Firms are starting to show A Degree of Respect for Online MBAs:
Enrollments at online MBA programs are soaring — to about 125,000 students from virtually zero 10 years ago — even as applications to traditional business schools have dropped. And while online programs might not grant access to powerful alumni networks or the most prestigious consultancies and investment banks, respect for the degrees has increased to the point where, for some, getting one makes good career sense. ‘Our perception is that an online education from a reputable college or university is as valuable as the degree offered on-ground,’ says Alan Fisher, manager of corporate extended education at Intel, which pays for employees to earn MBAs through various Web-based programs. ‘We don’t differentiate between the two.’