AACSB MBA - What Makes Accreditation Valued and How to Choose the Right One?

For students pursuing MBA, one pathway to enrichment is by choosing programs accredited by trusted and respected external regulators like AACSB.

19:33 10 December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted every industry, and the educational sector was no different. The shift from physical classrooms to online classes fundamentally changed the learning process for students. Achieving quality education became a real-time challenge. 

 

Even though things are getting back to normal, students around the world have continued to pursue higher education through online and hybrid mediums. For online universities, it has become crucial to create enriched programs and curriculums that provide real value to the student – for their personal life and progression in career. 

 

For students pursuing MBA, one pathway to attain this quality and enrichment is by choosing programs accredited by trusted and respected external regulators – in this case, mainly the AACSB. 

 

Viable Options for Online MBA-Seeking Students and Business Professionals 

Pearson Education, a British multinational publishing and education company and one of the world's leading education providers, is offering candidates a plethora of options in pursuing an online AACSB program from its partnerships with hundreds of universities around the globe. Instances of the offered programs include an Executive Master of Business Administration from Washington State University, Master of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota and Hawaii Pacific University, as well as a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

 

Moreover, with AACSB online MBA, students can find programs that include specializations in Business Analytics, Human Resources, General Business, Health Administration, Information Technology Management, Marketing, Accounting, Athletics Administration, and many more fields.

 

What is AACSB and AACSB Accreditation?

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is an American professional organization established in 1916 that officially accredits various business undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs of hundreds of universities worldwide. 

 

Due to the AACSB's rigorous analysis and evaluation of a business school's relevance, impact, graduation and enrollment rates, student and alumni satisfaction, faculty qualifications, curricula, mission and vision and ability to provide quality education, it is widely regarded as the most recognized accreditation business programs can earn.

 

As of 2021, fewer than 5% of more than 15,000 business programs around the world have received proper AACSB accreditation.

 

A few global examples of AACBS-accredited universities include Aalto University in Finland, Abu Dhabi University in the United Arab Emirates, Adelphi University in New York, United States as well as the American University of Beirut, situated in the capital of Lebanon. 

 

Why is AACSB Accreditation Important for Students Pursuing MBA Programs?

Top universities of the world—including Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon University—consistently rate among the top in QS Rankings are AACSB accredited. 

 

This is a testament to their programs meeting the rigorous requirements set by AACSB that are distinctive in scope. 

 

Why Should Students Opt For Accredited Business Programs? 

 

When students are faced with a dilemma of choosing business programs with accreditation and those without, the underlying value of accredited business programs must be emphasized through the optics of potential it holds for students. 

 

Here's why:

 

Demonstratable Standards

Continuing higher education to not only graduate but pursue doctorate levels with accredited degree programs also becomes easier when students have accredited degrees. With accredited degrees, the amount of time, effort and resources poured into education guarantees graduates handsomely-rewarding jobs, public offices and preparation for entrepreneurship. 

 

According to Martinsburg College, a recent survey of executive employers found that 83% of participants said that "an online degree from an accredited college is as credible as one earned through a traditional campus-based program."

 

Easy to Transfer Credits

As a result of the accredited program's standardization and acceptability among the majority of higher educational institutions, the transfer of credits process is streamlined and simplified as well. Students can not only transfer credits without any hassle but, upon transferring from one program to another, can also receive scholarships, grants, work-study programs or loans as a form of financial aid. The fundamental reasoning behind the simplified credit transfer process is the credibility of accreditation and confirmation of the skills of the student in question.

 

Advanced Skillset

University programs that have been accredited operate at a high level of quality and maintain this competency in the short and long term. This is beneficial for students as they are tested in a more rigorous, technical and skillful manner. 

 

Digital literacy, knowledge/application of various writing styles and formats, academic referencing/citations, basic editing skills and the use of various software are a few aspects of possessing an advanced skillset.

 

Unaccredited university programs not only lack credibility but are also unable to guarantee quality in the curriculum and overall courses, and students often face problems when applying for professional licensure.

 

Better Job Market

Multinational organizations are always on the lookout for experienced and skillful executives/managers with accredited varsity programs. AACSB states that graduates with accredited degrees attract higher salary positions and a wider net of job offers. 

 

According to Martinsburg College, an accredited qualification, even of an online study program, increases the candidate's market value for a progressive and rewarding job position. The survey found that an associate's degree earns an average of 25% more than workers with only a high school diploma, and workers with a bachelor's earn over 70% more. 

 

Distinction Among A Crowded Job Market

With high amounts of applications for a single job position, having an accredited qualification to your name uniquely distinguishes you in the selection pool. 

 

This is put into perspective by Paul Fear, CEO of British Accreditation Council, who says "Demand for quality education has never been greater as students, employers, governments and educational provider partners increasingly recognize that the quality of education is the key to creating foundations for future success. At the same time, students have access to more information than ever before and face a bewildering range of choices of providers and means of delivery. Accreditation provides transparency and reassurance to prospective students that the provider is credible and has met a series of globally recognized standards."

 

Final Thoughts

Although accreditation plays a significant role in designing a student's professional career, it is by no means a complete assurance to mark your success. To generalize that a student of an AACSB-accredited university will undoubtedly outclass each and every other student from unaccredited university programs is unrealistic at best. Albeit with a higher cost in education, accreditation of a university degree through a body such as AACSB ensures prestige and guarantees advanced learned skills in a student.