What Should Be Your ROI of Your Dream MBA Programme?

Whatever you buy in life, you want it to give you a certain value. Whenever you make a purchase, you assess its value be it a food item, a dress, equipment, a gadget, or just about anything that you invest your money in, you want to measure the amount of return on that particular investment. And that is precisely what is meant by ROI, or Return On Investment. Now think about the ROI on the MBA course that you put your money into! How will you evaluate the profitability of your investment in the MBA programme you enrolled in?

An MBA degree, for all we know, is a grand investment, not just in terms of money, but also the efforts and the time you will be spending in it. No doubt, it is one of the most secure career choices in today’s world that’s characterized by extreme volatility, but it is still a significant investment that you would be making. Hence, the need to compute an ROI on your dream MBA programme becomes more of a necessity than just a mere choice.

So, what is it that you are looking for when you join an MBA programme?

• a challenging learning environment,
• support of able mentors,
• excellent faculty,
• a well-equipped campus,
• location of the programme,
• opportunities for learning and researching,
• a culture conducive to growth and prosperity

& needless to say,

• a good placement

While all the above-mentioned points do play a pivotal role in deciding which MBA programme you should be investing in, here are some more factors that you must not leave out of consideration.

1. Choose a programme that is aligned to your career aspirations and gives you ample opportunities for growth. You can do so by evaluating the core values and strengths of the programme as well as understanding and analysing the vision & mission of the institute.
2. Do gauge the content quality of the curriculum. You would also be doing yourself good by looking at elements like the overall class strength & faculty-to-student ratio.
3. Ensure to look out for development opportunities that the programme offers. These could be in the personal as well as the professional realm. Lot of good programmes, other than offering professional education & training, also ensure to strengthen the individuality of their students. They do so by offering their students extensive courses, like the ones on communication, soft & life skills, as well as organising events, exchange programmes, social collaborations and undertaking several initiatives that help draw the innate potential of each student.
4. When you calculate the programme cost in its entirety, include all things like the tuition fee, the expenses you incur while on campus as well as the living expenses after classes and in case of working professionals, the income you stand out to lose during your study period. It will also be beneficial to collate all these costs against the potential financial benefits, because you may expect your salary to increase after completing your MBA.
5. Do look out for the institute’s industry connections and its track record as far as internship opportunities are concerned. Also, make a note of the companies that visit the institute’s campus.
6. It’s also a good idea to assess the networking opportunities that the programme provides. If an institute has a robust alumni network, it speaks volumes about the institute’s standing in the market. A healthy network of alumni and industry will always give an impetus to your own career.
7. Would you be interested in procuring a loan? If yes, then please look out for financial aid options, scholarships & repayment options, as these, usually, do have an effect on the overall cost. This, in turn, can help improve your ROI.

In the end, it’s safe to ascertain that the choice of the MBA programme is your own call. This choice is also determined by your own personal strengths, goals, challenges and circumstances. When you research a particular MBA programme, look at its reputation, read about the various institutes, their success stories, their overall standing in the industry, as well as consider the above explained factors seriously, and in detail, you are definitely bound to land up in the right institute, with the right programme that aligns with your goals and will ensure your success.

Note: The views expressed in this article are of JIMS Rohini and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha