Master of Business Administration, candidates typically don’t start their studies right out of college. It is common for MBA candidates to work several years before they start their studies. You don’t need to quit your job to finish your studies.
It’s now easier than ever to get your MBA as a working professional thanks to online MBA programs and flexible work arrangements. Learn more about the MBA student’s career and academic goals, and how this enriching experience might look for you.
Table of Contents
1. Are You able to complete an MBA while working?
For experienced professionals, it is an attractive option to work while you study. There are many options for balancing your academic and professional goals, no matter your current career status. Students may choose to work alongside their studies on a part-time or full-time basis.
Read more about Executive MBA for Working Professionals by IIT Bombay and Washington University in St. Louis.
2. Which is better, a full-time MBA program or a part-time MBA program?
There is no single answer as to which program is better, whether it is part-time or full-time. It is important to decide what schedule best suits your academic and professional interests.
The type of program a candidate for an MBA may be affected by their age and work experience. This could also impact how much time they spend on school and work.
2019 U.S. Census These trends were revealed by News & World Report’s survey of over 120 MBA programs, 200 part-time programs, and 30 executive MBA programs.
- Full-time students: After completing their undergraduate studies, students began their studies with an average of four years of work experience and three months. New students averaged 27 years old.
- Part-time MBA students: On average, they had six years of work experience and 10 months before enrolling. New entrants averaged around 30 years old.
- Executive MBA students: Before enrolling, students had an average of 13+ years of work experience and 8+ months. New students averaged 37 years old.
A full-time program is more appealing to a less experienced professional who is younger. They might feel more at ease if they have worked less than five years in their current job to be able to dedicate more time to their studies. Students who are actively looking for new and more challenging professional roles will be well-positioned in order to take advantage of job fairs, recruiters, and networking events.
Part-time study is more common for older professionals who are further along in their careers. Part-time MBA students might be interested in staying at their current job after they have accumulated seven years of experience in their field.
Employers will often pay for business education costs of highly qualified workers in the hope that they will stay with the company following graduation. Even if this is not true, experienced professionals may hesitate to leave the workforce after several years and return to school.
Must Read: 5 Tips to Improve Your Job Prospects After An Executive MBA
3. What Hours do MBA students work per week?
It is not possible to keep a full-time job while also attending full-time classes. Your options are to:
- Part-time work (less than 35 hours per week) while you complete a full-time program
- While you are enrolled in a part-time program, work a full-time job for at least 35 hours.
- Flexible online MBA programs allow you to accelerate your career and make progress toward a higher business degree.
4. What are the top MBA reasons for working?
An MBA can help you advance your career, increase your income potential, and prepare for exciting new opportunities in your chosen field. Working while you are studying has many benefits.
You can do the following while completing your MBA studies:
- Keep moving forward on your career path
- You can avoid any potential loss of earning potential if you leave the workforce.
- Use your everyday work experience and observations to relate to the material that you are covering in class.
- Networking opportunities are available in your field and through the business school community.
- Your employer should know that you are ready to assume new responsibilities.
- You can easily finance your graduate school costs on a full-time basis
