How Long Does it Take to Complete an Online MBA in Finance?

Earning an online MBA in Finance could be the next step to propel your career to the next level. If you are contemplating going back to school to become a graduate-level student at a respected business school, the first thing that you should do is formulate a plan. Most MBA students have been working in the field they are specializing in for several years.

Since you’ve likely already spent time working, you will be dedicating less time to your position in finance and more to your graduate education while you are focused on MBA studies. This is why knowing exactly how much time you will be spending in an MBA program is crucial to success. If you choose to take a graduate program online, here’s the time frame you can expect to spend as a student.

Full-time or Part-time Study?

The main choice that’s going to impact how long you will be studying, regardless of if you study online or in the classroom, is whether you enroll full-time or part-time. The type of MBA program that you choose will determine what type of enrollment status you can fall in to. According to the US Department of Education, part-time students are typically completing six to 11 credits per semester, whereas full-time students are completing 12 units or more.

If you decide to apply for a part-time program at a business school, you will not be able to later switch to a full-time program without switching programs. The same goes if you would like to go from part-time to full-time after freeing up some additional time for yourself.

Credits and Program Duration

Studying online for an MBA in Finance is much like studying in a traditional brick-and-mortar program. While you will be covering lectures online and having discussions via an online discussion board, the actual credit requirements are very similar for all MBA in Finance that are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or another accrediting body for MBA programs.

Most business school programs you will find have a 33 to 36-credit hour requirement. With some schools, some foundational coursework can actually be waived based on previous credits that have been completed in a prior program. If you are enrolled in a part-time MBA program online and completing only six units per semester, you could be left studying graduate coursework for three to four years. If, however, you complete 12 units per semester, you will be studying for just under two years.

Passing Required Coursework

You could plan to realistically complete nine credit units per semester, which would have you graduating a 33-credit program within less than two years, but you can’t always control how you will grasp all of the finance curricula. It’s wise to allow yourself at least one course in your plan that you might have to repeat so that you still have room to complete it in your last semester.

When you have the time to study full-time for your MBA, you could be a graduate in as little as 18 months. Since completing full-time coursework is a job in itself, many professionals enroll to study for their MBA in Finance on a part-time basis.