Choosing the best online MBA program can be a difficult task. With so many programs available, how do you know which one is right for you? This guide will help make the process easier by providing information on some of the best online MBA programs available.
Each of the programs included in this guide has been evaluated based on employment outcomes, program quality, notoriety, and overall reputation. You can use this hub to quickly orient yourself in the online landscape, and you can visit each online program’s individual page to learn more about admissions policies, classroom experience and structure, and more.
Indiana University Kelley’s Direct Online MBA is a 54-credit module consisting of four main components: core courses, course electives, a Kelley On-Campus experiences, and experiential learning options. Indiana University allows online students to tailor their electives to major in a specific area.
The UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business Online MBA program offers the traditional focuses with more than 25 electives. Online MBA students can concentrate in 5 different areas: entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, strategy and consulting, data analytics and decision making.
University of Southern California’s Marshall School provides a 51-credit online MBA program, focusing on five cross-disciplinary courses: marketing, finance, management, accounting, and entrepreneurship. University of Southern California online MBA students can opt to take elective courses or enroll in certificate programs.
Carnegie Mellon University Tepper’s Part-Time Online MBA focuses on leadership development and analytics. The Tepper School of Business online program aims to equip online students with strong quantitative skills, and students are required to take some form of experiential based activity, such as an internship.
The University of Florida Online One-Year program consists of 32 total credits, including one experiential learning course. Electives are online, and students must have completed certain business courses during their undergraduate career to qualify for acceptance.
The Foster School of Business Hybrid MBA is a 62-credit program. 50 of these credits are core classes, and 12 are electives. Online students usually graduate within a 2-year time frame (six quarters). The electives are exclusive to the hybrid MBA program and include leading organizational change and marketing analytics.
The Arizona State University WP Carey Online MBA is a 57-credit program. Core courses include operations and supply management and ethical issues for managers. Depending on your electives, you can concentrate on specific disciplines in the business world, such as international business and leadership.
The Eller College of Management Online MBA is a 45-credit program comprising 28 core units and 17 elective units. It’s structured in a session format, with two sessions occurring per fall, spring, and summer. Electives include healthcare consulting and principles of entrepreneurship.
The RIT Saunders College of Business Online EMBA is a 48-credit program intended for mid- to upper-level professionals. Students take two intensive courses every six weeks. The Online EMBA program is cohort-based, allowing students to collaborate. Courses include business simulation and ethics.
The Naveen Jindal School of Management PMBA Online is a 53-credit program and runs on a semester system. Students tend to take 21 months to six years to complete. All students are required to take quantitative foundation of business and communications for management.
The University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium provides a 36-credit online program. Students take 4 business essentials credits, 22 core credits, and ten elective credits to customize their education. Most students graduate within 2.5 to 3 years.
The Smith School of Business Online MBA is a 54-credit program and can be completed in under 24 months. Smith offers concentrations in areas including accounting and information systems and business analytics.
The Isenberg School of Management Online MBA is generally a 39-45 credit program, depending on whether students pursue a concentration. There are two foundation classes, 11 core classes, and 3-9 electives. Concentrations include business analytics and entrepreneurship.
The Ole Miss Online MBA program requires students to take courses including leadership and ethics, financial analysis, and organizational behavior. There are no electives, concentrations, or dual-degree options, making this a straightforward program.
The Pennsylvania State University Online MBA is a 48-credit program. Students are required to choose one of 29 concentrations, ranging from business architecture to homeland security. With 39 core credits, the final nine credits center around the student’s chosen concentration.
The KU School of Business Online MBA program offers 13 courses to be completed in 42 credit hours. Each course is allotted 8 weeks, and at the end of the program, students undertake a capstone project
The Katz School of Business Part-Time MBA is a 45-credit program. Part-time students typically enroll in 6.0-7.5 credits at a time. Part-time MBA students typically graduate in 2-3 years.
The David Eccles School of Business Online MBA is a 48-credit program and can be completed in 24-26 months, with courses taking place in 5- and 10-week blocks. Students take two classes at a time, which can be customized based on elective choices.
Villanova State University’s Online MBA is a 48-credit hour program consisting of MBA fundamentals, the functional core, VSB pillars, capstones, and electives. Students take 21 courses for six total semesters, which are divided into two sessions.
The Miller College of Business MBA is 30-33-credit online program. 24 credits come from core courses and 6-9 credits from MBA electives. These electives include business analytics and leadership.
The NC State University Jenkins Professional Online MBA is a 40-credit hour program which can be completed through accelerated or flexible routes. The program can take between 21 months and six years to complete.
The Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business Online MBA is a 54-credit program which can be completed in 24 months. The online program operates on quarterly intakes. The online cohorts are smaller than in-person cohorts, allowing students to work collaboratively with one another.
The Washington State University Carson Online MBA is a 36-credit program for those with a bachelor’s degree in business. This can be completed in 22-29 months. Students can take the general track, or they can decide between one of four concentrations offered by the program including marketing and finance.
The James Madison University Online MBA program offers three different concentrations: executive leadership (42 credit hours), information security (42 credit hours), and innovation (48 credit hours). These programs can be completed in 21-28 months.
The Kansas State University Professional MBA Online is a 36-credit program. Courses last around 8 weeks and are divided into core courses and electives. Core courses include foundations of accounting and foundations of finance, and electives include foundations of leadership and business project management.
The Lehigh University MBA is a 36-credit online program with 21 core credits and 15 electives. Required courses include financial accounting, statistics, and principles of economics. Lehigh University offers in areas such as business analytics, corporate entrepreneurship, and supply chain management.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Online MBA is a 36-credit program, within which, credits are divided into the three categories: breadth and common body of knowledge, emphasis, and elective. Students must complete common body of knowledge and breadth courses and can select courses from the emphasis and elective areas, such as accounting, data analytics, and supply chain management.
The Zarb School of Business Online MBA is a 36-credit program that can be completed in 16 months to 5 years. Zarb School of Business offers concentrations in finance, strategic business management, and strategic healthcare management. Online MBA courses are divided into core, capstone, and major sections.
The Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business Online MBA is a 33-credit hour program that can be completed in one year. Spears School of Business offers concentrations in areas such as accounting, tourism management, and nonprofit management. Each course usually takes 16 weeks to complete.
The Lerner College of Business Online MBA is a 44-credit hour program. Online MBA students can complete the program part-time or in as little as 16 months. There are 29 core classes, and the rest can be adapted to online MBA students’ interests, allowing them to complete a major, a combination of electives, or up to three concentrations.
The Auburn University Harbert College of Business Online MBA is a 39-credit hours program, comprising nine core business classes and four electives. Online MBA students generally take 2.5 years to graduate, though the program can be completed in up to 6 years. Harbert offers three areas of study: business analytics, finance, and information systems.
Babson’s Olin College of Business Online MBA is a 45-credit program. Online MBA students can declare two concentrations in areas such as business analytics, business analytics and machine learning, and marketing. Each concentration is either nine or twelve credit hours.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell Online MBA is a 42-credit program that allows students to graduate in under 12 months. The University of Massachusetts Lowell online MBA offers six required foundations courses, seven required MBA core courses, and three electives.
The University of Nebraska Lincoln Online MBA is a 48-credit hour, program that allows students to complete their degree in up to ten years. They have 30 core credit hours and 18 elective hours, with classes lasting eight weeks long. Electives include talent acquisition and predictive analytics.
The USF Muma College of Business Online MBA is a 33-credit hour program in which full-time students take nine credits per semester, while part-time students take two courses. Muma College of Business MBA students can create customized concentrations or choose one of the pre-established concentrations on offer, including anti-money laundering and healthcare analytics.
The George Washington University Online MBA is a 46.5-credit program, 12 of which are elective credits. Online MBA students tend to take six credit hours per semester for a total of three years of learning. There are some one-credit courses that meet for 12 hours of class time.
The Heider College of Business Online MBA is a 33-credit program. Online MBA students can choose between concentrations in accounting, business intelligence & analytics, finance, financial psychology & behavioral finance, personal financial planning, and leadership.
The Florida State University Online MBA is a 39-credit program, completed over the course of seven semesters. The core curriculum comprises 27 credit hours, including Operations Management and Strategy and Business Policy. FSU also offers electives, such as marketing and risk management and insurance.
The Tobin Online MBA is a 36-credit program—27 core credits and 9 concentration credits, including a capstone project. Core courses include business analytics, financial management, and industrial economics.
The Baker School of Business MBA is a 36-credit hours: two essential courses, seven core courses, two electives, and one capstone project. Most of the courses are condensed, so that online MBA students can complete their degree at a faster rate while still providing excellent business education.
The Florida International University PMBA Online is a 42-credit program composed of twelve core courses, including competitive strategy and business analysis for decision making. The FIU PMBA online offers ten specializations, such as real estate and leadership. Online MBA students choose between three different pacing tracks which can be completed in 18, 21, or 33 months.
The Mason School of Business Online MBA is a 49-credit program made up of 12 courses. Courses include the unusually named “Renaissance Manager,” business analytics, and finance, and Online MBA students can choose to complete optional certifications in foundational business analytics courses.
The Stevens Online MBA is a 39-credit program consisting of a three-course block covering marketing, operations and strategy; two courses in analytical thinking; a block of three leadership and innovation courses; four elective courses that allow online MBA students to customize their degree; and a capstone project in management consulting.
The Rawls College of Business Online MBA is a 42-credit program consisting of core classes, such as Information Technology and Operations Management. Online MBA students can complete a concentration in healthcare organization management, information technology, or marketing analytics in order to earn an additional certification.
The UAB Online MBA is a 36-credit degree program, consisting of 12 total courses, including a 3-hour capstone project and two electives. Online MBA students can complete a concentration, which requires taking an additional 3-hour class. Concentrations include business analytics, entrepreneurship, and finance.
The University of Louisville Online MBA is a 45-credit hour program with 36 core courses and nine electives. Online MBA students can customize their degree by earning a certificate in specific areas, such as franchise management and distilled spirits business. The program offers optional national and international business study trips.
The Dartmouth Online MBA is a 30-credit hour program made up of seven core courses and three business electives, including Marketing Research and Advanced Organizational Behavior. Online MBA students can concentrate in accounting, business analytics, finance, organizational leadership, and supply chain management & information systems.
The Fogelman College of Business Online MBA is a 36-credit hour program, with 30 core credit hours including economics for the global executive and supply chain operations management. Online MBA students are also required to take two elective graduate courses from the Fogelman College of Business and Economics.
The Herbert Business School Online MBA is a 42-credit program focusing on management, economics, marketing, finance, business law, and technology. The program consists of 30 core courses, as well as electives. Online MBA students are required to attend one online and one in-person immersion session, each of which which typically lasts 3-5 days.
The University of Tennessee at Martin Online MBA is a cohort-based program completed in 18 months. The online MBA program offers four different degree concentrations: general business, agricultural business, human resource management, and sports business.
Students enrolled in an online MBA program can expect:
A focus on business fundamentals and best practices
An opportunity to tailor their studies to their career goals
A flexible, online format that accommodates working adults
Access to a network of peers and mentors
The best online MBA programs will provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s competitive business world. If you’re looking for an online program that can help you take your career to the next level, look no further than the schools on this list.
Are online MBA degrees respectable?
An online MBA degree is just as respectable as a traditional, on-campus MBA. In fact, many employers prefer online MBAs because they demonstrate that a candidate is able to succeed in a challenging, online learning environment.
What makes for a good online program?
The best online MBA programs are those that offer a rigorous curriculum, flexible scheduling, and an excellent reputation. The schools on this list all meet those criteria, and they provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue successful careers in business.
The right online MBA program for you is the one that meets your specific needs and goals. Consider your budget, your schedule, and your area of interest when choosing a program.
What are other important factors for an online MBA?
Business schools look at what each candidate has to offer holistically, not just a set of standardized test scores. Students can enhance their application with strong recommendation letters from supervisors or professors, well-written essays, submitting a resume that provides an overview of their career accomplishments, and high undergraduate GPAs. Applicants with minimal work experience can highlight leadership experience within their community, undergraduate student organizations, and internship and study abroad participation. Some business programs also allow students to complete an optional video or in-person interview. This can be an excellent opportunity to make a lasting impression with the admissions committee. Students who have a lower undergraduate GPA may be able to write a supplemental essay explaining any hardships they endured, and why they feel they will do better in graduate school. Graduate schools also understand that the student you were in your early 20s may not reflect the professional you have become today.
Is it possible to complete my online MBA faster if I don’t have the GMAT?
The GMAT is a three-hour, 50 question exam that can take up to two weeks to complete. Taking the test itself, preparing for it, waiting for exam scores, and possibly retaking the GMAT costs time and money. As a result, students who apply to schools without a GMAT requirement or one that accepts waivers may be able to start working on their MBA much sooner than those who don’t qualify for entrance because of GRE scores in a low percentile. An accelerated class format is sometimes offered by graduate schools, with classes starting as frequently as every month. Being GMAT-exempt allows you to finish your online application immediately, submit your college transcripts, and begin studying for your online MBA degree in days rather than weeks.
Have You Considered Part-Time Programs?
Find out more about some of the best part-time MBA programs using our in-depth school guides.
