An Online MBA in Managerial Economics is quickly becoming the standard for students who have a clear and specific direction for their careers as well as those who want to keep their options open for future positions in business leadership. This well-rounded degree focuses primarily on the areas of developing a professional’s ability within teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and networking. Anywhere you look in business, managers are often approached by employees and organizations for ways to make a business productive and efficient. Managers who display good communication skills and the ability to get the most out of an organization’s staff and resources are always in high demand. Those who can grasp the intricacies of local economies, global markets, micro- and macroeconomics can expect to see their careers take off and reach satisfying heights.
One benefit to our current time in business and technology is that some of the top business schools in the nation now deliver high-quality online MBA in Managerial Economics programs. Featuring curriculums designed by top-tier educational staff, these programs deliver a balance between trusted business theory and real-world application. Many of these programs are delivered as 100% online experiences while some offer great opportunities for cohort learning and networking through a hybrid experience. While pursuing a top-shelf MBA used to mean sacrificing an established career and having to relocate to a different region or state, these programs offer extreme convenience and flexibility, allowing students to maintain their positions in corporate America and take classes during evenings and weekends. Graduate students looking for an accelerated experience can find a program which allows for completion of all coursework in as few as 12 months.
One of the most attractive reasons to pursue an online MBA in Managerial Economics is the financial benefit graduates experience. While some business schools deliver these distance-learning degrees at a very affordable tuition rate, the increase in salary associated with attaining an MBA has been a proven commodity. Beyond this, many business schools offer attractive incentives to students including grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts based on factors like a student’s previous academic and professional experience. For these reasons, we have assembled a comprehensive ranking of the very best online MBA in Managerial Economics programs currently available at the very best business schools in the country.
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 in Managerial Economics can be found at the end of the ranking.
#1 Wright State University Raj Soin College of Business – Dayton, Ohio
Home of the Raiders, Wright State University got its start in 1964 as a small, one-building branch campus organized through an agreement between Ohio State University and Miami University. The property the campus was built on in Dayton, Ohio was excess acreage of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, owned by the U.S. Air Force and donated for the school to be developed. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, Wright State is named after famous aviators Orville and Wilbur Wright, who lived in Dayton. This four-year, public school currently offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 16,655 students enrolled there. Wearing the official school colors of green and gold, the sports teams at Wright State University compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Horizon League.
Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 100.00
#2 Mercer University Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics – Macon, Georgia
Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Mercer University is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus situated in Macon, Georgia. Featuring a student body of 8,615, the university offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Mercer currently exists as the oldest private university in the state of Georgia and is home of the Bears. The athletic department at the school supports 18 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Southern Conference. The university was established in 1833 as a boys’ prep school in Penfield, Georgia. Originally founded with an affiliation with the Georgia Baptist Convention, the school cut ties and became independent in 2006. Mercer’s official school colors are black and orange.
Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 95.94
#3 Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Home of the Tartans, Carnegie Mellon University got its start in 1900 as the Carnegie Technical School and was founded by Andrew Carnegie. The hope was to provide a training school for the children of Pittsburgh residents who worked in the mills. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Carnegie Mellon is a four-year, private not-for-profit university which currently offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 13,258 students enrolled there. Wearing the official school colors of cardinal, black, grey, and white, the men’s and women’s varsity sports teams at CMU compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the University Athletic Association.
Affordability Score: Very Expensive
OMBAT Ranking Score: 95.32
#4 Southern Illinois University Carbondale College of Business – Carbondale, Illinois
Located in Carbondale, Illinois, Southern Illinois University Carbondale was established in 1869 as the Southern Illinois Normal School and featured a student enrollment of 53 taught by a staff of eight. Founded as the second normal school in the state, the university saw steady and impressive growth after World War II until today. SIU Carbondale receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. This four-year, public university’s school motto is “Deo Volente” (God Willing). The athletic department at Southern Illinois University Carbondale supports 16 varsity men’s women’s sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Home of the Salukis, the university’s official colors are maroon and white.
Affordability Score: Above Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 92.17
#5 Regent University School of Business & Leadership – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Home of the Royals, Regent University was established as the Christian Broadcasting Network University by CBN founder and university chancellor, Pat Robertson in 1977. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Regent features the official school motto of “Christian Leadership to Change the World.” This four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning currently offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 8,389 students enrolled there. Wearing the official school colors of blue and green, the men’s and women’s varsity sports teams at the university compete within the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 90.32
#6 Bellevue University College of Business – Bellevue, Nebraska
Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, Bellevue University is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning located in Bellevue, Nebraska. Featuring a student body of 8,896, the university offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Bellevue is home of the Bruins and supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams. The school competes at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics level as a member of the North Star Athletic Association and Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference. Bellevue University was established in 1966 as Bellevue College with the intent to educate working adults in the region. In the 90’s the school began offering graduate degrees and was awarded its university status.
Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 86.55
#7 Southern New Hampshire University School of Business – Manchester, New Hampshire
Established in 1932 by Harry and Gertrude Shapiro, Southern New Hampshire University was first founded with the intent to train young business leaders in New Hampshire. Operating under the original name of New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science, the school moved from downtown Manchester to 300 acres along the Merrimack River in 1971. Receiving its university status in 2001, the school exists today as a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning which offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels to the 73,177 students attending classes there both on campus and through online instruction. Receiving its regional accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education, SNHU is home of the Penmen and features the official school colors of blue and gold.
Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 86.03
#8 University of Houston-Victoria School of Business Administration – Victoria, Texas
Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the University of Houston-Victoria is a four-year, public institution of higher learning located near Houston, Texas, in the city of Victoria. Featuring a student body of 4,384, the university offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. UHV is home of the Jaguars and supports men’s varsity baseball, golf, and soccer teams and women’s golf, soccer, and softball. The school competes at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division I level as a member of the Red River Athletic Department. The University of Houston-Victoria was established in 1973 after years of work by the local community to bring a center for higher learning to the city Victoria. The school has grown steadily since its inception; the first residence hall was constructed on the campus in 2010.
Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 82.82
#9 North Park University School of Business and Nonprofit Management – Chicago, Illinois
Located in north Chicago, Illinois, North Park University was founded in 1891 by what is now known as the Covenant denomination which got its start by Swedish immigrants in the late 19th century. Awarded its university status in 1997, the school continues to be associated with the Evangelical Covenant Church and today receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. This four-year, private not-for-profit university’s school motto is “Preparing Students for Lives of Significance and Service.” The athletic department at North Park supports seven men’s varsity sports teams and eight women varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Home of the Vikings, the university’s official colors are blue and yellow.
Affordability Score: Above Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 71.55
#10 Gardner Webb University Graduate School of Business – Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Operating under the official school motto of “Pro Deo et Humanitate” (For God and Humanity), Gardner-Webb University was first established as Boiling Springs High School through an agreement between the Kings Mountain Baptist Association and the Sandy Run Baptist Association. The campus was planted just between the two counties that both associations resided in. The school became Boiling Spring Junior College in 1928 and would change its name to honor Governor O. Max Gardner and his wife Fay Webb-Gardner in 1942. GWU was awarded its university status in 1993, and today exists as a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning offering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 3,915 students enrolled there. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the school is home to the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Wearing the official school colors of scarlet and black, the sports teams at Gardner-Webb University compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Big South Conference.
Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 68.46
For more information, check out our Guide to Online MBAs in Managerial Economics.
Also, check out our Frequently Asked Questions about Managerial Economics:
Is Managerial Economics important for business managers?
What does an online MBA in Managerial Economics entail?
What is Managerial Economics?
Methodology
A list of almost 470 online and hybrid MBA programs was evaluated first for Managerial Economics focused curriculum, and then ranked on the following four factors:
Estimated Tuition Cost (25%): Each program is evaluated on the estimated total base tuition cost. All tuition data was gathered from the most recent information given on each specific online MBA program or school website. The data was calculated for the entirety of the degree, but does not included fees, books, or room and board; with the exception of programs that use all-inclusive figures. For schools that offer a lower in-state tuition cost, the in-state pricing was used in order to show the best possible Return on Investment. The final OMBAT ranking score is based 25% on this calculated figure.
Using the base tuition data, each program was then 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 is an important factor in business education. Accreditations help prospective students identify which school has gone to extensive measures to reach high national and global standards in its research and 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.
Additionally, business school accreditations affect an MBA’s brand and prestige, which affect a student’s competitive advantage in the job market. Each school was also evaluated based on if they hold an business accreditation from the IACBE, ACBSP, or AACSB. AACSB is widely regarded as the most prestigious level of business accreditation, and schools that hold this accreditation are given the highest marks. The final ranking score is based 25% on this calculated figure.
PayScale Early Career Salary (25%): The salary data is highlighted in this top online MBA ranking because it is important for prospective students to understand the affect a degree can have on a professional’s salary, and the possible financial ROI from a particular online MBA program. This financial data is collected from the 2016-17 PayScale College Salary Report. The early-career salary data reports the median salary for recent alumni, from each school’s master’s or MBA program, that have 0-5 years of experience. Programs without a recorded early-career salary from PayScale was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data. The final ranking score is base 25% on this calculated figure.
Prestige (25%): The prestige for each program was calculated by evaluating rankings 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 in Managerial Economics was evaluated on how many rankings included their program. The final ranking score is based 25% on this calculated figure.
All of the data for each four factors 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, early-career salary, and prestige, this ranking helps prospective students find the highest quality online MBA program available in the area of Managerial Economics.