We surveyed over 600 companies, and 87 percent reported working directly with schools to recruit graduate business students from many business programs. We also asked about the top factors recruiters consider when choosing which schools to visit. After quality of students, other factors employers weighed were the reputation of the school and the recruiter’s experience with it.

A school’s relationship with companies is one thing to consider when deciding what kind of graduate business program you plan to invest in. NYU Stern and other schools typically release employment reports for this reason. In our own research, we also asked alumni if the skills developed in business school advanced their careers. The numbers affirming this positive outcome after an MBA or an EMBA were almost equal at 90 percent and 89 percent, respectively.

What else should factor into your decision? Keep reading to learn more.

Optimize your schedule

When deciding between Executive MBA or MBA programs, your schedule is an important thing to consider. For professionals who don’t mind being in school full time for approximately two years, an MBA offers the opportunity to focus solely on your education. In contrast, EMBA programs are typically designed for professionals who intend to keep working while they invest in graduate education. For example, at the Berkeley Haas School of Business, the MBA for Executives allows students to attend classes Thursday to Saturday every three weeks over 19 months.

Why is the Executive Assessment a great option for experienced professionals looking to go back to school? Find out here!

Consider your work experience

The decision to apply to an EMBA vs MBA will likely include your current level of work experience. MBAs more often focus on professionals at an earlier stage in their careers. MBA programs also offer rich opportunities for professionals who aim to make a significant career change, such as switching industry. EMBAs are typically designed for professionals with more experience and who are well established in their fields.

These trends are evident in our research, where we found the median age of prospective EMBA students to be 32 years, with a median work experience of 7.5 years. The median age of prospective MBA students was 26 with three years of work experience. At Rutgers Business School, EMBA students often have 10 years of full-time employment under their belts, while full-time MBA students have an average of 5 years of work experience.

Location, location, location

Where you study makes a difference. If your intention is to continue working in the same region, MBA programs focus on strong connections to local businesses.

For professionals who are interested in traveling or networking in multiple cities during their education, there be more options for such activities in EMBA programs. For example, Wharton offers an EMBA that has locations in Philadelphia and San Francisco. While MBA programs are not closed off to multiple locations for education, with 61 percent of all b-school alumni working for companies with locations in multiple countries, EMBAs have more options in this respect. In either case, your education can help open new doors and opportunities.

Ready to start your applications?

Learn more about taking an MBA experience test today!