Aspiring to management is pretty common in business, as is a consideration of the differences between a Professional MBA and an Executive MBA. These two programs have similar goals and outcomes: They both help graduates advance into senior-level management positions that are absolutely critical to the long-term success of the organization and the long-term trajectory of their career in management. Each MBA program performs this educational task a bit differently, however. As a result, different kinds of students are accepted into each of these programs, and different classes are offered based on the program’s status as either professional or executive in nature.
The Professional MBA is a Program for “New” Managers and Recent Graduates
The professional MBA is the traditional version of the Master of Business Administration program. It’s been offered for generations in the United States and is increasingly popular in Europe, largely due to its comprehensive focus that teaches students first and foremost about the role and responsibilities of a modern manager. The program also focus on various content areas and how management is enacted in each: Marketing, finance, human resources, and executive management all require at least 3 credit hours of study in a traditional, professional MBA program.
As a result, this program is a perfect fit for business professionals with relatively limited, relatively recent experience. Most schools require between zero and five years of experience in order to gain admission. The program is also often bundled with undergraduate business degrees in a five-year, accelerated format. This dual-degree option offers a great savings and creates “management material” in graduates immediately upon graduation. For more seasoned players in the business world, however, this program is not the best match.
Executive MBA Programs Target the Seasoned Professional
The professional MBA typically requires more credit hours than does the executive MBA, and for good reason: An executive MBA usually requires applicants to have at least 10 years of experience in positions that showcase increasing managerial responsibilities. This makes the EMBA a program designed almost exclusively for those who advanced into managerial roles without a graduate degree at all. As such, it exempts students from the study of more basic management theory and practice. Those who enroll in the EMBA are put on a more accelerated track, quickly pushed past 500-level management coursework and placed in classes emphasizing strategic decision-making, corporate structure, executive leadership, and the role of the chief executive.
Though once perceived as a “lite” version of the traditional MBA, today Executive MBA programs are considered an essential tool for mid-level managers with their eyes on the next big promotion. Many EMBA programs enjoy reputations as good as, or better than, Professional MBA offerings at the exact same school. They also have far lower financial aid acceptance rates, since virtually all EMBA candidates have their classes fully or partially paid for by their existing employer in advance of a promotion. This makes the program both quicker and far more affordable than the typical professional MBA in the United States.
Related Resource: International MBA
Different Targeted Students, But Similar Outcomes for All MBA Graduates
The Professional and Executive MBA programs might be different in terms of their length and coursework, but they’re aligned in that they both propel their graduates into senior-level management positions that offer them an excellent job placement rate and starting salary. According to the US News and World Report, the primary difference between a Professional MBA and an Executive MBA is the experience level of the admitted applicant, rather than the coursework or the outcomes achieved by the program.
