Best Part-Time MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know

As you are thinking about getting an MBA, you might be wondering if a part-time MBA is right for you. Let’s dig into what you should think about!

Part-time MBA programs allow (and require) you to maintain your day job and attend classes on evenings, on weekends, or a mix of both. Some part-time MBA programs offer hybrid options, where some learning can be done online balanced with in-person experiences as well; however, in this blog post, we focus on in-person part-time programs. 

Part-time programs are most often geared toward career enhancers or career pivoters versus those who want to make a bigger career change and who need an internship to gain experience in their new field. So, if you are looking to accelerate your career or help transition from, say, a software engineer role to a project or program manager role at a tech company, then a part-time program could be a good option for you. For more about choosing the right type of MBA program, see our blog post, “Full Time, Part Time, or EMBA: Four Steps to Choosing Your B-School Journey.”

What are the benefits of a part-time MBA program?

A part-time MBA program can be a great way to gain business education while retaining your salary. Another big advantage to part-time programs is that you will learn something in class (such as negotiations) and then get to immediately try it out in a real working environment (for example, by practice negotiating with a client or vendor)—and then come back to class to discuss, assess, and try to improve your skills. 

There is also greater flexibility in the amount of time to complete a part-time MBA—most students will finish the program in three to five years. So, if a big initiative comes up at work or if you are getting married and need to take fewer classes during a certain semester, a part-time program can allow for this.

Part-time MBA admissions teams are also generally accessible and can help you identify whether a part-time program is right for you. They often offer group or one-on-one sessions to discuss your goals and will provide feedback on your candidacy. 

Additionally, with a couple of exceptions, part-time MBA programs often have access to the same career management resources and career-enhancing activities as the schools’ full-time programs.

What are the downsides of a part-time MBA program?

Probably the biggest downside to a part-time MBA program is time. You will be required to carve out a couple of evenings or your Saturdays to take classes on top of work and family commitments—and it can be a lot. 

The other downside pertains to those interested in changing careers. Because part-time programs expect you to continue your full-time job, there aren’t built-in resources (as there are in full-time MBA programs) to help you change your career while in the program. 

Your geographical location and the lack of relevant programs in any given city can also limit your options for a part-time in-person MBA program. However, more online programs are developing in-person aspects to give additional flexibility outside of your immediate area.

Which part-time MBA program is best?

Interestingly, while full-time, executive, and online MBA rankings typically fluctuate from year to year, the top-ranked part-time MBA programs have remained consistent for the last five years. Over the last decade of U.S. News & World Report rankings, Chicago Booth and Berkeley Haas have topped the list, with Booth named number one for four out of the past five years. The next three spots have stayed consistent, with Northwestern Kellogg ranked third, NYU Stern fourth, and UCLA Anderson fifth. Michigan Ross, Texas McCombs, and USC Marshall have consistently been ranked in the sixth through eighth spots, while Georgetown McDonough, Ohio State Fisher, and UW Foster often round out the top ten. See the Poets&Quants article on the 100 best part-time MBA programs for a summary of U.S. News rankings over the last seven years.

U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Part-Time MBA Programs: Top Ten

If you are fortunate to have multiple part-time MBA programs near you—generally in larger metropolitan areas—then you should consider each program’s strength in your industry. Chicago, for example, is home to two of the top five programs: Chicago Booth and Northwestern Kellogg. Kellogg tends to be known for marketing, and Booth tends to be known for finance—but they are both really strong in technology. 

Where is the best place to earn a part-time MBA?

Because location can play such an important role in your part-time MBA options, sometimes the best choice for you might be your local university. Strong part-time MBA programs are built on the same resources as full-time MBA programs. Generally, the classes will leverage the same professors, and you will have access to the same resources. Therefore, you should look for universities that offer full-time MBAs near you. 

If you are interested in and willing to travel to a part-time MBA program, schools are typically very open to that. I had a client who lived in San Francisco but was really drawn to Northwestern Kellogg’s part-time program. Because Kellogg offers a part-time MBA weekend-only option, he chose to go there.

According to the aforementioned Poets&Quants article, the Greater New York City metropolitan area (which also includes parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania) has the most top-50 MBA programs (five): NYU Stern, Fordham Gabelli, CUNY Baruch, UConn, and Rutgers. Both Atlanta (Emory Goizueta, Georgia Tech Scheller, Georgia State Robinson, and UGA Terry) and Southern California (UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, UCI Merage, and Pepperdine Graziadio) each have four, while Boston, Chicago, and DC each have three. And 60% of these top part-time MBA programs are offered by large public universities, which benefits those who live near a college town.

Is a part-time MBA worth the cost?

This really depends upon your goals and what you hope to gain from an MBA. Looking at the top two part-time MBA programs on the U.S. News list, Berkeley Haas costs roughly $160K, while Chicago Booth is approximately $170K. These amounts can vary depending upon the number of credits taken, and these estimates are based on the minimum credits needed to complete the program. You can compare this to the cost of both schools’ full-time programs: Booth is close to $170K, while Haas is roughly $130K. If you are a resident of California, you get a bit of a price break for Haas ($20K). 

However, if cost is an issue and you live in Chicago, you might consider Loyola Chicago Quinlan, whose part-time MBA program costs closer to $80K. This is more in line with universities outside of big cities. For example, the cost of Ohio State Fisher’s part-time MBA program is approximately $80K. 

Part-time MBA programs can be a cost-effective way to gain business skills in order to accelerate or enhance your career. And if you live in a larger city or close to a large university, you are more likely to have a strong program near you. 

As you are looking at part-time MBA programs, you might also want to consider different master’s programs that can help you build a more specific set of skills. For more information, see our blog series on different master’s programs: 

• Should I Consider a Master in Management or Master in Management Studies?
• Should I Consider a Master in Engineering Management?
• Should I Consider a Master’s Degree in Finance?
• Should I Consider a Master’s Degree in Business Analytics or Data Analytics?

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