Hi Atom10 - I responded to your PM, but I also wanted to quickly reply here for "public" consumption.
You said: "I'm not necessarily worried about the networking opportunities one program offers over the other... or should I be?"
You should absolutely be "worried" about the networking opportunities, that is one of the major takeaways from an MBA program, or it should be anyway.
You also said: "If I'm only looking to get out of the program the effort I put into it with the recognition of a major University degree, should I just go with the least expensive online program?"
The answer to this is a bit muddled, but the answer should be no, you don't choose a school based solely on the price tag. As with almost everything else in life, price tends to reflect quality - not always, but it's a good rule of thumb. Now, if it's coming down to two schools that, in your measurements, are a "wash" then, sure, make the decision on price.
I also wanted to address a couple of things in BB's reply. Everybody is entitled to their opinion and I respect that, however to say that only Duke - which doesn't have a true online option and MBA@UNC are the only programs that you feel strong & "great" about indicates to me that you haven't done much research beyond a cursory glance. That, or Duke & UNC are paying the majority of your bills. I attend UF's internet MBA and am set to graduate in December. I have all the access to the same resources as the FT students do. That said, most of my cohort are in LDP's for Lockheed/BAE/Kohler or some other mega-company, so they are limited to the resources they have access to because it would be a conflict of interest for a school to partner with a company and then help the student leave that company for "greener" pastures. Also, your comment about the reputation is a broad stroke inclusive of the for profits, which wasn't on Adam's list of schools. His question was about the perception of obtaining your MBA from a, and I quote, "major, reputable, nationally-known University's online program" vs going to a part time/weekend MBA program offered by Old Dominion - his alma mater. I would argue, based on my experience and my research, that an MBA from PSU online will hold more weight than one from ODU. I believe that is the comparison he was asking about.
In my experience, there is ZERO stigma with earning an MBA online from a reputable, accredited university. If you, or anybody that reads my response, are interested in learning more about the research I did while making my decision or the experience that I've had while attending UF's Internet MBA, please feel free to message me.
Regards,
Chris