More than a degree A CAREER CATALYST

journey, online or not.”

Henry added, “These are students that are looking to hone their skills and prepare themselves for advancement. Those are the ones that are typically going to get the most out of an online program. They take the experience they already have and then refine it with the graduate experience that comes with an MBA.”

Henry noted the online MBA experience doesn’t work for everyone.

“The online environment is very different from the in-person environment,” he stated. “It does take a little more discipline to really get out of it what you want to get out of it, which is the ability to acquire those skills to help them advance in their careers.”

Online MBA programs have become popular because individuals have more demanding personal and professional lives.

“In general across the United States, individuals have more demands than they used to,” Henry said. “If they are a working professional, they are much more engaged across global timelines. We need to offer this same quality of education that we have offered for decades but meet the students where they are. Even if the delivery vehicle has changed a little.”

Braun added, “Historically, you went off to college and stayed four years before grad school. That isn’t the case anymore. People are balancing work and home life but they still want to have the opportunity to invest in their education. One of the reasons we do that is to provide that flexibility for the right students.”

If a student isn’t sure where to start their online MBA journey, the experts offered advice.

“You’re going to get out of it what you’re going to put into it,” Braun imparted. “It’s not a credential to achieve. It’s a way to put on a different set of glasses and see the same phenomena in a broader spectrum. It’s about understanding what is on the horizon and what the strength, skills and abilities of those you work with are.”

Henry added, “Students should understand why they are doing it. They should also think about their career goals and how the coursework plays into that.”