Top 10 Online MBA Programs in Georgia

Operating under the official state motto of “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation,” Georgia is the 8^th most-populated state in the U.S. and was named after King George II of England. Known as the largest state east of the Mississippi River, Georgia is also the largest producer of peanuts, peaches, and pecans in the United States. Famous for being the birthplace of Coca-Cola, Georgia also features some of the nation’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs. Many of the state’s most highly-respected universities feature business schools which have designed top-ranking online degrees in leadership and business for online students.

Students researching the best programs in Georgia should know many of the state’s best business schools require three to five years of professional experience and an undergraduate degree awarded from an accredited college or university as prerequisites for admission. While some schools still require GMAT or GRE scores, some will waive the entrance test and instead lean more heavily on the strength of letters of recommendations, essays, and interviews. Students looking for a convenient 100% online MBA will have plenty to choose from while those desiring short on-campus residencies for better networking can also find those in the Georgia’s best business schools.

Based on the current demand of a high-quality online MBA, we have compiled the top ten online MBA programs in Georgia. While these programs range in total tuition cost between being classified as very affordable to above average in expense, each one of these programs are bolstered by their business school’s being accredited by such organizations as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Let this ranking of Georgia’s best online MBAs help guide you in the important decision of finding a degree that is the right fit for you.

For more information about other online MBA programs, check out our article on the top MBA specializations and explore our other Online MBA Rankings.

Note: A detailed explanation of the methodology we used to determine the best online MBA programs in Georgia can be found at the end of the ranking.

#1 Mercer University Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics – Macon, Georgia

Photo creditThe Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics at Mercer University features the state of Georgia’s best online Master’s of Business Administration with a Marketing, Finance, Economics, General Business, Human Resources, and Healthcare Management concentration. This program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. According to U.S. News Best Business School Ranking, an average base salary of $59,573 has been reported among graduate students reflecting the potential for a healthy return on the investment of education associated with this program. The Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The business school has designed this program to train “students to develop an understanding of human behavior, attitudes and skills necessary to achieve effective team-building and working relationships.” Consisting of 36-credit hours, qualifying students with the proper academic background can waive up to nine hours of foundational coursework. Core courses within this program include Managerial Economics, Managerial Accounting, Issues in Business Law and Corporate Responsibility, Marketing Concepts and Practices, Corporation Finance, Operations Management Science, and Ethical Leadership. U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 61^st best online MBA in the nation.

Home of the Bears who wear the school colors of black and orange, the athletic department at Mercer University supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Southern and Atlantic Sun Conference. The university is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Macon, Georgia. Mercer delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 8,615 students currently enrolled there. Originally founded as a boy’s preparatory school in Penfield, Georgia in 1833, the school was first known as Mercer Institute. The school’s namesake was Jesse Mercer, a Baptist leader in the community who bestowed an endowment on the school and served as the institution’s first chairman of the board. Mercer University receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and supports two other campuses in Georgia.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 100.00

#2 Valdosta State University Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration – Valdosta, Georgia

Photo creditValdosta State University offers one of Georgia’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration, or delivered as a general MBA, at the Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration. This 30-credit hour program is classified as very affordable with a total base tuition price under $14,999. The Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The AACSB is the gold standard for accrediting bodies in higher education. Admission requirements for this degree include an online application with corresponding $35 application fee, transcripts form all previously attended colleges and universities revealing the completion of an undergraduate degree with a minimum of 2.5 GPA, and a GMAT score of at least 400. A GMAT waiver may be awarded to applicants who have at least five years of approved managerial experience, who holds a master’s degree, or who retained a GPA of 3.0 at the undergraduate level. The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 143^rd best online MBA in the nation.

Established in 1906, Valdosta State University is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Valdosta, Georgia. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral and levels to the student body of 11,375 currently enrolled. Home of the Blazers and the mascot Blaze, the athletic department at VSU supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Gulf South Conference. The school’s official colors are red and black.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 81.86

#3 University of West Georgia Richards College of Business – Carrollton, Georgia

Photo creditA general online Master’s of Business Administration is delivered by the Richards College of Business at the University of West Georgia. This 30-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 76^th best online MBA in the nation. The Richards College of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Criteria for acceptance into the online MBA program includes the completion of an online application form and submission of GMAT/GRE score, current resume, official transcript from all colleges and universities attended, and $40 application fee. Courses within this program include Strategic Marketing, Managerial Accounting, Human Behavior in Organization, Global and International Business, Managerial Decision Analysis, Managerial Finance, Entrepreneurship – New Venture Analysis, Management Information Systems, and Operations and Supply-Chain Management. Upon completing this degree students will be equipped to “analyze and evaluate courses of action using appropriate qualitative and quantitative tools in order to create value, recognize and evaluate the impact on business decisions of the ethical and social dimensions of business activities, and formulate and assess integrated technology solutions to influence structures, processes, and techniques of management.

The University of West Georgia was originally founded as the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School on the Bonner plantation in 1906. The school became a two-year institution in 1933 and would later award its first master’s degree in 1967. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university exists today as a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus in Carrollton, Georgia. Delivering degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, West Georgia oversees a student body of 13,308. Home of the Wolves, the official school colors of the University of West Georgia are red, white, and blue. The athletic department at the school consists of men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Gulf South Conference.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 80.24

#4 (Tied) Columbus State University Turner College of Business – Columbus, Georgia

Photo creditThe Turner College of Business at Columbus State University features one of Georgia’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs. This 30-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. The Turner College of Business receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The business school has designed this program in order to equip the business leader with the tools they need for a long and successful career in business leadership. This excellent distance degree has been designed to train “individuals for leadership positions in business, industry, or government. Emphasis is placed upon global business, organizational behavior, accounting, operations, marketing, finance, management information systems, and their impact on managerial decision making. The program focuses on the practical application of these tools, techniques, and concepts.” Core courses within this WebMBA program include Human Behavior in Organization, Business Strategy, Operations and Supply-Chain Management, Management Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, Managerial Finance, Strategic Marketing, Managerial Decisions Analysis, and Global and International Business. U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the Turner College of Business as offering the 54^th best online MBA in the nation.

Home of the Cougars who wear the school colors of blue and red, the athletic department at Columbus State University supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Peach Belt Conference. Columbus State is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Columbus, Georgia. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 8,407 students currently enrolled there. Established in 1958 as Columbus College, the school started off as a two-year school with 15 instructors teaching a student body of nearly 300. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and features Cody Cougar as its official school mascot.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 78.64

#4 (Tied) Georgia Southern University College of Business Administration – Statesboro, Georgia

Photo creditGeorgia Southern University’s College of Business Administration features one of the state’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs. U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 47^th best online MBA in the nation. This 30-credit hour degree is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. The College of Business Administration receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This degree can be completed in as few as 21 months by students who take two courses each five consecutive semesters. This program does require one on-campus visit the first week after coursework begins in order to enhance the networking opportunities available to the distance learner. Core courses within this program include Human Behavior in Organizations, Managerial Accounting, Global and International Business, Managerial Decision Analysis, Strategic Marketing, Managerial Finance, Management Information Systems, Production and Operations Management, and Business Strategy.

Established in 1906, Georgia Southern University is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Statesboro, Georgia. Nestled on a 920-acre campus in Statesboro, and supporting a 268-acre campus in Armstrong, the university was originally founded as First District Agricultural & Mechanical School with a humble staff of four members and 15 students. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral and levels to the student body of 20,673 currently enrolled there. Home of the Eagles, the athletic department at GSU supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Sun Belt Conference. The school’s official colors are blue and white.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 78.64

#4 (Tied) Kennesaw State University Coles College of Business – Kennesaw, Georgia

Photo creditThe Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University delivers an online Master’s of Business Administration degree. This 30-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. The Coles College of Business receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The business school has designed this program “to develop in its students an understanding of managerial behavior and decision-making within the economic, social, and political environments of business operations. Students will have the opportunity to improve their communication and leadership abilities, their analytical and decision-making skills, and their effectiveness at developing working relationships with subordinates, peers, supervisors, and external constituents.” This cohort-based program consists of five consecutive 14-week terms. Students typically require a year and a half to complete all coursework. Core courses within this program include Human Behavior in Organizations, Managerial Accounting, Global and International Business, Managerial Decision Making, Strategic Marketing, Managerial Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Management Information Systems. U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 19^th best online MBA in the nation.

Home of the Owls who wear the school colors of black and gold, the athletic department at Kennesaw State University supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. KSU is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Kennesaw, Georgia. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 35,018 students currently enrolled there. A member of the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State was founded in 1963 as Kennesaw Junior College and had an inaugural registration of just over 1,000 students. The school achieved its university status in 1996 and ten years later would introduce its first doctoral program. Kennesaw State University receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and features Scrappy the Owl as its official school mascot.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 78.64

#7 Georgia College and State University J. Whitney Bunting College of Business – Milledgeville, Georgia

Photo creditGeorgia College and State University offers an exemplary online Master’s of Business Administration as a general degree (Georgia WebMBA) at the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business. The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 42^nd best online MBA in the nation. This 30-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. The J. Whitney Bunting College of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The AACSB is the gold standard for accrediting bodies in higher education. This degree is offered as a cohort-based program and includes such courses as Human Behavior in Organizations, Managerial Accounting, Global and International Business, Managerial Decision Analysis, Strategic Marketing, Managerial Finance, Entrepreneurship – New Venture Analysis, Management Information Systems, and Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Established in 1889, Georgia College and State University is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Milledgeville, Georgia. Designated as Georgia’s “Public Liberal Arts University” by the state’s Board of regents over 20 years ago, the university was originally founded as Georgia Normal and Industrial College as a training school for female public-school teachers and workers in the state’s industrial sector. The school admitted its first male students in 1967. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 6,915 currently enrolled. Home of the Bobcats, the athletic department at GCSU supports 14 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams. The school’s official colors are blue and green.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 78.37

#8 Augusta University James M. Hull College of Business – Augusta, Georgia

Photo creditOne of Georgia’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs is delivered by the James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta University. This 30-credit hour program is classified as very affordable with a total tuition price below $14,999. The James M. Hull College of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This program has been designed to “provide advanced business education beyond the baccalaureate level and to prepare students to assume responsible management and professional positions in private and public organizations. The curriculum has been designed to provide breadth of exposure to business administration disciplines rather than specialization in any single discipline.” Core courses within this program include Accounting for Managers, National and International Economics for Management, Managerial Finance, Organizational Behavior, Managerial Leadership: Professional and Personal Development, Strategic Management, Management of Information Technology, Marketing Management, Business Analytics for Managers, and Designing, Managing, and Improving Operations. Students within this program are required to maintain a GPA of at least 2.8 and must graduate with a 3.0 GPA.

Augusta University was formally established in 2013 when Augusta State University merged with Georgia Health Sciences by a vote of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. The school’s roots can be traced back to 1828 when Georgia Health Sciences University was founded as the Medical Academy of Georgia. The school began with programs in chemistry, pharmacy, anatomy and surgery, and institutes and practices of medicine and diseases of women and children. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university exists today as a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus in Augusta, Georgia. Delivering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, Augusta oversees a student body of 7,938.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 74.96

#9 Georgia Southwestern State University School of Business Administration – Americus, Georgia

Photo creditThe School of Business Administration at Georgia Southwestern State University features an excellent online Master’s of Business Administration degree. This 30-credit hour program is classified as very affordable with a total tuition price below $14,999. The School of Business Administration receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This degree has been designed to offer students “strong business training that integrates knowledge from various functional areas, the expertise of our faculty, and the real-world experience of our students. The program reinforces strong values, ethics, and service, and it acknowledges the multicultural influences driving today’s market. Our program is based on developing key competencies that will help build a lifetime of success.” Candidates interested in this degree are encouraged to submit a graduate application for admission, $25 non-refundable application fee, official transcripts showing an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, three recommendation letters, and official test scores into the admissions office in order to begin the admissions process. Qualifying students may waive the GMAT/GRE requirement.

Home of the Hurricanes who wear the school colors of navy blue and gold, the athletic department at Georgia Southwestern State University supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Peach Belt Conference. Georgia Southwestern State is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Americus, Georgia. The university delivers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels to the 2,954 students currently enrolled there. GSW was established in 1906 and was originally known as the Third District Agricultural and Mechanical School. Twenty years later the school would add teacher training to its curriculum and was renamed the Third District Agricultural and Normal College. Featuring “Surge” as its mascot, Georgia Southwestern State University receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 74.55

#10 Brenau University School of Business – Gainesville, Georgia

Photo creditBrenau University’s School of Business features one of Georgia’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Accounting, Healthcare Management, Insurance Management, and Project Management, or delivered as a general MBA. This 45-credit hour degree is classified as above average in affordability with a total tuition price between $30,000 and $49,999. U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 146^th best online MBA in the nation. The College of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. This degree “focuses on the key management, economics, financial, marketing, accounting and leadership principles needed in an advanced program of study in business. Students taking core classes can expect a strong emphasis of theoretical methods combined with pragmatic techniques.” Core courses within this program include Introduction to Project Management, Cross-Cultural Business Challenges, Integrated Business Operations, Marketing Management, Budgeting for Managers, Financial Management, Managerial Leadership, and Strategic Management and Policy. Candidates interested in this program are encouraged to contact the business school’s admissions office for information on how to get the application process started.

Established in 1878 as Georgia Baptist Female Seminary, today’s Brenau University is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Gainesville, Georgia. Operating under the school motto of “As Gold Refined by Fire,” the university opened its door to male students in the late 60’s. Brenau began offering online programs in 2002. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 2,899 currently enrolled there. Home of the Golden Tigers, the athletic department at Brenau University supports 17 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as members of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The school’s official colors are gold and black.

Affordability Score: Above Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 73.34

Methodology

To find the top Online MBA programs in Georgia, a list of over 470 online and hybrid MBA programs was collected, and each MBA was evaluated first for a location in the state of Georgia, and then ranked on the following factors:

Estimated Tuition Cost (25%): Each MBA was assessed to find the estimated total base tuition cost. All financial data was collected from the most recent information given on each program or school website. The base tuition was calculated for the entirety of the degree, but does not included fees, books, or room and board; with the exception of MBA programs that use all-inclusive figures. For schools that offer a lower in-state tuition rate, the in-state pricing is used. Twenty-five percent of the final ranking score is calculated from this figure.

Based on this base tuition data, each program is given an Affordability Score:

Very Expensive = $100,000+
Expensive = $50,000-$99,999
Above Average = $30,000-$49,999
Average = $20,000-$29,999
Affordable = $15,000-$19,999
Very Affordable = $0-$14,999

Accreditation (25%): Accreditation plays an important role in education. It shows prospective students which school has gone to extensive measures to reach high national and global standards in its research and delivered education. Each program in this top online MBA ranking is evaluated on whether it holds a regional accreditation from one of the six institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional business school accreditations affect an MBA’s brand and prestige, which can then affect a graduate’s competitive advantage in the job market. Each school is ranked on if the online MBA is accredited from one of the top business accrediting institutions: ACBSP, IACBE, or AACSB. AACSB is regarded as the gold-star standard of business accreditation around the world, and thus schools that hold this accreditation are given the highest marks. Twenty-five percent of the final ranking score is calculated from this figure.

Average Base Salary (25%): The salary data is highlighted in this top online MBA ranking because it allows prospective students to explore the affect an online MBA degree can have on a professional’s salary. The average base salary is collected from the 2018 Best Business School Ranking by US News and World Report. Programs without a recorded average base salary from US News and World Report was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data. Twenty-five percent of the final ranking score is calculated from this figure.

Prestige (25%): The prestige for each program is calculated by evaluating lists of the most prestigious educational rankings systems for online MBA programs: US News and World Report’s Online MBA Ranking, the Princeton Review’s Online MBA Ranking, the Financial Times’ Global Online MBA Ranking, and Quacquarelli Symonds’ Distance Online MBA Ranking. Each online MBA was evaluated on how many rankings included their program. Twenty-five percent of the final ranking score is calculated from this figure.

All of the data was weighted equally, averaged, and then calculated on a 100-point scale. This score is the OMBAT Ranking Score, which provides the ranking order for this list. By evaluating the tuition cost, accreditation, average base salary, and prestige, this ranking helps prospective students find the highest quality online MBA programs in Georgia.