Online Business Degrees for Working Adults: Jerald’s BBA to MBA Journey

NMSU Global Campus offers online degrees that give prospective students a clear and flexible path to accomplish their goals — just ask recent graduates like Jerald A., Class of ’25.

The NMSU Global Campus Blog recently had the privilege of sitting down with Jerald A., who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in December 2025. When he enrolled in online business courses at New Mexico University, Jerald had been away from school for nearly 30 years.

After earning his associate degree in 1994, he immediately began working for his longtime employer, Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Then, in 2021, Jerald decided it was time to level up his career and return to school in order to qualify for a promotion.

“I was promoted to a director position here at Presbyterian Healthcare Services,” Jerald explains. “Part of the requirement was that I needed to have my bachelor’s degree. So, after almost 30 years, I went back, and it took me a total of three years to finish my bachelor’s.”

Why Adult Learners Choose NMSU Global Campus for an Online Business Degree

For Jerald, the idea of being able to earn his online BBA degree from New Mexico State University while taking classes online was simply too appealing to pass up. As a busy working professional, Jerald knew he would require a bachelor’s degree program that afforded him flexibility.

“I’m routinely putting in 50 hours a week,” he explains. “So, the fact that I could do classwork or learn at my own time — at my own pace — really allowed me to utilize my evenings and weekends to dedicate towards studies. Then, I could spend the rest of my time focusing on work.”

It was a welcome surprise for Jerald to find that NMSU Global Campus accepted most of his previous coursework from his associate degree. That credit for prior learning significantly cut the time it took to complete his online bachelor’s degree. ¹ “Luckily, just about all of my credits transferred over and were accepted,” he says. “That really helped shave off a lot of time. It just really left me with that second half of upper-level courses to really concentrate on.”

As luck would have it, a shortened academic pathway wasn’t the only welcome surprise in store for Jerald at NMSU Global Campus.

How the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Helped Pay for Jerald’s Online Business Degree

Jerald is candid about a memorable moment in his back-to-school journey. At the start of his bachelor’s degree, he didn’t seek out any sort of scholarship opportunities, explaining that he paid out of pocket for the “first couple of semesters.” However, as he progressed through his BBA program, something unexpected happened.

After researching the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship and realizing he met the eligibility requirements, Jerald was stunned and grateful. Suddenly, he realized that continuing his education had become more affordable than ever. (Get details about how New Mexico residents can get up to 100% of their tuition covered through this generous scholarship. ²)

Jerald doubts that he would have found such helpful assistance to pay for his business education elsewhere.

Even without the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, he was impressed by the overall affordability of NMSU Global Campus. “When you compare what New Mexico State is offering via their Global program, it’s less expensive than a lot of other programs that are out there,” he says. “With opportunities for financial aid, such as the Opportunity Scholarship, it’s a great way to pay for your schooling — and maybe accomplish some great things at the end of it.” ³ 

What It’s Like to Earn an Online Business Degree

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in General Business is a 100% online program. Having been away from school for so long, Jerald had some natural apprehensions about how accessible an online program could be. However, the NMSU Global Campus community — from advisors and professors to his fellow students — was nothing but supportive throughout his academic journey.

“The advisors were great — they really helped me structure things schedule-wise,” he explains. “I was new to asynchronous classes. That wasn’t around when I got my [associate degree]. So, they were very helpful in [guiding] me through all of that.

“Professors and students are just as responsive,” Jerald adds. “It’s just in a different communication form. Instead of communicating verbally in a classroom, now you’re doing it, you know, through the written word in an email.”

From BBA to MBA: The Next Chapter in Jerald’s NMSU Journey

Jerald isn’t slowing down when it comes to his education. He’s currently enrolled in the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at NMSU Global Campus.

“I actually just applied and was accepted to graduate school. I’ll be registering in the fall to go on and get my MBA,” he says. “That wasn’t my initial plan. But one thing I’m noticing, not only in our organization but also across my industry, is that if I want to advance beyond the director level, most organizations require a master’s for my role.”

We ended the interview by asking Jerald what advice he would give prospective students — especially working adults who may have been away from school for a long time and are considering returning.

“It’s never too late,” Jerald says. “I was like, ‘There’s no way. After 25 to 30 years, is it worth going back?’ Well, I’ve got grandkids now. And being able to walk that line [at graduation] and have my grandkids in the audience was a huge accomplishment for me.”

According to Jerald, NMSU Global Campus supports adult learners every step of the way, no matter their circumstances.

“The Global Campus programs at New Mexico State University really fit into a busy schedule,” he says. “I appreciate New Mexico State University for giving me that opportunity and really seeing me through and supporting me in this journey. I would 100% recommend NMSU Global Campus to anyone.”

It’s Never Too Late to Earn Your Degree at NMSU Global Campus

Follow in the footsteps of successful students like Jerald A., and choose from 90+ career-focused online programs to find the best fit for your goals.

The online application process at NMSU Global Campus takes only about 10 to 15 minutes, and your first application is free. ⁴

References

1. “Credit for Prior Learning.” NMSU Global Campus, 2026

2. “New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship.” NMSU Global Campus, 2026.

3. “Explore Tuition Costs and Financial Aid.” NMSU Global Campus, 2026.

4. “3 Easy Tips to Help You Complete Your Application to NMSU Global Campus.” NMSU Global Campus Blog, 9 June 2025.