Stern vs Ross vs Fordham - PT MBA

Question

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a part-time MBA to transition into finance, FinTech, or strategy (maybe not IB).

* I am 30 years old, Asian male
* BS in Economics from the University of Michigan
* Currently completing a Master’s in CS at an Ivy League school (Part-time) 
* Working in Infrastructure Finance / Project Finance at a small foreign bank in NYC in a loan underwriter role
* I like the job but don’t see much room for growth
* Visa sponsorship until ~2028-2029 before green card, so I want to use this time to upskill and position myself for a better finance role but maybe not IB (Fintech, structured investments, private credit, infra finance, or asset management)

Considering These Part-Time MBA Options (no scholarships for all)

Stern Langone PT MBA (~$180K)
* One of the best finance brand 
* The tuition is a bit much and I'd need to take the student loan which is going to be private debt (I am international)

Michigan Ross OMBA (~$130K)
* More affordable than Stern
* Worried about losing networking opportunities (Lack of face-to-face interaction with classmates and professors)
* Already did my undergraduate at Michigan—not sure if going back is a plus or minus

Fordham Gabelli PT MBA (~$100K)
* Cheaper than Stern and based in NYC, which is good for networking
* Not sure if it’s strong/prestige enough for private credit, infrastructure finance, or structured investments

I have to do part-time due to visa sponsorship and don’t need an MBA for IB or MBB consulting—just something that helps me to get in better finance, FinTech, or strategy. 
Would Fordham be worth it?, Should I stick with Ross? or Should I take a financial risk with Stern?
 
Any type of insights would be greatly appreciated!

supremekai · Answer

You're in a solid position with great credentials! 
If finance prestige is your priority, Stern is the strongest brand, but the cost is significant. Ross offers great academics but could limit networking. Fordham is a cost-effective NYC option but may not open top finance doors as easily. If you can manage the risk, Stern’s network could pay off long-term. Weigh ROI carefully—your experience already gives you an edge. Best of luck!

bb · Answer

Congratulations on your admits!

I have a bit of a mixed feeling about your masters degree you’re getting for computer science and immediately going into an MBA. Are you able to get value out of that C.S. degree? To an employer may seem like a lack of focus for example or at least be confusing why you have made that decision.

So one question when it comes to choosing a program is how you’re planning to recruit?

The part-time programs are kind of poorly positioned for career transition. It is good you’re not going from financing into consulting or from consulting into tech or something like that and you’re staying with then one area so to speak, but switching roles in part-time program is hard.

In case your work experience was not interesting or attractive to employers, slapping an MBA on top of it is not going to make that work experience any different. It will show an employer that your determined and you are working on self improvement and you are not sitting And not lazy which are all good qualities but in the market that is competitive, you will usually lose out.

Also, attending a part-time program makes networking and recruiting tougher because you have less time than full-time students and you have less motivation than full-time students who are desperate.

Usually the best and most effective opportunity to recruit is networking with your classmates. Perhaps someone works at the top of a company that you’re shooting for and they can refer you or maybe even hire you to work for them, really depends on their seniority level.

So I would guess Ross will probably not be the program since your classmates mostly would be from Midwest though there is a fair share of folks flying in every few weeks.

If you’re planning to network and recruit on your own and you just need a diploma from anywhere to put on your resume, Fordham would work, and you can probably find even cheaper programs. I think Stern would give you the best shot at the most prestigious finance positions, though if there are better qualified applicants and you don’t fit, that chance is going to be low and likely not convert.

So I would ask which of these programs you see people from potential companies you’re targeting study at? Or alumni in those companies? Preferably part-time alumni because there is a bit of a difference between full-time and part-time folks. Or do you have a different plan for recruiting?

JMLEEEE · Answer

Thanks so much for your thoughtful response—I truly appreciate it! I’ve been feeling a bit lost in this process and honestly didn’t know who to ask, so your perspective really helped ground my thinking in a meaningful way.

To be honest, I started the CS master’s mostly out of personal interest. I’ve always found tech fascinating, and with technology being so embedded in everything now. Thought it’d be a fun and enriching experience.

After looking through LinkedIn and job posts, I saw that roles in private credit, structured investments, and even digital infra finance increasingly ask for tech skills—especially in data analysis and automation. So I focused my CS coursework on data management and analysis to complement my finance background. I’m not looking to pivot into software engineering—just aiming for more technical roles in finance or FinTech strategy. But I get how it might seem scattered without the right framing.

On the MBA side, I agree—recruiting in a part-time program is tough, especially for career changers. I’m not pivoting out of finance, just aiming to move into higher-value roles like structured investments, private credit, or infra investing. (If I decide to pursue something in FinTech, that could be more of a pivot, so I know I’ll need to be even more proactive with my master’s network.) These areas typically expect strong front-office experience, and unlike IB, which recruits mainly through structured internships in full-time MBAs, I believe the path in these roles is less formal and more network-driven. I’ve had some exposure to deal-side work at my small bank, but it’s been fairly limited, so building the right connections will be key for me.

That said, I’ve also been reflecting on something you mentioned earlier about work experience. On paper, my background might look strong—I’ve been able to touch a bit of everything at my current bank, including some deal-side work that resembles an IB or structured finance role. But in reality, that experience is fairly limited. I haven’t led deals end-to-end or operated in a large-scale front-office environment, so I do worry that I might struggle to stand out as an "experienced hire" in a highly competitive market. That’s part of why I see the MBA—not as a magic fix—but as a way to build confidence, fill in gaps, and better position myself through storytelling and networking. I know the program won’t do the work for me, but I hope it can help close the credibility gap between what’s on paper and what I can actually prove in the market. 
 
If I didn’t have visa constraints, I’d probably pursue a full-time MBA and aim for investment banking. But since I can’t go that route, I want to use this phase of my life wisely and prepare for what comes after. That’s what led me to the idea of a part-time MBA. 
 
With your advice and others I’ve received, I’m now leaning more toward either Stern or Fordham. I’m weighing whether I want to play it safe with Fordham, staying local and keeping costs manageable—or take a bigger swing with Stern, where the upside is greater, but so is the financial risk.

Do you still feel that pursuing a part-time MBA would put someone like me at a meaningful disadvantage for the roles I’m targeting? Or, in your view, could it still be a worthwhile investment if approached with the right mindset and strategy? If so, based on my background and goals, which school would you recommend?

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