With semesters and quarters coming to a close, and graduates donning their cap and gowns, minds are being turned to the future. Some graduates start their careers and some move to graduate studies. No matter the stage, it is never too early to starting thinking about next steps. For those that are researching online MBA programs, Online MBA Today has published the following new rankings: Top Online MBA Programs in Nebraska, Top Online MBA Programs in New Hampshire, Top Online MBA Programs in New Jersey, Top Online MBA Programs in New Mexico, Top Online MBA Programs in New York, Top Online MBA Programs in North Carolina, Top Online MBA Programs in Ohio, Top Online MBA Programs in Oklahoma, and the Top Online MBA Programs in Oregon. For more information about other online MBA programs, check out our article on the top MBA specializations and explore our other Online MBA Rankings.
Over the past month, there has been a new program announced, an online MBA program expanded with a new exciting option, and an article about some of the recent, brightest online MBA students. Whether you are a prospective online MBA student, a current student, or a professional in the Online MBA world, enjoy the latest news for Online MBAs!
New Program
University of Wisconsin-Parkside – Kenosha, Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is now offering a fully online MBA program. Offered in an accelerated format, the program can be completed in 12 months and requires 30 credit hours. Students may choose a general management option or from five other concentrations in data analytics, finance, global management, marketing, and supply chain management. The program, regardless of concentration, will have several start dates through the year and offer seven-week accelerated courses. As part of their coursework, students will use online business simulations and case studies.
The university, located in Somers, Wisconsin, is part of the 13-campus University of Wisconsin System and is a four-year, public university. It currently offers 33 undergraduate majors and three master's degrees in 22 departments. It's home to nearly 5,000 students. UW-Parkside is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and its Department of Business is accredited by AACSB International.
Expanded Program
University of Redlands – Redlands, California
The University of Redlands has received a grant from Esri, a global leader in geographic information software, for the Spatial Business Initiative. Starting in September 2018, this initiative will offer an online MBA with a concentration in location analytics (as well as an online or on-campus certificate program beginning in January 2019). Presently, Redlands is the only business school that requires a locations analytics course for its undergrads. It is also home to two GIS-for-business research enterprises, Center for Spatial Business and Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis.
Thomas Horan, the Senecal Endowed Dean of Redlands School of Business and a member of Esri's Business Advisory Council, says of the spacial business initiative, "With 80 percent of business data containing geographic information, location analytics delivers business insights into markets, customers, logistics and supply chains like never before. …We are thrilled to partner with Esri in this important initiative, which is advancing a wide array of projects at the intersection of GIS and business and will help to shape the future of intelligent decision making."
The University of Redlands is a private, nonprofit university located in Redlands, California with a student population of just over 5,000. Its School of Business is ACBSP accredited and the university also holds accreditation from Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission.
Article
You'll Be Surprised by These Online MBA Graduates | Forbes
Forbes recently did a piece highlighting online MBA graduates who are making waves. All graduating this year from the highest-ranked online MBA programs in the country, these students are among the 40 students originally highlighted in Poets & Quants' Best and Brightest Online MBAs: Class of 2018.
Jason Young is graduating this year from the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business with his online MBA. But before that, he was appointed by President Obama to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to spearhead the Affordable Care Act. Kyrsten Sinema is currently in her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives while finishing her online MBA degree at Arizona State. She also just landed herself on the ballot to be the Democratic nominee for Senate.
The University of North Carolina's online MBA program has two students on the list this year. Gordon Groh is an orthopedic surgeon when he's not working on his degree, and Taylor Meyer has been working on starting a venture capital and digital design firm and has been investing in an online golf platform. Over at Drexel, Albert Acevedo has been working on Bridgestone Americas' new corporate headquarters in Nashville in tandem with his online MBA.
As Forbes touches on, what's so beneficial about online MBA programs is the immediate return on investment. As Aga Brown, as senior analyst at Tesla who completed her online MBA at Carnegie Mellon, said, "…while studying Optimization, I learned how to use the Excel Risk Solver app. I was able to test my knowledge of the new tool right away at work when I designed an optimized work distribution among different warehouse areas."
The impressive resumes of the graduates covered, is a testament also to the flexibility offered with online MBA programs. as Grant Small, another Carnegie Mellon grad put it, "I never felt limited by my life and obligations."
For those who fear isolation when pursuing an online degree, Diana Miako Aguon Hock said of her experience at the University of Florida, "We had students in our cohort spread all around the United States and, at times, the world and were constantly working together in groups and on projects. We stayed in constant communication with each other and were helping each other – not only in our school work but our professional and personal lives as well."
If you're thinking about an online MBA and are still having doubts, take Rochester Institute of Technology's Kenneth A. McCray's perspective on it and consider your online program as simply a two-year project. Because, as Georgia Southern's George L. Vann, Jr put it, "I absolutely would do this again. This experience has reminded me of things I previously learned and forgot. I've gained a much deeper understanding of the business concepts I've used freely and with less knowledge over the past 25 years. I've also learned some new things that will help me professionally and personally. This has been a deeply enriching experience, and I'm glad I did it."
That's some resounding support for online MBA programs.