Choosing the right format for your Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a critical decision that balances academic rigor with your professional and personal life. Today’s working professionals have three excellent options available through the Wake Forest University School of Business: the traditional in-person format, the adaptable hybrid format, and the highly flexible online format. While all formats share a curriculum designed to provide a strategic, global perspective on business and a team-based approach to achieving holistic solutions, their delivery methods cater to distinct applicant needs.

The core lockstep curriculum typically integrates all functions of business and emphasizes broad-based leadership and management skills, regardless of the delivery method. Furthermore, students in all formats have access to expanded electives and five concentration options: Business Analytics, Finance, Digital Marketing, Project Management, and Strategy and Leadership.

Here is a breakdown of the differences between the formats and guidance on which one might be the best fit for your goals.

The In-Person MBA: For the Traditionalist and Local Networker

The In-Person MBA format is designed for those who value a dynamic, engaging, and traditional campus environment without interrupting their career.

Format Details

In-person classes are typically held at fixed locations and times, such as the Uptown Charlotte campus on Monday and Wednesday evenings, or the Winston-Salem campus on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Best For Applicants Who

• Prioritize Face-to-Face Networking: Applicants who choose the in-person format often want to build connections in person through opportunities like networking events, listening to speakers, and Q&A sessions
• Seek Local Business Immersion: This format is highly valued by those looking to strengthen their ties within a specific business community, such as Charlotte
• Want a Focused, Traditional Experience: Students appreciate the ability to go to classes in person without pausing their careers, feeling empowered by the confidence instilled through the on-campus interactions with professors and classmates. They find the experience helps build lifelong friendships and meaningful relationships with peers, faculty, and staff

The Hybrid MBA: Blending Flexibility with Engagement

The Hybrid MBA format offers a balance, seamlessly integrating high-impact, in-person sessions with asynchronous online modules.

Format Details

The Hybrid format typically involves online work combined with scheduled in-person sessions, such as those held at the Uptown Charlotte campus on selected Saturdays. This model allows students to balance in-person engagement with asynchronous learning.

Best For Applicants Who

• Need Flexibility but Value Collaboration: This unique model is ideal for those who need to maintain their full-time job but still prioritize the benefits of face-to-face interaction and collaborative learning environments
• Are Senior Leaders Seeking Agility: The hybrid model appeals to senior leaders because it provides an agile curriculum that optimizes time efficiencies while still allowing them to deepen their learning and build invaluable executive networks through hands-on time together
• Seek a Tailored, Supportive Journey: Students choose this format for its cohort learning style, which provides a supportive MBA journey and allows them to fully engage in academic growth during weekends and off-hours

The Online MBA: Maximum Flexibility, Global Reach

The Online MBA is designed for ambitious professionals who seek career advancement and a quality education without compromising work-life balance, allowing them to earn their degree 100% online from virtually anywhere.

Format Details

The program is built specifically for working professionals, offering a flexible asynchronous schedule alongside opportunities for real-time interaction. The curriculum is structured to focus on a limited number of classes over seven-week periods, and enrollment can occur at various points throughout the year.

Best For Applicants Who

• Require Maximum Flexibility: This format is crucial for those whose professional or personal lifestyle requires an asynchronous schedule, or for those whose job requires frequent travel, meaning they may not know where they will physically be week-to-week
• Prioritize Value and Prestige: Many online students choose this format for its prestigious reputation, quality of education, and high value for the money when compared to other universities
• Are Dedicated to Balancing Work and Education: The online program is academically challenging and requires intentional planning to manage the workload alongside family and work commitments

Maintaining Connection in the Online Format

Despite being fully online, building meaningful connections is a core part of the Online MBA experience. Students foster relationships through team-based projects and collaborative coursework. The program also integrates valued opportunities for in-person interactions, such as Deacon Weekend (an annual on-campus experience) and the optional Global Immersion Program, which provides shared learning in an international context.

Choosing your MBA format hinges on aligning your professional needs and desire for connection with the program’s structure. Whether you prefer the local immersion of the in-person option, the strategic blend of the hybrid model, or the ultimate geographical freedom of the online format, there is a tailored program available to help you sharpen your strategic, global perspective on business.

Schedule a consultation today to see which format is right for you at Wake Forest.