Online MBA vs. In-Person MBA: What's the Difference?

Exploring the different paths to a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree can be very exciting. There are on-campus programs that offer face-to-face engagement, flexible online options for those balancing multiple commitments, and specialized executive MBA curricula for experienced professionals seeking to reach the heights of corporate leadership. Each avenue is designed with a unique set of benefits to support your personal growth and career aspirations.

Is an online MBA the same as a regular MBA? To help you consider which program format meets your needs and best influences your professional success, this post will discuss some important distinctions between online and in-person MBA programs.

The world of higher education has been dramatically remodeled by the advent of online learning, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program has been at the forefront of this transformation. A testament to the integration of technology and education, the online MBA began in 1989, when the University of Phoenix launched the first completely online bachelor's and master's degree programs.¹ This pioneering effort laid the groundwork for distance learning within the business education sector.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, prestigious institutions recognized the potential of online education and began offering their MBA programs remotely. Advances in internet capabilities, video conferencing, and educational software made these programs increasingly interactive and accessible to a global audience.

The global COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 dramatically advanced the adoption rate of online MBA programs.² A 2022 article written for Forbes reported that, in the 2020-21 academic year, there were more candidates in this country enrolled in online MBA programs than in full-time, on-campus programs.³ The transition was born of necessity, but its results have become the new status quo. In June 2022, the multinational strategy and management consulting firm McKinsey reported survey results showing student and faculty desire to continue using the online learning tools they had adopted during the pandemic.⁴

In addition to COVID-19, changing student demographics continue to reshape online education. While today’s learners include full-time students ages 18-24, they have been joined by older classmates. These adults have major commitments outside of school: They’re parents of young children, professionals who are employed full-time, and those who need or prefer to continue their education without the stresses and costs of commuting or relocating.^5,6

The upshot: In growing numbers, business schools are adopting online MBA program formats in order to give students the flexibility to take classes on their schedules, from any location.⁷ Today, an online MBA program provides a flexible, reputable pathway for professionals to heighten and fine-tune their business acumen without disrupting their lives and families or putting their careers on hold.

The first step in considering employers’ respect for online MBA programs is understanding the issue of accreditation. Accredited institutions of higher learning have passed a formal assessment, which demonstrates that the education they provide is of an acceptably high quality.⁸

In the United States, the top MBA programs are typically certified by one of three independent accreditation bodies, each of which has unique standards based on its mission and values. They are:

• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• The International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) 

As for employers, Fortune Recommends reported in July 2024 that, “By and large, recruiters do not care about how you received an MBA—as long as it came from an accredited university. What matters most is why you pursued the degree and what skills you learned.”⁹

The article went on to quote Dionna Johnson Sallis, global talent acquisition consultant with the management consulting company Korn Ferry. “A lot of schools now are only an online platform, so there’s not necessarily a need to put an indicator on your résumé of online versus in-person,” she said, noting that many recruiters may entirely avoid the question of how the degree was obtained, since their priority is on how the potential job candidate will leverage that experience.⁹

In addition to being a recognized hallmark of quality, accreditation provides a wealth of other advantages. Accredited online MBA programs must meet the same standards that on-campus programs do, so their accreditation gives you a rightful sense of confidence that you’ll receive a comparable education online to the one you’d receive on campus. Additionally, enrolling in an accredited program allows you to qualify for federal grants and loans, and there are many state governments that only provide financial aid to students of accredited institutions.⁸

Chico State’s College of Business is proud to be one of the 6% of the world's schools offering business degree programs that have achieved AACSB accreditation. Business school accreditation is contingent upon alignment with nine accreditation standards developed and maintained by the AACSB. These standards are used to evaluate the institution's mission and strategic management; the support it provides for students, faculty, and staff; the quality of teaching and learning; the extent to which students and faculty are academically and professionally engaged; and the college’s impact on society.^10,11

As you consider which MBA program will meet your needs and further your success, give careful thought to how much contact you want to be able to have with your faculty. Do you thrive with a lot of support, or are you at your best when working alone? How formal or informal do you want your faculty interactions to be? Are you likely to send emails or texts outside of standard business hours? Do you prefer to address questions face to face?

For the College of Business faculty at Chico State, direct connection with our students is a top priority. All faculty members are available for one-on-one meetings during virtual office hours in every Online MBA course they teach. To foster the same sort of collaborative atmosphere that our on-campus MBA students enjoy, each online faculty member holds optional weekly live courses and includes a group project in nearly every class.

Business is an enormous area of study that includes many subjects, from economics and accounting to ethics, communications, statistics, financial management, and more. MBA students often center their studies on a specific area by pursuing a concentration or specialization. MBA specialization curricula typically consist of electives that help students develop advanced expertise and new skills. Specializations may include topics such as marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, leadership, and data science, among many others.

In addition to a well-rounded general MBA, Chico State’s online program offers two specializations:

• Health Services Administration, which prepares graduates to help organizations plan, direct and manage medical and health services 
• Project Management, which instills the skills and knowledge required to succeed as a project manager in any organization and prepares students to sit for professional certification exams

Professional development: “improving yourself through learning and training to advance your career.”¹² In other words, it’s the very reason why people pursue an MBA, so make sure that the university and program you choose provide strong, industry-specific support and opportunities.

All Chico State Online MBA students are connected to a full suite of career services and resources, which are accessible to program graduates for life. These resources include:

• Career Services Advisors who support your unique journey, helping you meet career-development benchmarks
• Wildcat Connect: the Chico State mentoring, networking, and alumni relations platform
• Handshake: digital job board, networking platform, and career advice database
• A robust professional network of more than 100,000 alumni

Elevate your career potential with an Online MBA from Chico State, where academic rigor meets the flexibility of digital learning. This comprehensive program offers a general MBA track, tailored for a broad business perspective, alongside two specializations in Project Management and Health Services Administration, to target your professional aspirations.

Engage with our expert faculty and experience a collaborative learning environment that fosters valuable connections. The Online MBA program is designed for working professionals, granting the freedom to balance life's responsibilities while expanding your network within our robust alumni community. Delve into a transformative educational journey that empowers your ambition and equips you with the skills to excel in the dynamic world of business.

Start redefining your career growth today. Take the first step by scheduling a call with an admissions outreach advisor.