So this is my story, I am trying to decide whether to do a Executive MBA Program (choices)

1) Fordham
2) Penn State- Smeal (close enough to commute from NY)
3) Baruch
5) Northeastern

or a Online MBA from a Nationally recognized program like:

1) University of Florida
2) Northeastern
3) University of Mass-Amherst
4) Penn State
5) Babson Fast Track MBA

I have 10 years of professional experience and currently own a small consulting practice, so time is dear to me. What I hope to accomplish with my MBA is to get some formal training in Business since I have a technology degree.

Any advice would be welcomed

Hello...anybody out there? :)

Have you considered other top programs in the NYC area? http://www.find-mba.com/board/3003

I assume you are talking about NYU, Columbia or Cornell?

One of the big reason is that I am self funding, and the $110k-$127k range of those programs seems steep, but could be worth it in the long run.

The other thing is that my undergraduate GPA is not very strong...2.9 but I do have over 8 years of experience in management with P&L responsibility with a total of 11 years of professional experience. I have been also running a successful consulting firm for the last 3 years.

Your 11 years of professional experience is the key to securing a spot in a top EMBA. The further you are from undergrad the less important the GPA becomes. The question is how to value the EMBA and what premium to place on an NYU or Columbia. This can only be estimated and must take into consideration your career goals. Some of the Professors at NYU and Columbia are brilliant. The networking can also be very good. A friend is a banker doing the EMBA program at Kellogg right now. Her classmates are senior executives at top companies. Perfect for networking. However, she plans on opening a company to distribute wine after she completes the degree. In her case what she learns from the Professors and through classroom interaction is far more important than the networking. Of course, the networking is valuable when/if she re-enters the corporate world but it is likely that it will not pay dividends in the short term.

You make an excellent point about the networking, especially in a place like NY. I guess I am just a bit torn due to the financial aspects of it. 1) Average distance program for a nationally recognized (non-tier one school) about $35k (almost zero networking), 2) Regional EMBA program about $75-80K at a second tier school like Penn State Smeal (in Philly, so would have to travel a little) or Fordham. 3) NYU or Columbia at about $125k Tier one school, with excellent rep and networking potential.

The purpose of my pursing an MBA are two fold 1) to get a more formal business education as my undergraduate degree is a Bachelors in Technology and 2) to help in gaining the knowledge I need to either expand my business or have the credentials needed to join a larger organization at C level position.

I never realized how difficult of a decision this would be.