4 ms·

Ask HN: Cheapest MBA?

6 points by northband 14y ago

Does anyone know where to get an affordable MBA online? Thinking about getting one so the suits take me more serious. I know its sad - but seems a piece of paper or acronym works in some circles.

gdilla 14y ago
build and launch something. Follow lean startup principles. The ROI is probably better than an MBA, and you'll learn something and be very employable.
- northband 14y ago
  +1 for this. I've been on the startup circuit for almost 2 decades and find it as home. But getting tired of being depicted as not knowing how business works because I'm just a "coder".
richf 14y ago
Looks like the cheapest AACSB-accredited MBA program is $9k. Good site to check out: http://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/best-buy-lists/best-buy-online-masters-mba-aacsb http://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankin...
mindcrime 14y ago
I'm not sure about the cheapest, but ECU (East Carolina University) has an MBA program available online that is generally considered a pretty good value. http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/ http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/ http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/op.cfm http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/op.cfm http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/grcat/distanceEd.cfm http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/grcat/distanceEd.cfm
hodder 14y ago
We need you to provide more detail on your goals. Is your goal to raise money for an entrepreneurial venture? Better undertand finance and accounting? Learn about enterpeneurship? Create a business plan? Gain a network? Get a job? Impressing "the suits" obviously isn't your end goal. Regardless of your goals, I urge you to avoid enrolling in a cheap MBA program. An MBA program's value comes primarily from the network of classmates, alumni, potental employers, and the signalling effect of the programs selectivity. Cheap MBA programs typically fail in all of those categories.
scottyallen 14y ago
Have you tried craigslist? "Technical cofounder seeks business counterpart(must have MBA) to join forces and take over the world. Must be willing to work for equity at the start." Quality of your MBA matters too, not just affordability. You might find in person networking more effective. I've met plenty of fresh MBA graduates looking for a technical person to make their dream come true. Based on the aura of desperation that surrounds them, I would suspect they're pretty affordable...
brudgers 14y ago
Western Governor's University is $2890 every six months. The format generally allows working at whatever pace suits you...at least according to the literature. It is not for profit (quasi-public), and fully accredited. www.wgu.edu
gawker 14y ago
A lot of the value of an MBA comes from the school and not just the three letters. You'd be better off focusing on building something that will wow the suits. If you really want credibility, I'm not sure if an online MBA will bring you that.
rstevenson542 14y ago
a library card.
debacle 14y ago
The cheapest MBA is the one the company you work at pays for.

6 points by northband 14y ago

Does anyone know where to get an affordable MBA online? Thinking about getting one so the suits take me more serious. I know its sad - but seems a piece of paper or acronym works in some circles.

gdilla 14y ago

build and launch something. Follow lean startup principles. The ROI is probably better than an MBA, and you'll learn something and be very employable.

northband 14y ago
+1 for this. I've been on the startup circuit for almost 2 decades and find it as home. But getting tired of being depicted as not knowing how business works because I'm just a "coder".

richf 14y ago

Looks like the cheapest AACSB-accredited MBA program is $9k. Good site to check out: http://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankings/best-buy-lists/best-buy-online-masters-mba-aacsb http://www.geteducated.com/online-college-ratings-and-rankin...

mindcrime 14y ago

I'm not sure about the cheapest, but ECU (East Carolina University) has an MBA program available online that is generally considered a pretty good value. http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/ http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/ http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/op.cfm http://www.ecu.edu/cs-bus/op.cfm http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/grcat/distanceEd.cfm http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/grcat/distanceEd.cfm

hodder 14y ago

We need you to provide more detail on your goals. Is your goal to raise money for an entrepreneurial venture? Better undertand finance and accounting? Learn about enterpeneurship? Create a business plan? Gain a network? Get a job? Impressing "the suits" obviously isn't your end goal. Regardless of your goals, I urge you to avoid enrolling in a cheap MBA program. An MBA program's value comes primarily from the network of classmates, alumni, potental employers, and the signalling effect of the programs selectivity. Cheap MBA programs typically fail in all of those categories.

scottyallen 14y ago

Have you tried craigslist? "Technical cofounder seeks business counterpart(must have MBA) to join forces and take over the world. Must be willing to work for equity at the start." Quality of your MBA matters too, not just affordability. You might find in person networking more effective. I've met plenty of fresh MBA graduates looking for a technical person to make their dream come true. Based on the aura of desperation that surrounds them, I would suspect they're pretty affordable...

brudgers 14y ago

Western Governor's University is $2890 every six months. The format generally allows working at whatever pace suits you...at least according to the literature. It is not for profit (quasi-public), and fully accredited. www.wgu.edu

gawker 14y ago

A lot of the value of an MBA comes from the school and not just the three letters. You'd be better off focusing on building something that will wow the suits. If you really want credibility, I'm not sure if an online MBA will bring you that.

rstevenson542 14y ago

a library card.

debacle 14y ago

The cheapest MBA is the one the company you work at pays for.