There are two types of online MBA programs: accredited programs and unaccredited programs.
Guess which one is worth more?
If you’re reading this, then I already know you take your education seriously. And if you take your education seriously, then finding an accredited MBA program is the most important part of searching for a school.
Here’s why an accredited online MBA matters:
What Does It Mean When an MBA Program is Accredited?
Generally speaking, a school is “accredited” when it has passed certain regulations. Those regulations may be established by a country or some sort of international governing body – like the Association of MBAs (AMBA), which accredits business schools all over the world.
MBA programs tend to be a bit more complicated: there are several different groups which accredit MBA programs around the world. Those groups include:
-Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), all of which accredit schools in America and other countries
-Association of MBAs (AMBA), a UK-based organization which accredits universities outside the United States
-All India Council for Technician Education (AICTE), which certifies schools across India
-Dozens of other governing bodies which certify different business schools in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, including UGC, DEC, CHE, EQUIS, FIBAA, and CEEMAN.
UK Universities, such as Edinburgh Napier Unviersity, are awarded a Royal Charter by the Queen’s Privy Council and are monitored by the UK Government’s Quality Assurance Agency. This ensures that the programme meets certain standards and has international recognition.
Unaccredited Schools Have No Academic Standards
Accredited schools have a certain set of academic standards. Students are required to meet certain qualifications before being awarded a certificate, degree, or diploma.
Unaccredited schools, on the other hand, have no academic standards. Many offer low-quality online courses that do not adequately prefer you for a career in the field.
In fact, to earn a degree at some unaccredited schools, all you need to do is read a few books, write an online test, and send a payment for a few thousand dollars.
90% More Likely to Get a Job
A study of American hiring managers showed that businesses were 90% more likely to hire someone with a degree from an accredited institution compared to an unaccredited institution.
Any reputable employer will throw your application into the trash when they see an unaccredited institution on your resume. Even if you manage to sneak through the hiring process, you might be fired when it’s discovered that you went to an unaccredited school and are unqualified for the job.
There Are Only Two Reasons to Go to An Unaccredited School
When you list all of the pros and cons of accredited versus unaccredited schools, there are only two “pros” for unaccredited schools:
1) They’re (usually) cheaper
2) Earning a degree is easier and takes less time
If you want a quick and easy degree that isn’t worth the paper it’s written on, then unaccredited schools are perfect.
If you want to challenge yourself, build your skills, and earn something you’re proud about (and more importantly, gets you a job), then going to an accredited school is your only option.
