Online MBA

That's a lot of questions! And huge topics! This would be a book-length post if we tried to answer them all. Instead, we're going to direct you to a post we wrote for the EssaySnark blahg two years ago: What about an online MBA? That should get you started in evaluating this as an option.

In the two years since that was published, more schools have announced online and hybrid programs, including the FEMBA Flex at UCLA and IE Global in Spain. There's the Tepper FlexMBA and Kelley Direct. Smith and GWU also have programs.

An online MBA is definitely a different experience and it needs to be considered carefully. You're missing out on a lot - but there's some benefits as well. It is a very individual decision and you'll need to weigh out the pros and cons. It's still an MBA in terms of the education but the experience is not the same, and opportunities may be different as well simply based on that fact.

It sounds like you're just getting started in your research. Hope this helps you move forward; if you have specific questions that we can try to address please let us know.

EssaySnark

From your article

"First off, if you go through an online program, it’s still an MBA degree. There will be no way for future employers to know that it was an online MBA or a traditional butt-in-seat 2-year program."

I think this thought along with, it doesn't matter which campus you go to, your degree still says "XYZ University", is quickly becoming a myth. In my experience with what's asked on on-line job applications, they specifically ask which School/Campus you attended. For example Indiana University-Bloomington, IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis). I'm sure at some point the on-line programs offered by various institutions will be included in those drop-down menu's.

Admittedly an MBA is not as likely to be filling out on-line job applications, but the technology to research candidates is becoming such that it's still fairly easy to determine which program you went through. Obviously this will be more important for a new MBA graduate than someone with the MBA and post-MBA experience. Still it's a consideration.

We have put a very comprehensive thread together about online MBA: gmat-club-online-mba-rankings-149277.html

There are a number of very prestigeous online programs including UNC and Fuqua, that are quite up there in terms of reputation and also cost, unfortunately.