New 16-month MBA offers a practical solution for today’s professionals

“In a rapidly evolving job market where time is as valuable as credentials, a growing number of working professionals are looking for ways to advance their careers without pressing pause on their lives. This summer, NAU will launch a 16-month online master of business administration degree that aims to bridge the gap between ambition and accessibility, offering a streamlined path to a master’s degree that is both time-efficient and cost-conscious. Designed with flexibility at its core, the program caters to professionals balancing full-time work, family commitments and career growth. The condensed format allows students to complete the coursework in a little more than a year, significantly faster than traditional MBA timelines. Its online delivery model removes geographic barriers and reduces overhead costs, making higher education more attainable for a broader audience. Mahendra K. Joshi , professor in The W. A. Franke College of Business and director of MBA programs, said the inaugural cohort will start this summer . Students will move together through the program, taking about three classes every semester. “They will work both in teams and individually, but the idea is to have a team-based approach to solving problems in the classroom,” Joshi said. “This program is meant for working professionals with a few years of work experience. We want them to start sharing their experiences with each other because that, in itself, becomes a great learning opportunity for them. There is also the networking aspect of it since they are coming in from all different industries and backgrounds.” This 16-month online MBA, accredited by the Association of Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), is not only fast but also more affordable. On average, the total cost is 30-40% lower than comparable AACSB-accredited MBA programs. “This is probably the best value for the money you can get anywhere, not just within the state, but anywhere in the nation,” Joshi said. “We tried to keep it 16 months because it’s intense, but it gets them in and out in a quick time frame instead of taking three or four years with lots of credits and high costs. In this program, students only need 36 credits to graduate, getting a good understanding of business in less time and for less money.” In 2022, NAU launched an online MBA program for healthcare in partnership with Dignity Health to fill the need for leaders in the healthcare industry. Joshi said this new program wants to do the same, but on a broader scale. “What we have seen with our other online MBA program is that we have very high retention rates, close to 95%,” Joshi said. “Part of the reason is that students are getting a lot out of the program. They can learn business concepts in the classroom and apply them to their workplace the next day. That is the kind of learning we are aspiring to do for this program, given that the students are working professionals.” As employers increasingly value both experience and advanced qualifications, programs like this reflect a shift in how business education is delivered, prioritizing practicality and focusing on real-world relevance. “Many of these students are already making decisions for the companies they work for,” Joshi said. “They might not know the accounting principles or why they are solving problems so effectively. Once they learn these concepts, they will start getting the confidence they need and will continue to grow.” For more information about NAU’s online Master of Business Administration program, contact Ally Hubbard by email or by phone at (928) 523-0037. Applicants can waive their application fee by using code #MBA26. Mariana Laas | NAU Communications (928) 523-5050 | mariana.laas@nau.edu

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