I want to get an MBA, but I haven't figured out how to afford it yet

*Update: After 187 comments, I think it's clear that I need to spend more time in my field before pursuing an MBA. The interesting thing to me about the comments is that they fall into two camps: those who said that I need to spend more time in my field before pursuing an MBA, and those who said that there's no need to spend more time in my field to pursue an MBA but I should just dispense with the whole idea of an MBA because they don't really do anything. There are surprisingly few in between. Anyway, I really appreciate all of the advice. Thanks for helping me with my career.*<br><br>My current employer is a large company that does business on a national scale. The company is well-established and has very deep pockets. I work in an IT role, and I am currently completing an online bachelors degree in MIS from a university that is well-regarded in my field. It's been a difficult road, balancing school and work responsibilities, but I'm about to graduate and I'm excited to use my new education to excel in my field. I want nothing more than to work in IT for my current employer, but I'm not sure if that's realistic. I've read that many companies require IT leadership to have MBAs, and I'm very interested in leadership. I'm not sure how to reconcile my desire to stay with my current employer with my desire to pursue leadership roles, unless I get an MBA from a school that is well-regarded by my current employer. I've been doing research into these programs, and I have found that the top options are all very expensive. I'm not sure if I can afford them. I'm wondering if the cost of the program might be higher than I would expect, if I were to pursue an MBA as an IT employee who has no experience in a leadership role of any type. <br><br>The other thing that I'm not sure about is the overall value of an MBA. What's the best way to determine whether an MBA program is a good investment? I want to make sure that I get a good ROI.