Slight Decline in Number of Self-Funded Executive MBA Students

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For the first time in five years, the percentage of students who fully fund their Executive MBA (EMBA) education has declined slightly, according to the results of the 2014 Membership Program Survey of the Executive MBA Council (EMBAC).

“With organizations facing challenging economic times and accordingly changing their tuition reimbursement policies, we’ve seen the responsibility for financing the degree fall more on students. Even so, business leaders continue to see the value of the EMBA experience.”

The percentage of self-funded students decreased from 41.2 percent in 2013 to 39.8 percent in 2014. Partial sponsorship also increased from 34.7 percent in 2013 to 35.6 percent in 2014, with full sponsorship also increasing from 24 percent in 2013 to 24.6 percent in 2014.

“While this is encouraging, time will tell if it becomes a trend,” says Michael Desiderio, EMBAC executive director. “With organizations facing challenging economic times and accordingly changing their tuition reimbursement policies, we’ve seen the responsibility for financing the degree fall more on students. Even so, business leaders continue to see the value of the EMBA experience.”

In addition, 53 percent of programs offered scholarships and fellowships. Total program costs rose by approximately 2 percent from $73,401 in 2013 to $74,883 in 2014.

EMBAC sponsors its Membership Program Survey each year to help track industry developments. In 2014, 285 member programs throughout the world – or 92 percent – participated in the survey. Survey data also offered the following highlights:

Consistent Demographics

• In 2014, the percentage of women in EMBA programs remained consistent at 25.4 percent. In the past five years, the percentage has ranged from a high of 26.7 percent 2012 to a low of 25.2 percent in 2011.

• The average EMBA student age is 37.5 years, the average years of work experience is 13.7 years, and the average number of years of management experience is 8.7, all statistics that have changed very little in five years.