MBA vs. Professional MBA vs. Executive MBA Programs

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At some point during the research process, most aspiring business school students wonder about the differences between traditional, professional, and executive MBA programs. With full-time or part-time and on-campus or online programs, along with the three above options, it is easy to get confused about which option is best. So what do all these terms mean and why do so many different kinds of programs exist?

The wide variety of MBA programs now available results from how business schools have applied marketing strategies to boost enrollment. First, the schools segmented the market for each of these degrees, dividing potential students into groups that shared key demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Once the schools identified the differing needs for advanced management training within these groups, they designed differentiated educational products customized to meet those needs.

This process resulted in Harvard University’s debut of the MBA as the first practitioner-oriented advanced management degree in 1908, followed by the University of Chicago’s debut of the first “weekend scholar” part-time executive MBA program for seasoned managers in 1947. The process continues today as the schools adapt to these formats for online delivery.

Featured MBA Programs
Rice University	MBA@Rice Online MBA	View Full Profile
Texas A&M International University	Online MBA - Management	View Full Profile
University of California, Davis	Online MBA (MBA@UCDavis)	View Full Profile
University of Miami	Online Master of Business Administration	View Full Profile
Southern New Hampshire University	MBA Online	View Full Profile
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	Online MBA	View Full Profile
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Traditional or Full-Time MBA Programs

The traditional, full-time MBA program involves a two-year commitment with classes and most work scheduled during daytime hours. These programs also utilize evening hours for networking club events, examinations, recruiting information sessions, and interviews. The career counseling support, summer internships, and on-campus interviews at these schools make them well-suited for career changers. However, students cannot work full-time during these programs, and program costs can be high, especially at elite private universities.

Almost all schools offer at least one type of MBA program: the traditional MBA. This is typically a two-year program—with some accelerated one-year options available—if enrolled on-campus and full-time. The traditional MBA is designed for students wishing to advance their careers in business and obtain leadership positions in their respective industries. Traditional MBA programs provide graduates with a master’s degree in business administration and typically can be specialized according to topics in business, such as marketing, entrepreneurship strategy, and organizational behavior, as well as industry topics, such as healthcare, finance, and information technology.

Professional or Part-Time MBA Programs

Part-time programs, attended by most MBA degree candidates include night school and weekend programs that have been rebranded with newer designations, such as the “professional MBA” and “fully-employed MBA.”

These flexible (and often more affordable) programs are typically also offered in online versions and allow students to continue working full-time while taking a reduced course load. While these programs generally have less competitive admissions than their full-time counterparts, the degree is the same. That said, the program is longer—between three and five years—and typically does not offer financial aid. They also tend to offer reduced networking opportunities and less career support, with some exceptions, such as Indiana University’s Kelley Direct online program.

Executive MBA Programs

A smaller proportion of seasoned business leaders attend executive MBA (EMBA) programs, which are different from other part-time and full-time programs.

According to the Executive MBA Council, EMBA programs are accelerated programs with fewer class hours that allow business leaders with more advanced business experience to receive a postgraduate degree in two years or less while they continue working full-time. Condensed course scheduling includes all-day classes once a week, three full days over a long weekend every three weeks, or one week a month.

EMBA students complete classes with the same group of students, known as a cohort, which can become a valuable lifelong network. EMBA programs also provide special services to address the needs of busy business leaders such as personal career coaching, and certain concierge services (e.g., travel arrangements, textbook purchases, meals during classes). In recent years, the trend has been to develop EMBA programs taught in different nations, often through alliances between business schools.

Comparison Table: Traditional, Professional, and Executive MBA Programs

Key differences between full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programs appear summarized in the table below. For more information about situations where part-time MBA programs make the most sense, see the BSchools guide, “Is a Part-Time MBA Program Worth It?”

	Traditional MBA	Professional MBA	Executive MBA
Alternative Names	Full-time MBA	Part-time MBA; fully-employed MBA	E-MBA or EMBA
Who Typically Enrolls	Early-career students and career-changers	Professionals employed full-time and some career-changers	Seasoned business leaders and executives with top-management aspirations
Duration	One to two years	Flexible, between 30 months and seven years	Fixed duration of 18 to 30 months, with a 20-month average
Work Experience	None is required by some programs, although more reputable programs require at least two years, with up to eight years preferred	None is required by some programs, although more reputable programs require at least two years, with up to eight years preferred	Programs typically require at least five years, although most entrants average seven years and many have ten to fifteen years or more
Structure	Year 1: lockstep cohorts at some schools; flexible course selections at others Year 2: All schools offer flexible elective selections	The structure varies according to each program and prospective students are encouraged to review the curriculum of each program before enrolling	Lockstep cohorts are typical (i.e., the same group attends all classes together)
Specializations	Yes, with some exceptions, such as Harvard	Yes	No
Pros	Access to elite schools Permits exclusive focus on studying, summer internships, and job interviews Enables access to industries that require summer internships (investment banking) Admission without lengthy or extensive business experience for good students Full counseling support from the business school’s career center On-campus recruiting interviews and information sessions	Same MBA degree as full-time students The less competitive applicant pool Students can continue to work full-time and advance in their careers Opportunities to apply lessons immediately Educational costs are more manageable GMAT requirements often waived, especially for online programs More flexibility according to professional and personal obligations	Access to elite schools with no part-time programs Condensed scheduling, such as classes all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday every other week Access to better programs since students can “fly in” to attend classes from out-of-state while maintaining current employment and career advancement possibilities GMAT requirement usually waived, especially for online programs Best networking opportunities with other business leaders Employers can pay tuition costs
Cons	Students must quit jobs and sacrifice income and career advancement Large financial outlay can require student loan financing Students risk graduating without jobs Relocation is usually required to attend elite schools Highly competitive applicant pool at some schools GMAT requirement	Employer seldom pays costs Especially with on-campus programs, students face exhaustion from working all day and attending night classes Scholarship and fellowship financing scarce No internships or access to careers in industries that require internships Reduced networking opportunities Immersion or residency requirements may require additional up-front costs and vacation days away from work	The employer must agree to time away from work to attend classes Highly competitive admissions Programs are expensive and not all employers may sponsor students More reputable programs may require frequent or extensive travel, often internationally Students may need assistance with family obligations because of frequent long weekends away from home
Program Examples	Harvard Business School, Harvard University Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University The Wharton School, The University of Pennsylvania Columbia Business School, Columbia University in the City of New York Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan	Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School The University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business Villanova University, School of Business George Mason University, School of Business	Washington State University, Carson College of Business Carlow University Howard University School of Business Purdue University, Krannert School of Management Rochester Institute of Technology, Saunders College of Business
The Bottom Line	This program is best for students without extensive experience and those who need support switching jobs or careers	This program is the best option for most students, especially those who have additional work, familial, and financial constraints	This program is best for seasoned business leaders anticipating promotions to top management

Douglas Mark

Writer

While a partner in a San Francisco marketing and design firm, for over 20 years Douglas Mark wrote online and print content for the world’s biggest brands, including United Airlines, Union Bank, Ziff Davis, Sebastiani, and AT&T. Since his first magazine article appeared in MacUser in 1995, he’s also written on finance and graduate business education in addition to mobile online devices, apps, and technology. Doug graduated in the top 1 percent of his class with a business administration degree from the University of Illinois and studied computer science at Stanford University.