

Students pursuing their education in-person can also expect a higher starting salary than those who choose the online route — at least in the US. A recent survey of graduates from the University of Florida found that the average reported salary increase for graduates of the full-time programme was 128%, while students who completed the online equivalent reported increases of just 14%.

Though there are many wonderful opportunities to be had during a full-time MBA course, there are still some downsides. These include the lack of flexibility and of demographic diversity. The costs associated with a full-time course, as well as the cost of sustaining oneself while studying — rent, bills and responsibilities do not just disappear — can also be an obstacle unless the student has planned ahead and has vigorous support systems in place.

Conclusion

While an online education was previously viewed as inferior to in-person, classroom-based programmes, business and education experts agree that this is changing. With the mainstreaming of digital learning, many institutions now offer online courses that rival traditional training. The choice between the two depends on student needs and preferences, as well as the resources available to them.

The decision should also be based on student goals, and what they hope to achieve. Younger students looking for an opportunity to network and customise their learning experience to their desired career trajectory would benefit from sharing a physical classroom with their peers, educators and industry experts. Working professionals who want to climb the ranks within their current organisation and cannot afford to take the time off to study should definitely consider the online options available at reputable, accredited business schools.