Interesting report from BusinessWeek (http://www.businessweek.com/business-schools/the-online-mba-salary-blues-08222011.html)
"Can an online program, even one offered by a top-ranked business school such as Kenan-Flagler, ever prove a bargain at that price?
"Predicting is always dicey, especially when it comes to MBA salaries, which are influenced by the fates of national and regional economies, industries, and even the fortunes of specific companies. But information can be gleaned from online MBA programs with a bit more track record.
"At Kelley Direct, the average salary of the MBA class of 2010 was about $70,400 at enrollment, with 2 percent of students earning $120,000 or more, according to Kelley data. By graduation, the average salary had risen to $89,100, with 26 percent of students earning at least $120,000. The increase in average salaries was $18,700, or about 26.5 percent. In dollar terms, that?s about half the increase achieved by Kelley?s full-time MBAs, whose salaries increased by nearly $37,000?or more than 70 percent?to $89,144."
What's notable, of course, is that the two groups end up on similar salaries, but the online students have higher salaries going in, which makes the opportunity cost of a full-time MBA much higher.
"Can an online program, even one offered by a top-ranked business school such as Kenan-Flagler, ever prove a bargain at that price?
"Predicting is always dicey, especially when it comes to MBA salaries, which are influenced by the fates of national and regional economies, industries, and even the fortunes of specific companies. But information can be gleaned from online MBA programs with a bit more track record.
"At Kelley Direct, the average salary of the MBA class of 2010 was about $70,400 at enrollment, with 2 percent of students earning $120,000 or more, according to Kelley data. By graduation, the average salary had risen to $89,100, with 26 percent of students earning at least $120,000. The increase in average salaries was $18,700, or about 26.5 percent. In dollar terms, that?s about half the increase achieved by Kelley?s full-time MBAs, whose salaries increased by nearly $37,000?or more than 70 percent?to $89,144."
What's notable, of course, is that the two groups end up on similar salaries, but the online students have higher salaries going in, which makes the opportunity cost of a full-time MBA much higher.
