Mid-career executives are constantly evaluating the best way to invest in themselves.

An advanced business degree can be a powerful tool for unlocking your full potential and boosting your earning power. However, for those who didn’t pursue an MBA shortly after earning their undergraduate degree, the return on investment is less certain.

Traditional residential MBAs have become prohibitively expensive and impractical for many. According to Poets&Quants, the average debt for an MBA from a Top 25 business school is a staggering $82K, which is easier to justify when that hefty tuition is amortized over a 40-year career.

Is this the right time to re-invest in your career?

For mid-career professionals who are already juggling a challenging job with financial obligations and work-life balance, the potential benefits of an MBA may not be immediately apparent. To maximize their ROI, an increasing number of 30-something professionals are choosing a new path to an advanced degree.

Online MBA programs from accredited business schools now outpace traditional programs, according to the Association to Advance Collegiate Business Schools (AACSB). But if you limit your options to a Google search of “best affordable MBAs” P&Q warns you’re likely to get “a useless list of clickbait schemes and bottom dwellers in business education.”

By choosing the right MBA program, mid-career professionals can gain the knowledge and connections they need to propel themselves forward, without sacrificing their current job or breaking the bank.

Here are some of the key factors to consider while crafting the best path forward to achieve your career goals:

Prioritize affordability with flexibility. Be realistic. It’s likely been a hot minute since you’ve been in a classroom, virtual or in-person. If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to commit to pursuing an advanced degree, look for programs where you can start with a single non-credit or for-credit course and then apply what you learned toward a transcriptable graduate certificate that stacks up to an MBA.

Also seek out an affordable program that offers plenty of support. With a price tag under $25K, the iMBA from Gies College of Business is fully flexible with a range of live lecture times each week. Learners can pay for courses as they go and finish the program at their own pace.

Focus on new, marketable skillsets. Companies across industries are demanding a strong understanding of data analytics and technology. This includes having both a conceptual and working understanding of the tools and programming languages important for collecting, analyzing, and translating data into tangible solutions.

Look for an MBA degree with a curriculum, structure, and learning platform that weaves active learning throughout its coursework, instead of offering only a course or two on a hot business topic. Top programs include core specializations in areas such as strategic leadership and management, along with specializations on a broad range of topics – from digital marketing to mergers and acquisitions to entrepreneurship and strategic innovation.

Build on strengths and addressing weaknesses. Use this opportunity to address career gaps and build upon your strengths. This is the time in your career to turn your performance reviews into an actionable roadmap to that next promotion.

To position yourself to stand out from your colleagues, seek out an online MBA program that emphasizes collaboration through experiential learning opportunities. Leadership skills are critical whether the priority is advancing to the next level with a current employer or pivoting to a new opportunity.

An effective way to evaluate a specific program’s ROI is by asking about successful outcomes. For example, 65% of Gies iMBA students receive a promotion, job offer, or new position while enrolled in the program and report an average pay increase of 25%.

Prioritize connectivity. A common myth is that residential MBA programs offer superior networking. But a well-designed online MBA creates ongoing opportunities to connect with fellow mid-level execs.

Each cohort of the Gies iMBA benefits from networking during live course sessions, regular team projects, and experiential learning opportunities. The program’s learning platform gives a diverse group of students the ability to share advice and job leads across industries – 85% of learners enter the program from careers outside finance, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and technology services.

Also seek out a program that supplements its online curriculum with in-person regional meetups and short-term immersions where you can learn first-hand how companies across the world are solving business challenges. Each year, the Gies iMBA’s network of 5,000 current students are also invited to iConverge on campus in Urbana-Champaign. This most recent session focused on leadership and networking strategies.

Investing in Your Future

Consider re-investing in your career through an affordable online MBA. By carefully selecting a program that aligns with your goals, budget, and learning style, you can catapult your career forward with the technical knowledge, soft skills, and connections necessary to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.