Walden University MBA vs Executive MBA

Walden University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a current online business degree. Its Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) was designed for experienced managers and added cohort study, executive coaching and residencies.

Walden is not currently accepting new EMBA students, so prospective students choosing between the two can apply only for the MBA. The comparison below explains the former EMBA for historical reference and distinguishes its features from the MBA available today.

Editor’s note: Walden’s EMBA catalog states that the program is not currently accepting new students.

MBA vs Executive MBA at a Glance

Feature	Current MBA	Former Executive MBA
Availability	Accepting new students	Not accepting new students
Intended students	Professionals seeking general or specialised business education	Experienced managers preparing for senior leadership
Learning format	Course-based study or self-paced Tempo Learning	Fixed cohort with online classes and residencies
Program size	50 quarter credits	30 semester credits across 10 courses
Minimum duration	15 months course-based or as few as 12 months through Tempo Learning	20 months
Study options	General Program or three specialisations	Fixed executive curriculum
Residencies	None	One US-based and one international residency
Admission	Bachelor’s degree or higher; no essay, GRE or GMAT	Bachelor’s degree, 3.0 GPA, seven years of work experience and additional application requirements

How the MBA and Former EMBA Differ

Learning format. MBA students can choose between two online formats. The course-based option has weekly deadlines and peer interaction, whereas the competency-based Tempo Learning^® option allows students to progress at their own pace with support from an academic coach and faculty.

Former Executive MBA students worked collaboratively with a small cohort of experienced classmates. Their colleagues offered a diverse blend of geographic and industry perspectives.

Curriculum. The current MBA provides a comprehensive business education focused on leadership, strategy and organisational performance.

Build knowledge across business areas such as finance, marketing, leadership, operations and strategy.
Use Walden’s Career Hub for career checklists, résumé guidance and live events.
Choose the General Program or one of three specialisations: Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management or Self-Designed.
Complete 50 quarter credits. Walden advertises a minimum completion time of 15 months for the course-based option and 12 months for the fastest 25% of Tempo Learning graduates.

The former EMBA placed greater emphasis on executive leadership and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Develop leadership skills and entrepreneurial acumen through courses emphasising professional development and social impact in a global society.
Complete self-assessments throughout the program to examine and improve leadership skills.
Gain insights from internationally recognised business and technology leaders through exclusive interviews.
Complete 30 semester credit hours over 10 courses. The program was designed to be completed in 20 months.

Attendance and schedule. The current MBA is fully online and does not require campus attendance or residencies. Students complete a capstone in which they create a strategy playbook for a company of their choice.

MBA students can follow a course-based schedule with weekly deadlines or use the self-paced Tempo Learning format. Walden offers regular start dates for both options throughout the year.

Former EMBA students attended a US-based leadership residency and an international residency focused on global business. Online classes between the residencies allowed students to continue meeting professional and personal commitments. The program started in September and January.

Admission. Admission to the current MBA requires a bachelor’s degree or higher, a completed online application and transcripts. Walden does not charge an application fee or require an essay, GRE or GMAT score.

Former EMBA applicants needed:

A bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
At least seven years of work experience, including four years in a managerial role with significant responsibility.
A professional letter of recommendation.
An admission essay.
An admission interview.

Costs. As of August 2026, Walden lists course-based MBA tuition at US$630 per quarter credit. The minimum cost for 50 credits and five quarterly program fees is US$32,425 before scholarships. Walden advertises a total of US$26,125 after its listed Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Books and materials are estimated at another US$1,000–US$1,200.

Tempo Learning costs US$3,100 in tuition plus a US$185 program fee for each three-month subscription period. Walden states that the fastest 25% of Tempo MBA graduates may finish in 12 months for under US$14,000 after the listed scholarship. Actual time and cost depend on pace, transfer credit and scholarship eligibility.

Former EMBA tuition arrangements included books, technology, hotel rooms, most meals and airline vouchers for the two residencies. Students were responsible for airfare above the voucher amount and for passport, visa and other personal travel expenses.

Former Executive MBA Course List and Benefits

Walden designed its former EMBA to develop strategic leadership, organisational improvement and innovation. The program was aimed at experienced professionals interested in roles such as CEO, president, vice president, director, senior manager, consultant or business owner.

Course curriculum. Students completed 30 semester credit hours across 10 courses:

Leading in a Dynamic Era
Economic Decision Making
Creativity, Innovation, and Foresight
Accounting Measurement for Leaders
Leading the Globally Diverse Firm
Money and the Firm
Leveraging Systems and Operations for Performance
Competing in the Global Marketplace
Establishing and Cultivating Customer Markets
Capstone: Business Strategy for Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Program benefits. Walden described the former EMBA as offering the following benefits:

Identify your leadership style through an in-depth self-assessment.
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills for professional use.
Create a professional development plan.
Expand an entrepreneurial mindset through international business and cultural study.
Develop strategies for motivating and managing others in complex environments.
Combine academic theory with professional application.
Learn from internationally recognised leaders through exclusive program content.

Walden introduced the EMBA in 2012 and later stopped accepting new students.

Walden University Programs and Accreditation

Founded in 1970, Walden University is a US-based online institution.

Walden provides online degree and certificate programs for working professionals across business, health, education, psychology, technology and other fields. Current business and management programs include:

Doctoral: Doctor of Business Administration and PhD in Management.
Master’s: MBA, dual MSN–MBA, MS in Human Resource Management, MS in Leadership and Master of Healthcare Administration.
Bachelor’s: BS in Business Administration.
Certificates: Graduate certificates in Business Management, Human Resource Management and Leadership, plus post-doctoral bridge certificates in Business Administration and Management.

Walden University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Walden is also listed in the US Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Walden’s BS in Business Administration, MBA, MS in Finance, DBA and PhD in Management are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Its BS and MS in Accounting also have ACBSP accreditation and separate accounting accreditation.

Program-level accreditation indicates that the curriculum, faculty, learning assessment and academic support have been reviewed against the accreditor’s standards.

Online MBA Programs in Australia

If you live in Australia or are interested in studying with an Australian university, a range of online MBA programs are available. The online courses are comparable with the MBA and other business programs discussed here.

Online MBA programs in Australia combine business management education with the convenience of distance learning. Current examples include programs from AGSM at UNSW Sydney, UTS Online and Southern Cross University.