What is the benefit of an MBA for working professionals?
For working adults, an MBA often isn’t about starting a career; it’s about advancing in the workplace. That might mean a promotion, a raise, a move into leadership, or a pivot into a new role altogether.
Ailes has already felt the practical impact of his coursework in his day-to-day HR work.
“What really helped me were the research skills I built,” said Ailes. “Being able to implement AI and research strategically into my work has helped me sharpen and expand my skill sets. Out of everything I learned throughout this process, being able to find information and interpret it into usable data was the most beneficial part of the program for me.”
Beyond specific skills, an MBA builds the kind of management, communication, and decision-making ability that shows up in bigger opportunities down the road.
For Ailes, that’s the goal. “Putting in the work to learn and grow throughout the program will give me the knowledge and credentials to take on a leadership role in the future.”
Why Do Working Adults Choose an Online MBA?
While there are many reasons that working adults may choose a flexible online MBA, the honest answer is that life doesn’t wait for the “perfect time.” Josh had already finished his undergraduate degree, started his career, and had a wife and son by the time he decided to pursue his MBA.
“There’s not really a perfect time to start a master’s,” said Ailes. “But at some point, I just decided to dig into it.”
He also found that the professional experience he’d already built—eight to ten years in HR by the time he started—gave him something to bring into the classroom.
“I had already gotten a lot of experience by the time that I started the MBA program,” said Ailes. “I quickly saw how I could use my skills and experiences to help me in some of my courses.”
If you feel like it’s too late to start your degree, let Ailes’s story encourage you! It’s never too late. Years of professional experience aren’t a disadvantage going in; they’re something you bring to the table as you start your flexible online MBA!
What Should You Look for in an Online MBA Program?
Not all MBA programs are built the same way, and it’s worth being selective. As you’re researching programs, consider:
- Accreditation: Make sure the degree will actually be recognized and respected in your field.
- Curriculum and concentrations: Does the program let you specialize in the direction you want your career to go?
- Faculty support: Are instructors accessible, and do they understand the realities of working adult students?
- Flexible Online MBA: Can the pace and structure actually fit around a full-time job and family life?
- Missions fit: For some students, studying business within a Christian worldview, one that shapes not just what you know but how you lead, matters just as much as the curriculum itself.
For Ailes, the pace and understanding from his professors mattered most.
“Grace professors understand that we are working adults, so they lay out their courses in a way that is doable for students,” said Ailes. “If I stay on top of my work throughout the week, I’m not overwhelmed by my assignments as due dates come up.”
So, Is an Online MBA Worth It?
If the degree lines up with where you want your career to go, then yes! The value of an MBA isn’t automatic. It depends on the quality of the program, the direction you’re heading professionally, and how much you’re willing to put into it.
“If you’re thinking about Grace’s MBA, it’s definitely worth it,” said Ailes. “You will still have time for your career, family, and whatever else you’re involved in! It gave me the opportunity to expand my skill set and my qualifications to help further my career while I was also a husband, a father, and a full-time employee.”
Ready to see what a flexible online MBA could mean for your career? Explore Grace’s Online MBA program, now offering specialized concentrations, and take the next step in your education and career.
