Best Washington MBA Schools and Programs

You may want to consider narrowing your school search to those within commuting distance from your home. Although you’ll be taking your classes online you may want to visit the campus at times; seminars, resource centers, and the school library are examples of perks you’ll have as a student. In addition, you may decide later that you want to take one or more courses on campus instead of online. By choosing a school you can visit in person you’ll boost your chances of success once you’re enrolled and in the process of earning your graduate degree.

Check the program requirements for each school; some have a global interaction courses as part of the curriculum. See if you’ll need to complete an internship or other work requirement. If so, make a note to ask your employer and the business school if your current employment meets the requirements.

Search Programs Offering MBA Majors

Make sure the schools you’re considering have a successful graduation rate. If only a third of the students are completing a program it’s a red flag that something is lacking in the curriculum or with the faculty. Make sure there are student advisors and tutors available for online programs and that the school supports their students during the education process.

Look for the post graduation employment data. A good school will proudly flaunt the number and percent of MBA grads who gained employment as soon as they got their degree; if the school isn’t talking about it on their website, ask the admissions office.

Ask friends, family, and coworkers what they’ve heard about each school. Check online for student forums and similar websites to see what the satisfaction rate is and what the most common complaints are.

If you have a dream job in mind, check the corporate website. See if any of the top management positions are held by alumni of the schools on your list; this may be a big boost when you’re ready to apply for the position.

While tuition is a good indicator of what a program will cost it’s not the only financial aspect of attending a graduate program. Ask for a detailed report of student expenses and look for items such as books, lab fees, and student membership fees. If there are required seminars or field trips, check the cost of these items too. Remember your degree will take more than one semester and add multiple fees as necessary.

Your MBA may have other costs, too. If you need to hire a babysitter or house cleaner so you can get both studying and homework done, add those to the estimate. Likewise, if you’re prone to ordering takeout food when you’re overscheduled you should take that into consideration. While you won’t have to pay for the cost of driving to campus every day you may still have travel costs and time involved, so look closely at the curriculum for extras that may add to the program cost.

Once you’ve narrowed down your school choices take a close look at the entire MBA program curriculum. Compare the coursework each semester with your work schedule and daily life needs; if you have to take the kids to basketball practice three nights a week you may need to make other arrangements. If you’re not sure of the time involved, look at the on-campus course by the same title to see if they give lab and homework recommendations.

Look for a list of requirements for each class. Writing an in-depth research paper might not seem all that difficult, but if you have to write three in the same week it may cause problems. Remember, when you take online courses you alone are in charge of scheduling, so you’ll have to have the organization and discipline to complete the work on time.

If you see a potential issue with a class’s schedule don’t cross the school off your list. First, check with the school and your employer to see what other options you might have. The course might be offered during the summer session or your employer might give you some flex time that you can make up on a different day of the week.

Don’t despair if the cost of your number one choice is more than you can afford. Before you eliminate the school due to price, look for alternative ways to pay the bill. The school’s financial aid department will help you look for scholarships and grants and you can do the same online; you’ll need your personal and financial information in order to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the standard form for most scholarships and grants, so even if your income is too high to qualify for federal aid you can use the form to apply for other assistance.

Ask local corporations if they sponsor business students and check online for professional organizations that offer scholarships and mentoring to MBA students. Check with your employer to see if there is a tuition reimbursement program or a time allowance while attending school. Often, a larger company will pay for a degree in return for a contracted number of years on the job after you receive the degree, so you’ll get your school bill paid while earning money and experience.