Thanks for spotting that. I have updated the post. It's still excellent value for some who wants the core of the MBA in just one year, and with a modern curriculum. However, it does make the UoP MBA a better choice for people who want to study over two years, have more assessment and better feedback, and have a nationall-accredited US degree.  

Other EdX courses have seen large price increases recently. I'm guessing this is due to a global increase in demand for online learning triggered by the COVID pandemic.

Another reason that prices of courses on MOOCs may be going up is the potential crystallisation of financial value in these platforms. Coursera is reportedly looking at a $5bn IPO and I would imagine EdX must be of similar worth.

It's probably a good time for Coursera to do an IPO. That $5bn estimate is probably a bit overvalued and driven by the pandemic. Once things get back to normal I am not at all convinced Coursera will be hugely profitable. 

Hello,
I wonder is the MBA from University of East London valuable or not?

I can't see a reason to take it. 

The price for UoL (LSE direction) is around £20,000 for BSc (12 full courses) and you might have 8 courses for graduate entry track (which is still around £13k). Am I missing something something? The original post said it is only £3k.

Also, the price for MMU is almost £14k now. 

Prices for everything are increasing.

The price for UoL (LSE direction) is around £20,000 for BSc (12 full courses) and you might have 8 courses for graduate entry track (which is still around £13k). Am I missing something something? The original post said it is only £3k.

Anyone know why the Maryland Core MBA on EdX closed in 2021? I've been doing my own 'home made' Exec MBA made up of courses from different providers. After doing a leadership course with Oxford Said, I only got as far as the first module of the Maryland Core whilst concentrating on a Micromasters from Boston University which I'm nearing the end of.

I've looked at EdX and Coursera and haven't found a similar course that looks as good as the Maryland one.

Anyoone know of other similar courses available currently?

[Edited by aslamo on Mar 18, 2022]

Very useful information, thanks Duncan.

High-quality, low-budget, alternatives to triple-crown MBAs have never been better. However, the industrial effort employed in marketing below-average, for-profit schools has never been more effective at concealing them. In this thread, I'd love to pool our ideas about the best-value alternatives at different price points.

Naturally, none of these is a better investment than an excellent MBA. A high-quality MBA will increase your lifetime earnings by a huge amount, equal to many years' earnings. Sadly, not everyone can make that investment and many of those who can are not prepared to take the risk.

Most of the cheapest triple-crown distance learning MBAs are around $14k to $25k (see below for the OUBS MBA special pricing through Amity, and the Deakin MBA). A weakening pound means that British schools may seem discounted, with past or current FT-ranked business schools at Aston, Bradford, the Open University, Oxford Brookes, and RGU around $22k (And Manchester Met and the OU, via Amity, mush less). Illinois's iMBA and Wisconsin's Web MBA are arguably better designed and have a higher value. However, there's a wide range of price points below there.

Sadly, most people don't realize that an MBA from a terrible school, lacking any respected international accreditation, is worse than an alternative business education from a better school, both in terms of educational value and value perception by the most desirable employers. People get seduced by glamourous-sounding foreign schools, many of which are almost unknown in the institution's supposed home city.

Below are some of the better alternatives I know to an unaccredited MBA at a few price points. Affordable options don't stay available for long, so seize the day.

- c. $0 A Coursera specialization https://www.coursera.org/browse/business?facets=skillNameMultiTag%2CjobTitleMultiTag%2CdifficultyLevelTag%2Clanguages%2CentityTypeTag%3ASpecializations%2CpartnerMultiTag%3AUniversity+of+Illinois+at+Urbana-Champaign%2CcategoryMultiTag%3Abusiness%2CsubcategoryMultiTag&sortField=

- The Maryland MBA Micromasters closed in 2021.

- c. $2940 the University of the People MBA (has US national accreditation, which isn't the highest. However, at only 17% more than the MicroMasters I think this is better value) https://www.uopeople.edu/programs/ba/degrees/master-of-business-administration/

- The LSE graduate-entry BSc in management has new pricing, making the graduate track much less attractive than a triple crown MBA.

- $5000 Amity is a private Indian university with US regional accreditation, a fairly high standard. 

- $9000 The high-respected Open University's triple crown accredited Business School has a budget option where tuition is delivered by Amity, a private Indian university with US regional accreditation. I think the OU is better respected in the UK than Manchester Met and has been running one of the largest distance-learning MBAs since the 1980s. It ends with a practice-based capstone rather than a research activity.

- $10,000 Two AACSB-accredited schools have a double-degree program through UpGrad. Deakin awards an MBA while IMT grants a PGDM

- The AACSB-accredited MBA at Missouri State is now available only for students in the USA. https://outreach.missouristate.edu/online/master-of-business-administration.htm

- c. £14,000 Triple-crown MBA from Manchester Met has had a 25% fee increase but remains relatively affordable. It ends with a research-based professional project, which could be an advantage for people planning a Ph.D.: https://globalonline.mmu.ac.uk/online-courses/mba-business-administration/

Which schools should I add to this list? Are any of these options less costly in your country?

interested
PS Pricing updated to May 2021.

[Edited by sophiagallaghe8 on Mar 25, 2022]

Struggling to decide between these two. 

Aberdeen double-accredited, ranked 20 in Guardian rankings, or Manchester Met triple-accredited, ranked 70.

What is more important, university rankings or accreditations?

Aberdeen is charging a steep £7000 more than Manchester Met.  

Would appreciate any inputs!

[Edited by Bobby Johnson on Apr 05, 2022]

Hi Duncan,I'm wondering if the MBA program offered by Liverpool John Moores University is considered a good alternative. This program holds AACSB accreditation. I've been granted an 80% tuition fee scholarship to enroll in this program through Unicaf.

Thank you for your insights.

Best regards,

I'm wondering if the MBA program offered by Liverpool John Moores University is considered a good alternative. This program holds AACSB accreditation.

What is more important, university rankings or accreditations?

I'm wondering if the MBA program offered by Liverpool John Moores University is considered a good alternative. This program holds AACSB accreditation.

You are mistaken. LJMU does not have AACSB accreditation. It is a *member* of the AACSB. Membership is inexpensive and open to almost any business. 

Hello Duncan,
I'm facing a dilemma in choosing between two affordable MBA options:
- Amity Global Varsity
- Manchester Metropolitan University
Could you please advise me on which one offers better value for money?
Furthermore, I'm curious if the MBA program at Sunderland holds any of the three major accreditations. It comes at a cost of approximately £9000.



Thank you for your assistance.

This depends on your goals. In most circumstances, NPV is a better approach than RoI. 

You can look up accreditations on the accrediting body websites. or just look on the programme website. Sunderland has the AACSB logo but not the AACSB Accredited logo: that's normally a hint that they are a member but not accredited. Also, if they had any of the three accreditations at that price they would be on my list of best option. 

This depends on your goals. In most circumstances, NPV is a better approach than RoI.