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Quantic School of Business and Technology is an online MBA program that was launched with the goal to offer students a high-quality education in a flexible format that fits into their busy lifestyles. The school states that its mission is to provide a valuable learning experience that will equip graduates with the critical knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s working world. The Quantic School of Business and Technology MBA program offers several unique features, including personalized career coaching, leadership development courses, access to global networking events, and a virtual career fair.
The program’s curriculum emphasizes core management principles while also focusing on practical applications that can be immediately implemented in real-world situations. Students will have the opportunity to develop their ability to communicate effectively and analyze complex problems, both independently and as part of a team. In addition, they will gain a
About Quantic School of Business and Technology Mba Ranking
Start by covering core business courses at the Cornell Ithaca campus. Then, study where finance, business, technology, and commerce intersect. Our innovative campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City puts you right where you need to be.
Gain hands-on learning in the emerging financial technology sector and learn how to create, market, and sell technology-driven products and market innovation.
Digital Marketing.
Gain a deep understanding of brand strategy, creativity, and data analytics to optimize the digital marketing messaging, content, and distribution to narrower target audiences.
Scott Hillman headshot
“My favorite class is probably Startup Studio since it’s most reflective of the product management career I’m pursuing. It provides me the unique opportunity to combine theory with practice. I’m gaining experience building products in an incubator-like environment, while reinforcing that experience by also building skills through academic instruction.”
SCOTT HILLMAN, MBA ’21
The Johnson Cornell Tech MBA is a STEM-designated degree designed to develop tech-focused leaders and entrepreneurs. This one-year MBA program prepares students for career success in the digital economy, connecting people, technology, and business in the heart of New York City. Following a 14-week summer business core in Ithaca, the program continues at the Roosevelt Island campus in Manhattan.
Develop core business skills to maximize your career success. As an accelerated 13-month program of study, the MBA is designed for the early-career professional with leadership potential. The award-winning curriculum combines interactive technology and collaborative group study with exceptional classmates around the world, delivered in a structured, yet flexible format.
Students learn through our innovative Active Learning method, while collaborating with classmates in case studies, discussions, group projects, and events held virtually and around the world.
The curriculum is enhanced with an online library, paid research databases, lifelong access to courses, resume and cover letter consultations and our built-in career network, Smartly Talent.
Our Method
Quantic is a pioneer in technology-driven instructional design. Our award-winning interactive software represents the core of the MBA curriculum. Our team of writers, editors and developers work with leading professors from top business schools to bring the traditional MBA to life, with bite-size lessons and individualized feedback every 8 seconds.
Cohorts follow a guided sequence through the curriculum, working together on case studies and group projects in our accompanying social learning platform.
As a companion to our interactive online curriculum, enrolled students engage with their classmates around the world in our social learning platform. Students work together on case studies and collaborative group assignments throughout the program.
Events
We organize virtual and physical meetups and excursions in international cities around the world, giving our thousands of students and alumni the chance to socialize and network professionally. Students benefit from the learning and bonding experience with their exceptional classmates and the Quantic staff.
Degree
The MBA is awarded by Quantic, a DEAC accredited, degree granting institution of higher education, licensed by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) of Washington, DC.
The USA was the first country to offer MBA programs, and now offers excellent EMBA programs for professionals seeking to advance their careers to upper management and executive positions. For students pursuing an EMBA USA degree, there are many educational institutions to choose from that offer top-notch education with experienced and distinguished faculty.
Students pursuing an EMBA USA degree can continue working in their profession while earning their degree. This is an important aspect of EMBA USA programs as students can apply their new knowledge to their work, while bringing their professional experience to the classroom. For an EMBA USA, emphasis is placed on leadership and management while learning core foundational business principles and theories. Students will gain knowledge through courses such as managerial economics, corporate social responsibility, marketing management, and international finance, to name a few examples.
Scroll through the many EMBA USA options below and find a program that is right for you!
The Quantic MBA offers a solution to two major challenges that business education is facing.
First, in light of scrutiny over the cost of an MBA, the Quantic MBA comes at a very low cost. Secondly, their MBA is entirely online, capitalizing on demands for online, distance learning programs which offer greater flexibility than campus-based programs.
So what is the Quantic MBA, and is it worth the same as a traditional MBA?
Download the BusinessBecause Online MBA Guide 2021
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Quantic MBA | Curriculum and structure
Quantic School of Business & Technology offers what it claims to be the first app-based MBA. It takes around 13 months to complete, with between 150-to-200 students per intake.
The program is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), listed by the US Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
Tuition is delivered through an interactive app, using what Quantic dubs the ‘Active Learning’ method, designed by professors from top MBA programs. The curriculum is self-oriented, allowing you to go through the reading, assignments, and learning at your own pace in your own time.
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It is designed to be more interactive and dynamic than traditional MBA teaching methods—“no boring lecture videos, no tedious textbooks”, as the website reads. The interactive platform prompts users for interactions roughly every eight seconds, an interface which ‘tests not to confirm comprehension, but rather as an opportunity to teach’.
Students are often directed to other learning materials, such as studies from different schools, offering the option to read in greater depth on certain topics.
Studying isn’t an entirely solitary experience. On top of the learning platform, students take part in virtual discussions, case studies, and group projects over the course of the program.
Considering a mini MBA? Check out our review of LSE MBA Essentials
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Quantic MBA | Admissions
Applying for the Quantic MBA has three stages.
First, candidates must complete a short online application, which includes information on academic qualifications and work experience. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, at least two years work experience, and english language proficiency.
The online application includes the following five questions:
- Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Quantic?
- How do you plan to use the MBA skills to advance your career?
- What do you consider to be your greatest achievement and why?
- If you could ask anyone for professional advice, who would it be, what would you ask them and why?
- Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
Traditional 2-year MBA Program designed to provide core business building blocks with the opportunity for specialization.
20-months term
Early-career professionals
Classes meet at University Park Campus (UPC) in Los Angeles
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Executive MBA Program (EMBA)
This 22-month lock-step curriculum is designed to provide a deep generalist perspective for senior managers.
22-month program
Middle to senior level managers
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MBA for Professionals & Managers (Part-Time)
3-year part-time MBA Program designed for those who are fully-employed. Coursework combines core business curriculum with broad range of specialized electives.
33-month program
Early-career professionals and managers
Classes meet at University Park Campus (UPC) in Los Angeles
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IBEAR MBA (1-Year, Mid-Career)
1-year, accelerated, general management MBA Program for mid-career professionals. Global management skills enhanced through experienced participants from over 15 countries.
12-months program
Mid-level professionals and managers
Classes meet at University Park Campus (UPC) in Los Angeles
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Online MBA Program
The USC Marshall Online MBA offers flexibility, an integrated curriculum, and a full range of technological learning tools that create an engaging online experience and provide students with advanced skills for the digital age.
21-month program
Early- and mid-career professionals and managers
Synchronous and asynchronous online classes with a one-week residential intensive in Los Angeles at the start of the program
Stanford was ranked the top U.S. business school in the Bloomberg Businessweek 2021-22 Best B-Schools MBA ranking. A repeat winner, Stanford scored highest in compensation, networking, and entrepreneurship. Dartmouth’s Tuck school came in second, with Harvard third. For the first time, Bloomberg Businessweek’s MBA ranking included a Diversity Index that measures U.S. schools on race, ethnicity, and gender in their classes.
Bloomberg Businessweek ranked 119 MBA programs around the world. IMD once again was tops in Europe, and CEIBS was a repeat winner in Asia-Pacific. Queen’s Smith school climbed to No. 1 in Canada. Three schools were ranked for the first time, and 102 schools in the ranking moved up or down.
Rankings were based on 19,955 surveys from students, alumni, and recruiters, as well as compensation and employment data from each school. For the first-ever Diversity Index, U.S. schools also provided data on race, ethnicity, and gender in their classes. Here’s what we learned about the state of race and gender at MBA programs in the U.S.
Ranking the Best B-Schools in the World
Stanford was ranked the top U.S. business school in the Bloomberg Businessweek 2021-22 Best B-Schools MBA ranking. A repeat winner, Stanford scored highest in compensation, networking, and entrepreneurship. Dartmouth’s Tuck school came in second, with Harvard third. For the first time, Bloomberg Businessweek’s MBA ranking included a Diversity Index that measures U.S. schools on race, ethnicity, and gender in their classes.
Bloomberg Businessweek ranked 119 MBA programs around the world. IMD once again was tops in Europe, and CEIBS was a repeat winner in Asia-Pacific. Queen’s Smith school climbed to No. 1 in Canada. Three schools were ranked for the first time, and 102 schools in the ranking moved up or down.
Rankings were based on 19,955 surveys from students, alumni, and recruiters, as well as compensation and employment data from each school. For the first-ever Diversity Index, U.S. schools also provided data on race, ethnicity, and gender in their classes. Here’s what we learned about the state of race and gender at MBA programs in the U.S.
U.S.
Rank | School | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Stanford | 100.0 |
2 | Dartmouth (Tuck) | 91.8 |
3 | Harvard | 89.2 |
4 | Chicago (Booth) | 87.8 |
5 | Northwestern (Kellogg) | 87.5 |
The Bloomberg Businessweek 2021-22 Best B-Schools MBA ranking created a Diversity Index for U.S. business schools that for the first time measures race, ethnicity, and gender. Race and ethnicity count for 50% of the diversity score, and gender the other 50%.
U.S. Diversity Index
School | Score |
---|---|
North Carolina State (Jenkins) | 100.0 |
George Washington | 97.1 |
Howard | 96.6 |
UC at Irvine (Merage) | 92.5 |
Florida International (Chapman) | 90.0 |
Pittsburgh (Katz) | 85.2 |
Hult | 84.9 |
Miami | 84.9 |
American (Kogod) | 81.9 |
UC at Davis | 79.6 |
Where Recent MBA Grads Work
Totals from the 2021—22 Ranking
Industry | Schools | Number Hired |
---|---|---|
Consulting | 113 | 3,286 |
Technology | 116 | 2,777 |
Financial | 114 | 2,708 |
Health Care | 107 | 907 |
Consumer | 98 | 714 |
Manufacturing | 100 | 531 |
Retail | 70 | 287 |
Real Estate | 75 | 262 |
Energy | 76 | 248 |
Media / Entertainment | 57 | 209 |
Nonprofits | 65 | 182 |
Transportation | 59 | 157 |
Government | 43 | 93 |
Hospitality | 24 | 64 |
The Business School of the Future has arrived. Quantic is the #ModernMBA reimagining graduate education through a highly selective, mobile-first program built for the demands of a rapidly evolving world of work. From our free MBA to our affordable Executive MBA, our courses are designed to foster the sort of deep learning — and retention of keyconcepts — that enable tomorrow’s leader to develop career changing, marketable skills. Our flipped tuition reduces the cost for students, while solving skills-gaps for leading employers. Put your business knowledge to work with us, and get the career you deserve. Get educated. Get hired.
A year ago, even before most people had heard of a new respiratory disease centred around a wet market in Wuhan, the MBA was already falling out of fashion. With the global economy booming, the opportunity cost of this pricey degree (top schools charge $100,000 or more a year) did not seem worthwhile to many. Then, as the virus took hold, the attraction seemingly dwindled further. Lectures moved online, team exercises became socially distant and study-trips abroad were cancelled. Without the professional networking opportunities that MBAs provide, how could they possibly survive?
Rather than just about hanging on, many schools are positively flourishing. According to the latest annual global survey of more than 300 business schools by the Graduate Management Admission Council, 66% of programmes saw applications rise. Business schools deserve credit for adapting their business models—as their professors preach others to do. Many delayed the start of semesters, offered generous scholarships, waived exam requirements and liberalised policies on deferrals. And when we contacted schools in May to ask if they still wanted to take part in our full-time WhichMBA rankings, the vast majority were in favour of participating. Although some well-known schools are missing, we have ranked 90 schools on their full-time courses, using responses to quantitative and qualitative questions from thousands of current and former MBA students.
I have been asked by a few fellow Amazonian and LinkedIn connections about my experience with Quantic School of Business & Technology, so I decided to share my thoughts here.
First of all, I am extremely grateful with all the Quantic team for giving me the opportunity of being part of this amazing journey. I always wanted to pursue an MBA, however did not have the time nor the budget to go to a traditional business school. Therefore, when a co-worker mentioned that Quantic had a rigorous MBA program that was flexible and affordable I was very interested.
Here’s my journey so far…
I applied to the MBA program while I was pregnant with my second child -yes, this program is flexible enough that I could follow it while taking care of my two kids and a full time job-. The acceptance rate is very competitive (less than 7% acceptance) but Quantic contacted me to submit an application for the Executive program, which is even more exclusive. A few weeks after applying to the EMBA, I received an invitation for a virtual interview, which happened on the same day I was released from the hospital after a C-Section. Could that be possible in a traditional Business School? Absolutely not if you have to go for an in-person interview. Two months after, I received an email from Quantic letting me know that I was ACCEPTED in the program!
Image Credit: Quantic School of Business and Technology
On November 4th 2019, I started the program and so far my experience has been terrific. I would like to highlight the following:
The curriculum is top-notch, very rigorous and comprehensive;
Quantic case studies are as rigorous as any other business school;
Quantic platform is very engaging, so you need to be paying attention to the content;
The schedule is great and you make your own;
The day to day interactions with my class are like any other traditional programs, via Slack;
Quantic has many opportunities to meet up with your class and Quantic alumni, etc.
The Quantic Mobile app is making it possible for me to be on-track with the program while taking care of my two kids.
To sum up, I could not be happier with my Quantic experience. They have exceeded my expectations in terms of the quality of the curriculum and the flexibility they offer in comparison to other online programs. Therefore, I highly recommend anyone thinking about Quantic to apply. I hope you all get accepted!
If you’re thinking of getting an MBA, why not try for free first? With options for tuition-free distance learning MBA degrees, employee funding, and full scholarships, you don’t need to spend a penny on your diploma. You can also piece together your own distance learning MBA with free online MBA courses offered in subjects such as finance, marketing, management and more. Check out our list of the best free online MBA courses in the USA in 2021 here!
What’s in an MBA Degree & Why Study it?
The top specializations for MBA programs include entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, strategy and management. But no matter which MBA concentration you choose, you will be given a breadth of study topics in business foundations such as negotiation and communication, business strategy, finance and management and leadership.
With an MBA, you will learn countless skills not taught in the classroom as well, such as how to network, get ahead in business, negotiate, creative thinking and analytical skills, as well as the most up-to-date topics in business. Still on the fence? Here’s everything you need to know about getting an MBA (Blog post: Should I get an MBA. Everything You Need To Know)
Average Cost of Business School
A big topic on everyone’s mind these days is if an MBA is worth the high ticket price you pay. Will you get a good return on your time and financial investment? With top program costs in the United States at $130,000 for a 2-year program, applicants should do their due diligence to find that out before enrolling. Worried about debt after graduation? Check out these tips on how to stay debt free with an MBA. (Blog Post: MBA cost In USA Keep Rising. Top Tips to Study Debt Free)
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While tuition is less in other parts of the world, business school still remains one of the most expensive educational programs frequently sought after. European MBAs can cost between $60,000 – $90,000, in Australia the numbers average $50,000 – $110,000. Less expensive business schools around the world include Singapore (as low as $38,000 for a one-year MBA), and Canada (as low as $23,000). Other countries, such as Brazil, offer free tuition for citizens, but fees can still end up being in the $2,000 – $10,000 range. In South Africa, you can find an MBA program for less than $5,000.
Free MBA Options
Get a full return on your investment with these free options for MBAs in 2021:
- Full Scholarship
There are countless ways to find scholarships and grants these days, and you can even manage to find full scholarships — ones that will cover your entire cost of tuition and in some cases, even books and cost of living during school! To get started, check out this guide to scholarships for online students. You can also start by checking large online databases for scholarships such as Scholarships.com, Fastweb.com or College Board.
- Employer Funded Degree
If you are currently a full-time employee, you may want to look into asking your employer about company funding for tuition assistance. A recent report from the Society for Human Resources Management shows that 54% of employers offer some sort of tuition assistance. Check with your HR department for how to take advantage of this employee benefit. You may be eligible for partial or full tuition reimbursement. Just remember you will likely be expected to continue working full time or in some capacity while in school, so know your strengths — if you do well balancing many things at once, this could be a great opportunity for you.
The Executive MBA: The executive MBA is an option that many schools will offer to applicants who are already established in a workplace or career, and who are looking to enhance current skills and finally achieve an MBA while not taking time out of their career to do so. Executive MBA students usually work full time during the program, are financed entirely by their employers, and take slightly longer to complete due to the part-time nature of the program.
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- Tuition-Free Degree
What is a tuition-free degree? While this idea may seem unrealistic for most Americans, and for many people all over the world, it is a reality in today’s online world. There are a small number of tuition-free online MBAs as well. The benefits of getting an online MBA are the flexibility — all you need is internet access and motivation to do well and you can graduate with an MBA and be ready to join the business workforce with higher capabilities. Think about your decreased stress levels as well — if you know you can afford your education, you will be less stressed and better able to focus your mental energy and attention on your studies. Need more inspiration to study online? Here’s 10 facts about online colleges that will blow your mind.
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Here’s our top picks for tuition-free online MBAs in 2021:
University of the People
University of the People offers the world’s first tuition-free online MBA. A 100% online and accredited degree, UoPeople’s MBA in Business Administration can be completed in just over one-year. This non-profit university’s MBA program offers courses created by an Academic Leadership team from top worldwide universities and has coursework such as Financial Management, Marketing Management, Business Law and Strategic Decision Making and Management.
In order to apply, you need to have an undergraduate degree, two years of work experience, proven English proficiency, and references. While it is tuition-free it is not completely free, as there is a one time application fee of $60, and assessment fees of $200 per course. UoPeople’s mission is not to turn any student away due to finances, so there are many scholarships available to help cover these fees.
Smartly
Smartly is not accredited but is an online education technology company with an aim to provide a completely free MBA program to qualified candidates. All courses are online and offered in a cohort format. After the degree is completed, graduates are entered into an online network of other highly qualified candidates, where potential employers can find you for top job offers. Admissions are selective based on experience and applicants are expected to have business experience and an undergraduate degree at a minimum.
New York University of Business and Technology
NYUBT offers a tuition-free, online MBA in a flexible format. The non-profit program takes two years, but students can opt for an accelerated program and complete the degree in as little as 8 months. Admissions only requires an undergraduate degree and English language proficiency. Program participants will take courses such as marketing, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Quantic
Quantic is an is a new accredited online business school with a rigorous MBA education. Their free MBA curriculum combines a self-guided approach, along with group projects and online case studies. Quantic courses are delivered through the Quantic app that can be downloaded on your mobile device or computer. The courses are interactive with a peer learning platform. That being said, they ae highly selective, so make sure that you meet their requirements!
- Free Online Courses
Those with a high-level of self motivation and discipline can even create their own free MBAs so to speak using free online coursework. There are so many platforms offering free coursework from top universities these days, you can choose what you want to learn and learn at your own pace.
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Resources for Free Online MBA Courses:
iTunesU
This is a free app available on iOS devices, created by Apple. The app has a large collection of free courses from top universities including Harvard, Stanford, and The University of Nottingham. On the app, you can browse for sections such as business and find courses like business foundations and marketing basics as well as advanced classes.
EdX
With EdX, you can browse courses from the best universities worldwide. You will have access to the same lectures, assignments and tests as admitted university students. There are options to take the courses for free, or you can pay a fee to get credit or a certificate at the end of your online studies. Business classes offered on the site include Digital Product Management, Supply Chain Management and Public Speaking.
Udacity
Udacity’s school of business offers nanodegree programs in business for a fee, however several business courses are offered online free of charge. Most of Udacity’s free business courses are directed towards entrepreneurship and include topics such as How to Build a Startup, Product Design, and App Monetization.
What You Can Do With an Online MBA
Now that you’ve had a look at how you can achieve an MBA for free online, let’s talk about what you can do with it. MBA graduates from online programs are just as valued as graduates from in-person programs, and one can even argue that those that graduated from a free and flexible program have made the smarter MBA choice! Graduates of online MBAs can go into any field of business that a traditional student can, including entrepreneurship, marketing, human resources, and management. Check out more here on what you can do after you get your tuition-free MBA!
There is pushback in the U.S. to the high cost of college. Many people today still feel that there is value to a college education, but there are also many people in this country whose lives have been destroyed under the heavy load of student debt. Not every graduate is able to find employment in their field, yet they still have student loan debt payments. They are unable to marry, have families and buy homes. This new reality is making people examine alternatives to the costs of traditional college degree programs, such as MBAs.
One promising alternative that has been developing over the past 10 years is the emergence of MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses. Major universities have begun to offer these courses that are often free and only require payment of a fee to receive a certificate of completion. At the major universities, MOOCs are taught by the same faculty that is teaching their traditional course offerings. This is an interesting prospect to help students receive the advantages of an MBA program without the cost.
MOOCs are only one alternative to a free or relatively free MBA program. The following examines the current options for students who desire or need to find an MBA program that does not force them into crippling debt.
What Are the Options for Free or Relatively Free MBAs?
There are pros and cons to each of the options for a free or very inexpensive MBA. The list is ordered by the perceived value to prospective employers of each option.
Free MBA Option #1 – Full-Ride Scholarship at a Traditional MBA Program
The reason a full-ride scholarship to a traditional MBA program is the best option is that you end up with a real MBA, not a certificate as you would receive if you attended a MOOC. According to anecdotal evidence, employers are beginning to see more applicants who are presenting certificates that prove they received the same training that students would receive if they attended a traditional MBA program. The question is, “Will the employers accept the MOOC MBA certifications as readily as the traditional MBA?” Usually, the answer in the job market is, “It depends upon need.” If there are too many applicants and not enough jobs, employers are going to likely be more swayed by the traditional MBA. If there aren’t enough candidates with MBA training, employers are more likely to look at the candidates who have the MOOC certifications.
A full-ride scholarship means a scholarship that takes care of your tuition, school fees, books, and living expenses. Thus, a full-ride scholarship is indeed a free MBA. One suggestion is that you look for a full-ride scholarship that does not limit the monetary amount. This would allow you to attend a top business school in the country for your MBA. Employers value graduates of the top MBA programs in the country more highly than graduates from less well-known programs. U.S. News and World Report has a list of the top business schools in the country, ranked by the rates of employment by graduates, program selectivity, and the program reputation.
One note that applies to every MBA option on the list is that students need to consider the specialization that they pursue with their MBA. Students who pick MBA programs that provide them coursework in specializations that are highly prized and in demand in the job market will fare better than those who simply pursue a general MBA. Currently, highly-prized specializations within MBA programs include technology with an emphasis on data analysis, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, and healthcare management. The caveat with the latter specialization is that candidates might be better served to pursue a more specialized Masters in Healthcare Administration or Healthcare Management than an MBA if that is their goal.
Top MBA Universities Offering Full-Ride Scholarships
Rice University
University of Notre Dame
Vanderbilt University
Washington University, St. Louis
University of Michigan
Stanford University
Arizona State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Florida
University of Chicago
University of Minnesota
Indiana University
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Texas A&M University
Emory University
University of Virginia
Carnegie Mellon University
Brigham Young University
Dartmouth College
Cornell University
University of Texas, Austin
University of California, Los Angeles
Southern Methodist University
Georgetown University
Yale University
Columbia University
New York University, Stern
University of Missouri, Kansas
Full-Ride MBA Scholarship Sources
Forte Fellows Program – Supplies scholarships to women pursuing MBAs.
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management – Full-ride scholarships for minority students pursuing MBAs.
National Black MBA Association Graduate Scholarship Program – For minority students.
Free MBA Option #2 – Employer-Paid MBAs
There are employers who will pay for the cost of an employee’s MBA. You will need to carefully examine any contract you have to sign in order to receive the funds and ensure that you are willing to comply with the agreement. Also, you will need to determine if your employer is going to reimburse the cost of tuition after you pass the course or if they will pay for tuition when it is due.
Employers That Pay for Your MBA Program
The Boston Consulting Group
Chevron – Pays 80 percent of tuition
Deloitte
Robert W. Baird & Co.
Free MBA Option #3 – MOOC Programs
As explained above, taking a bunch of MOOCs will not provide you a piece of paper that states you have an MBA. But, you can take MOOCs that are the equivalent of an entire MBA program. Most MOOCs will allow you to pay for a certificate that shows you passed the course. Again, whether an employer will hire someone with the equivalent knowledge and learning that has MOOC certifications versus someone with a traditional MBA is going to be based upon the need of the employer and the potential candidate pool for the job. It is for this reason that your elective coursework should provide you the skills in order to have a specialization that is in demand by employers.
Sites that will have available MOOCs and/or collections of MBA coursework include edX, Coursera.org, Open Education Consortium, and OpenCourseWare. There are entire MBA programs available and other sources where one must cobble together all the courses you will need. An interesting article by OnlineCourseReport explains how to cobble together all of the required courses from Wharton School of Business, the most highly-rated business school in the country. That leaves just finding the best elective coursework to provide you with an in-demand MBA specialization.
The nice thing is that 10 years after the advent of MOOCs, many top universities are offering coursework through MOOCs that are taught by their regular faculty.
One thing that you need to realize is that you will need more independence and determination in order to complete a MOOC than if you were taking the course on campus. If you are someone who has difficulty completing homework for in-person classes, you are not going to be a good candidate to complete the coursework required for an entire MBA through a MOOC. In fact, only 10 percent of students who begin a MOOC successfully finish the course.
Some of the Better MOOC Sources
These particular MOOC sources were chosen because they contained coursework from some of the top universities in the nation:
Blackboard Open Education
Carnegie Mellon University – Open Learning Initiative
Canvas Network
EdX
Class Central – Class Central is a great search engine and review site that provides a gateway to the best MOOCs.
Kennesaw State University MOOC
MIT Open Courseware
MOOC.org
Stanford University
Yale Open Courses
Other Free MBA Alternatives
University of the People
This is another “free” MBA alternative. It has some very high-powered backing, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Many on the board of directors are from top-ranked universities throughout the country. The stated mission is to provide a quality education to those who may be locked out by prohibitive costs.
UoP has an MBA program with a certification fee at the end of each course of $200. Even those modest fees can be waived by scholarships that are provided by UoP. Students are allowed to work either full time or part-time on their program. Full-time students will complete the program in 15 months.
The concern that this writer and veteran educator has with the program is that the professors are “volunteers” who only receive such a small stipend for their required efforts per week that it amounts to about $3 to $4 an hour. It does not make sense why a program with such a powerful foundation behind it would not pay for faculty. One has to wonder how much effort your “professor” will provide each week in order to give feedback for your efforts. It is for this reason that I would recommend the Wharton MOOC system described in the OnlineCourseReport article or something similar because your instructors are fully paid faculty at the Wharton School of Business. They won’t cut corners.
Smartly
Smartly is an entirely free, unaccredited MBA program by the same people responsible for Rosetta Stone language learning programs. There are no lectures to view. One must interactively do all of the coursework online. It is one of the most selective programs of higher education in the nation, only selecting 7 percent of applicants to its program. Students have an average GMAT score of over 700 and have impressive business resumes. The program can be completed in just nine months. Smartly will receive revenue from headhunting fees by employers of its graduates which currently number around 2,000.
Overall, the best advice is to have great grades, GMAT scores, work history and demonstrated leadership qualities to land a full-ride scholarship at one of the top MBA programs in the nation. Then, one can count on the likelihood of employment, even in a down economy. Barring that, there is also the smaller possibility of gaining employment at one of the companies who will provide you a full-ride scholarship. If neither of these is an option, anyone can work their way through MOOCs and pay for certifications that will provide the equivalent knowledge that someone with the MBA degree paper hanging on their wall possesses. The difference is that you cannot depend upon employers finding comfort in those certificates and hiring you. Employment for someone with a MOOC MBA-equivalent certification is going to be dependent upon the job market and the specializations that the candidate possesses.