Top 10 Online MBAs for Switching Careers

At Indiana: Kelley in the US, half of the Online MBA participants have the goal of finding a new job by the time or shortly after they graduate. Kelley Direct Career Services offer extensive resources to support a career reinvention, including job boards, events, professional development courses and one-to-one career coaching.

ESMT Berlin expects a large number of the participants in its new Online MBA program to switch careers into a different area in the coming years. A big source of support for career-switchers is the vast ESMT network, comprised of more than 5,000 global business professionals, representing various industries.

MIP Politecnico di Milano in Italy has noticed a big shift in the career outcomes of its Online MBA students, with far more — a large majority — interested in a career change, often driven by the search for social purpose. For many, it’s about changing sectors but also roles, with many students stepping into senior management positions.

At Imperial College in London, a dedicated careers consultant provides support to create a strategy for your job search and career transitions, as well as guidance for interviews and case studies, support in salary negotiations, personal branding and tips for effective networking. From the Class of 2020, 66 percent changed roles, and 21 percent changed sectors.

Sydney’s AGSM is increasingly seeing students undertaking an Online MBA to facilitate a career switch. Around 50 percent of the cohort accept roles in consulting firms upon graduating. Participants often change careers, industries and sectors to ones that are more aligned to their passion and purpose.

The desire to change careers is not new to the career management center at UNC Kenan-Flagler in Chapel Hill, where many people enroll expressly to switch things up. For those who know what sector they want to move into, it will be helpful to tailor their studies with 25 elective options at UNC in areas such as Data Analytics and Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, or Finance.  

Online MBA students looking for a more expansive and comprehensive experience can select the General Track at Maryland: Smith, which provides a look at the key concepts across various disciplines. There are ample opportunities for online participants to gain the skills and expertise they need for a wide variety of careers, from finance and accounting to marketing and sales, operations and production.

Switching industries, functions, or both is one of the most common reasons that students pursue the Online MBA at Carnegie Mellon: Tepper. Students can take dedicated paths into specific areas such as operations or technology, to help them switch into careers that best fit their personality, skills and objectives.

At Michigan Ross, the Career Development Office provides resources specifically for Online MBA students, so they can create a plan to switch into careers that works best for their individual needs and goals. This includes virtual mock interviews, a LinkedIn profile review and personal career coaching.

USC Marshall’s Online MBA is ranked as the best in the world, largely because of the strength of its alumni’s career outcomes. One important factor is that students learn from and interact directly with accomplished industry experts, ensuring participants have the knowledge and networks to move into new areas of business.