Is Online MBA A Smart Career Investment Or An Expensive Mistake?

Is Online MBA A Smart Career Investment Or An Expensive Mistake?

#MBA
Arushi PanditaUpdated on 25 Mar 2025, 02:54 PM IST

IIM Ahmedabad's online MBA costs Rs 20 lakhs, a figure that could restrict students from pursuing the online MBA programme. This raises questions regarding whether it is a worth investment or simply an overpriced degree. The answer lies in comparing salaries to tuition, understanding the curriculum, and questioning whether the course’s credibility justifies the price tag.

Is Online MBA A Smart Career Investment Or An Expensive Mistake?
Is Online MBA A Smart Career Investment Or An Expensive Mistake

Over 70 UGC-approved online MBA colleges in India help students with an online degree. While the online MBA fees range from one institution to another, other factors such as delivery methods, practical learning opportunities, and overall return on investment play a crucial role in evaluating the right online MBA colleges in India for aspiring students and working professionals.

Moreover, online MBA still face a perception gap compared to traditional programmes. While regular MBA degree hold a higher value, recruiters increasingly recognise online degrees, focusing on skills gained and practical exposure. This makes choosing reputed institutions crucial, as a strong brand name significantly influences career outcomes in competitive job markets.

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Is an Online MBA A Complete Waste of Money And Time?

Amity University Online admitted 13,304 students to its online MBA in 2023-24, reflecting the rising demand for flexible education. However, concerns arise about whether these programmes truly deliver promised value and career opportunities, or if they simply operate as expensive degrees. The following points explore whether online MBA are worth the investment or not:

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Debate Around Online MBA: Discussions about online MBA courses are growing, some call them overpriced scams, while others see them as flexible upskilling tools. Critics highlight high costs and debt from prestigious institutes, while supporters praise interactive, practical learning. Institutes such as Amity Online showcase alumni success stories, highlighting transformative opportunities. Ultimately, the decision to pursue an online MBA depends on individual goals, balancing upskilling aspirations with the prestige and cost of the degree.

Salaries Vs Tuition Cost: The gap between institute tuition fees and graduate salaries is significant. Institutes charging 10-20 lakhs often lack placement support, with only 20-30% of students, typically those with prior experience, seeing salary hikes. High fees do not guarantee better outcomes, and salary differences exist between freshers and experienced professionals. Students should prioritise tuition fees, placements, and internships beforehand to secure online MBA admissions.

While the online MBA salary does vary based on location, the table below showcases the location-wise salary difference in India for online MBA programmes:

Cities in IndiaAverage Online MBA Salary in India

Online MBA salary in Bengaluru

Rs 10,54,000

Online MBA salary in Delhi

Rs 8,32,000

Online MBA salary in Gurugram

Rs 15,13411

Online MBA salary in Chennai

Rs 5,08,000

Online MBA salary in Hyderabad

Rs 7,83750

Online MBA salary in Mumbai

Rs 9,37071

Online MBA salary in Pune

Rs 8,68125

Online MBA salary in Kolkata

Rs 9,29,000

Online MBA salary in Ahmedabad

Rs 7,58,057

Source: in.jooble.org

The table below highlights the online MBA salary in India as per specialisation:

Online MBA SpecialisationAverage Online MBA Salary

Online MBA in Finance

Rs 5,50,000

Online MBA in Marketing

Rs 4,22,176

Online MBA in Business Analytics

Rs 14,01,806

Online MBA in Information Technology

Rs 5,84,000

Online MBA in Human Resources

Rs 4,50,000

Online MBA in Supply Chain Management

Rs 5,41,546

Online MBA in International Business

Rs 9,90,000

Online MBA in Healthcare Management

Rs 13,20,000

Online MBA in Data Science

Rs 8,90,000

Online MBA in Entrepreneurship

Rs 5,52,500

Source: Glassdoor

The Truth About ROIs: Determining if an online MBA offers a good return on investment (ROI) involves more than just salary potential. Factors such as career opportunities, placement rates, and the institution's reputation matter. For instance, Amity University Online placed over 1,051 management graduates in prestigious organisations in 2023–24, highlighting how prestigious institutions often provide better opportunities than lesser-known ones.

Curriculum Design: Curriculum design influences the value of an online MBA. Is the online MBA curriculum updated? Does the course focus on practical components such as placements, projects, and electives? Are specialised electives provided to students? These factors determine if the programme is academically robust and professionally relevant, ensuring a strong return on investment for students.

Also Read: M.Tech or Online MBA: What to Choose after B.Tech in 2025

Can Online MBA Really Solve Your Career Challenges?

An online MBA offers flexibility and convenience for students and professionals seeking to upskill. But does it truly address career challenges, or could it lead to debt, frustration, and limited opportunities? The following section highlights when an online MBA adds real value to your career and when it may be ineffective:

When Online MBA Can Work Wonders?

For Upskilling: An online MBA is a flexible option for professionals aiming to upskill and stay relevant in fast-evolving fields such as digital marketing and business analytics. For industries such as digital marketing, business analytics, skills in programming languages, data tools, influencer marketing are essential, therefore pursuing an online MBA can help bridge skill gaps and enhance career prospects for students.

For Career Transition: For career transitions, an online MBA can be a beneficial option. Several online MBA specialisations help students not only gain fundamental knowledge but also transition their professions, from technical roles to management , strategy or leadership. The career flexibility of these programmes supports professionals aiming for cross-functional or industry changes.

For Salary Hike: If your compensation has remained stagnant for years and you feel stuck in the same position, then an online MBA would be a great fit in that case. Working professionals who are already enroled in a job frequently apply for these online courses to be able to gain a salary hike within their careers.

When Online MBA May Be Ineffective?

Limited Work Experience: Most online MBA applicants are working professionals, not fresh graduates. Without prior work experience, extracting real value from the programme becomes challenging. Moreover, many online MBA programmes require at least two years of experience, making it difficult for freshers to enrol directly after completing their undergraduate degrees in management or related fields.

Peer Pressure: Applying for an online MBA just because others are doing it is ineffective. Students need clear career goals and reasons for pursuing the degree. Without this clarity, investing time and money can lead to disappointment and limited returns, making the entire process less valuable for long-term professional growth.

A Brand Tag: Some professionals pursue an online MBA solely for a prestigious name on their resume. While this offers short-term appeal, it overlooks the degree’s true value, which is building essential business skills, leadership abilities, and strategic thinking. Without actively applying the learning, the degree itself holds limited career value.

An online MBA can be a valuable career move if aligned with clear goals, relevant work experience, and a prestigious institution. However, whether it is a smart move or a wasteful expense depends entirely on the programme’s quality and your career aspirations and choices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is online MBA good for working professionals?
A:

Yes, online MBA programmes offer flexible schedules, helping working professionals balance work and academic life.

Q: Do online MBA programmes offer placements?
A:

Some reputed institutions such as LPU Online and Jain Online offer placement assistance, students must verify the placement reports before enroling in any online MBA programme.

Q: Can an online MBA help me switch careers?
A:

Yes, online MBA programmes offer specialisations that help students transition from technical to managerial roles in industries such as marketing, analytics, and HR.

Q: Do employers value online MBA degrees in India?
A:

Employers do recognise online MBA courses, especially from reputed institutions.

Q: Is an online MBA worth the money?
A:

An online MBA is worthwhile to pursue if done from a reputable institution that offers strong placement support.

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Questions related to MBA

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to MBA ?

At CMR Institute of Technology, Bangalore, the MBA tuition fee under VTU quota is about 1.17–1.28 lakh for the full 2 years. This applies to all regular categories (GM/OBC/SC/ST). However, for management quota seats, the cost is much higher, around 9 lakh total (4.5 lakh per year). The variation depends on admission type and category. Students should confirm the exact fee with the CMRIT admissions office before applying. Scholarships and fee waivers may also be available for eligible candidates.



With an MBA entrance exam rank of around 33,000, getting admission into top-tier MBA colleges in Hyderabad may be challenging, as most premier institutions usually admit candidates with better ranks. However, several reputable private colleges and universities in Hyderabad have more flexible cutoffs and offer MBA admissions to candidates with ranks in the 30,000+ range, especially through entrance exams like MAT, CMAT, or state-level exams.

Some MBA colleges in Hyderabad where a rank of approximately 33,000 might be considered include:

  1. Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE), Hyderabad – Known for good quality management education with moderate cutoff ranks.

  2. GITAM School of International Business – Offers MBA programs with a reputation for industry-oriented curriculum and accepts various entrance exam scores.

  3. Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management – A reputed private institute with an emphasis on placements and practical exposure.

  4. Aurora's Business School – Popular for affordable fees and accessible admission criteria.

  5. Anurag Group of Institutions – Offers MBA programs with flexible admission cuts for state and national level exams.

Admissions at these colleges are often based on a combination of entrance exam ranks, academic track record, group discussions, and personal interviews. Candidates with a rank near 33,000 should also explore management quota seats where applicable, which provide an alternative route but may involve higher fees.

Since cutoffs vary every year based on applicant pool and seat availability, it is important to participate in counseling rounds and check each college’s official admission notifications. Preparing a good profile by highlighting academic scores, work experience, and extracurricular achievements can also improve admission chances.

In summary, while a 33,000 rank limits options at premier Hyderabad MBA colleges, several well-regarded private and deemed universities offer admission for candidates in this rank bracket, provided they meet other eligibility criteria and perform well in subsequent selection processes.

Hello,

If you join a self-finance MBA course , you will not get full fee reimbursement . For SC/ST students, the government gives full fee reimbursement only in regular (non-self-finance) courses .

In self-finance courses, you may get only a partial reimbursement (around Rs. 35,000) and the rest of the fee has to be paid by you.

Since you are SC and a girl with rank 966, you can get admission easily, but full fee reimbursement will apply only if you choose a regular seat, not self-finance .

Hope it helps !

No, Malla Reddy Engineering College for Women (MRECW), Secunderabad, does not list Business Analytics as a specialization for its MBA program.

the MBA program is offered by them is a general degree.

Good luck..

Hello

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