A matter of convenience: Part-Time MBA program offers classes in Madison

In Jonathan Anthony’s field, an MBA is no longer a differentiator, it’s among the criteria for anyone with ambitions of becoming a senior executive.

Anthony was five years into his career in investment management when he decided he wanted to earn an MBA. He said many of his colleagues were already pursuing master’s degrees.

"If I wanted to keep progressing," he said, "I knew I would have to get a master’s degree."

He considered a variety of specialty master’s degrees in real estate, but decided to pursue a Part-Time MBA at Rutgers Business School, which is allowing him to concentrate his studies in finance and real estate. "The MBA is a longer program, but it’s a more respected and broader degree," he said.

When he began the Rutgers MBA program, one thing made it easier for him to manage his busy schedule: He could take Rutgers MBA classes at Drew University’s campus, which is roughly five minutes from his Morristown office. He is currently working as an associate in the institutional client group at MetLife Investment Management .

"I’ve taken nearly 100 percent of my core foundation credits – nearly two years worth of classes – in Madison,” he said. "It’s been really convenient."

In comparison, Anthony said it takes him 40 minutes to drive and park in Newark. "It’s just easier to be able to go to Madison,” he said. "I can spend 30 minutes longer at work, or I can get here early and meet with other students when we’re working on a project.”

Rutgers rotates the core courses it offers at its satellite locations in Madison and Jersey City so students can take several semesters of classes at locations closer to their offices or homes. In Madison, classes are held in one of Drew’s earliest buildings on a quiet, wooded campus.

Anthony said many of the senior managers at MetLife and Prudential, where he previously worked, have earned their master’s degrees at Rutgers.

"It’s a quality degree. It’s respected," he said. "There’s really nothing else in New Jersey with the same credibility as Rutgers."