Choosing the Right MBA Format: Full-Time, Part-Time, or Executive? A Conversation with Marjorie DeGraca of Berkeley Haas

We’re always looking for nuanced perspectives to help applicants navigate the complexities of the MBA admissions process. After meeting at this year’s AIGAC conference, we reconnected with Marjorie DeGraca, Executive Director of Admissions for the Working Professionals MBA Programs at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, to dig deeper into the sometimes overlooked – but often ideal – non-traditional MBA paths: part-time and executive programs.

Marjorie shared how candidates can think strategically about which MBA is right for them, what distinguishes each track at Haas, and how even big career transitions are possible without going full-time:

MBA Pathfinders: Marjorie, thank you for joining us! Can we start with how you frame the choice between full-time, part-time, and executive programs?

Marjorie DeGraca: At Haas, we always say there are three ways to earn your MBA – and the key is choosing the format that fits your life and goals. What’s great is that all three formats – full-time, part-time (Evening & Weekend – EWMBA), and Executive MBA (EMBA) – lead to the exact same MBA degree. Same pool of faculty, same resources, same diploma. So, it’s less about which one is “better,” and more about which one fits your experience level, lifestyle, and career objectives.

Our full-time MBAs average about five years of work experience. Our part-time students come in with around seven, and executive students now average 16 years. So, while there's some overlap, each program tends to attract different profiles.

MBA Pathfinders: What makes someone a better fit for part-time versus executive program?

Marjorie DeGraca: We generally say if you have 10 or more years of experience, you should consider executive. But we’re not looking for a VP title or massive management experience. It’s more about your ability to contribute meaningfully to a class of seasoned professionals.

Doctors, scientists, technical leads – people without formal management experience, but with deep domain knowledge – do really well in the executive program. We look for credibility and seasoning. If someone has fewer years of work experience, we want to see accelerated progression.

MBA Pathfinders: What about return on investment (ROI)? We hear a lot of concern about cost across MBA formats.

Marjorie DeGraca: ROI is front and center for many applicants – especially now with economic uncertainty and rising tuition costs. For many, full-time is just not viable when you factor in the opportunity cost of lost income.

Interestingly, we hear less pushback about cost in the executive program, even though it’s the most expensive format. Part-time applicants are definitely becoming more cost-conscious. We're starting to see scholarship conversations emerge that didn’t exist five years ago. While the dollars aren’t as big as the full-time world, they’re growing – many schools are offering $10K to $30k, with a few going as high as $40K total across the three years.

MBA Pathfinders: What would you say to people who think part-time and executive students don’t have access to the same campus resources as full-timers?

Marjorie DeGraca: All our students – across all formats – have access to clubs, career resources, and faculty. That said, time is the big differentiator. A full-time student may be able to go all-in on clubs and leadership roles, whereas a working professional may have to pick and choose.

The good news is that clubs are aware of our different populations and many now offer virtual options where possible. They often also have part-time MBA liaisons to represent working professionals. The same applies to career services: all programs share the same office, and companies are increasingly conducting virtual interviews, which levels the playing field.

MBA Pathfinders: Can part-time and executive MBA students successfully recruit into industries like consulting or banking?

Marjorie DeGraca: Yes, though it takes hustle. Our students have broken into investment banking, consulting, tech – you name it. One part-time student drove up from LA regularly just to network with investment banks and landed an offer. An executive MBA grad from tech sales made a successful pivot into investment banking. We even had a professional violinist transition into wealth management. It’s possible, but you have to work hard to create those opportunities while juggling a full-time job.

MBA Pathfinders: What about applicants who are unemployed or in transition? Can they still be viable candidates for your part-time or executive MBA programs?

Marjorie DeGraca: Ideally, these programs are for working professionals, so being employed is preferred. That said, we’re realistic. People lose jobs. People make transitions. If someone brings a rich professional background and is actively searching, we’ll consider them. But someone with limited experience and a long unemployment gap probably isn’t likely going to be competitive.

MBA Pathfinders: What happens when a full-time applicant is a better fit for your part-time or executive programs? Do you redirect them?

Marjorie DeGraca: Yes. Since I oversee both part-time and executive programs, we do make those referrals. Sometimes it’s a direct outreach – “Have you considered an EMBA?” Sometimes it’s a softer redirect where a candidate that is denied from the full-time MBA program but who may be a better match for the part-time MBA program receives a letter inviting them to apply. If they opt in, they still need to complete a video interview and short statement but pay no additional fee.

We don’t want to admit someone who’s just trying to backdoor into full-time MBA. They need to demonstrate real interest and fit.

MBA Pathfinders: Anything else you want prospective applicants to know about Haas?

Marjorie DeGraca: At Haas, we’ve built all three MBA formats to be equally rigorous and equally empowering. We’re not running a “stepchild” part-time program – our part-time cohort is actually bigger than our full-time one. We’ve also grown our Flex format to make Haas more accessible to professionals across the U.S. and beyond. Bottom line: if you want a top-tier MBA that works with your life, we’re one of the few places offering a truly unified experience in multiple formats.

Final Thoughts

We often talk to candidates who feel boxed in by the full-time vs. part-time decision. This conversation with Marjorie DeGraca is a great reminder that career advancement, networking, and personal growth are all possible – no matter the format. The key is understanding what’s right for you.