Take Your Time In Choosing Your Online MBA Provider

For most of the 25 graduate candidates enrolled in their final course of Regis University's Top Online MBA, the road to an accredited Master's degree began nearly two years ago. Today, ten courses and 30 credit hours later, this elite group of individuals has reached an educational milestone -- without ever meeting each other face to face in a university classroom.

Initiated in January 1997, Regis University's Top Online MBA is available through the University Alliance in Tampa, Florida. With 1,200 students enrolled, and 84 total graduates, it is the nation's largest online MBA program and can be completed in less than two years. Students interact with professors via multimedia and Internet technologies, with no classroom attendance required. The courses are challenging, but graduates find the convenience and flexibility unmatched.

"The fact that one does not have to physically attend class is a great help," said Gregory Geiger, division manager for John Deere in Reno, Nevada. "I've been transferred eight times in 17 years. It would have been nearly impossible for me to complete a traditional MBA program."

The situation was similar for Kevin Mulligan, assistant controller for Ciba Specialty Chemical in High Point, North Carolina. He tried a traditional land-based program, but when it quickly interfered with family life, he found a better solution online. "I like the flexibility, especially when I'm on the road," he explained. Regis University's regional accreditation and 120-year- old reputation were also a plus. "Why make the financial investment if the program has no seal of approval?" he said.

Reputation and regional accreditation were also important factors for Joe Scott, who learned about Regis' online MBA in The New York Times. A safety standards engineer for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington, DC, Scott knows his employer is looking for individuals with business acumen. "This program is tailored to meet their needs and my career aspirations," he said. The program's flexibility also meant Scott could watch videotapes in the family van while his wife drove the carpool to work.

Maximizing time is Anne Cremarosa's specialty. Injured on the job, she used her disability leave advantageously, doubling up on classes to complete the Regis external MBA in about eight months, nearly a year ahead of schedule. "I really liked that I could revisit the lectures and listen to any part I missed," she said. "Plus, I was able to study in our motorhome." Cremarosa hopes to parlay her knowledge into a teaching position at a California junior college.

MBA Online