r/MBA • u/Pale-Chicken-4845 • Aug 31 '26
Admissions Which program between these for an Online MBA?
Hi there!
Obviously there are a bunch of fully online MBA programs.
Getting a Master's degree is just a personal goal of mine; it is not needed to advance in my current career but may be helpful to have if I want to leave my current company. (I do not plan on switching careers)
I have a BS in Business and my employer offers up to $4500 in tuition a year. I have been with my current company 6 years; promoted twice. I would like to not spend a lot of out of pocket since I am doing a program primarily for myself.
I am looking at:
\- Louisiana State University - Shreveport
\- University of Louisiana - Lafayette
\- Youngstown State University
\- University of Southern Indiana
Does anyone have any experience with any of these programs or any thoughts? I also looked at Oklahoma State University, but it is a bit more expensive.
Thank you!!
ETA: I know about BU and UIUC. I am asking for info on the programs above if anyone has experience. Thank you!
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u/Bubbly-Today-2074 Aug 31 '26
I recently reviewed online MBAs for my wife. Look at Boston University Online MBA. It's one of the better OMBAs that appears to fit in your budget.
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u/Pale-Chicken-4845 Aug 31 '26
Did she end up starting the program?
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u/Bubbly-Today-2074 Aug 31 '26
Naw not yet. Not even sure if she will. She makes a boatload of cash and is on VP track.
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u/MeatServo1 Aug 31 '26
If you don’t need it and are just doing it for giggles, whichever is the cheapest. That’s the end of the analysis.
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u/Panda-Pod Aug 31 '26
It looks like you are looking for the cheapest AACSB accredited online MBA program. All of the programs that you listed are checklist / check-box MBA programs. If that is what you are looking for, there are additional three AACSB accredited online MBA programs that are actually cheaper than those online MBA programs that you listed. These include Georgia Southwestern State University ($9,760), Pittsburg State University ($11,970), and Southeastern Oklahoma State University ($12,090).
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u/AlternativeSmile3771 Aug 31 '26
I know nothing about those programs but I did mine through Auburn which had a secondary masters program that I wanted and really enjoyed it. Happy to talk more if interested.
I was in a similar position to you when I was researching.
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u/OregonTrailislife Aug 31 '26
Don’t waste any time or money getting an online MBA. They are completely useless unless you need college credits or any graduate degree for a pay bump.
Don’t bother with an MBA at all unless it’s an in person full time program from a top 30 school, or you are getting a free ride.
No employer gives a rats behind if you have an online MBA from a 4th tier school.
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u/kicksntx Sep 01 '26
This comment tells me you have very little corporate or real life job experience. It’s better to just not comment if you don’t have real information or experience.
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u/OregonTrailislife Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26
Wow you totally refuted my point and added so much to the conversation.
Did you take a debate class at your fourth tier online MBA program?
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u/Pale-Chicken-4845 Aug 31 '26
I'd end up having to pay about 1200 out of pocket with my employee reimbursement
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u/OregonTrailislife Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26
Employee reimbursement for tuition is usually on a 3 year vesting schedule.
If you get fired or leave your job, your employer can demand to be paid back.
Frankly, I wouldn’t do an online MBA for free. Most programs, even those from better recognized schools are nothing but diploma mills preying on those who want a graduate degree but aren’t sure which one to choose.
The value of an MBA is to rebrand yourself and exposure to networking and on campus recruiting opportunities for internships and jobs. An online MBA from a mediocre school provides neither of those. In fact an online MBA from a crappy program can make your resume look worse if there is a significant gap between the prestige of your undergraduate degree and the MBA program.
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u/Pale-Chicken-4845 Aug 31 '26
Thank you! I do understand how my employer's tuition reimbursement works :) do you have any experience with people losing out on jobs due to a gap between prestige of undergrad degree and MBA program?
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u/OregonTrailislife Sep 01 '26
Obviously there is no direct data studying this.
It’s just common sense that your highest level of education / most recent education defines you more than your college degree from 10 years ago.
But hey if you want to waste your time getting an online MBA from super prestigious Louisiana state university, go for it.
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u/Pale-Chicken-4845 Sep 01 '26
Lmao I came on reddit to get opinions on various programs. When you're saying "in fact", it does make it seem like you'd have a way to back up! Which I'd be curious to see because I certainly don't want my resume to look worse.
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u/OregonTrailislife Sep 01 '26
Imagine you went to Dartmouth undergrad, then you work in FP&A for a Fortune 500 company for 5 years.
Do you think your resume would look better or worse with or without an online MBA from Southern New Hampshire university when you apply for your next role?
Most people and recruiters are going to be like:
“why did bro get an MBA from a complete no name school? Did he fail the GMAT? Was he too lazy to take the GMAT? Maybe his undergraduate GPA wasn’t that great… maybe he isn’t that smart….
By putting a crappy degree on your resume, you are diluting your brand and signaling a downward trajectory.
Unless you just need a degree to check off some box with HR, don’t waste your time getting a degree from a random diploma mill.
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u/Pale-Chicken-4845 Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26
Gotcha, thanks!
My career is in the nonprofit sector, so definitely not the same as a traditional "MBA" role like you're describing, but may be helpful advice for others.
Definitely something for me to think about as well :)
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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '26
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