Getting an online Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree, also known as getting an MBA by distance education, requires that you first research the kind of schools that you would like to attend and can afford to attend. There are many opportunities available to get this graduate level MBA degree online. Many standalone universities all over the world offer distance education MBA degrees to dedicated and independent students, and vary by cost, length of program, and admissions requirements.
In the beginning, you should try to find MBA by distance education programs that fit your education budget. Most of these programs are far less expensive than full time MBA programs but will still require a significant financial commitment. Find out if the online MBA programs that you come across offer any financial aid for incoming students. If these schools do not offer any sort of financial assistance, you should look for schools that are not too pricey, keeping in mind the cost of books, software, and other fees.
An MBA by distance education will also vary according to the length of the program. Some programs will last only one year while other programs may take up to three years to complete, depending on whether the program is an executive MBA program with classes in the evening and on weekends only. You will need to take a look at your schedule and decide how much time you have to devote to an MBA at this point in your life. If you are a high-level executive, a business education program which offers a variety of course times and lengths as well as weekend online MBA courses might be suitable for you. For entry-level professionals or professionals with less experience, enrolling in more demanding distance learning programs with a greater number of credit hour requirements could be suitable.
Online MBA distance learning programs that you come across during your research will have different admissions requirements. In order to get into an MBA by distance education program, you almost always need to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). This is the standard entrance exam to business school.
Many of these kind of programs ask that you submit up to two recommendations from people who are able to comment on your professional capabilities. These recommendations should usually come from your managers. You may also ask colleagues who have witnessed your professional achievements to recommend you.
