Each year, working professionals balance graduate education alongside career, family, and personal commitments.
To support these professionals, a flexible pathway to earning an MBA will give students greater control over when, where, and how they learn. Beginning in fall 2026, the Flex MBA plan of study will give students the choice to attend classes online asynchronously, in person, or a mix of both.
“The Flex MBA reflects Pamplin’s commitment to flexibility, affordability, and stackability,” said Saonee Sarker, dean of the Pamplin College of Business. “By offering true choice in how students learn — online, in person, or both — paired with a focused 30-credit structure and stackable education opportunities through badges and certificates, we’re expanding access to a high-quality Virginia Tech education and empowering working professionals to advance their futures without putting life on hold.”
Flex MBA at a glance
Start term: Fall 2026 with application to open this November
Format: Choose between online asynchronous classes, in-person evening classes at Academic Building One in Alexandria, or a mix of both each semester
Curriculum: Ten three-credit courses and 30 credit-hours total
Typical pace: Part-time. Take two courses each fall and spring and one each summer to finish in 24 months.
Stackable: Start with just one or two MBA courses to earn non-degree badges and certificates and stack up from there.
Tuition: Residency-neutral rate with tuition set annually by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors
Accreditation: AACSB, only 6 percent of business colleges worldwide
A focused and high-impact program
The Flex MBA’s customizable model allows students to progress toward their degree at their own pace. Students choose course modality each semester, meaning those who experience a major life event, have to relocate, or have scheduling conflicts throughout the week can continue their studies without interruption.
“We designed the Flex MBA with our students in mind,” said Linda Christie, director of MBA programs. “They can maintain momentum at work while gaining the strategic, analytical, and leadership skills that define Pamplin graduates.”
Current MBA candidates said the Flex MBA meets real needs.
“I’m excited for the Flex MBA option because it will help me balance my career, my personal commitments, and my studies,” said Heather Tran, a second-year MBA student currently studying in Alexandria. “I appreciate that the program maintains academic excellence within a more flexible structure and accelerated timeline.”
The streamlined 30-credit curriculum condenses the previous 48-credit MBA structure into a focused plan of study that can be completed in as few as 24 months. By reducing total credit hours, the Flex MBA offers a more competitive total tuition cost, aligning with Virginia Tech’s mission to expand access to high-quality graduate education. Courses emphasize the intersection of business, technology, and leadership, ensuring that graduates are prepared to lead in the modern workforce.
“We designed the Flex MBA to keep pace with an economy reshaped by AI and rapid technological change,” said Rajesh Bagchi, associate dean for research, centers, and graduate programs in the Pamplin College of Business. “With its focused, analytics-rich curriculum, we aim to give students the leadership and data fluency employers need today, and the adaptability to excel in what comes next.”
Stackable opportunities
The Pamplin College of Business is developing a broader portfolio of learning options — including non-degree digital badges and professional certificates — designed to help learners gain applied skills that can be completed in months, not years. These will give working professionals the ability to start small by taking just one or two MBA courses and “stacking” from there.
Each badge or certificate will align with the same subject areas that anchor the Flex MBA. While badges and certificates are completed in non-degree status, students who later receive admission to the Flex MBA program may apply completed badge and certificate coursework toward their degree.
Applications for the inaugural fall 2026 cohort will open in November. Prospective students can learn more about the program’s curriculum, admissions process, and upcoming events at mba.vt.edu.
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