Is an Online MBA Worth It? The Return on Your Investment

The Master of Business Administration (MBA), is a popular postgraduate management-level course, widely regarded as a ticket to higher-level management positions. Employment rates of MBA graduates are high, reaching 78 per cent in 2025 [1]. Besides offering excellent employment prospects, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree can build on your business acumen, enhance your ability to lead, and connect you to a broad network of like-minded people.

Discover whether the benefits of an MBA carry if it is entirely online, taking into account your personal and professional goals, financial outcome, costs, and other factors.

Online MBA salaries: The return on your investment

The benefits of an online MBA are myriad. As an MBA graduate you can progress in your existing career, or learn new skills, access leadership positions, and connect to an alumni network that can span the globe. 

You can also look forward to a financial boost. According to the Financial Express, MBA graduates can make anywhere from ₹1,00,00,000 but the average is ₹40,00,000, depending on the type of the course and reputation of the university [2]. Your salary also depends greatly on the specialism you choose. Technology is an advancing field that offers high salaries, similar to sectors like finance and healthcare. 

With an online MBA, you can apply for some high salary positions such as CEO, investment banker, or marketing director. Some possible positions and their average annual base salaries include:

• Chief executive officer (CEO): ₹25,50,000 [3]

• Investment banker: ₹29,50,000 [4]

• Marketing director: ₹28,38,000 [5]

• Management consultant: 29,00,000 [6]

Note that your return on investment, or the time it takes for you to recover your investment in an MBA, differs based on your unique circumstances. However, you can, by large, offset the cost of your degree within two to five years.

Great salary expectations, great loans

The high expected incomes post-graduation are likely what allows students to borrow large sums of money for their MBAs. As an MBA student in India, you can borrow as much as 1 crore to support your studies [7]. Still, it’s a good idea to minimise costs where you can and to consider borrowing money for education carefully. 

How much do online MBAs cost?

The price of an online MBA can vary widely depending on whether the school is public or private, or whether it is entirely online, although generally online MBA degrees are cheaper than in-person programmes. According to Mangalayatan University, the average cost of an online MBA falls between ₹40,000 and ₹60,000, whereas an in person course can cost in excess of ₹300,000 [8]. 

Online vs. in-person MBAs: Pros and cons

Consider the basic differences between an online and in-person MBA programme:

Flexibility: A large part of the draw of an online MBA is its flexibility. The ability to attend lectures and complete group assignments from behind a computer screen means students don’t have to relocate, or even quit their day jobs. This has made online MBAs a strong draw for those who might have families to take care of, or established careers they’re hesitant to pause. 

Keep in mind

You might find on-campus part-time MBAs in your area that hold classes on evenings and weekends. If you’re hoping to continue working whilst you earn your degree in person, this can be an option worth considering.

Cost: Online MBA programmes often work out cheaper than in-person programmes because the course provider is saving on premises and resources. You can also continue to earn whilst you complete an online MBA.

Face-to-face interactions: In an online MBA, interactions with your instructors or peers will—unless you enrol in a blended programme—generally take place entirely virtually. If the social aspect of business school is something you prioritise, an on-campus programme might make more sense.

That said, online programmes have been adapting to encourage interactions in their online communities. Students can often participate in group projects, attend online networking sessions, or have access to office hours. Online networking opportunities might also mean that you’ll be able to meet employers or alumni who wouldn’t come to campus otherwise.

What’s a blended (or hybrid) programme?

Blended, or hybrid, learning programmes combine both online and in-person instruction. This might mean assignments are completed online, but discussions, lectures, or social events happen on campus.

How to choose an online MBA programme

Like any MBA programme, reputation, cost, quality of education, and access to an alumni network can all be factors in determining which online programme to apply to. Beyond that, online programmes should be from reputable providers, and fit what you want from an online education.

Below are some questions to consider to determine if a university meets what you’re looking for:

• What opportunities are there to network with peers or alumni?

• Are classes taught by professors who also teach on campus, or by online-specific faculty?

• Do you have access to student support services like the financial aid office or career centre?

• Are lessons pre-recorded or taught live?

• What do the school’s graduation rates and employment rates look like?

• Who grades the assignments?

Get started with online MBA programmes on Coursera

Getting an MBA online can open doors, and help you grow professionally, as an individual, and yes—financially as well. Online MBAs can accommodate the obligations of your life whilst you learn the tools to build and support businesses. 

If you’re ready to make a start, browse online business degrees on Coursera, such as the Executive MBA delivered by the Indian Institute of Technology, or the MBA in Business Analytics from OP Jindal Global University.