Online MBA Q&A: Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business

To find out more about the Penn State Online MBA, led by the Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University, we spoke to the program’s managing director Stacey Dorang Peeler (pictured above).

Peeler joined the business school in July 2008 and has been working in her current role for three years.

Key facts

• Tuition for the online MBA program costs $1,185 per credit, with the program consisting of 48 credits. This means the total cost is $56,880.
• Program is taught entirely online, with no hybrid on-campus element.
• Online MBA program offers 15 concentrations:
  • Accounting Foundations
  • Advanced Accounting
  • Business Analytics
  • Business Architecture
  • Business Sustainability Strategy
  • Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • General Management
  • Human Resources Management
  • Management Consulting
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Negotiation and Influence
  • Project Management
  • Strategic Leadership
  • Supply Chain Management

How much time will it take students to get their online MBA degree?

You can complete the degree in as little as two years or customize your course of study and take up to five years. The majority of our students are on the 30-month plan (two-and-a-half years).

Our team works with each student to tailor a plan specifically to their needs. Students control the workload and pace by deciding how many classes to take per semester.

What are the pros and cons of studying an online program?

The pros are that it gives you flexibility, an immediate return on investment and allows you to apply concepts in the workplace as soon as you learn them. There’s also a lower risk as you can continue to earn while you learn.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a completely immersive experience, you will not get that while studying a program part-time.

What does work-life balance look like for your online program?

Our online program is geared towards busy working professionals who are juggling career, family and other commitments while pursuing the MBA on a part-time basis.

The balance is different for everyone depending on their chosen academic plan and targeted timeline of completion. Students can take between one and three courses per semester depending on the balance they wish to strike.

Will a student’s choice of MBA program make a significant difference to their post-graduation job prospects and salary?

It really depends on where you are versus where you want to land and what that entails. It also depends on what level of career resources you need to meet your personal goals.

While the online program will offer a wide menu of career services, a full-time MBA program will place significantly more emphasis on the internship element and on full-time job searches.