Online MBA vs. In-Person MBA: Which is Right for You?

Juan Munoz '22 '24MBA, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies and Master of Business Administration

You have a bachelor’s degree — and you have a vision for your business career. If that vision includes a Master of Business Administration (MBA), you may be debating the best way to get this industry-recognized degree.

You have a couple of options.

Online, In Person or Both: How Do You Want to Earn Your MBA?

There are two primary MBA program formats: online and in-person.

If you earned your bachelor’s degree on a college campus, attending set class times with your peers in physical spaces may be familiar to you. This is how an in-person MBA program works.

Your other option is an online program, which will likely have weekly assignment deadlines. Online programs operate in a virtual classroom environment, often with classmates located across the country.

Some MBA programs allow you to mix and match — taking a combination of in-person and online classes. This is often referred to as the "hybrid" option.

“Choose a program that aligns with your schedule and learning style, especially if you are balancing a full-time career,” said Dr. JoAnn Prevetti, a business instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Tuition costs between the two formats are worth considering. At SNHU, for instance, an in-person MBA costs $829 per credit as of August 2026, whereas an online MBA costs $659 per credit. That means, a 30-credit in-person program may cost about $24,870 in tuition, while the online version may be $19,770.

Both options are more affordable than the national average cost for an MBA degree, which the Education Data Initiative reports is $60,410.

Whether you're earning your MBA in person or online, you may be able to take advantage of financial aid or employer tuition programs as well.

Are Online MBAs as Good as In-person?

Online and in-person MBA programs are equally respected — with an important caveat, according to Prevetti, who has worked in corporate leadership, government relations, marketing, communications and media strategy throughout her career. The online program needs to be accredited and reputable. The same goes for an in-person program.

“The credibility of the degree is defined by the institution, its accreditation and how effectively the graduate applies their knowledge to drive results,” Prevetti said.

For instance, the online and in-person MBA programs at SNHU have earned institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and a leading programmatic accreditor, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This means both types of MBA met the eligibility criteria put forth by an accreditor that’s committed to advancing excellence in business education.

Just as you might expect in a traditional campus MBA program, online students complete assignments regularly, contribute to discussions, conduct case studies and participate in group projects.

“An online MBA program is structured, demanding and comparable in depth to an on-campus experience,” Prevetti said.

While the curriculum may vary between online and in-person programs at some schools, Prevetti noted that the core concepts you explore in an MBA are often the same. For instance, she said you can expect to study:

• Finance
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Operations
• Strategy

“The distinction is less about the content and more about the format of delivery and interaction,” Prevetti said, noting that the outcomes for both types of MBA are aligned and focused on preparing students to effectively apply business principles.

At SNHU, many campus students earning their MBA will take one or two online courses for flexibility, according to Doug Blais, PhD, a director of campus graduate programs at SNHU with three decades of experience as a business professor.

Blais and Prevetti identified the primary differences between the two MBA formats:

“The decision should come down to your schedule, learning preferences and professional responsibilities,” Prevetti said.

One benefit of an online MBA program, she noted, is that you’ll likely have classmates working in diverse industries, which can help you expand your real-world applications and professional network.

“Students interact regularly through discussions, group work and collaborative projects, often with professionals from different industries and geographic locations,” Prevetti said. “These relationships can be just as valuable as in-person connections when you actively engage.”

Which MBA is Most Difficult?

Both in-person and online MBAs have shared learning outcomes and curricula that align. So the subject matter should be the same — and, according to Blais, feel both rigorous and manageable.

Your learning style matters. If you prefer your learning, experiences and collaboration to be done face-to-face, Blais recommends earning your MBA in person.

But if you know you need maximum flexibility in terms of schedule and study location, online classes could be a better fit, he said.

Blais noted that it’s what’s happening outside of the classroom that can contribute to an MBA program’s difficulty.

“Each individual will have various roles and responsibility outside of the university,” he said. “It is the ability to manage these demands that will determine how difficult the program would be.”

Earning a master’s degree was a 15-year goal for Youshi Patel ’24MBA — but he kept putting it off. He was too busy, and he worried about failing.

“I decided, well, if I don’t try, how am I going to know...?” Patel said. Ultimately, he chose to earn his MBA online at SNHU, and the format ended up being the right fit for him.

"When I was in my classes, I felt like I had support from my peers with other students, and they were all virtual, too," he said. He noted that he could also connect with his instructors when needed.

And when an in-person SNHU alumni event came to Atlanta, Patel attended to build local connections face-to-face.

No matter which program suits you best, good time management skills make a difference. Prevetti recommends consistency — making steady progress toward your degree each week.

“When I earned my MBA, I was working in a high-level executive role, so I understand the demands,” Prevetti said. To stay on track, she said she’d block off time on her calendar for coursework.

Applying what you’re learning to your profession along the way can also be helpful. "Look for opportunities to connect your coursework directly to your current role, which makes the work more practical and manageable,” she said.

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing from SNHU’s campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn.