An MBA is an important step for those seeking a career boost in the business world. However, for many professionals, especially those balancing multiple responsibilities or in fast-paced sectors, taking a year or two off to pursue an MBA full-time simply isn’t an option. Luckily, there are a number of top-notch programs available that cater to those who need to pursue part-time study options.
Although it is true that some top MBA programs are only full-time, there are plenty of business schools with part-time options that are among the highest-ranked MBAs of all.
In this post, we go through our top ten picks for the best part-time MBAs available in 2022. We’ll also include the details of each program so that you can decide which programs fit your needs and objectives!
Kellogg School of Management
One of the best part-time MBAs out there is offered by Kellogg, where part-time students get access to a similar experience as full-time students. Not only does Kellogg allow you to choose between their weekend and evening options, but you can also choose to pursue the traditional time frame (for most students, this is around 2.5 years) or an accelerated time frame (average is two years) depending on how much career experience you already have.
Source: kellogg.northwestern.edu
Kellogg’s part-time curriculum is centered around organizational leadership and business strategy. Beyond this and other business fundamentals taught in core classes, there are a number of electives available to personalize the MBA. For part-time students who want to further specialize their degrees, there are a number of majors and pathways available. Moreover, part-time students can choose to take daytime classes alongside full-time students if their schedules allow.
In short, as a part-time MBA student at Kellogg, you do not have to make as many sacrifices as many other students in other part-time programs.
Chicago Booth
Chicago Booth’s weekend and evening MBA programs are two of the best options available for part-time MBA candidates. Evening MBA classes consist mainly of students residing in or near the metropolitan Chicago area, whereas most of Booth’s weekend students come from outside Illinois.
Booth’s part-time MBA curriculum focuses on financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics. Part-time students can also pursue an MBA concentration such as Entrepreneurship or Operations Management. Additionally, just like for full-time students, part-time candidates are required to take LEAD, an experiential leadership development program that builds both skills and professional networks.
Thinking about applying to Booth? We know that crafting effective stories can be challenging. If you are looking for more inspiration, check out our MBA Resource Center featuring real essays that helped our clients access their top MBA programs!
NYU Stern
NYU Stern offers another top-ranked part-time MBA program. This program is particularly flexible, with the ability to complete it in anywhere from two to six years and with four scheduling options: weeknights, accelerated two-year, Saturdays, and online/modular.
Stern’s part-time MBA core curriculum is available to all students, but the school also allows you to test out of core courses if you meet all required qualifications. Then, once students start taking electives, you can specialize in up to three areas (out of a total of 27 options), including fintech, business analytics, and luxury marketing.
Berkeley Haas
Berkeley Haas offers a number of part-time options that usually take around two to three years to complete. This includes a weekend or evening program as well as a flex option that is partially online.
Source: berkeley.edu
Berkeley’s part-time MBA curriculum includes 13 core courses and a number of electives to personalize the program to your own career. Part-time students can also access daytime courses that fit their needs (application required). Students are also required to participate in experiential opportunities, ensuring that you get the chance to immerse yourself in Haas’s unique innovation challenges and build your network with other MBA students.
UVA Darden
The University of Virginia’s MBA program at Darden is offered as a part-time option that takes place on weekday evenings. Courses take place both online and on campus and take 28 to 48 months to complete.
Source: virginia.darden.edu
Like the full-time MBA, the part-time program begins with a cohort-based, core curriculum that ends in a leadership residency during which students can get an immersive experience while networking with other MBA students. Then, students choose a series of electives with the option of speeding up or slowing down their course of study according to their plans and goals. Part-time students are also expected to take part in Darden’s global course offerings.
NUS Business School
For those interested in studying in Asia, The National University of Singapore has a part-time MBA program with similar opportunities to those pursuing the full-time option. The part-time degree takes 24 to 30 months to complete.
Source: nus.edu.sg
Both the part- and full-time MBAs follow the same curriculum, requiring that students complete both academic and experiential core courses. Students then take electives, with the option of concentrating on one of nine different specializations in areas such as digital business and consulting.
Michigan Ross
With both a weekend and an evening MBA option, the Ross School of Business is another top option for students pursuing part-time MBAs.
The weekend MBA takes place every other weekend and its curriculum takes two years to complete. Evening MBA courses are held on weekdays and the amount of time to completion depends on the students’ schedules. Both curricula include core courses, electives (which can be funneled into a specialization), and participation in a multidisciplinary action project alongside peers to devise real-world solutions for companies and organizations.
Thinking about applying to Ross? We know that crafting effective stories can be challenging. If you are looking for more inspiration, check out our MBA Resource Center featuring real essays that helped our clients access their top MBA programs!
UCLA Anderson
The Anderson School of Management’s part-time MBA, or “fully employed MBA” (FEMBA), is another great way of boosting your career with a degree while maintaining your job. There is both a weekend and an evening option available and courses are offered online and in-person. As a result, part-time students only need to visit campus four times per quarter. This means that students do not need to live in Los Angeles to get their MBA from UCLA.
The UCLA FEMBA curriculum usually takes two to three years to complete. The first part of the MBA consists of core courses, while the second part is focused on electives that can be focused into a specialization. The third and last part of the FEMBA is when students can take part in global experience programs, including semesters abroad or an intensive week-long study abroad program that takes place after on-campus lectures. As a part-time student, you will also participate in the capstone project, an experiential learning program focusing on entrepreneurship, asset management, or global access projects.
Carnegie Mellon Tepper
The Tepper School of Business offers an accelerated part-time option to MBA candidates with enough experience to bypass introductory business courses (usually, candidates have three to seven years of experience). This program takes two years to complete and is completely online. Another plus of this degree is that it is STEM-designated, opening up the opportunity for longer-term employment within the US for international students. (Read more about STEM-designated MBAs here.)
Tepper’s accelerated MBA is divided between online content (live classes) and offline content (recorded lectures from the same professors teaching full-time students and group projects). This structure allows part-time online students to mimic an in-person experience while having the flexibility of pursuing their degree from anywhere.
Source: cmu.edu
Please note that because the program is accelerated, credits for undergraduate coursework in core modules are required, and these must have been completed within seven years of beginning the program.
UW Foster
The evening MBA program at The University of Washington’s Foster School of Business is another great option for part-time candidates, offering the benefits of a full-time MBA for students who must work during the day. Most students complete the program in three years.
Source: foster.uw.edu
The part-time curriculum at Foster focuses on leadership, strategy, global business, and innovation, providing core courses and electives with award-winning faculty alongside experiential and team-learning opportunities. Experiential activities include Foster’s case competitions and MBA short-term study abroad programs.
Decide on the right part-time program for you!
Finding a part-time program that not only boosts your career but also fits your needs, objectives, and schedule can be a tricky task. Fortunately, Ellin Lolis Consulting’s personalized methodology ensures that you are guided towards the best programs for you.
What’s more, our expert team is here to get you accepted. We work efficiently and effectively, optimizing your entire MBA application within your timeline so you don’t waste any time getting your essays and interviews into perfect shape.
Let us be your ally in getting into the perfect part-time MBA program for you – sign up to work with us today!
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