[rich]

I’m an older candidate and really need to hurry up and get things done. I have only a BS in business and a few more credits, and I was thinking of going for a quick and inexpensive MBA at Fitchburg State in MA.
They say don’t bother with an MBA unless either your employer pays for it or you go to a high ranked program, but I’m certainly not going to get in to a top program with my educational background.

This program can be done for under $13k, and looks like I could be done by the end of summer 2018.

I was looking at alternatives like Babson with their MS in Accounting program, which is 7 months long but it’s also 59,000.

I’ve been told people look down on low quality MBA, even more so than having only a BS, and you “punch your MBA ticket” I was never going to go to Wharton so what’s the point there?

Any thoughts?

[Missy]

If you're doing it because you WANT an MBA, then go for it.

Otherwise its not likely to increase your earning potential or job opportunities enough to even justify the $13k.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[rich]

I should also mention- I need to get the credit hours anyway, and the community college option is in the $6000s, so it's about double the cost and checks off a box at the very least. I just hope the stigma of a not top MBA isn't as serious as some people make it out to be.

[Missy]

Its not so much of a stigma attached to it, as its basically “overlooked” unless its from a top 10. Won't be held against you but not likely to raise the interest level (unless of course the person looking at your resume is also an MBA from Fitchburg)

As an older candidate you're probably a bit more familiar with the hiring/promotion process and its all about your competition. I have a job to fill, want to get as many strong candidates as possible and decide who the best is out of that group. So if you're up for a position with a bunch of CPAs who only have their undergrad yeah yours will stick out. If you're up against a CPA with their Masters from Bentley, you'd have to have some exceptional work experience over that person to remain on a level playing field.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[rich]

Funny you should mention Bentley, as I had/have a plan to attend there for their MS in Taxation.

I missed their fall 2017 deadline, and I'm not sure I have the educational background as it stands now. I rushed my undergrad while working full time and don't have the best application profile. I thought about going MSA at Umass Boston -> Bentley MBA, but now I'm thinking FSU MBA -> Bentley MST

I was impressed by Bentley when I visited them and I know they have a good reputation among local firms, but as it stands now, I don't think I could directly get in.

[GAPilot715]

There are pros and cons to both a top tier and a smaller school. It'll get your resume looked at simply because of the school's name. I've never had any experience with people looking down on a having an MBA/Masters that isn't from a top school. My guess is that these type of people either did not get and MBA and want to somehow justify never getting one to make them look better than someone that did, or they went to a top tier school and like throwing it in other people's faces.

For my Master of Accounting I went to a large regional university which would be considered just under the top tier schools. Not one thing has ever been said about it. My senior year of undergrad I was offered a graduate research position that paid for my entire grad school and paid me at the same time. It made more sense to me to get a free masters versus paying a lot for a top name school.

In short, I don't think it matters. Do what make sense to you. You're going to get ahead more by demonstrating your value, knowledge, and performance more so than where you got your MBA.

[MaLoTu]

What is your end goal? Are you trying to land a job in public?

Assuming you are… you want to choose a school that is recruited from. It does not have to be a top MBA program or MS of accounting, but it will be a tremendous help to have that access through recruitment.

[rich]

Public.

I landed an interview at a top 10 firm, not big 4. Was told that they wanted me to have my 150 hours and also that I should apply after experience in a smaller firm. A lot of people, including the partner that I interviewed with went to Bentley, which gives me the impression that that's the way to go. It's also listed on this:
https://theaccountingpath.org/2015/05/best-accounting-schools-for-a-big-4-career/

I love the idea of going there, but I'm not anticipating being accepted yet.

[rich]

Now that I look at course waivers for Bentley, looks like the cost of 3 courses being waived pays for the entire MBA at Fitchburg heh.

[M123]

An MBA going through the motions can be a waste. But many/most cost $75-100k.

$13k? That's a few semesters at community college here in Cali!

You need more units. An MBA would fulfill that. It costs only $13k (giveaway). You have experience. Makes absolute sense.

Whether one would look down on it – here's the deal. Would people look down on Michael Dell because he didn't have a college education completed when selling computers out of his dorm? People who are driven and passionate will be successful in one way or another. You'll get out of it what you put into it.

There's a big difference with “I got my MBA – shower me with money” and “I did research at this company and as a result, found a material weakness in their organization that we were able to remediate and improve their internal control without any loss of revenue”.

Think big but this makes massive sense since you actually need units.

[tskits75]

I am in the area and also looked at Fitchburg for my MBA but I ended up with Umass-Lowell and their online MBA. Granted my employer paid 75% of it, it was reasonably priced.

AUD - 92
BEC - 79
REG - August
FAR - TBD

[rich]

My take on it is that it isn't a magic bullet to get a company to shower me with riches. That's what the CPA is for. Kidding. Sort of.

As I said in my first post, the reasons not to get a highly ranked MBA are probable lack of ROI, no chance at cushy job opportunities to top MBA grads, and losing the ability to get an MBA once in a better career position.

But let's be honest, I'm 33 without a solid background so I'm not getting in to a top program, and yes other local (higher ranked) schools have MBA programs that cost upwards of $75,000, but Fitchburg doesn't.

I can get it done quick and hopefully roll in to a program at Bentley, using those resources to boost me up. Honestly I just want to get all the education out of the way and concentrate on just work, networking, and my life outside of all of that. I don't want to stop -learning-, I just want to stop chasing prerequisites.

edit: It checks the box for having an MBA for later in my career and not being limited because of it, but it doesn't impress or anything. That part is up to my own performance and growth.

[Broken Toy]

Can someone let me know why the AICPA has the 150 credit hour rule. It causes people to spend money and time on MBA and MS programs that by themselves provide no value. You can get an undergrad degree in Accounting with 130 credit hours and not be able to sit for the CPA but if you take another 20 credit hours in coaching golf you would be eligible, it makes no sense.

[Missy]

Dice it's a barrier of entry and you WANT that barrier of entry. I see too many people here posting how difficult it is to find a job or climb the ladder. Would be that much harder if it were cheaper and easier to get licensed. Actually I'd like to see it harder to get licensed (not necessarily the exam difficulty but the experience and education requirements) so that licensed cpa earnings potential increases.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

I am pretty sure that every CPAs would want the barrier to entry to be more difficult once they have gotten their license. If you are the demand, you wouldn't want too many supplies on the market(from BEC). After all, CPAs salaries are depend on the number of supply. Personally, I agree that the 150 credit hours is completely useless.

$6,000 for 25-30 credits at community college seems little overpriced. I just looked up Santa Monica College and the price per unit is only $46 for CA residents. You might want to check the true costs for the community college.

[SafariSteve]

@CalCPA Those of us in California have it good when it comes to community college tuition. $6,000 sounds high, but I believe South Carolina's community colleges (not sure where OP is from, but as an example) are around $200 per credit so it's definitely possible.

[Author]

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