Executive MBA vs. MBA Programs: Six Key Differences

Not all MBA programs are created equal. Many business schools offer multiple MBA degrees aimed at professionals at different career stages, with various demands on their personal and professional lives. One common variant of the traditional MBA is the Executive MBA (EMBA).

But is an Executive MBA the same as an MBA? How exactly does it differ from a traditional MBA? In this blog, we'll explore the MBA and Executive MBA differences to help you decide which degree is the best fit for your career goals. Stay with us as we uncover the six key differences that set these paths apart.

Executive MBA programs are designed for experienced management professionals striving to deepen their organizational impact. As such, an EMBA program seeks to enhance strategic leadership, decision-making, innovation, and change management skills.

Traditional full-time MBA programs, in contrast, cater to early- to mid-career professionals. These MBA programs provide more comprehensive coverage of business basics to create professionals with well-rounded leadership skills. Next, we’ll look in more detail at how this difference in focus typically shapes the difference between MBA and MBA executive programs.

Understanding the difference between an MBA and an executive MBA requires examining several key areas, including admissions requirements, time commitment, curriculum focus, career aspirations, program cost, and networking opportunities.

As the name might imply, the executive MBA degree is aimed at an advanced class of business professionals. The average starting age for an EMBA candidate is 39 years old,¹ which is significantly higher than the average starting age of 27 for full-time traditional MBA students.²

Consequently, while both business degrees usually require professional work experience as part of their admissions requirements, executive MBA students tend to start their programs with more work experience than their traditional MBA counterparts.

EMBA students are generally expected to have a varied resume with demonstrated advancement and managerial experience. They average 15 years of experience, with about nine years of management work when they begin their degrees. In addition, many EMBA programs have additional assessments and documentation requirements for EMBA applicants.³

Traditional MBA students typically enter their programs with four years of professional experience. However, admissions personnel may focus more on the type of experience, and evidence of increasing responsibility, rather than the number of years.²

Executive MBA programs are geared toward professionals who have already reached a point of some career success and heightened responsibility. Because their average age skews higher than that of conventional MBA programs, it is more common for EMBA students to have more settled family lives that are difficult to uproot as well. Because of this, executive MBA programs come in a variety of formats: some meet on weekends, and some meet monthly or biweekly. Like full-time programs, Executive MBAs are typically two-year programs.⁴

A full-time, residential MBA program is not the only alternative to an EMBA, however, Top business schools increasingly offer online MBA programs to extend the benefits of flexible scheduling and work-life balance to a broader class of professionals. While you may take more classes and have assignments due more frequently in an online MBA program than in an EMBA program, asynchronous coursework, downloadable readings, and lectures available anytime through a digital learning management system can help you fit your MBA studies into your busy life.

Because they are geared toward management-level students, executive MBA programs offer a more generalist business education than many MBA programs, pitched at a higher, more strategic level. Students in executive MBA programs often have their sights set on the C-suite, and the curriculum focus is set to match. Their curricula often lack introductory coursework and feature little to no electives and variation. They are focused on helping seasoned, successful professionals improve their leadership abilities with courses on subjects such as decision-making, innovation, and change agency and management.¹

Conventional MBAs typically offer a wider variety of classes. They may provide elective options and even allow you to select from multiple concentrations or specializations. A strong MBA curriculum contains classes focused on hard skills like financial analysis and the use of analytic technologies alongside courses that center on soft skills like business communication and professionalization.

Students typically enter executive MBA programs after they reach a certain level of success in their careers but feel as though their upward climb may have plateaued. Because of this, EMBA students generally have very set career goals in mind. They want to move from management into top leadership, and they see an advanced degree as a crucial signifier that can help them get there.

Conversely, the goals for traditional MBA students vary much more widely. Some may undoubtedly share that desire for upward mobility within their organization, but others may hope to change careers entirely. With their broad range of coursework, conventional MBAs are great for career-changers who want to pivot into a new opportunity. While successfully moving into a new industry or field may require some extra work, an MBA can be an essential gateway to this transition.⁵

Many top EMBA programs take the term “executive” very seriously in ways that extend beyond their academic content. In the past, most EMBA students received full tuition support from their employers, but now, more students are self-funding their education.⁴ Tuition at top EMBA programs can be over $200,000, and the average cost of EMBA programs in 2023 was $94,203.³ In addition, students may also have to pay for travel expenses to participate in the class sessions, although some programs include those in the tuition.

Conventional MBA programs in all but the highest tier are generally more affordable, averaging $56,850,⁶ and typically require full-time attendance. Online MBAs can also be remarkably affordable, as they usually require no commute. And if you conceptualize your own time and energy in terms of monetary value, the savings online study can offer in those areas are pretty enticing.

Students in executive MBA programs learn alongside seasoned professionals in cohort groups. The experience fosters deep, peer-to-peer learning and close-knit relationships through consistent interaction. However, the cohort structure can limit exposure to new ideas and perspectives.

In contrast, a traditional MBA, including Seattle U's online MBA, offers broader networking avenues. Students engage with diverse peers and faculty through courses, internships, and career events. They also have access to extensive alumni networks. This diversity enriches professional growth and provides a multifaceted network that benefits various career stages and aspirations.

Executive MBA graduates recently reported an average increase in compensation from $166,549 at the start of the program to $190,989 by the end. The salaries reflect their deep experience, and the increases reflect raises, promotions, and added responsibilities.⁷

Meanwhile, the average salary for MBA graduates in the U.S. is $109,159, according to U.S. News & World Report. Many of the schools included in the data also reported that graduates got signing bonuses averaging $22,776.⁸ While that is the average, factors such as industry, specialized skills, and geographic region influence individual results. Seattle area MBA graduates, for example, are entering a market where the average wage is significantly higher than the national average.⁹

The Online MBA program at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics can open the door to countless new professional opportunities. If you’re ready to apply today, check out our tips for demonstrating your value in your MBA application. And if you need a bit more convincing, look at the stellar professional network, with contacts in high-growth fields and well-established companies in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond, that you could join as an Albers alum.