Hi there! I’m thinking about applying for the online MBA program at Illinois Gies Business School and would love to get some feedback from people who have been through it or are taking it now.
Here’s my background:
• Currently working as a Senior Business Systems Analyst at a major US financial institution, focusing on system integrations and corporate initiatives
• I have PMP, Certified Scrum Product Owner, and Scrum Master credentials already, but want to improve my strategic planning, business strategy, and management skills to get promoted to executive roles
• My employer provides $5K annually for continuing education, and the whole program costs around $25,000. I’m trying to figure out if I can time it right to use all the reimbursement money
Questions I have for you:
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Professional Growth: Did completing this MBA help you get into more senior positions, management roles, or different fields?
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Industry Recognition: What do companies think of this degree, particularly in banking or technology sectors?
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Course Relevance: Are the classes useful for day-to-day work in systems analysis, product ownership, or strategic planning?
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Professional Network: Can you still make good business connections through the online program format?
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Cost Analysis: Are there extra fees I should know about, and can you work around company tuition assistance schedules?
I’m also curious how you decided between the Illinois Gies program versus other distance learning MBAs or just getting more professional certificates.
Appreciate any insights you can share!
Just wrapped mine up last spring! Your PMP background’s gonna be huge - that project management thinking really pays off with the case studies. Illinois has great name recognition too, way better than most online programs. You’ll crush those executive conversations!
I was skeptical about online MBAs, but Gies completely changed my perspective. The professors genuinely care and respond quickly to questions. Networking happened organically through team projects - I still keep in touch with classmates from different countries. Your Scrum Master background will be a huge advantage for coordinating group work. For timing, start in January to spread that company reimbursement across multiple tax years.
Another analyst thinking an MBA will magically fix everything… Look, Gies is decent but don’t expect miracles. The name recognition helps, but you’re already loaded with certs - might be overkill. That $25k could probably get better ROI with targeted executive coaching or just switching companies. The coursework’s fine but you’ll never use half of it in real systems work. Networking’s overrated too - most online classmates disappear after graduation. If your company’s paying though, why not? 
Graduated from Gies iMBA in 2022 - total game changer for my career. The degree itself was great, but what really mattered was how it changed how I think about business problems. Finance and strategy courses taught me how to talk with C-suite execs, which is huge when you’re trying to move up from analyst work. Your employer’s $5K yearly benefit should cover most costs if you spread it across multiple years. Fair warning though - the workload is brutal while working full-time, so plan for zero personal time!
As a current Gies iMBA student, here’s what I’ve seen. ROI varies, but most grads I know got 20-30% salary bumps - depends on your industry and where you’re at career-wise. Banking employers love this program because of the strong analytics focus and Illinois’ solid alumni network. The coursework actually helps day-to-day - strategic management and data analytics classes have directly shaped how I approach product decisions at work. Online format works great if you’re working full-time, and you’ll build real connections through group projects and local meetups. Just heads up - budget for proctoring fees and maybe some travel costs for residency events.
Halfway through right now and coming from systems analyst work too - you’re definitely making the right call. The organizational behavior and leadership stuff has been a game changer for talking with business stakeholders. My technical certs never covered any of that. Profs actually know their stuff from real industry work, not just textbook theory. Pro tip nobody talks about: your company’s L&D team will usually front that $5K if you show them the payment schedule. Mine did it twice and saved me a ton on cash flow!
Two years out - this program’s legit for industry recognition, especially fintech and banking. Recruiters hit me up constantly after I updated LinkedIn with it. The classes are perfect for your background - Operations Management and Digital Strategy apply directly to systems integration. You’ll network naturally through study groups and industry Slack channels, even online. Budget around $1,500 extra on top of tuition, but the three-year payment plan makes that $5K annual benefit work. Illinois carries way more weight than random online programs.