Distance MBA vs Regular MBA: Which one is better?

Studies have shown that the employability rate for MBA students is around 55.09% in the past year. Gone are the days when only a minor section of people used to opt for an MBA degree, that too just for the sake of getting a degree. Nowadays, students opt for this course because it is highly lucrative. Over the past few decades, the demand for an MBA degree has increased manifold, especially among working professionals. With the introduction of open and distance learning modes, the number of students enrolling in an MBA course has increased. But most of the candidates like you get stuck with the question: Is a distance MBA worth it? To clarify your doubts and make your choice easier, we have elaborated the distance MBA vs regular MBA debate once and for all.

Is Distance Education Valid in India?

On September 2, 2022, the UGC released a notification stating that open and distance learning courses are now at par with regular courses. The main objective of this move was to promote distance education and increase the literacy rate in the country. As per the notice:

Another regulation that you should look out for is the one released by UGC-DEB. According to the guidelines, no university is allowed to deliver technical courses such as BE and B.Tech in distance mode. Therefore, opting for courses like MBA, MCA, and other humanities courses is more beneficial.

If you are considering choosing a course in ODL mode, first, do consider the accreditations of the universities. Second, compare what the university is delivering and what India’s official statutory bodies have given permission to. Also, understand the gap between the two.

Distance MBA or Regular MBA, Which is Better?

According to the latest survey, approximately 51.8% of students took at least one distance course. Ever since, there has been an increase in the enrolment rate of distance courses. However, there is also a long-standing debate on whether one should opt for a distance MBA or regular MBA. Let us weigh the pros and cons of each mode of education to know which is better.

Pros and Cons of Distance Education

Pros and Cons of Regular Courses

Regular MBA vs Distance MBA

Now that we have explored the pros and cons of each mode of learning, let us also take a look at the differences between distance MBA and regular MBA.>

Top Distance MBA Colleges in India

Find out some of the top distance MBA colleges in India and their fee structure:

Top Online MBA Colleges in India

Here is the list of top online MBA colleges in India you can explore with their fee:

Distance MBA Vs Regular MBA: Future Prospects

One of the common misconceptions about open and distance learning is that it does not provide any career opportunities while pursuing the course. However, there are many universities, such as Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, that offer placement opportunities to the students enrolled in their distance MBA courses. This helps students to network with prominent recruiters, alumni of the university, and industry experts. Therefore, it will not be wrong to say that a distance MBA opens multiple avenues for the students. Not just that, but it also helps in getting promotions, accepting managerial positions, or switching jobs to better opportunities.

Regular MBA or traditional MBA is the most relied upon option for management education. Studies report that India has the second-largest pool of MBA graduates. If the enrollment rate continues to grow at the same speed, then it is expected that India will be ranked at the top. It is no doubt that an MBA is among the most sought-after courses in the country. It caters to soft skills & industry-oriented skills and deals with real-time project experience. Additionally, most universities in India offer internship opportunities, project work, capstone projects, and much more for the students to gain industry experience. This helps the students to bridge the gap between corporate and college, thus making them job-ready.

Conclusion

Irrespective of the mode of education, an MBA degree is highly lucrative and a valuable addition to your CV. Both the distance and the regular degrees hold the same value. Whether it is a distance course or a regular course, both focus on these characteristics. You will get to develop on a personal as well as a professional level while pursuing the course. Therefore, you must go for the mode of education that suits your needs and your pocket. We have busted some distance education myths for you so that you can focus on what really matters while making your choice. If you don’t want to put your career on hold, then a distance MBA is the way to go.