Top Online MBA Programs in Maine

Besides being the only one-syllable state in the United States, Maine also carries the distinction of containing the most-eastern city in the country: residents of the appropriately named Eastport are the first people in the U.S. to see the sun come up each morning. Famous for its lobster and blueberries, the state of Maine produces 40 million pounds of the shellfish and 99% of all blueberries harvested in the United States. Known as the Pine Tree State, Maine's capital city is Augusta. Known for its natural beauty, Maine contains over half a million acres of state and national parks. Also hailing from Maine, are business schools featuring some of the most highly-respected online Master's of Business Administration programs in the nation.

Since online MBA students can enjoy the convenience of setting their own course schedules that will accommodate their professional and personal schedules, the online Master's of Business Administration has continued to increase in popularity in recent years. Some students desire to graduate quickly and are interested in taking more coursework at an accelerated pace. While many programs are paced to allow students to complete all coursework in approximately two years, some business schools offer the chance to graduate in less than 12 months. Professionals with a more-demanding work schedule may opt for a slower pace. It is common for many programs to allow students to take as long as six or seven years to graduate.

No matter what a graduate student's priorities may be, when it comes to pursuing an online MBA, it has never been a better time to pursue an online degree in Maine as many of the state's top business schools have designed these programs with accessibility in mind. Appropriate to the online experience, students can expect to complete an online application and submit all resources online in order to begin the acceptance process. Budget-minded students will be pleased to see programs offered at very affordable rates while still backed by prestigious accrediting entities like the AACSB and IACBE.

Let this ranking of the top three online MBA programs in Maine help point you in the direction of finding a high-quality degree.

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 Maine can be found at the end of the ranking.

#1 University of Maine Business School – Orono, Maine

Photo creditThe Business School at the University of Maine delivers the state's best online Master's of Business Administration program. This 30-credit hour program is classified as very affordable with a total tuition price of less than $14,999. U.S. News & World Report has recently recognized the business school as offering the 131^st best online MBA in the nation. The College of Business Administration receives its quality business accreditation through Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The business school "prepares individuals to lead organizations through volatile and rapidly changing markets with innovation and agility. We educate and train MBA candidates to learn creative and strategic ways of thinking, to solve complex problems and issues, and to lead, manage, and communicate skillfully. We place a high value on ethical decision making. Graduates are prepared to meet the challenges of global competition." Core courses within this program include Statistical Analysis and Modeling for Organizational Operations, Creating & Capturing Value in the Digital Economy, Financial Statement Analysis, Law, Business and Society, Management of Contemporary Organizations, Management Policy, and Financial Management.

Featuring the official school colors of dark blue, light blue, and white, the University of Maine is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Orono, Maine. The university delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 11,219 students currently enrolled there. UMaine was established as a direct result of the Morrill Act in 1865 as the Maine State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. The university receives its regional accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education and features Dirigo "I Guide" as its official school motto. Home of the Black Bears, the athletic department at UMaine consists of men's and women's varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the America East.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 100.00

#2 Husson University College of Business – Bangor, Maine

Photo courtesy of Husson UniversityHusson University offers one of Maine's best online Master's of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Athletic Administration, Biotechnology & Innovation, Data Analytics, General/Corporate, Healthcare Management, Organizational Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Risk Management at the College of Business. This online degree has been designed "to develop and strengthen your skills in analysis, decision making and leadership. Active classrooms, courses tied closely to actual management experience, and a diverse student body representing various academic and industry backgrounds contribute to a fuller, more useful education." The curriculum offered in this program stresses the importance of working to develop the necessary business skills, students from diverse backgrounds working together, and a program that fits into the schedule of a working professional. Classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999, this online MBA consists of 36-credit hours. The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 205^th best online MBA in the nation. As for accessibility, this degree can be completed fully-online, on-campus or as a combination of the two. Courses within this 100% online MBA include Research Methods in Business and Education, Managerial Economics, Managerial Accounting, Management Communications, Strategic Change Management, and Marketing Management.

Established in 1898, Husson University is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Bangor, Maine. Operating under the school motto of "Character & Humility," the university was originally founded as Shaw School of Business as students met for classes on the second floor of a rented building in downtown Bangor. State Legislature established the school as Husson College in 1953 and the school achieved its university status in 2008. Receiving its regional accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education, the university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 3,671 currently enrolled there. Home of the Eagles, the athletic department at Husson University supports 21 men's and women's varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the North Atlantic Conference. The school's official colors are deep green and gold.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 95.56

#3 Saint Joseph's College Business Department – Standish, Maine

Photo creditAn online Master's of Business Administration is delivered at the Business Department at Saint Joseph's College. This 42-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. This degree "has been specifically designed for experienced professionals in any field who are ready to increase their capacity for leadership. Your studies will enhance your ability to be an effective manager of organizations and a respected leader of people." Students looking for an accelerated experience can complete all coursework in as few as 18 months. With no GMAT requirement, applicants for this program do not need to possess an undergraduate degree. Simply submit proof of a 2.5 cumulative GPA with at least two years of professional full-time work experience along with a 750-word essay to begin the acceptance process. Courses within this program include Business/Organizational Dynamics, The Economy as a System, Systems Thinking, Self-Leadership, Ethical, Social & Environmental Responsibility, Cross-Cultural Leadership, Quality Leadership, and Statistical Thinking.

Saint Joseph's College was established by the Sisters of Mercy as an institution for women in 1912. The school's campus was originally planted within a convent before being moved to its current location in 1956. Saint Joseph's began admitting male students in 1970 and in 1976 began its distance education program. Receiving its regional accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education, the university exists today as a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a campus in Standish, Maine. Delivering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, and graduate levels, Saint Joseph's College oversees a student body of 2,102. Home of the Monks, the official school colors are Royal blue and white. The athletic department at the college consists of men's and women's varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. In recent years, the baseball team at SJC has enjoyed some success.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 74.68

Methodology

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

Estimated Tuition Cost (25%): Each program was assessed to find the estimated total base tuition cost. All data was gathered from the most recent financial information on each program or school website. The base tuition was calculated for the totality 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 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, because it shows which schools have gone to extensive measures to attain high national and global standards in its research and delivered education. Each program in this top online MBA 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 Maine.