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Flexibility is more important than ever for a modern MBA. The Kelley School of Business has gone beyond the competition with its focus on ‘optionality’, giving students unparalleled freedom during an immersive educational experience. The school’s Faculty Chair, John Hill, explains the intentional strategy behind the groundbreaking Kelley MBA format.
The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in the United States offers an elite business education for modern professionals. The school’s standout pathway, the Full-Time +Flex MBA, is designed to offer everything you’d expect from a top-tier MBA. Yet, it also comes with the kind of flexibility rarely seen in modern business education.
As John Hill, Faculty Chair for Kelley’s Full-Time MBA program, explains, the school’s research showed that modern students want the freedom to hold open future choices. This is known as ‘optionality’, a concept that redefines what an MBA can be.
“Business schools should be able to respond to the market,” says John. “We teach our students how to do it every day. If we can’t do it ourselves, we have no business teaching our students how to do it.” (17:30)
And so, Kelley created an MBA that offers unmatched optionality over a flexible 21-month program. While the program is 21 months overall, Year 1 comprises a 10-month in-residence experience in Bloomington, and in Year 2, the +Flex (online or on-campus) component begins. It’s a bold approach. However, one that’s fitting for such a forward-thinking business school.
During the first year of the Full-Time +Flex MBA program, students embark on a 10-month in-person study experience. The campus is set in the heart of the small town of Bloomington, Indiana. With a population of 80,000, of which approximately 40,000 are students, come from all 50 states in the U.S. and more than 130 countries. Recently named the #2 most beautiful campus in the country, it offers a classic college town experience.
During the 10-month immersion, students are exposed to networking, career coaching, mentorship, and real-world projects. As part of the school’s community, they are nurtured throughout the experience, developing valuable knowledge and career-ready skills.
The first six months of the Bloomington immersion provide students with foundational business knowledge. Core courses include marketing, operations, finance, accounting, business ethics, and business strategy. The second part centers on experiential learning and real-world experience, with a heavy focus on the school’s foundation academies.
Once students have developed an understanding of business fundamentals, they are ready to step beyond the classroom. The Career Foundation Academies provide hands-on experience, preparing students to have an impact in the real world.
“I view these Foundation Academies as the bridge between the students’ academic work and the students’ professional networking endeavors,” says John. (07:18)
Expert speakers, company visits, and networking events provide unique professional development opportunities. Career Foundation Academies also immerse students in company-based consulting projects. These are intended to be akin to a practice internship, during which students work together on real-world problems.
In the first year, six Career Foundation Academies each offer a distinct experience tailored to specific career goals. For those on campus for the second year a choice of three academies are further available to participate in and add extra credentials to your name. Ultimately, students emerge fully prepared to perform at a very high level during their summer internships.
The +Flex option gives full-time MBA students the choice to either complete their second year online or in person. It creates a unique level of freedom, while accommodating a wide range of requirements.
Whether you want to return to your current job, begin a new career, travel the world, or spend more time with family while you study, the MBA program +Flexibility makes it possible to advance your career without sacrificing key commitments.
“The +Flex program is, at its core, an in-residence program,” explains John. “Even students who go online for their second year are still part of the in-residence program.” (02:55) For John, maintaining that connection is key. “They still have those relationships with their faculty that taught the integrated core [during] the first year,” he says. (03:23)
The sense of community fostered during the first year resonates, even into the online space. It’s a quality that differentiates the Kelley Full-Time +Flex MBA from traditional online MBA programs.
Students can wait until the end of their first year to decide between in-person and online study. As John explains, this allows students to personalize their educational experience in real time.
“A lot of them aren’t necessarily coming into the program with the intent of going online in their second year. But what’s attractive to them is that the flexibility is built in,” he says. “So, what happens if I have to go back to my family business after a year? Or, my partner gets their dream job on the coast… so, [they know] that, should life happen, and it does, there’s this built-in design feature.” (04:48)
It’s a feature that brings peace of mind from the outset.
“We’ve taken some of the anxiety out of the decision-making process,” says John. “… creating a workable structure that isn’t going to negatively affect the educational experience.” (06:08) This enables students to be part of class culture, even if they need to take the +Flex option in year two.
Kelley is known for its supportive, close-knit, and collaborative culture. Relatively small cohorts of 100 to 120 students, small class sizes, and high faculty interaction form the backbone of this integrated culture. As John explains, while some students prefer a big city experience, Kelley students all share something in common: they fall in love with Bloomington’s intimate, college-town feel.
“You’re going to be at the football tailgate on Saturday morning with your classmates. You’re going to hang out [on] Friday night with your classmates. It is a full-time family that you’re around,” he says. (11:40)
These close connections are further strengthened in the Career Foundation Academies. Students bond with like-minded peers in smaller groups of 20 to 25. What’s more, core teams of four or five students provide the perfect opportunity to form the closest peer connections.
Paired with strong national employer connections and career opportunities across industries and geographies, this supportive environment forms a breeding ground for greatness.
Kelley is consistently recognized for its exceptional ROI. “I think there are three elements that drive the strong ROI of a Kelley MBA,” says John. “The first is that we’re a public university. So, even if you’re on out-of-state tuition, the cost of the education up front is very reasonable.” (00:20)
John also cites career placement as a big factor. “We have folks that are going to help you find the right job for you, negotiate a salary that works for you, and put you in a great position,” he says. (00:40) Data shows that 92% of Kelley MBA graduates receive job offers within 90 days of graduation.
Finally, John says the diverse MBA portfolio, from full-time to online and evening MBAs, further boosts the ROI.
Interested in studying at Kelley? John urges you to consider the type of learning environment that works best for you.
“If you need to make some dramatic changes in your career, and you’re going to have to develop a whole new set of skills and build a whole new network, that’s where a full-time, immersive, in-residence experience is going to provide some additional value,” John says. (15:42)
On the other hand, if you’re looking to add skills and knowledge to elevate your career while staying with your company, the Kelley Online MBA is ideal. The program is ranked #1 by U.S. News Best Online MBAs, QS Rankings, and the Princeton Review, among others.
There’s even an option for those looking to study while fulfilling family or work commitments. The Kelley Evening MBA is a two-year, part-time program in a blended format, with one day per week online and one day per week on campus. It’s a robust yet flexible program designed for busy professionals.
Whichever program you choose, Kelley’s unmatched flexibility, high ROI, and experiential learning ensure you graduate with the skills, knowledge, and experiences to enjoy a successful career in business.
Want to study at the Kelley School of Business? Take our eligibility quiz to see if you qualify!
