There are three ways to get a Bryant MBA, and while each may appeal to a different kind of student, the trio of programs share a few of things in common. Graduates earn identical degrees, enjoy the same benefits of attending Bryant as any other student, and walk away with limited debt.
Bryant’s graduate programs include full-time, part-time, and online MBA tracks. Offerings also include the option to earn a full-time MBA in one year instead of two through the university’s 3+1 Accelerated Fourth Year MBA Program, which allows students to earn both their undergraduate and graduate degrees in just four years.
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Both full-time and online MBA graduates are highly successful once they enter the job market: 100 percent of full-time MBA students have a job within three months of graduating Bryant, while 98 percent of online MBA graduates are employed within four months.
Part-time MBA students are more likely to earn their graduate degree while working but reap value in ways that are similar to their full-time and online peers.
Nationally, for example, the average student graduates with $63,146 in MBA debt, according to data from EducationData.org; at Bryant, the average is $27,963 for the full-time MBA and $34,000 for the part-time program. Students who earn their MBA online have an average of $11,466 in graduate debt, owing in part to the fact that the per-credit cost for the online MBA is about two-thirds that of the full- and part-time programs.
While there are certain aspects of the full-time and part-time MBA tracks that aren’t available to online students, such as the Global Immersion Experience study abroad program (included for full-time students; optional for part-time students), all Bryant MBA candidates enjoy full access to campus facilities and — perhaps most importantly — receive identical diplomas at commencement.
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The similar outcomes and ROI mean that students can choose the MBA track that best suits their schedule and learning style, says Patrick Cameron, Bryant’s senior associate director of admission for graduate programs.
“It's just the cadence that’s different,” says Cameron. “The full-time MBA is geared for recent college graduates and young professionals who are potentially looking for a career pivot, especially, to a specialization that we offer, specifically Business Analytics, Fintech, Global Supply Chain Management, International Business, and General Management.”
The part-time MBA program, by contrast, tends to attract local professionals who are already in the workplace.
“We get a swath of individuals of different ages who want a deeper knowledge so they can make better-informed business decisions, are looking for specialization, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve on things like blockchain, crypto, or AI,” Cameron explains.
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Online MBA students tend to be more geographically diverse because the courses can be taken anywhere but share some similarities with those in the part-time MBA program. For instance, students in both tracks are more likely to already be working. In fact, three or more years of prior business experience is required to enroll in the online MBA program.
“The part-time MBA and online MBA students somewhat intersect where they need a degree in order to move up in their company organization or to set them apart because they are looking for a new role, a new position, or changing careers,” says Cameron.
The specializations offered for the online program also are different from the other two tracks: students can choose a concentration in Innovative Healthcare Leadership, Strategic Leadership, or General Management.
Time availability is a huge consideration in which MBA track students choose. Full-time MBA students take most of their classes during the day, along with a few specialized courses in the evenings. Part-time courses are all held at night.
Most flexible of all is the online MBA.
“All of the online programs are asynchronous,” explains Cameron. “You could be doing schoolwork at any point; we have a few nurses in the program, and I can only imagine, depending on what shift they have, some might be attending classes or doing homework at 3 a.m.”
Cameron is pursuing his own MBA via the online program. “I have two children under age two at home, so I do not physically have the time to sit in a classroom for six hours a week,” he says.
Online MBA students do have deadlines to meet just like those in the other tracks, and are required to work collaboratively with their “pod mates” and attend occasional live sessions.
“As an institution, Bryant wants to make sure that students have a sense of community within the program — that they’re not just attending some faceless school,” Cameron explains.
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The affordability of Bryant’s MBA programs is enhanced by the availability of graduate financial aid; in the case of the 3+1 program, students can apply their scholarship money to both undergraduate and graduate studies. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement for employees who earn their MBA to advance their career.
Undergraduates who segue right into an MBA program often give themselves a leg up when entering the workforce, says Cameron. “Many of these students are leapfrogging over some of those entry-level positions,” he notes.
Part-time and online students who are already working also can reap immediate benefits. For example, 91 percent of graduates of the online MBA program received a promotion, salary increase, or increased job responsibilities within four months of graduation.
“You are finding tools to put in your toolbox in all of our MBA programs."
“You are finding tools to put in your toolbox in all of our MBA programs,” says Cameron. “The question is which program is going to potentially service you in the best manner possible and give you the educational outcomes that you're looking for.
“Even if you don’t have a business background, and you’re someone like me who studied education and history in college, ask yourself if taking a fundamental course on finance and accounting would be helpful to you. In many cases, the answer is, absolutely.”
