Top 10 Online MBA Programs in Managerial Economics

Economics is the business sector that explores the production and distribution of resources, goods, and services by collecting and analyzing data, researching trends, and evaluating economic issues. Business managers and leaders that are knowledgeable and skilled in the field of Managerial Economics can have a tremendous impact in companies’ short-term and long-term profits. Completing an online Masters of Business Administration in the field of Economics can provides professionals with a real competitive advantage when moving up the ladder.

Let this ranking help you find the highest quality online MBA in Managerial Economics!

For more information check out our resource page about other top MBA specializations.

Methodology

The goal of this ranking was to highlight the best online MBA degrees available in the area of Managerial Economics. A list of over 350 online MBA programs was obtained and then vetted based on the economics focus and the following five factors:

Estimated Tuition Cost: Each program was valued based on the estimated tuition, giving students good insight on potential Return on Investment. The cost was gathered from the most recent date given on each specific program/school website. The lowest tuition on the list was $8,232, the highest came in at $122,880, with the average resting at $31,166.

Accreditation: Accreditation plays a major part in MBA brand recognition, and thus affects the competitive advantage of each alumnus in the job market. Every program in valued on if they are regionally accredited by one of the six regional higher accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The programs are additionally ranked on any additional business accreditation they have achieved. These accredited bodies are IACBE, ACBSP, and AACSB. AACSB International-accredited schools were given the highest marks, since this accreditation is widely seen as the highest level of standards that a business school can achieve.

PayScale Early Career Salary: The early career salary data is considered, because it is important for potential students to see the financial benefits possible for each alumnus. This data was collected from the 2015-2016 PayScale College Salary Report. This report gives a ranking from over 1,000 schools by graduate salary potential. The highest early career salary in the ranking is $100,000, the lowest at $40,500, and the average at $59,075. Any program without a recorded PayScale average salary was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data.

Prestige: Data for this criterion was taken from the most prestigious online MBA rankings available, US News and World Report, the Princeton Review, the Financial Times, and Quacquarelli Symonds. Schools were then valued on how many rankings in which they were included.

Overall Graduation Rates: Each school’s overall graduation rate was collected from the National Center for Education Statistics. This criterion shows a school’s sustained student satisfaction, showing if students were motivated and inspired to finish their degrees at their particular institution. Any program without a recorded NCES graduation rate was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data.

All data was gathered for each school, weighted equally, and averaged. This score provided the ranking order for this list. By weighing the tuition cost, accreditation, early career salary, prestige, and graduation rates, this ranking can help professionals find the highest quality program available.

Here is our list of the Top 10 Online MBA Degrees in Managerial Economics.

#10 University of North Alabama College of Business – Florence, AL

Photo creditOnly two other universities in Alabama graduate more students with MBAs than the University of North Alabama. The College of Business offers two options for their distance graduate students: the Regular MBA Online and the Executive MBA Online. Both tracks are 34 credit hour programs and are offered on campus and to distance learners. The regular MBA Online offers students the choice between ten different concentrations, including Innovative Economic Development. Full-time MBA students can expect to graduate within 12 months while those who have work and family related responsibilities can finish their degrees in 18-24 months. Students needing financial aid are encouraged to apply for endowed scholarships which are available online.

Home of the Lions, (the campus actually houses 2 live African lions as mascots) the University of North Alabama is located in Florence, Alabama, a city located near the Tennessee River and just a few miles from the Tennessee/Alabama state line. One of its claims to fame is the city’s proximity to the Shoals area which is well known for its cultural history and American musical recording sound. Established in 1830, UNA is the oldest four-year university in the state. A student body of 7,000 is enrolled both on campus and through distance learning and over 37 countries are represented by those enrolled.

Estimated Program Tuition: $14,450

#9 Endicott College Van Loan School – Beverly, MA

Photo creditThe Van Loan School is unique as a business school in that it publicizes learning outcomes for their graduates that include being able to understand and articulate current trends in market research, growth, and solutions across the global gamut. Their online MBA courses are a balanced inventory of accounting and finance concentrations paired with research, management, and leadership perspectives. Prospective students in the program begin to enjoy accessibility from the beginning as no GMAT is required for acceptance into the program. In addition to this, students are allowed to set their own pace for coursework through personalized advising plans and are put through 6 week long courses. With a more aggressive schedule, graduate students can complete their degrees in 18 months. The Van Loan School also provides small class sizes with a student-to-professor ratio of 13 to 1.

Endecott College was first established as an all-women’s school by Dr. Eleanor Tupper and her husband, Dr. George O. Bierkoe, in 1939 with the intent of giving more women independence and a viable position in the American workforce. The college is named after historic figure and 1649 colony of Massachusetts Bay governor, John Endicott. In 1988 Endicott transformed into a four-year degree campus and six years later would admit its first co-educational students into its programs. Today the school remains a prestigious environment for learning and a scenic campus within the areas of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts.

Estimated Program Tuition: $28,392

#8 Bellevue University College of Business – Bellevue, NB

Photo creditIt is a top priority of the College of Business at Bellevue University to build a strong structure of leadership among its graduates through critical thinking and problem solving throughout a diversity of learning and experiential environments. They see a redundancy of education at the graduate level as a fault in many other programs and believe that a hands-on application can be enjoyed even by distance learners. The Master of Business Administration department enjoys specialized accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The 36-credit MBA program is offered as a 100% online experience but offers many tools to help the distance learner be successful with time management aids, 24/7 course accessibility, and real-time access to students and professors. For graduate students living closer to the campus at Bellevue, Nebraska, special arrangements can be made to offer a hybrid on and off-campus program to complete their degrees.

Celebrating its 50^th year anniversary in 2016, Bellevue University, located in Bellevue, Nebraska, continues to set a rapid pace of improvement in the areas of degree program development, staff training, and technology advancement. Nearly 10,000 students study at Bellevue, a private, non-profit university that is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission through the U.S. Department of Education. The online student body of Bellevue University is made up of students from all 50 states.

Estimated Program Tuition: $19,620

#7 Southern New Hampshire University School of Business – Manchester, NH

Photo creditThe program leaders for the Southern New Hampshire University’s Master of Business Administration program not only want to build successful members of the global business community, they want to develop the leading innovators of it. The school touts an affordable education that can be completed in just over a year at 15 months with students taking 2 courses each 10-month term. Accessibility into the MBA program is streamlined as applicants need not have completed their GMAT or GRE and are accepted throughout the calendar year by the admissions office.

The Master of Business Administration track at Southern New Hampshire University has existed for over 40 years and has a rich history of equipping and graduating thousands of business leaders into the global marketplace. SNHU currently offers many relevant online resources to its virtual students including a writing center, tutoring and career services, an online library and online bookstore. In addition to these resources available to all online students, the school also offers a program called “SNHUConnect” set up as a virtual meeting place for students and faculty to network ideas and collaborate on group projects.

Originally named the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science in 1932, SNHU has always placed a high premium on developing leaders in the business realm. Today the school is divided between three concentrations: the School of Business, Education, and Arts and Sciences.

Estimated Program Tuition: $22,572

#6 Regent University School of Business & Leadership – Virginia Beach, VA

Photo creditThe School of Business and Leadership at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia values a traditional business theory they believe is time-tested, infused with modern concepts that will help insure a student’s success in marketability and business. Being a Judeo-Christian school, Regent University is founded on biblical principles that are fleshed out and communicated even within the curriculum of the School of Business and Leadership. Regent believes these principles go further than just business success and that they speak into the very character development and integrity of our business leaders on a global perspective.

The 42-credit online Master of Business Administration program offered by the School of Business and Leadership can be completed in as little as 16 months. All credits can be completed with no on-campus presences however the school does offer the annual “SBL Express” as a two-day event designed to foster quality interaction, network-building, and professional development among current MBA students and alumni of the School of Business and Leadership. The school’s many awards include 2013’s Best Faculty Credentials and Training by U.S. News and World Report.

Regent University earns its name-sake from the determination that its students and alumni will be “regents”, or representatives, of Jesus Christ throughout the world. A relatively young school, Regent was established in Virginia Beach in 1978 and has developed the reputation for being a top choice for military students and one of the safest campuses in the country.

Estimated Program Tuition: $27,300

#5 Southern Illinois University, Carbondale College of Business – Carbondale, IL

Photo creditThe 42-hour online MBA program offered by the College of Business at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale is a “cohort-based” 23-month program. Registration begins exclusively at summer semester each year and there are no prerequisite courses needed for completion by professionals with at least five years on the job experience. The college offers the same full-time professors for online and traditional class courses and recommends students set aside an average of 15-20 hours per week for successful studying and class performance.

As for their educational philosophy, the Master of Business Administration degree focuses on the development of critical thinking, strong communication skills, a balanced mix of traditional writing abilities and the use of multi-media presentations. Besides this, a stress on organizational leadership and management is developed and carried out through group assignments, collaboration and networking opportunities.

Southern Illinois University is not your run of the mill establishment of higher education and that’s clear with one look at their mascot: the Saluki! A school that prides itself on uniqueness and individuality, the student body and programs at SIU reflect a pride and character not always as prevalent on all college campuses. Founded in 1869 and graduating a class of only 143 students just a few years later, SIU now has a total enrollment of over 17,000 students, over 1/4^th of which are ethnic minority.

Estimated Program Tuition: $35,868

#4 Wright State University Raj Soin College of Business – Dayton, OH

Photo creditThe Raj Soin College of Business at Wright State University has always been known for offering a strong MBA program for its full-time and part-time graduate students. In addition to this, it has just recently converted its curriculum, staff, and resources over to be able to offer a 100% online experience for distance learners. Featured as being one of Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools, the online Master of Business Administration program at Raj Soin College of Business utilizes what they call a “cohort-based learning community” that emphasizes teamwork and accountability within a virtual learning environment. They believe working professionals seeking higher education should not have to compromise networking and project synergy when it comes to a quality education. Accredited by the AACSB, the MBA program at Raj Soin includes anywhere between 33-46.5 hours of content based on what prerequisites have been completed at the undergraduate level for the degree. These hours can include 13.5 foundation hours, 21 core hours, 9 concentration hours, and 3 capstone hours.

Though first established in 1974, the College of Business department at Wright State University was named after successful entrepreneur, business man, and generous benefactor, Rajesh K. Soin in 2000 and has since continued to hit high marks in many international ranking organizations. The Raj Sion College of Business prides itself with building strong ties between educators and local business leaders in and around the greater Dayton, Ohio area. Currently the school consists of 1,200 undergrad and 500 graduate students.

Estimated Program Tuition: $20,526

#3 Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business – Pittsburgh, PA

Photo creditU.S. News and World Report’s 6^th best online Master of Business Administration program is our 3^rd top choice in the area of economics based on its schedule flexibility and student-customizable options offered throughout the program. While some campuses have been known to assign a lesser concentration of staff and coursework to their online students, the Tepper School of Business online part-time “hybrid” program offers the same admissions experience, staff, and curriculum that full-time, on-campus students have access to. Another exciting feature about Tepper’s online MBA program is the school’s commitment to informing the student on the front end of their education. This is obvious with programs like their “Virtual Information Session” and “Online Class Visit” where a student has the opportunity to not only visit with an admissions team expert to answer questions, but also has the chance to sit in on a course in real-time to see what they have to offer.

Though representing a higher tuition cost than most other schools on our list, the Tepper School of Business also reveals itself to be one of the most innovative and creative institutions that has grown to initiate over 250 companies and 9,000 jobs during its start at Carnegie Mellon University in 1949. A top 10 among business schools for several years running, Tepper currently boasts a group of 9 Nobel laureates.

Estimated Program Tuition: $122,880

#2 Ball State University College of Business – Muncie, IN

Photo creditThe MBA program offered at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana touts a state-wide recognized staff of professors ranking first for “faculty credentials” among all schools in Indiana by U.S. News and World Report. While most schools offer a choice between an on-campus or online education, Ball State offers a hybrid experience for those students needing flexibility in coursework while still enjoying a connection with professors and fellow students often lacking in an exclusively online format. There are five concentrations to choose from within the Master of Business Administration program including sale and operations management, finance, entrepreneurship, and health economics/policy/administration. Each concentration consists of 24 hours of core courses and 6 hours of MBA electives.

Established almost 100 years ago, Ball State University opened its doors in 1918 in Muncie, Indiana and today is home to almost 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Having a reputation as a school with a strong research program, Ball State (named after one of its founders: Frank C. Ball) continues to lead the way in modern research innovation and technology. Besides these advancements, the university desires to continue being a generous donor to worthy causes evidenced by their lofty goal of raising $100 million in philanthropic endeavors by 2017.

Estimated Program Tuition: $11,820

#1 Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business – Stillwater, OK

Photo creditWith its impressively low cost of tuition and remarkable accessibility for graduate students with vocation or travel requirements, the Master of Business Administration Online program offered through the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University sits at the top of our list for online MBA programs with an emphasis on managerial economics. In state residents enjoy a low $197 per credit hour rate for courses. The school offers two options for students: a 43-hour full-time program and a 42-hour part-time program. The 42-hour part-time track will be attractive to students needing even more flexibility as they can set their own schedule and work at their own academic pace throughout the program.

Named by the Department of Economics and Legal Studies in Business as a “Top 10 percent economic institution worldwide” (Research Papers in Economics – February 2015) the Spears School of Business, known as the College of Business Administration until 2004, finds its roots set as far back as 1914 when it was originally known as the School of Commerce and Marketing at Oklahoma A&M College. Today the school directs over 4,000 undergrad students through 18 majors and 1,200 grad students through 6 fields of study. They have been accredited by the AACSB International since 1958. With its fast-growing research departments and high emphasis on comprehensive learning, the school is able to stay up to date on many cutting edge technologies of communication, leadership, and curriculum.

Estimated Program Tuition: $8,232