Comparing a business school’s part-time MBA versus full-time MBA means considering many factors. Requirements for flexibility, types of experience, and teaching method must all be taken into account, and evaluated against personal factors such as individual commitments and financial situations.
In this article, we will outline the details of and the differences between the two programs, and assist in your decision as to which suits you best. We will also explore business schools with the top part-time MBA programs.
Understanding the Full-Time MBA Option
A full-time MBA usually lasts one or two years. During two-year programs (which are especially common in the U.S.), many candidates will complete an internship in the summer between the two years of study.
During the MBA, students will likely study around 6-8 hours per day, with their time split between classes, assignments, and personal study. Programs are usually immersive, with students living near to (and sometimes on) campus for the duration of their studies.
Pros
The full-time MBA offers many advantages to its students.
First, full-time MBA students spend a lot of time with fellow MBA candidates. This gives rise to support and bonding experiences with other students, and also to extensive networking opportunities.
Second, the student network is enlarged due to the fact that many students relocate for a full-time MBA, leading to classrooms with students from different areas, countries, and cultures. As well as networking, this leads to classrooms full of students with diverse perspectives and experiences.
Third, the break between years of a two-year program allows students to take advantage of internship opportunities.
Finally, the full-time MBA format allows students to complete their degree in just one or two years. This means that students are able to launch or advance their careers in a short space of time.
Considerations
Alongside these positive aspects, there are some factors of pursuing a full-time MBA that are worth considering.
For example, students may need to relocate for a full-time MBA, and will certainly need to leave their current job. Students may find that the full-time nature of the program leaves less time for family responsibilities or other commitments in their life.
The cost of a full-time degree can also be high, with top programs reaching over $100,000 per year. In addition to these costs, students will need to cover any relocation costs and their living expenses while on the program. These factors are made more difficult by the fact that candidates will need to quit their job in order to enroll in the full-time program.
Understanding the Part-Time MBA Option
Part-time MBA programs allow students to take the same courses as in a full-time MBA, but in a flexible and more widely distributed format.
Students in a part-time MBA would typically complete around two courses each semester, studying for a couple of hours each weekday and more on the weekend. Most people complete a part-time MBA between three and six years, though this varies by school.
The content of a part-time MBA is much the same as on a full-time one. Teaching is also likely to be led by the same faculty, and extracurricular offerings are usually similar.
Flexibility is a core tenet of part-time MBA programs. These are degrees designed to fit around the life of a working professional, and to be juggled alongside employment and other responsibilities. In general, there are four formats for the part-time MBA:
- The evening MBA;
- The weekend MBA;
- The online MBA;
- The hybrid MBA (in which teaching takes place both online and in person).
Pros
One huge factor in favor of a part-time MBA is flexibility. In fact, flexibility tends to be the primary reason why candidates will choose a part-time MBA versus a full-time one.
The flexibility afforded by a part-time MBA means that students can:
- Hold on to their full-time jobs while studying. This is great news for anyone committed to their current job; it also goes a long way in helping to fund the program. Retaining their job also opens up more opportunities for students to gain employer sponsorship.
- Reduce the number of courses they take in a semester while they turn their attention to other responsibilities. Or, alternatively, increase their workload if they find themselves with more time.
Because the MBA is frequently conducted while students are in employment, the two channel into one another. Students can apply learnings from their MBA directly to their job, and can bring real-world examples from their employment into the classroom.
Considerations
The flexibility of a part-time MBA program allows students to study at a pace that works around their lives. However, it does mean dedicating many years to an MBA program before graduating. This could mean waiting a long time before reaping the benefits of the time and money invested into a part-time MBA.
This flexibility can also be a source of stress for some students. Adding evening or weekend study to a full-time job and potentially to family commitments may seem overwhelming. Plus, with a full-time job on the go and weekends or evenings reserved for study, little time is left to engage in the internships and extracurriculars on offer.
Since the part-time MBA is less immersive than the full-time MBA, it provides less opportunities for networking. Students are spending less time together than on the full-time program; and, since their part-time class mates are less likely to have relocated, they probably won’t be mingling with other students from other locations. Both of these factors limit the scope of networks that can be built.
And, finally, students applying to part-time MBAs need to carefully consider the location of the program they choose. Selecting a school to which it is possible to commute after work or on the weekend leaves candidates with less options than if they were to relocate to a full-time program.
Part-Time versus Full-Time MBA: Key Considerations
The differences between the full-time and the part-time MBA can be boiled down to a few key considerations. These are the main factors to reflect upon when deciding which program is best suited to you.
1. Career Goals
Full-time MBA programs work well for students who wish to switch careers and enter a new field. They allow specializations and concentrations in common industries for MBA grads, and provide candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge to pivot their focus.
Part-time MBAs, on the other hand, are better suited for those wishing to accelerate their progress at their current workplace. They are designed for working professionals who wish to continue working while studying, and to apply their learnings directly to their employment. In light of this, they are also occasionally sponsored by employers.
2. Cost and Return on Investment
The costs associated with pursuing a full-time MBA tend to be much higher than those for its part-time equivalent. This is largely due to the fact that students in full-time programs must fund their entire degree while having lost the income of their regular employment.
That said, Fortune suggests that full-time MBA students receive a greater return on investment (ROI) for their degree. This is due partly to the fact that they are more likely to end up in lucrative fields such as finance, accounting, and consulting—and partly due to the signing bonuses they may receive on securing a new position rather than simply advancing their career.
3. Work-Life Balance
A full-time MBA is completely immersive, requiring a delicate balancing act between studies, activities, socializing and family life. Everything is compressed into two years, whereas students in a part-time program are able to spread their studies over several years and to alter their workload between semesters. This means that part-time students can find it much easier to balance their employment, family, and social responsibilities alongside the program.
4. Networking and Extracurriculars
A full-time MBA offers constant networking, versus its part-time MBA equivalent, in which students interact on limited occasions. Since student interaction on part-time MBAs is far less frequent and regular, networking is greatly reduced; an important consideration when deciding which program best fits your goals.
Students in a full-time MBA program have a time-based advantage; since they are not juggling jobs alongside their studies, they are able to make greater use of the clubs, internships and extracurriculars on offer at their business school.
Top Part-Time MBA Schools
The part-time MBA programs marked as “top” tend to be the ones that offer the highest level of flexibility, the best faculty, the most rigorous curriculum, and the most successful alumni outcomes.
Various platforms annually rank part-time MBA programs to determine which are best. Two such organizations are U.S. News & World Report and Fortune. In 2024, these two sites ranked the top ten part-time MBA schools as follows:
U.S. News part-time MBA top-ranked programs
- Chicago Booth
- Berkeley Haas
- Northwestern Kellogg
- NYU Stern
- UCLA Anderson
- Michigan Ross
- Texas McCombs
- USC Marshall
- Georgetown McDonough
- The Ohio State Fisher
Read about U.S. News’ Methodology here.
Fortune part-time MBA top-ranked programs
- Chicago Booth
- Michigan Ross
- Texas McCombs
- UCLA Anderson
- Indiana Kelley
- NYU Stern
- Rice University Jones
- Washington University St. Louis, Olin
- Florida Warrington
- Minnesota Carlson
If you want to learn more about which part-time MBA schools are ranked the highest, head to our article on the top-ranked part-time programs.
Making the Right Choice: Which MBA Format Is Best for You?
There are clear benefits to both the full-time and part-time MBA options. With both offering world-class faculty and the best content to advance your career, choosing between the two can be tough.
In general the divide between suitability can be summarized as follows.
The full-time MBA is best suited to:
- Those who wish to switch careers or who are near the beginning of their career;
- Those who are searching for an immersive experience;
- Those who can relocate for a program;
- Those who wish to take advantage of internships, clubs, and extracurricular opportunities;
- Those who are able to step away from employment for the duration of the program.
The part-time MBA is best suited to:
- Those seeking promotions and advancements within their current employment;
- Those who are searching for a flexible experience;
- Those who wish to, or need to, remain in the same location;
- Those with family commitments (though full-time MBA programs can offer partner- and family-based clubs and activities);
- Those who do not wish to leave their job.
Choosing a Program
To assist with your decision, you may wish to ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it possible for me to study alongside my full-time job?
- Do I have access to the financial resources to leave my employment for the duration of the program?
- Do I have family commitments or other responsibilities that would prevent me from immersing myself in a full-time program?
- Do I need to complete my MBA within a certain time frame?
- Do I wish to switch careers or industries or simply advance the position I currently have?
- Am I willing and able to relocate?
- Do I learn best in-person or online?
- How important are networking opportunities to me?
- Do I want to involve myself in clubs and extracurriculars?
- Do I want to complete an internship over the course of my MBA?
Once you have reviewed these questions, compare your answers with the information learned in this article about full-time versus part-time MBAs. Ultimately, the decision as to which one works best comes down to you.
