Top Online MBA Programs in Kentucky

Featuring the state capital of Frankfort, the largest city in Kentucky is Louisville, a city famous for the annual horserace, the Kentucky Derby, which is held there each May. Home to bluegrass music, Kentucky can also claim to be the first state to serve cheeseburgers back in 1934. Widely known as the birthplace of both U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, the state has a long history of producing politicians as “more than 100 native Kentuckians have been elected governors of other states.” While the state of Kentucky is the exclusive manufacturer of every Post-It Note ever made, the state can also claim to provide some of the nation’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs in the country.

Through the years, the MBA has certainly become the gold standard for business and management education. As some of the nation’s top business schools have developed award-winning online MBAs, it has never been a better time to consider a distance education in business. As the degree is often designed to assist a professional in developing leadership and management skills, many business schools require three to five years of professional experience and an undergraduate degree awarded by an accredited college or university as prerequisites for admission. GMAT and GRE scores have traditionally been an application requirement for business schools in order to forecast if a candidate will be a good fit for a program. These scores, however, are sometimes waived based on a student’s past academic and professional experience. Many admissions offices currently lean more heavily on the criteria of letters of recommendation, essays, and candidate interviews.

As there are more options for online MBA programs than ever before, and realizing that some characteristics of a program are more important than others, we have compiled the top 10 online Master’s of Business Administration programs offered in the state of Kentucky. While these programs are offered within a spectrum of total tuition cost ranging between being classified as very affordable to average, many of these programs are bolstered by their business school’s being accredited by such reputable organizations as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. Let this ranking of the best online MBA programs in Kentucky help guide you in the important decision of finding an online degree that is right 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 Kentucky can be found at the end of the ranking.

#1 University of the Cumberlands Hutton School of Business – Williamsburg, Kentucky

Photo creditThe Hutton School of Business at the University of the Cumberlands features Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration. Offered with an emphasis in Accounting, or delivered as a general MBA, this program is classified as very affordable with a total tuition price of less than $14,999. The business school receives its stellar business accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. The business school has designed this program to provide students with “a rich curriculum with challenging assignments and group projects and the most current and relevant cases studies, instructors who are experts in their field and advisors who are knowledgeable and accessible, the support and flexibility to accommodate working professionals, and unique networking opportunities and career preparation.” Core courses within this program include Managerial Accounting, Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management, Managerial Finance, Managerial Economics, Legal, Ethical, and Social Environment, Management of Investments, Research and Report Writing, Managing in a Global Environment, and Advanced Human Resource. U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 146^th best online MBA in the United States.

Home of the Patriots who wear the school colors of red, blue, and white, the athletic department at the University of the Cumberlands supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics level as members of the Mid-South Conference. The university is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Williamsburg, Kentucky. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 7,652 students currently enrolled there. The university was founded in 1889 and was first known as Williamsburg Institute. The school went through several name changes over the years before receiving its university status in 2005. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and features “A Life More Abundant” as its official school motto.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 100.00

#2 Western Kentucky University Gordon Ford College of Business – Bowling Green, Kentucky

Photo creditWestern Kentucky University offers one of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with a Business Sustainability, Communicating in Healthcare, Communicating in Organizations, Lean Six Sigma, Nonprofit Administration, or Organizational Leadership emphasis at the Gordon Ford College of Business. This 33-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. The Gordon Ford 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 has been designed to equip students for successful careers in business as they are “not only exposed to the latest theories and technologies of all the business disciplines, but they learn how to actually apply them to the competitive advantage of the organization. Many Ford College students work on actual business issues under the guidance of experienced professors, most of whom have significant business experience themselves.” The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 72^nd best online MBA in the nation.

Established in 1906, Western Kentucky University is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Operating under the school motto of “The Spirit makes the Master Life more life,” the university was founded by Henry Hardin Cherry when he became president of the Western Kentucky State Normal School. 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 20,271 currently enrolled. Home of the Hilltoppers, Lady Hilltoppers, and the mascot Big Red, the athletic department at WKU supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of Conference USA. The school’s official colors are red and white.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 97.63

#3 Campbellsville University School of Business, Economics, and Technology – Campbellsville, Kentucky

Photo creditOne of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Church Management, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, International Business, Marketing, and Accounting is delivered by the School of Business, Economics, and Technology at Campbellsville University. This 36-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. The School of Business, Economics, and Technology receives its excellent business accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. This degree has been designed to help students “learn advanced strategies and techniques in foundational business areas, including marketing, human resources, finances and more. Faculty members with real-world business experience ensure the curriculum is relevant and applicable to today’s dynamic business world. And because the program is fully online, you can study when and where you want. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to move into management-level jobs that offer more benefits and higher salaries.” Courses within this program include Managerial Accounting, Marketing Management, Management Information Systems, Organizational Theory, Human Resource Management, Business Ethics, Managerial Finance, Business Strategy, and Managerial Economics. The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 116^th best online MBA in the nation.

Campbellsville University was originally founded as a school for boys called the Russell Creek Academy in 1919. Established by the Russell Creek Baptist Association, the school would continue to grow over time and in 1996 the school achieved university status. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university exists today as a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Delivering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, CU oversees a student body of 3,675. Home of the Tigers, the official school colors of the university are maroon and gray. The athletic department at Campbellsville consists of men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NAIA level as members of the Mid-South Conference.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 96.30

#4 Murray State University Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business – Murray, Kentucky

Photo creditThe Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business at Murray State University features one of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with specializations in Finance, Global Communications, Marketing, and delivered as a general MBA. This 10-course program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. The business school receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and has enjoyed this accreditation since 1981, making this one of the longest-accredited MBA programs in the world. Students interested in this degree are encouraged to request information online and schedule a campus visit to meet with staff and learn more about the program. There is a $40 non-refundable fee that accompanies the Graduate Admission Application. The Murray State Graduate Admissions office also asks for all official transcripts to be sent to them as transcripts from students will not be accepted.

Home of the Racers who wear the school colors of Navy blue and gold, the athletic department at Murray State University supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Ohio Valley Conference. Murray State is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Murray, Kentucky. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 10,486 students currently enrolled there. MSU was established in 1922 as Murray State Normal School with the express intent of training students for careers as public-school teachers. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and features The Shield as the official seal of the university.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 87.47

#5 Northern Kentucky University Haile/US Bank College of Business – Highland Heights, Kentucky

Photo creditNorthern Kentucky University’s Haile/US Bank College of Business features one of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Finance, Leadership, and Innovation. This 33-credit hour degree is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. The Haile/US Bank College of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This degree has been designed to help students “understand the principles of finance within a corporate setting, explore leadership and organizational change as the key components of effective management, and broaden your perspective on ideation and innovation strategies, formulating accurate competitive intelligence techniques and finding value for organizations.” Divided between 16-credit hours of essentials courses, 12-credit hours of specialization courses, and five-credit hours of capstone courses, the essentials courses within this program include Managing in Organizations, Financial Management in Organizations, Accounting in a Corporate Environment, Marketing in Organizations, Strategies for High Performing Organizations, Intro to Info Systems in Organizations, Legal Environment for Business, and Operations Management.

Established in 1968 as Northern Kentucky State College, today’s Northern Kentucky University is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Highland Heights, Kentucky. 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 14,542 currently enrolled there. Home of the Norse and school mascot, Victor E. Viking, the athletic department at NKU supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Horizon League. The school’s official colors are black and gold.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 86.92

#6 Morehead State University School of Business Administration – Morehead, Kentucky

Photo creditThe School of Business Administration at Morehead State University delivers one of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with General Management and Health Systems Management concentrations. This 30-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. The business school receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This degree “provides quality educational opportunities in business for degree and course completion. MSU’s MBA program is offered completely online, focuses on working professionals and is designed for individuals seeking to improve their management success.” Core courses within this program include Accounting Analysis for Decision Making, Managing Information Technology, Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Marketing Administration, Leadership and Ethics, and Business Policies and Procedures. Students interested in this degree are encouraged to submit transcripts showing the completion of an accredited undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Candidates possessing a graduate degree with a 3.0 GPA are exempt from all GMAT requirements.

Home of the Eagles who wear the school colors of blue and gold, the athletic department at Morehead State University supports 18 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Ohio Valley Conference. MSU is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Morehead, Kentucky. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 10,746 students currently enrolled there. Morehead State was founded in 1887 as Morehead Normal School with a commitment to training public school teachers in the region. Consisting of four colleges, the school offers 214-degree programs. MSU receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and features Lux (Light) as its official school motto.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 86.74

#7 Lindsey Wilson College School of Business – Columbia, Kentucky

Photo creditLindsey Wilson College offers one of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with a specialization in General Business and a hybrid Lean emphasis in the School of Business. This 36-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. The School of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. The IACBE is one of the nation’s top accrediting bodies in higher education. Courses within this program include Quantitative Decision Making, Managerial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Managerial Finance, Marketing Management, Organizational Behavior, and Applied Research in Business. The General Business Emphasis program can be completed 100% online while the Lean Systems Emphasis incorporates an online and face-to-face schedule. Candidates interested in this degree are encouraged to complete the Graduate Admission Application along with a $35 non-refundable fee and submit all official undergraduate transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores, three professional references, a resume, and a statement of purpose in order to get the acceptance process started.

Established in 1903, Lindsey Wilson College is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Columbia, Kentucky. Operating under the school motto of “Every Student, Every Day,” the college was originally founded as Lindsey Wilson Training School; a school committed to training young people for preparation for Vanderbilt University and careers as educators. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the college delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 2,588 currently enrolled there. Home of the mascot, Blue Raider Bob, LWC supports men’s and women’s sports teams which compete at the NAIA level as members of the Mid-South Conference.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 84.58

#8 Union College Division of Graduate & Online Studies – Barbourville, Kentucky

Photo creditOne of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs is delivered by the Division of Graduate & Online Studies at Union College. This 30-credit hour program is classified as very affordable with a total tuition price of less than $14,999. Through this program, students will “gain the knowledge to apply business concepts across disciplines, gain communications skills to persuade audiences, and gain the skills essential to good leaders and will develop the analytical skills required of effective managers.” The best candidates for this degree are those possessing an undergraduate degree in business from a regionally accredited college or university. Students lacking an undergraduate business degree can still apply but may need to complete additional business prerequisites in order to fulfill all program requirements. Students with transfer hours can transfer up to six credits into this program. In most cases, students can expect to complete this 100% online degree in one year or less. Classes are delivered in eight-week terms.

Union College was established in 1879 in the progressive town of Barbourville, Kentucky. At the time, the town consisted of 450 residents and three brick buildings! Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university exists today as a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus still located in Barbourville. Delivering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, and graduate levels, Union College oversees a student body of 1,203. Operating under the school moto of Pro Deo Et Homine (For God and Humankind), the school’s official colors are orange and black. Home of the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs, the sports teams at Union compete as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 80.65

#9 Midway University School of Business, Equine and Sport Studies – Midway, Kentucky

Photo creditThe School of Business, Equine and Sport Studies at Midway University features one of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Equine Studies, Health Care Administration, Sport Management, and Tourism and Event Management. This 30-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. Students seeking the general MBA can complete all coursework for the 30-credit hour program as a 100% online experience in just 15 months while those students seeking to specialize in one of the four concentrations can graduate in just 18 months taking the 36-credit hour route. The business school highlights features like convenience, personal attention, affordability, responsiveness, and a unique learning environment for reasons to pursue this degree. Major courses within this program include Leadership and Effective Decision-Making, Organizational Behavior, Business Law, Financial Management, Economic Analysis for Business Decision-Making, Strategic Marketing Management, Global Business, Operations Management, and Management Issues.

Home of the Eagles and featuring the school colors of blue, gold, and white, Midway University is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Midway, Kentucky. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, and graduate levels to the 1,194 students currently enrolled there. The university was established in 1847 as the Kentucky Female Orphan School with a staff of one instructor and 16 students. Over the years the school grew from providing an elementary to high school and then college-level education. Midway received its university status in 2015 and the following year would admit its first male students. Midway University receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 77.51

#10 Sullivan University Graduate School – Louisville, Kentucky

Photo creditSullivan University features one of Kentucky’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Accounting, Conflict Management, Healthcare Management, Hospitality Management, Public Management, and Strategic Human Capital Management in the Graduate School. With a solid focus on leadership, communication, management, and problem solving, this degree can be completed in as few as 18 months. This 48-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. Core courses within this program include Accounting Theory for Management Decisions, Accounting Theory for Business Environments, Managerial Economics, Managerial Finance, Managerial Communication Skills, Leadership and Team Development, Operations Strategy, Integrative Management Capstone, and Advanced Quantitative Methods. While the Graduate School does not require GMAT scores for acceptance into this program, candidates interested in applying are encouraged to contact the business school’s admissions office for information on how to get the application process started.

Established in 1962 by A.O. Sullivan and his son, A.R. Sullivan, Sullivan University is a four-year, private, for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Louisville, Kentucky. Operating under the school motto of “Kentucky’s Career University,” the university started out as a one-year preparatory school for career advancement called Sullivan Business College. 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 3,462 currently enrolled there. Since its inception, the university has established campuses in Ft. Knox and Lexington. Widely known as Kentucky’s largest private university, the school features a program on two of its campuses called “Plus Friday” which allows instructors to be available to students on all Fridays but with no classes meeting.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 72.04

Methodology

To find the top Online MBA programs in Kentucky, a list of 480 online MBA programs was evaluated, and each program was analyzed first for a location in the state of Kentucky, and then ranked on the following factors:

Estimated Tuition Cost (25%): Each MBA was assessed to find the estimated total base tuition cost. All data was gathered from the most recent financial information given on each program or school website. The base tuition was calculated for the total degree, but does not included fees, books, or room and board; with the exception of MBA programs that use all-inclusive figures. For colleges that offer a lower in-state tuition, 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 the education world, as it shows prospective students which school has gone to extensive measures to attain high national and global standards in its research and delivered education. Each MBA in this list 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.

Additionally, business accreditations affect an MBA’s brand and prestige, so each school is evaluated on if the online MBA program is accredited from one of the top business accrediting institutions: ACBSP, IACBE, or AACSB. AACSB is regarded as the highest standard of business accreditation in 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 potential 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 from some 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 Kentucky.