Online MBAs: Best Advice From The Class Of 2026

You did it. You signed the dotted line and put down a deposit. Congratulations! You’re part of the Class of 2028.

Now, the hard part really begins. And it’s time to get down to work.

You’ve heard the stories. Listening to lectures as dawn breaks. Starting study group discussions after the kids go to bed. Catching up on readings in the airport lounge. The punishing workloads and painful tradeoffs. The fear that you’re falling behind and losing control – and the guilt that comes from the sense that you’re disappointing others and missing out.

Amid all that, you might be tempted to stay in your lane and play it safe, says Becky Blankenship, a consultant who earned her MBA online at Kelley Direct in 2026. By this, she means seeking out classmates who are just like you, studying topics that involve less effort, or contributing when the risk is low. Truth is, Blankenship adds, MBA students are better off doing the opposing and choosing “discomfort on purpose.”

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING

“Volunteer for the part of the project that stretches you,” she continues. “Take the elective that challenges your assumptions. Partner with classmates from industries you know nothing about. Ask the question you are worried everyone else already understands. An online MBA gives you the ability to customize your experience, but thriving requires using that freedom to grow, not just to stay comfortable. The value of the program is not just in what it allows you to complete; it is in what it challenges you to become.”

In other words, an online MBA acts like a second job. Like a daytime job, classroom success requires the same intangibles: time management, relationship-building, flexibility, resourcefulness – not to mention a relentless commitment to excellence. More than that, it demands an openness to capitalizing on every opportunity available, adds Lilah Maguire, a Deloitte consultant and 2026 Wake Forest grad.

“An online MBA is truly what you make of it. Say yes to networking calls, professional events, study abroad opportunities, and experiences that help you build relationships. The online format does not limit your ability to build a strong network; if anything, I think it expands it. By fully investing in the experience, I built not only a strong professional network but also lifelong friendships.”

What else does it take to excel in a top online MBA program? This summer, Poets&Quants reached out to graduates from 41 business schools to share their advice on how to make the most of their online MBA experience. From big-picture strategy to productivity hacks, here is how the Class of 2026 navigated the hurdles to reach the podium at graduation.

1) Bring Your Work To The Classroom: “Commit to using your own work as the case study. The MBA is most valuable when you treat it as a structured way to think harder about the things you are already doing. Do not bring hypothetical problems to class. Bring real ones. Test frameworks against your actual P&L, your actual team, your actual customer. Use the negotiation class to prepare for a contract you are about to sign. Use the marketing analytics class to dig into the data you already have at work. Use office hours to get a Foster professor’s read on a strategic decision you are sitting on.

The classmates of mine who treated the program as separate from their work got the least out of it. The ones who treated it as a tool for getting better at the work they were already doing left with an MBA that paid for itself many times over before graduation.”
Gem Nwannem, University of Washington (Foster)

2) Factor In The ‘Real’ Cost: “Be honest about the cost. An online MBA looks affordable on paper. You can keep your job. You don’t have to relocate. You study from home. However, the real cost shows up in your evenings, your weekends, and the time you don’t spend with the people you love.

Tell the people in your life what they’re signing up for. Tell your supervisor what you’ll need on heavy weeks. Tell your friends you’ll be slow to text back while you’re in the program. The classmates I’ve watched thrive went into this with their eyes open and their support system in the loop. The ones who struggled tried to carry it alone.”
Raphael Garcia, University of Washington (Foster)

3) Build a Routine and Protect It: “Online MBA programs give flexibility, but that flexibility can become dangerous if you are not disciplined. Treat it like a second job. Stay ahead when you can because life and work will eventually throw curveballs at you. Also, lean into the relationships. The network and shared experiences become one of the most valuable parts of the program.”
Corey Emsoff, Texas A&M (Mays)

4) Know Your ‘Why’: “My best advice is to do it for the right reasons and to have a clear goal in mind from the start (and not lose sight of it). Go into each course understanding that it is a foundational piece of your broader business training, not just an isolated requirement. It can be easier to lose momentum in an online format without the structure of a physical classroom or peers physically around you, so you have to be intentional about staying engaged. In this setting, you are your own motivator, and having your long-term goal consistently in mind is what will keep you disciplined and moving forward.”
Jorge F. Urquiaga, Penn State

“Remember and write down why you are getting your MBA. There are many decisions you’ll need to make across your time in the program, sacrifices from what your life looks like now, and long nights or weekends doing school work. During the challenging times, it helps a lot to remember why you made this decision and why it’s important to you to push through. If I could offer one more piece of advice, it would be to try new things in the program. This is the safest place to learn, especially compared to the consequences that come in leadership positions at work. So if you are not a finance person, play the CFO in a role play or case study. Ask the question in class that you think may be silly or obvious as this is the safest and best place to learn. Do the extra leadership workshops and be vulnerable in the exercises.”
Ashley O’Brien, University of Michigan (Ross)

5) Embrace Being New: “Approach the program with disciplined intention and a “Beginner’s Mind”, holding your expertise with humility and allowing curiosity to coexist with confidence. Stay organized, remain open‑minded, enjoy engaging with peers, and embrace a growth mindset that helps you apply concepts immediately to real‑world leadership challenges.”
Dr. Mohan V. Belthur, University of Arizona (Eller)

6) Schedule Breaks: “You get out what you put in. Scheduling study sessions throughout the week, rather than taking up my entire weekends, helped prevent burnout and gave me time to actually absorb the material in smaller chunks. I also recommend making studying more enjoyable – go to a coffee shop, listen to movie scores, or study outside. That helped me feel like my life wasn’t just school and work.”
Maria Allen, University of Utah (Eccles)

7) Participate In a Study Group: “Join a study group that challenges you and motivates you to keep up with assignments and focus on the learning process. I had four different study groups during my time at Weatherhead, and I felt like I hit the jackpot each time. While each group culture was unique, I was grateful to find study partners who collaborated well and complemented my learning habits. Additionally, I was happy to find people who genuinely cared about each other and didn’t take themselves too seriously. It made the entire experience fun and meaningful.”
Amy Rushing, MD, Case Western Reserve (Weatherford)

8) Figure Out How You Learn Best: “Use the flexibility of an online MBA to your advantage and make the program work around how you actually learn and live. There is no single right approach. Some people in my cohort work best in long, focused stretches; others, like me, prefer shorter slots throughout different parts of the day. I have covered course material on the couch, in the gym, and while travelling. What matters is knowing how you work best and building a rhythm around that rather than forcing a structure that does not suit you.”
Gul Sanliturk, ESMT Business School

9) Commit To It: “There’s never going to be a perfect time to pursue a graduate degree; I told myself that for years. At some point, you just have to decide you’re going to make the time and go all in. For me, thriving in an online MBA came down to being disciplined with my schedule and staying fully engaged, even on the days I didn’t feel like it. I treated it as an investment in myself, not just something to get through.”
Victoria “Tori” Clark, Baylor University (Hankamer)

10) Give Yourself Grace: “Many online MBA students are balancing careers, family, leadership roles, and personal responsibilities, and all at the same time. Discipline and consistency matter more than perfection.”
Vira Aleksandrova, Santa Clara University (Leavey)

“There will inevitably be a learning curve as you balance coursework, a career, and life. What matters is building a structure that works for you and holding yourself accountable to it. For me, that reality set in quickly when I had to navigate one of my first lectures from a different time zone at around 3 a.m.”
Ashley King, Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)

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