What I Learned In My Online MBA in Finance
Contemplating an online MBA? Here’s what it’s like.
I did my online MBA at Adams State University off and on from 2019–2021. I completed my undergrad at Adams State and they also happened to offer an online MBA. The classes were in my price range and I already knew most of the professors. I signed up and specialized in finance because I had taken a strong interest in the financial markets and entrepreneurship as a financial advisor.
If you are contemplating an online MBA but aren’t sure if it’s worth it, I’m here to help. After receiving the degree and doing plenty of research into continuing education, I have some answers. In short, YES it was worth it for me. But it’s obviously not that simple. While being completely online means you have the flexibility to be wherever you want and work full-time, it also means you might miss out on the networking part of MBAs that are invaluable at big, in-person programs.
This article is simply a non-exhaustive list of some valuable lessons I learned at my MBA, the doors it has opened for me, and the potential downsides to online business degrees.
First of all, I will say that I was lucky to have really good professors that had known me since I was 17 and showed up on campus for my undergrad. I had good relationships with my professors and I knew I could email them about anything on a moments notice. I would not expect all online programs to be as personable of an experience as mine, however, I could be wrong.
Second, I think that the well-rounded nature of an MBA is extremely valuable and the online experience was no exception. Like I said, I specialized in finance but had plenty of classes in management, accounting, economics, and even public policy. I found the topics fascinating and very relevant to becoming a well-rounded professional in any field.
Adams required two elective courses from any of the other MBA disciplines which included public administration, healthcare administration, and leadership. I chose two electives from public administration as I am interested in public policy and thought that it would be most relevant to my desired careers.
Here are the general requirements in the program including the electives I took:
- BUS 500: Leadership Skills for Managers (3 hours)
- BUS 505: Creating Consumer Value (3 hours)
- ECON 505: Managerial Economics (3 hours)
- BUS 520: Managerial Accounting (3 hours)
- BUS 525: Financial Analysis (3 hours)
- BUS 540: Strategy (3 hours)
- BUS 590: Policy Analysis (3 hours) ELECTIVE
- BUS 580: Public / Nonprofit Management (3 hours) ELECTIVE
Third, my finance classes were very in depth. The classes that I took in finance:
- BUS 531: Multinational Financial Management (3 hours)
- BUS 532: Portfolio Management & Investment Analysis (3 hours)
- BUS 533: Financial Markets & Institutions (3 hours)
- BUS 534: Finance Capstone (3 hours)
Throughout these classes I learned theoretical concepts about monetary and fiscal policy, financial analysis and modeling using Excel, international trade fundamentals, derivatives, portfolio management, and much more. It is truly way too much to put into a short medium post. At the end of the program, we were put to the test with the finance capstone class where we had to take everything we had learned and apply it in real case studies using spreadsheets on Excel. Not only did I learn the theoretical practice of financial analysis but I gained practical experience with it that I can now show potential employers.
Online school gets a bad reputation for being inferior to in-person programs as people miss the in-person effect of learning that is unique to the classroom. While this is true, I think you get out of an online MBA what you put into it. Online, you don’t always have the luxury of asking questions directly to you professor during a lecture or popping in their office on a whim but you do have many resources at your disposal if you take full advantage of the program. I believe that, especially for the price, you can still get a good education if you apply yourself.
Lastly, I know that the ‘MBA’ after my name will help me gain employment for the rest of my life. The MBA is still a highly regarded degree for business professionals everywhere… up to a point. As the whole world becomes more productive, workers become more specialized. As businessmen and women become more specialized, you see more advantage in specialized designations like the CFA, CPA, and coding certifications.
The business world is changing and the education around it is too. I definitely don’t regret my MBA but if you are looking to get a job in something specialized, I might look into a more specialized certification like the CFA or CPA. If you are wanting a broad education to become a well-rounded businessman, or maybe you want to break into management at your current firm, an MBA is a great choice. But you should realize that there is more to landing your dream job after graduation than simply plopping an MBA on your resumé.
While the MBA makes you look better on a resumé, it also doesn’t make up for the age old truth that is: it’s not about what you know, it’s who you know. This is the part of the online MBA that lacks the most. Networking. Many people will say that an MBA is basically just two years of cocktail parties with future CEOs and trust fund babies. I wouldn’t completely agree with those people but they do have a point.
I definitely made some connections while in school online, but they weren’t as impactful as I would have hoped. The real connections I’ve made have happened since completing my MBA. I now have the business expertise to have great conversations with business leaders in my area. Networking doesn’t have to happen solely in the big expensive MBA programs. You can acquire the knowledge online and become an affective networker on your own for a fourth of the price. It just takes discipline to reach out to people, go to events, volunteer, connect on LinkedIn, etc. There are a million ways to meet the people that might give you your first great opportunity.
For me, I wanted a broad education that will help me be a leader in my workplace or start my own business someday. The education I gained has helped me understand the world as we’ve built it and it made me a better writer, a smarter investor, a more informed voter, and a more efficient worker.
If you are thinking about doing an online MBA, I would recommend you ask yourself these following questions:
- What is your desired outcome when you graduate?
If the answer is “get my dream job in xyz” make sure you realize there is a lot more that goes into getting that job than adding an MBA to your resumé.
If your answer is “to get a broad education in finance and management to help myself grow as a professional” an online MBA could be the right choice.
2. Who is paying for it?
If you’re on a budget like I was, an online MBA could be a great choice to save some money.
If you are wanting to break into financial analysis, or accounting, and want to save even more money, the CFA or CPA are cheaper, more specialized designations to pursue but they can take longer to finish and you might need up to three years of professional experience.
If money and time aren’t issues, an in-person MBA might be your best choice.
3. Are you a full-time working professional?
If you are, an online MBA may be your only choice if you have a family to feed or a job to keep.
If you have the time, funding, and desire to go to in-person class, an in-person MBA provides incredible value.
4. Are you willing to take on the networking part on your own?
To me, this is one of the most important questions. The business world is a network of relationships. You will learn a lot about business and where you fit into the worlds economy in your MBA, all you need to do is position yourself as the person that is capable of xyz in your community.
On the flip side, if you are looking to make key connections with people in a classroom, an online program is not for you.
I hope this has helped someone looking into furthering their education online. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me in the comments section or connect with me on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-anaya-mba-691640163/