CAREERS

If women make up more than half of the U.S. population, why do women make up such a small percentage of executive MBA graduates?

That question is finally being answered by schools offering the prestigious, executive MBA program (EMBA), a program that translates into fast-track entry into prominent echelons of the business world.

According to the Wall Street Journal, women comprise less than 20% of the class in most EMBA programs, with female enrollment falling as low as 5% in top-tier schools. In contrast, 40% of part-time students in traditional MBA programs are women.

Business schools now realize that recruiting women into their EMBA programs is a win-win situation for everyone. It helps to fill the slots of a program that can cost $150,000 or more for a 2-year program; and as a result, more women become eligible for high-profile executive jobs.

Successful strategies currently being used to reach recruitment goals include:

• One-on-one personal recruitment of new college graduates

• Flexible schedules, including the use of online classes

• Full and partial scholarships targeting women who enroll in EMBA programs

• Portraying female executives in online and print recruitment ads

Traditional and online MBA programs are popular among business professionals and cost far less than the hefty outlay of tuition dollars required by EMBA programs.

Women who need to juggle work, family and school find that an online bachelor’s degree followed by an online MBA is a flexible career plan that allows uninterrupted full-time work. This is especially helpful in the present economy, as workers concerned about layoffs find it detrimental to take time off from their jobs to attend school.

Online colleges and universities cater to fast-track professionals, while providing an array of financial aid options - including grants, scholarships, student loans, work study and GI bill tuition benefits for those who are eligible.

Women can look forward to increased career opportunities, as executive and traditional MBA schools expand recruitment to include this “other half” of the population.

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