The study, which was conducted by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), found that 28% of MBA students enrolled between 2023-24 did so on online programs, compared with 25% opting for online delivery between the pandemic years of 2020-22.
Comparatively, just 14% of MBA students chose online programs in 2019–20, highlighting the transformation in preferences toward virtual and hybrid formats.
The findings come from data collected from over 1,000 AACSB-accredited business schools, including top-tier institutions like Harvard, Wharton, and Stanford.
The report also showed that while online programs have surged in popularity, hybrid or multimodal MBA programs have similarly gained traction, accounting for one in five students in 2023–24.
These programs, which blend online and in-person learning, offer students the benefits of face-to-face networking with the convenience of remote study.
Interestingly, the report also underscored a decline in traditional, in-person MBA enrollments. Only 51% of MBA students chose fully in-person programs in 2023–24, down from 59% in 2019–20—before the widespread shift to online learning influenced by global pandemic restrictions.
Some of the key reasons why MBA students opt for online learning is include cost and time, a recent GMAC survey revealed. Online MBAs often come with a lower price tag than their in-person counterparts, while also offering students a greater level of flexibility, as they can schedule classes around a busy family life or career.
