Traditional universities provide the opportunity to collaborate and network with industry professionals, but those who have already entered the workforce must acknowledge the convenience of an online environment.
Therefore, why not enroll in a hybrid MBA program and balance your personal and professional life?
Five of the top twenty business schools (as ranked by Fortune) offer hybrid MBAs, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these degrees lead to careers with a high rate of employment growth.
Nevertheless, many applicants are hesitant to utilize this new learning model. Despite its increasing educational prevalence, hybrid learning has yet to amass substantial evidence of its efficacy.
Existing data, however, suggests a unique opportunity for working professionals.
Join us for a comprehensive overview of hybrid MBA programs and learn how they compare to traditional and online systems, as well as how they can accommodate your work-life balance.
What Exactly Is a Hybrid MBA Program?
A hybrid MBA is a master’s degree program that combines online and on-campus learning.
While the majority of hybrid MBA coursework is completed online, there are several face-to-face components known as immersions. The school organizes immersions, which include face-to-face seminars, lectures, and social events for networking.
Hybrid MBA programs are becoming increasingly prevalent. Universities were first caught off guard by this trend, but data indicates prospective students overwhelmingly reject online education.
Consequently, hybrid programs became the newest trend in graduate education. Many institutions adopted the online-only education paradigm during the previous decade, signifying a clear transition away from the traditional format.
Explore why M.B.A starting salaries are soaring?
Hybrid MBA Acceptance Rate
More applicants apply to hybrid MBA programs than to campus-based classes. Because of the online component, universities can maintain class quality even in larger groups.
As a result, even at top-tier institutions, admission to these programs is more straightforward.
The table below shows the acceptance rates for five prestigious American universities in 2020. We compared the in-person arrangement to programs incorporating both online and offline components.
Universtiy | Acceptance Rate—On-Campus | Acceptance Rate—Hybrid MBA Program |
USC Marshall | 30% | 34% |
UT Dallas | 57% | 96.7% |
Oregon State University | 65.1% | 93% |
UMass Amherst | 82% | 84% |
University of Florida | 26% | 72% |
How Long Do Hybrid MBA Programs Last?
The duration of most hybrid MBA and executive MBA programs is approximately two years. There are schools with 16- to 36-month coursework durations.
The workload consists of the same required and elective topics as on-campus programs; therefore, hybrid models advance at the same rate as their on-campus counterparts.
Executive MBA programs require 14 months to complete. Our method prioritizes efficiency in order to complete the entire curriculum in half the time, hence lowering your financial and personal obligations.
How much does a Hybrid MBA Cost?
A hybrid MBA degree is less expensive than an on-campus MBA program because the school does not have to accommodate each student (except on in-person weekends), lowering overall tuition fees.
Nonetheless, prices vary widely between individual schools, depending on the quality of education and the institution’s prestige.
The table below compares the costs of hybrid MBA programs at notable schools, including their duration and selectivity for context.
USC Marshall | UT Dallas | Oregon State University | UMass Amherst | University of Florida | |
Price | $109,858 | $95,052 | $52,080 | $34,225 | $59,807 |
Duration | 21 months | 36 months | 30 months | 24 months | 16 months |
Selectivity | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
Average GMAT | 630 | 609 | 530 | 570 | 680 |
Scholarships | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mobile-First Curriculum | / | / | / | / | / |
Reviews of Hybrid MBA
Should you pursue a blended MBA program? The decision is influenced by your personal circumstances, financial resources, and preferences. Nonetheless, the growing popularity of blended education gives credibility to this concept of obtaining a postgraduate degree.
Sumit: “As I am going into my 2nd year as a Hybrid MBA student, I can’t imagine going through a program that doesn’t have a cohort and teams model.“
Attendees value the flexibility and convenience of online learning, as well as the in-person dedication provided by live events.
Slambur: “Most of my classmates are interested in building connections so we have found ways to do that virtually. I’m only 3 weeks in and I feel like I ‘know’ at least 2 dozen of my classmates pretty well.“
Overall, hybrid degree experiences have been most beneficial.
Online Business MBA vs. Hybrid MBAs
Pre-coronavirus in-person MBA schools are giving way to online and hybrid MBA programs. Leading residential business institutions are going entirely online, while elite schools use a mixed instruction method.
Where did this disparity come from?
Attendees used to benefit more from hybrid programs. Because internet immersion was still in its early stages a decade ago, applicants benefited from in-person networking events. It’s no surprise that top-paying, top-50 firm employees picked them for postgraduate studies.
However, many students now consider a hybrid program as good as an online MBA. Thus, pricing becomes the major differentiator—face-time hybrid aspects add thousands of dollars to your annual expenses.
Paying more is unavoidable if you want to pursue an exceptional degree, and colleges outside the Ivy League may discourage potential candidates with unjustifiable higher tuition.
Furthermore, research shows that attending the campus in a hybrid format does not significantly boost learning outcomes; results are largely determined by motivation and dedication.
As a result, the fundamental advantage of blended programs is from attending sessions that broaden career contacts.
More institutions, however, are hosting virtual meet-and-greets and platform networking.
Here are some other benefits of online MBA programs:
- Traditional classrooms and hybrid models are less expensive.
- Asynchronous education is supplied according to the schedules of the attendees.
- Virtual worlds and interactive online environments
- The shortest time to complete a course and obtain a degree
These advantages entice more professionals to work solely online. These degrees are becoming more valuable as more top-level working people accept them. We anticipate prestige matching between online and hybrid arrangements in the coming years.