WGU MBA vs. Purdue Global MBA

WGU MBA at a Glance

WGU’s general MBA currently consists of 11 courses and uses competency-based education within six-month terms .

Students progress by demonstrating mastery of required material rather than remaining in each course for a predetermined number of weeks. WGU charges $4,850 in tuition per six-month term , so completing the degree in fewer terms can reduce total tuition.

WGU currently states that the MBA can be completed in 12 months , although individual completion time varies.

Students interested in a more specifically named MBA can also consider WGU’s separate:

• MBA Information Technology Management
• MBA Healthcare Administration

These are distinct MBA degree options rather than concentrations added to the general MBA.

Purdue Global Standard MBA at a Glance

Purdue Global’s standard MBA uses a more conventional online course structure.

The general MBA requires 60 quarter credits , while adding a concentration increases the program to 76 quarter credits .

Current standard MBA tuition is $485 per quarter credit .

At that rate:

60 quarter credits × $485 = $29,100 in base tuition

A 76-quarter-credit MBA with a concentration calculates to:

76 quarter credits × $485 = $36,860 in base tuition

before applicable fees and other costs.

Purdue Global currently lists optional MBA concentrations in:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Global Business
• Health Care Management
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Project Management

This gives the standard Purdue Global MBA a broader menu of concentration choices than WGU’s three separately named MBA degree options.

Purdue Global ExcelTrack MBA at a Glance

Purdue Global also offers its MBA through ExcelTrack , a personalized competency-based learning path.

ExcelTrack allows students to progress through competency-based modules based on demonstrated knowledge rather than spending the same amount of time on every topic.

The current ExcelTrack MBA includes 52 one-credit competency modules plus two standard online courses totaling 8 quarter credits .

Purdue Global currently charges $2,833 per term for the ExcelTrack MBA , excluding applicable fees.

ExcelTrack is designed particularly for students who can apply existing knowledge to the program. Purdue Global describes ExcelTrack as a fit for students who have three years of experience working in a setting relevant to their program of study , along with strong self-direction and time-management skills.

However, competency-based does not mean that every component of the MBA is converted into independent modules. Purdue Global identifies the Business Perspectives and MBA Capstone requirements as traditional courses within the ExcelTrack structure.

The Decision Rule

Use this sequence:

MBA goal → learning path → specialization requirement → admissions or pathway eligibility → realistic completion pace → pricing model → expected total cost

Give WGU more weight when competency-based progression fits your preferred structure, one of WGU’s three MBA degree options matches your goal, and your realistic number of six-month terms produces an attractive total cost.

Give Purdue Global’s standard MBA more weight when you prefer conventional online coursework or need one of Purdue Global’s available MBA concentrations.

Give Purdue Global ExcelTrack more weight when you want competency-based progression, the ExcelTrack model fits your background and learning preferences, and its structure and term pricing fit your expected pace better than WGU’s model.

The university decision should come after identifying which of these three MBA paths you are actually comparing.

Purdue Global Standard MBA Cost

Purdue Global’s standard MBA has a more predictable base tuition calculation because tuition is charged by quarter credit.

The general MBA requires 60 quarter credits .

At $485 per quarter credit:

60 × $485 = $29,100 in base tuition

Students who add an optional concentration can increase the program to 76 quarter credits .

At the same tuition rate:

76 × $485 = $36,860 in base tuition

These calculations are before applicable fees and other expenses.

Unlike WGU, completing standard Purdue Global coursework more quickly does not automatically reduce the tuition attached to the required credits. The student still has to pay tuition for the credits required by the selected program plan, subject to any applicable transfer credit, tuition reductions, financial aid, or other adjustments.

WGU vs. ExcelTrack: Term Price Alone Does Not Determine the Cheaper MBA

At first glance, Purdue Global ExcelTrack’s $2,833 term tuition is lower than WGU’s $4,850 six-month tuition plus $200 recurring resource fee .

But the terms are not equivalent units of time.

WGU terms last six months .

Purdue Global ExcelTrack operates within 10-week terms .

A direct comparison such as:

$5,050 vs. $2,833

therefore does not establish which competency-based MBA will cost less to complete.

The relevant comparison is:

How many terms will I realistically need under each program’s structure, and what will those terms cost in total?

For example, a 12-month WGU completion scenario produces $10,100 in current recurring tuition and resource fees .

An ExcelTrack student would need to estimate the number of 10-week terms required to complete the applicable competency modules and standard-course requirements before making a meaningful total-cost comparison.

Without that completion assumption, declaring either competency-based pathway universally cheaper would overstate what the published tuition data establishes.

How Concentrations Affect Purdue Global Cost

Specialization can materially change the Purdue Global standard MBA calculation.

The base 60-quarter-credit MBA produces $29,100 in base tuition at current rates.

A 76-quarter-credit program with a concentration produces $36,860 in base tuition .

That is a difference of:

$7,760 in additional base tuition

at the current $485-per-quarter-credit rate.

Students considering a Purdue Global concentration should therefore compare the value of the additional specialization against the additional credits, time, and tuition required.

Which MBA Is Cheaper?

There is no single cost winner without specifying the learning path and expected completion time.

WGU can produce a comparatively low total cost when the MBA is completed in relatively few six-month terms. At current recurring rates, two terms produce $10,100 , while three produce $15,150 .

Purdue Global’s standard MBA has a higher published base tuition calculation: $29,100 for the 60-quarter-credit MBA before applicable fees, rising to $36,860 for a 76-quarter-credit concentration path.

Purdue Global ExcelTrack creates a different cost equation. Its $2,833-per-term tuition means total tuition depends heavily on the number of 10-week terms required.

The better cost comparison is therefore not:

Which university has the cheaper MBA?

It is:

Which eligible MBA path fits my goals, and what will that specific path cost at my realistic completion pace?

Students should calculate that answer before treating either university’s advertised tuition structure as the lower-cost choice.

Students comparing the programs with their own aid, transfer credit, and completion assumptions can also use OMC’s graduate school cost calculator .

WGU MBA Admissions

Applicants to WGU’s MBA must hold a bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution.

WGU does not require the GMAT or GRE for admission to the MBA.

The general MBA is competency-based, but WGU does not require applicants to have a specific number of years of professional experience before entering the program.

Prior business experience may affect how quickly an individual can demonstrate some competencies, but it should not be treated as an admissions requirement or as a guarantee of faster completion.

Students considering WGU should therefore separate two questions:

Am I eligible for the MBA?

from:

How quickly am I realistically likely to progress through its competency-based curriculum?

The second question affects expected completion time and total cost but is not the same as admissions eligibility.

Purdue Global Standard MBA Admissions

Purdue Global’s MBA requires applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

The program does not require the GMAT or GRE .

Students admitted to the MBA can pursue the standard course-based learning path, subject to the university’s current admissions and program requirements.

The standard MBA is the relevant Purdue Global option for students who want conventional online courses or who need a concentration that is available through the standard program plan.

Purdue Global’s current MBA requirements also call for applicants to submit a professional resume detailing their employment history, responsibilities, and dates of employment.

Purdue Global ExcelTrack Fit

Purdue Global describes ExcelTrack as a fit for students who have three years of experience working in a setting relevant to their program of study , along with strong self-direction and time-management skills.

That guidance is different from the MBA’s formal admission requirements. Relevant professional experience may make the competency-based structure a better fit, but it should not be treated as a guarantee of faster completion.

The applicable program configuration also matters because ExcelTrack’s required competency modules, standard-course components, prior coursework, and number of terms can affect the student’s final path through the degree.

Transfer Credit Can Change the Comparison

Transfer policies can affect the amount of coursework a student must complete, particularly when prior graduate business coursework may apply toward the MBA.

Students should not assume that transfer rules work the same way at WGU, Purdue Global’s standard MBA, and Purdue Global ExcelTrack.

Before comparing final cost or completion time, students with prior graduate coursework should obtain an evaluation from each university and determine:

• which prior courses or credits are accepted
• which MBA requirements those credits satisfy
• how much coursework remains
• whether transferred coursework changes the student’s expected number of terms
• whether the selected Purdue Global learning path changes how remaining requirements are completed

A transfer evaluation can therefore change both the academic and financial comparison.

Prior Experience Matters Differently From Prior Credit

Prior professional experience and prior academic credit should not be treated as interchangeable.

Professional experience may help a student move through competency-based material more efficiently when that experience aligns with the required competencies.

Transfer credit can formally reduce remaining academic requirements when the university accepts prior coursework toward the degree.

Neither WGU nor Purdue Global should be assumed to award MBA credit simply because a student has worked in business for several years.

The distinction is particularly important for students comparing competency-based programs:

Experience may affect how efficiently you demonstrate knowledge; accepted transfer credit affects what coursework you are actually required to complete.

Admissions Decision Guide

Consider WGU when:

• you meet WGU’s graduate admissions requirements
• you want competency-based education as the MBA’s core learning model
• you do not need a conventional course-based alternative within the same university
• one of WGU’s available MBA degree options matches your goal

Consider Purdue Global’s standard MBA when:

• you meet Purdue Global’s graduate admissions requirements
• you prefer conventional online coursework
• you want an available Purdue Global MBA concentration
• you prefer the standard MBA structure over competency modules

Consider Purdue Global ExcelTrack when:

• you meet Purdue Global’s MBA admission requirements and ExcelTrack fits your background and preferred learning model
• you specifically want competency-based progression
• your existing knowledge and experience make ExcelTrack a reasonable path to evaluate
• your desired MBA configuration is available through ExcelTrack
• the resulting program plan and expected number of terms make sense academically and financially

Admissions alone may not separate WGU from Purdue Global for many applicants. The more consequential decision is often which learning path best fits the student after admission.

WGU MBA Options

WGU currently offers three MBA degree options:

• Master of Business Administration
• MBA Information Technology Management
• MBA Healthcare Administration

The general MBA consists of 11 courses and covers core graduate business areas such as leadership, accounting, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy.

Students seeking an IT or healthcare focus do not add a concentration to the general MBA. Instead, they apply to a separately structured WGU MBA degree designed around that area.

This gives WGU focused MBA options in two fields beyond the general degree, but it does not provide the broader concentration menu available through Purdue Global’s standard MBA.

Purdue Global Standard MBA Concentrations

Purdue Global’s standard MBA begins with a 60-quarter-credit general MBA .

Students can add an optional concentration, increasing the program to 76 quarter credits .

Purdue Global currently lists MBA concentrations in:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Global Business
• Health Care Management
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Marketing
• Project Management

This structure allows students to retain the MBA as the primary degree while adding coursework in a selected business area.

The concentration decision also has a direct cost implication. At the current $485-per-quarter-credit tuition rate, moving from 60 to 76 quarter credits adds 16 quarter credits , or $7,760 in base tuition , before applicable fees and other costs.

Students should therefore evaluate a concentration as both an academic choice and an additional time-and-cost commitment.

How ExcelTrack Changes the Curriculum Comparison

Purdue Global’s ExcelTrack MBA uses a different curriculum-delivery structure from the standard MBA.

The current ExcelTrack framework includes 52 one-credit competency modules and two standard online courses totaling 8 quarter credits .

Instead of completing most requirements as conventional multi-credit courses, students progress through smaller competency units and demonstrate mastery of required material.

This makes ExcelTrack more directly comparable with WGU on competency-based progression , although the programs organize that progression differently.

WGU’s general MBA is organized as 11 competency-based courses .

Purdue Global ExcelTrack divides much of the MBA into one-credit competency modules , while retaining required standard-course components.

The exact ExcelTrack curriculum depends on the applicable program configuration, including its required modules and standard-course components.

Core Curriculum vs. Specialization

For students who primarily want broad graduate business education, the general MBA at either university may be sufficient.

In that case, the more consequential differences become:

• competency structure
• term length
• expected completion pace
• tuition mechanics
• academic support
• total expected cost

For students who want a specific business focus, specialization should move earlier in the decision.

A student seeking Finance , for example, is not comparing identical offerings: Purdue Global currently offers an MBA concentration in Finance, while WGU does not offer a separately named Finance MBA.

A student seeking Information Technology , however, has options at both universities but must compare different credential structures:

WGU MBA Information Technology Management

versus

Purdue Global MBA with an Information Technology concentration

The same principle applies to WGU’s Healthcare Administration MBA and Purdue Global’s Health Care Management concentration.

Does a Concentration Make One MBA Better?

Not by itself.

A larger concentration menu establishes greater specialization choice , not superior educational quality or better career outcomes.

Likewise, WGU’s use of separately named MBA degrees in IT Management and Healthcare Administration does not establish that those programs produce better outcomes than Purdue Global’s concentration-based approach.

Comparable evidence reviewed for this comparison does not establish that one specialization structure produces higher salaries, better placement, or stronger employer preference.

The decision should therefore be based on whether the actual curriculum and credential structure match the student’s intended field , not on the number of specialization options alone.

Does One MBA Have Better Career Outcomes?

The available evidence does not support a defensible head-to-head winner for MBA career outcomes.

Comparable program-level evidence reviewed for this comparison does not establish that either WGU or Purdue Global has an advantage in:

• graduate salary
• job-placement rates
• promotion rates
• employer preference
• career advancement
• return on investment
• alumni-network effectiveness

That does not mean the programs produce identical outcomes.

It means the available evidence does not support attributing a measurable outcome advantage to one MBA over the other.

What About Employer Recognition?

Employer recognition is difficult to compare objectively without directly comparable evidence showing how employers evaluate graduates of these specific MBA programs.

The university name alone does not establish that graduates receive better hiring, salary, or promotion outcomes.

The same caution applies to Purdue Global’s relationship to the Purdue University system. Purdue Global is a distinct institution within that system, and the comparison should evaluate the MBA students actually enroll in rather than infer an employment advantage from broader university-name associations.

Likewise, WGU’s competency-based model should not be treated as either an employer advantage or disadvantage without evidence demonstrating such an effect.

For prospective students, the defensible comparison is based on the programs’ documented characteristics rather than assumptions about employer perception.

How Career Goals Should Affect the Decision

Career goals can still influence the choice, but they should be connected to actual program characteristics.

For example, a student seeking a Finance concentration can give Purdue Global’s standard MBA more weight because Finance is currently offered as an MBA concentration.

A student seeking a competency-based MBA in Information Technology Management can evaluate WGU’s separately named IT-focused MBA against Purdue Global’s applicable MBA options.

A student primarily seeking a general MBA may find that specialization matters less, shifting the decision toward:

• learning structure
• expected completion pace
• total cost
• academic support
• program requirements

The appropriate question is therefore not:

Which MBA will employers value more?

It is:

Which MBA provides the curriculum and completion structure that best supports what I intend to do with the degree?

Bottom Line on Accreditation and Outcomes

There is no accreditation winner in this comparison. Both universities are institutionally accredited, and both MBA offerings have ACBSP accreditation.

There is also no demonstrated career-outcome winner based on comparable evidence.

Students should therefore avoid using unsupported assumptions about prestige, employer preference, salary, or promotion potential as the deciding factor.

The stronger decision criteria are the differences the programs actually document: learning model, specialization, pace, requirements, and total expected cost .

WGU MBA: Best Fit For

WGU deserves stronger consideration if you:

• Want competency-based education as the default MBA structure. WGU’s MBA is built around demonstrating competency rather than completing a conventional sequence of fixed-length courses.
• Prefer longer academic terms. WGU uses six-month terms rather than Purdue Global’s 10-week terms.
• Expect to benefit from acceleration. Students who can complete required competencies efficiently may be able to complete additional coursework within the same six-month term.
• Want a general MBA, MBA Information Technology Management, or MBA Healthcare Administration. These are WGU’s current MBA degree options.
• Want your cost tied to the number of six-month terms required. At current rates, WGU charges $4,850 in tuition plus a $200 E-Books & Resources Fee per six-month term.
• Have a realistic path to completing the MBA in relatively few terms. Because WGU prices by term, completion pace can materially affect total cost.

WGU MBA: May Not Be the Best Fit For

WGU may deserve less weight if you:

• Prefer conventional online courses with fixed course schedules. WGU’s MBA uses competency-based education rather than offering a separate traditional MBA path.
• Want an MBA concentration outside WGU’s available degree options. Students seeking areas such as Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Global Business, or Project Management do not have equivalently named WGU MBA options.
• Do not expect to benefit from term-based acceleration. Additional six-month terms increase the total amount paid under WGU’s current pricing structure.
• Prefer a concentration attached to a general MBA. WGU’s IT Management and Healthcare Administration options are separate MBA degree programs rather than concentrations added to the general MBA.

Purdue Global Standard MBA: Best Fit For

Purdue Global’s standard MBA deserves stronger consideration if you:

• Prefer conventional online coursework. The standard MBA uses 10-week courses rather than competency-based progression.
• Want a broader selection of MBA concentrations. Current options include Accounting, Finance, Global Business, Health Care Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, and Project Management.
• Want a concentration added to the MBA rather than a separately named specialized MBA degree.
• Prefer tuition that is primarily tied to required credits rather than the number of competency-based terms needed to finish.
• Want Purdue Global but do not want the ExcelTrack learning model. The standard MBA provides a separate route to the same type of graduate business degree without requiring students to choose competency-based progression.

Purdue Global Standard MBA: May Not Be the Best Fit For

The standard Purdue Global MBA may deserve less weight if you:

• Specifically want competency-based progression. Purdue Global’s ExcelTrack path is the more relevant comparison in that case.
• Are primarily optimizing for the lowest possible published tuition. The 60-quarter-credit general MBA calculates to $29,100 in base tuition at the current $485-per-quarter-credit rate before applicable fees and other costs.
• Want to reduce tuition primarily by completing coursework faster. Standard MBA tuition is tied to required credits, so simply finishing those credits in less calendar time does not remove their tuition cost.
• Want a concentration but have not accounted for its additional requirements. Expanding from 60 to 76 quarter credits increases base tuition and the amount of coursework required.

Purdue Global ExcelTrack MBA: Best Fit For

ExcelTrack deserves stronger consideration if you:

• Want competency-based education but prefer Purdue Global’s model over WGU’s.
• Prefer smaller competency modules. Much of the ExcelTrack MBA is organized into one-credit competency modules rather than WGU’s 11-course structure.
• Have relevant existing knowledge that may help you progress efficiently through competency requirements.
• Prefer 10-week terms over WGU’s six-month terms.
• Want flat-rate competency-based tuition. Current ExcelTrack MBA tuition is $2,833 per term, excluding applicable fees.

Purdue Global ExcelTrack MBA: May Not Be the Best Fit For

ExcelTrack may deserve less weight if you:

• Prefer conventional online courses. Purdue Global’s standard MBA is the more direct fit.
• Do not expect your existing knowledge to translate well to competency-based progression. The value of ExcelTrack’s structure depends partly on how efficiently you can complete its requirements.
• Are choosing it solely because $2,833 is lower than WGU’s six-month term price. Purdue Global ExcelTrack terms and WGU terms are different lengths, so the published term rates are not directly comparable.
• Want one of Purdue Global’s MBA concentrations. Concentrations are available through the standard MBA rather than ExcelTrack.

Choose WGU When…

WGU is the stronger fit when you want a competency-based MBA built around six-month terms and one of WGU’s available MBA degree options matches your academic goal.

Its term-based pricing can also make WGU financially attractive when you can complete the MBA in relatively few terms.

For the general MBA, current recurring tuition and resource fees total $5,050 per six-month term , making the cost relationship straightforward:

• fewer terms = lower total cost
• more terms = higher total cost

WGU becomes less compelling when you want conventional online courses or an MBA specialization outside its available general, IT Management, and Healthcare Administration degree options.

Choose Purdue Global’s Standard MBA When…

Purdue Global’s standard MBA is the stronger fit when you prefer conventional 10-week online courses or want one of its available MBA concentrations.

Its concentration structure gives students options in areas including Accounting, Finance, Global Business, Health Care Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, and Project Management.

The tradeoff is cost.

At current tuition rates, the 60-quarter-credit general MBA calculates to $29,100 in base tuition , while a 76-quarter-credit concentration path calculates to $36,860 , before applicable fees and other costs.

Students choosing the standard MBA are therefore paying for a different combination of course structure and specialization flexibility than students choosing either competency-based path.

Choose Purdue Global ExcelTrack When…

Purdue Global ExcelTrack is the more relevant Purdue option when you want competency-based progression .

That puts ExcelTrack into direct competition with WGU rather than with Purdue Global’s own standard MBA.

ExcelTrack uses 10-week terms and competency modules, with current tuition of $2,833 per term, excluding applicable fees .

Its lower term price should not be compared directly with WGU’s six-month term price because the academic periods are different lengths.

The meaningful comparison is the total number of terms and requirements you would realistically need to complete under each model .

ExcelTrack deserves stronger consideration when its competency structure fits your existing knowledge, you meet the applicable requirements, and your intended MBA configuration is available through the learning path.

The Bottom Line

For most students, the decision can be reduced to three questions:

1. Do you want conventional or competency-based learning?

If you want conventional online courses, Purdue Global’s standard MBA is the clear option between these programs.

If you want competency-based learning, continue comparing WGU and Purdue Global ExcelTrack .

2. Do you need a particular specialization?

If you need a concentration such as Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Global Business, or Project Management, Purdue Global’s standard MBA provides options that WGU does not offer as equivalently named MBA degrees.

If your focus is general business, information technology, or health care, both universities have relevant MBA paths worth comparing.

3. What will your actual path cost?

For WGU and ExcelTrack, estimate a realistic number of terms rather than comparing advertised term prices in isolation.

For Purdue Global’s standard MBA, calculate the credits required for the general MBA or selected concentration.

Then compare the resulting total cost.