MBA Success Not Contingent on Undergrad Degree

Listen to Robert Frost and take the road less traveled.

Do you need a bachelor’s degree in business to get into an MBA degree program? The short answer is "No" for a variety of reasons. Not having earned a BBA or business related undergraduate degree can actually work to your advantage.

Some institutions report having less than 25% of MBA programs composed of students who have an undergraduate business degree. A study by Andrew W. Braunstein titled MBA Academic Performance and Type of Undergraduate Degree Possessed compared the success of BBA students against non-BBA students, using individual grade point average as a way of measuring success within a program. On average, students that did not earn a business degree as an undergraduate had higher grade point averages than students with an undergraduate business degree. The study argued that students without a business degree felt at a disadvantage compared to their business degree holding counterparts, and therefore felt the need to compensate for not having an academic background in the field of business. As a result, it was concluded that they studied class material more closely. The author also noted that non-BBA participants were required to take more prerequisite courses covering fundamental material. In this way, BBA students were at a disadvantage, as they frequently did not participate in basic courses, thus basic material was not as fresh in the minds of BBA students.

Does age affect success in an MBA program? The same study concluded that there was a very positive correlation between a student’s professional and life experience and their final grade point average. The longer the time the student had spent as working professional, the better their overall grades. The study’s scope did not include the benefits of classroom diversity; a possible conjecture may be how student age, educational and professional backgrounds enhance a class and its curriculum.

It can be argued that classroom diversity makes for a better, more engaging experience for all students. Program participants would benefit from being exposed to different perspectives, thus being able to learn about other industries and professional experiences, as well as creating dialogue about problem-solving, decision-making and issues of ethics.

In this way, online MBA degree programs have much to offer in the way of student diversity. Providers of online master degrees offer educational opportunities to those that are generally underserved, e.g. students whose work schedules do not permit them to attend courses at a campus; individuals who must live at home and do not live within reasonable distance from a college or university; individuals with illness or a disability or with disabilities. Also, adult students over the age of 25 seeking an undergraduate business degree may not feel comfortable on a traditional campus dominated by 18 – 22 year olds. Such an individual may be far more successful learning in an environment that is comfortable, and therefore programs providing online business degrees may be more suitable for his or her needs.

When considering the opportunity to return to school, it is easy to be overcome by feelings of uncertainty. Research suggests that those students who do not take a direct path in school may be making all the difference in their classrooms.