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Will your online MBA result in a higher salary?

Originally posted on Fortune By Kara Driscoll

Companies see the same value in an MBA degree, no matter how the student attended class, according to Mark Johnson, associate dean of MBA programs at Wake Forest University School of Business. Instead, salary prospects depend more on the quality of the institution, he adds.

Johnson says prospective students should remain open-minded and explore as many different schools as they are willing to research in order to find a fit that will result in an education that has a return on the investment.

“Look at the curriculum, but also ask questions about career placement,” Johnson says. “Do graduates of the program receive a promotion and/or salary increase shortly after graduation? Those are things some people don’t think about when they’re considering programs.”

Wake Forest MBA students experience an average 23% increase in salary after graduation, while 59% of students receive at least one promotion, and 35% change organizations after they get their degree, according to data from the university.

“Companies are looking for people who have work experience but also demonstrate a willingness to invest in themselves,” Johnson says. “An MBA is a significant financial and time commitment, and it’s that commitment that can result in a salary increase or a promotion.”

Read more at Fortune Education.