What B-School Applicants Want

Having reach mid-career, Gen Xers, are heading into their peak earning years, pushing to move up as they raise families and tackle debt. As a result, their biggest priorities are building professional credentials, increasing their salary potential, and remaining marketable and competitive. Baby Boomers share similar priorities with Gen X. However, they are more drawn to quality of life pursuits like personal satisfaction and challenging and interesting work.

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FULL-TIME MBAs MOST POPULAR AMONG YOUNGER APPLICANTS

Tethered to fewer career or family commitments, Millennials gravitated towards full-time MBA programs. 41% of Millennial respondents chose either a two-year or a one-year MBA. Millennials were also more likely to pursue specialty Masters degrees, with nearly a quarter considering a Masters of Finance.

Among time-strapped Gen Xers, part-time MBAs were the most popular degree, with 38% listing it as their preferred choice. That was followed by more professionally-accommodating programs that include executive MBAs (29%), online MBAs (29%), and the flexible MBA (28%). Despite heavy responsibilities at work and home, Gen-X  hasn’t necessarily discounted more rigid programs like full-time one-year MBAs (30%) or full-time two-year MBAs (27%).  Like Gen-X, Baby Boomers have mostly ruled out Masters degrees. At the same time, they are drawn to more adaptable arrangements like the part-time MBA (42%), online MBA (40%), and executive MBA (30%) programs.

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