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If you’re looking for a way to earn an MBA without leaving your current job, consider a part-time program. Part-time MBA programs are structured to minimize schedule conflicts for working professionals. In testing year 2011 alone, more than 31,000 GMAT® examinees worldwide indicated they were looking to pursue a part-time MBA program. By all measures—increased earning potential, skill development, preparation for leadership roles, and improved job satisfaction—a part-time MBA can provide an invaluable boost up the career ladder. And even if you plan to transition to a new industry, part-time MBA programs can give you an opportunity to leverage your existing professional networks to change jobs or try a new field.

How Can a Part-Time MBA Advance Your Career?

A vast majority of part-time MBA alumni from the classes of 2000 to 2011 rated their programs highly in terms of the following career outcomes:

• Preparation for leadership positions (91%)
• Preparation for chosen career (88%)
• Opportunities for quicker career advancement (83%)
• Increased earning power (84%)
• Improved job satisfaction (82%)
• Development of a professional network (79%)

In terms of skills, these alumni also rated their degree highly for helping them develop their overall qualitative analysis (96%) and quantitative analysis skills (91%). Click on the icons for men and women to see other gains alumni made from earning a part-time MBA.

Is a Part-Time MBA Right for You?

Think of the advantages:

• You can earn your MBA without interrupting your current employment. Most part-time MBA programs allow you to work full-time during the day and attend classes on evenings or weekends.
• The curriculum focuses on core business knowledge and technical skills important to those with work experience. Of the thousands of part-time MBA alumni  from the classes of 2000 to 2011 who responded to our survey, 64% of women and 59% of men received promotions since earning their degree.
• Part-time MBAs are an especially attractive choice if you work for an employer that offers tuition reimbursement. Among prospective students considering part-time MBAs, 48% expect their employer to provide financial support covering 53% of the cost of their program, on average.

Payoff in Employment, Salaries, and Job Levels

Job seekers among the part-time MBA grads from the class of 2012 who had a job offer at the time of our graduate survey expected a 53% gain in their pre-degree salaries, which is up six points compared with job seekers the year before.

In terms of job level among the alumni, 20% of women and 30% of men who earned a part-time MBA between 2000 and 2011 currently hold senior-level jobs while most (59% of men and 71% of women) hold mid-level positions.

Offers for new grads are up too: Sixty-seven (67%) percent of class of 2012 part-time grads seeking a new job after their degree received at least one job offer; the highest rate in the last five years. Long-term employment trends for part-time MBAs are also positive, with job offers at an all-time high since GMAC first began tracking job data for graduates in 2001.

Diverse Careers

Alumni from the class of 2011 who earned part-time MBAs worked in a wide range of industries in their first job after business school, as shown in the table below.

Learn More About Part-Time MBAs

If you’re considering enrolling in a part-time MBA program, talk with a few alumni who’ve earned such degrees over the past few years. You’ll find that 95% of men and women who earned their MBAs in part-time programs will recommend them to you—and even do it all over again.

You can also find out more about part-time programs on mba.com and use our school search service to find specific schools that offer part-time programs that fit your search criteria.

Filed under: Choosing the right School, Infographic, Official GMAT, Part-Time MBA, School Selection, Work-Life Balance