How Students Build Their Online MBA Experience At W. P. Carey

For many prospective students, the appeal of an Online MBA primarily lies in its convenience. The format makes it possible to earn a graduate business degree while continuing to work and maintain a life outside the classroom.

At the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, flexibility is only part of the story. Ranked No. 8 for Online MBA programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2026 — and No. 6 for Online MBA programs for veterans — the W. P. Carey Online MBA helps students strengthen their leadership and build their own MBA experience.

The ability to keep moving forward professionally while growing academically is one of the defining strengths of the W. P. Carey Online MBA. Students come to the program from a wide range of backgrounds and industries, not just traditional business roles. Concentrations, clubs, and global experiences are just a few ways students can tailor the degree to their goals.

SEEING IMMEDIATE CAREER IMPACT

Mallory Fox (Online MBA ’26) was working full time in marketing and part time in her own fitness and wellness coaching business when she decided to pursue an MBA. “Stepping away from my career wasn’t realistic,” she says. “I wanted a rigorous MBA experience that could fit into my life without requiring me to put anything else on hold.”

Fox put her new skills and knowledge to use right away. “Because I continued working throughout the program, I essentially had a laboratory where I could immediately apply what I was learning,” she says. Concepts like finance, supply chain, and analytics became less theoretical and more practical as she was able to use them in real business scenarios.

What made the biggest impact, however, was the way the program increased her confidence in her abilities and leadership, which was reflected in her career progression.

“During the program, I took on greater responsibility at work and was promoted to senior product marketing manager,” Fox says. “I don’t attribute a career milestone to a degree alone, but I absolutely believe the MBA accelerated my development and gave me greater confidence operating outside of my immediate functional expertise.”

P. Carey’s online learning environment intentionally fosters this growth and confidence building. Students collaborate with classmates from across the globe, representing various industries and career stages, which helps them broaden their perspectives.

ADDING DEPTH WITH CONCENTRATIONS

Online MBA students take courses taught by the same esteemed faculty as students in W. P. Carey’s on-campus MBA programs. Elective courses, concurrent degrees, and eight optional concentrations make it easy to align the degree with various career paths and interests. Several W. P. Carey Online MBA concentrations are ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report for 2026.

No. 4, online general management MBA programs.

No. 4, online marketing MBA programs.

No. 4, online business analytics MBA programs.

No. 9, online finance MBA programs.

Judson Tomaiko (Online MBA ’27) entered the program with a strong interest in artificial intelligence shaped by his previous work experience. His interest in international business developed over time, and choosing concentrations in both areas has helped him deepen his expertise and clarify his professional direction.

“I don’t like to just say, ‘I’m getting an MBA,'” he says. “Now I can tell people that I have a focus. I say, ‘I’m getting my MBA so I can focus on artificial intelligence strategy and international business.'”

ENGAGING BEYOND THE COMPUTER SCREEN

The Online MBA experience at W. P. Carey emphasizes connection and community. Faculty-led discussions invite students to share their perspectives, while collaborative projects help classmates build relationships across locations and industries.

Outside the virtual classroom, student organizations create additional ways to connect. Through the MBA Student Advisory Board, students can offer feedback on the curriculum, learning experience, orientation, and student engagement.

“Joining the Student Advisory Board was one of the most meaningful parts of my W. P. Carey experience,” Fox says. “I really valued having a voice and knowing that the faculty and staff genuinely wanted to hear what students were experiencing.”

Students can also create new opportunities to start something new. Tomaiko saw an opening for a new student organization that drew on the Online MBA’s international business concentration and diverse student population.

“I realized there was a gap, that there wasn’t a club for international business,” he says. “I thought, ‘That doesn’t seem right. Why do we have an international business concentration if people aren’t really leaning into it?'”

After connecting with John Fowler, associate dean of the W. P. Carey MBA and Motorola Professor in International Management, during a trip in Taiwan, Tomaiko helped launch the International Business Club and plans to expand its activities during this school year.

LEARNING ACROSS THE GLOBE

While convenience remains a clear benefit of the Online MBA, W. P. Carey offers students many ways to extend the experience beyond coursework. Global immersion trips expose students to new business practices, expand their perspectives, and help them build worldwide connections.

Tomaiko’s global immersion trip to Taiwan has been a high point of his Online MBA experience so far. He describes the trip as the “perfect balance” of education, hands-on experience, and cultural immersion. “We got a chance to see a wide variety, everything from the business of supply chain semiconductors to the legal aspects of business,” he says. “We even got to go to this cool tech startup, which was so unique.”

Elizabeth Chilton (Online MBA ’27) participated in a global immersion program in Australia, where students visited local universities, banks, and businesses. She describes the trip as one of the greatest experiences of her life.

“Beyond everything I learned academically and professionally, I built friendships with other MBA students and connected with dozens of professionals across different industries,” Chilton says. “Those relationships made the experience even more meaningful and created connections that could potentially follow me throughout my career.”

Graduates join a thriving community of more than 140,000 W. P. Carey alumni who are living and leading in over 100 countries. They can also tap into the school’s employer connections and the global ASU network for life.

MAKING THE ONLINE MBA WORK FOR YOU

Current and former students say the key to the W. P. Carey Online MBA is approaching it as more than just a list of classes to complete. It is a full experience, one that can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities.

“My biggest advice would be: Don’t just complete the MBA — participate in it,” Fox says. “Talk to your professors. Get to know your classmates. Go to the networking event. Take advantage of opportunities that feel slightly outside your comfort zone.”

Flexibility may be what brings many students to an Online MBA, but at W. P. Carey, the experience goes far beyond. Actively participating will maximize the impact of your MBA on your career.

The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is the largest business school in the United States, with more than 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students — and 140,000+ alumni around the world. There are more than 60 ways to earn a W. P. Carey degree, including our first-of-its-kind master’s in AI in business. Entrepreneurship and innovation are key to our curriculum and your experience.

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