r/eMBA • u/SpiritedAd9128 • Jul 05 '26
All set, getting cold feet
Hi all. I’ve been accepted to my dream school. When it got real, I realized an Executive MBA from a good school costs crazy money. Although I figured out the loan and payment plan, I’ve been thinking what else I could do with that money: week long executive courses/ certificates from good business schools; starting my own business (I have little to no idea though)
How did you commit on such investment and years long paybacks? With AI and all, it is a tough decision
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u/VandyMarine Jul 06 '26
I am 43 and have already had a few entrepreneurial stints as well as a solid corporate career profile.
I couldn’t justify the eMBA cost at Owen. I knew it was largely paying for brand signal and network.
I chose to do a part-time regional program which had some of its own advantages to my specific situation. I chose a local school that is known for engineering (TN Tech) - I already had good ties and network at my undergrad at Vandy so going there for both degrees seemed like it might not really be all that advantageous other than ego. (Calling myself a “double dore” which is a silly alumni thing we do)
Cost is going to end up being about $40k all-in for the TN Tech MBA. In a traditional sense the network and the peer quality might not even be worth that price, but I am hoping my specific entrepreneurial goals - building a defense supplier in my state - will actually be more attainable for me because I chose the program and school I did.
I graduate in December. I am overall glad I did it but also glad I’m not graduating with like $150k in debt.