Is a part-time MBA worth it? 

It isn't always feasible to take a year or two out of the workplace to study a full-time MBA. If this is the case for you, there are two other options: you can study an Online MBA or study a part-time MBA, with in-person classes on evenings and weekends.

The part-time MBA has increased in popularity in the last few years, according to the 2026 GMAC Prospective Students Survey. Five percent of those thinking of applying to business school indicated they were interested in a part-time, in-person program in 2019, but that figure had increased to 8% by 2026. For the busy professional, the part-time delivery model can be beneficial. But is a part-time MBA worth the investment?

Typical cost of a part-time MBA

Because part-time MBA programs usually cover the same content as a school’s full-time program—just over a longer period of time—the cost of a part-time degree is normally similar, though sometimes slightly lower than the cost of a full-time MBA.

For example, Chicago Booth’s Evening and Weekend MBA programs cost the same as the school’s full-time, two-year program, at $174,708.

ESMT Berlin’s part-time MBA costs €40,000 (around $47,000) in tuition, which is €10,000 (around $12,000) cheaper than the full-time option. The part-time MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School is also cheaper, with the program costing $46,000 compared with $68,000 for the full-time program. Meanwhile, Berkeley University’s Haas School of Business charges $166,824 for its part-time program compared with $178,066 for the full-time equivalent.

Of course, the key benefit of a part-time MBA is that you can work and earn alongside your studies. This can often help to offset a significant chunk of the cost of the program.

The structure of a part-time MBA

Being able to study over a longer period of time, and instantly apply the skills you learn in the classroom to your job, can help you reap the rewards at work. Students on the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) part-time program have 24 months to complete their degree, while Berkeley Haas students have up to five years, making it a long-term professional development program.

Another advantage of a part-time MBA is the network—both face-to-face and online. For instance, ESMT Berlin’s part-time MBA is split 80% online and 20% in-person. The 14, in-person modules take place between Thursday afternoon and Saturday.

Meanwhile AMBS’ part-time MBA has 28-31 days of face-to-face teaching over 24 months. The program’s in-person teaching takes place in various locations around the world.

Volkan Cinar graduated from Alliance Manchester’s part-time MBA in 2026. He says the opportunity to combine in-person workshops with flexible online learning was a big draw of the program.

“What ultimately made AMBS the right choice was the Global Part-Time MBA format itself,” he says. “The blended learning model, together with face-to-face workshop residentials and the opportunity to study across international centres, made it a very strong fit for someone like me who wanted both flexibility and a genuinely global experience.”

Career benefits of a part-time MBA

In our Alumni Perspectives Survey, graduates from part-time MBA programs were asked how far they agreed that their degree prepared them for leadership positions and increased their earning power.

Alumni scored preparation for leadership positions 4.21 (out of five) and increasing earning power 4.12. Also, 70% of alumni said the degree was financially rewarding and 89% said it was professionally rewarding.

Compared to full-time MBAs, fewer students on part-time MBA programs will change their careers completely, because their career goals and reasons for choosing the program are different. Yet the part-time MBA does have the capacity to change and accelerate your career if you so wish.

James Makinde, for example, graduated from the Global Part-Time MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School and was promoted from his role with Shell to business development manager for new energies in West Africa.

So, is a part-time MBA worth it?

Alumni see the value in a part-time MBA. It grants financial reward often in the shape of a promotion and many alumni are in agreement that it preps you for leadership positions.

If you’re unable or unwilling to take time out of the workforce to study a full-time MBA, and want to gain management knowledge that you can apply directly to your current role, then combining study and work through a part-time MBA program could be for you.