MBA vs Executive MBA
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) is a degree course that is highly popular among students worldwide because of the career opportunities it provides to those who complete it from a reputable business school. However, there is another similar degree, called Executive MBA, which is not as popular but equally valuable in terms of opportunities. Many people do not know the differences between these two degree programs, namely MBA and Executive MBA, which is rather unfortunate. This article will attempt to highlight the differences between MBA and Executive MBA to enable people to choose one of the two depending on their circumstances and requirements to advance their careers.
Executive MBA is similar to the MBA program and is often offered by the same business school that offers regular MBA courses. However, the two programs are run by two separate departments and not combined in a single department. The Executive MBA program has been designed to fulfill the aspirations of busy executives who do not have this prestigious degree but desire to earn it and do not have the time to complete a full-time MBA course. These programs are targeted at middle-level executives with about 10 years of work experience, whereas no work experience is required to pursue an MBA course. This difference means that students are mostly middle-aged professionals, which requires a different set of faculty to teach them.
For obvious reasons, there is variation in the curriculum of these types of MBA courses. While regular MBA students learn more about core business practices, the focus in Executive MBA programs is on leadership and management of an organization at the level of a senior executive. While normal MBA applicants need to clear GMAT, there is no such requirement for Executive MBA. The duration of the two courses also differs. While MBA students dedicate a full two years to the school, Executive MBA students need to put in 15-25 class hours per week in a course that lasts 20 months. The Executive MBA has been designed to accommodate the needs of busy executives who cannot take sufficient time out from their schedules for school.
The cost of the two MBA programs also has a difference. An MBA from a top business school may cost around $100,000, while an Executive MBA is cheaper in comparison and may cost around $60,000.
Key Takeaways
- Both MBA and Executive MBA award similar degrees in business administration.
- MBA is for regular students, while Executive MBA is designed for executives seeking promotions or salary increases.
- While MBA is full-time and lasts 2 years, Executive MBA students need to attend 15-25 hours of classes per week for 20 months and is cheaper in cost.
