Top Online MBA Programs in Minnesota

With a state population of over 5.5 million, the state of Minnesota covers over 85,000 square miles and is listed as the 12^th largest state in the United States. Major industries in the state include farming and the mining of iron ore. Known as both the Gopher State and the North Star State, Minnesota gets its name from the Dakota Sioux Indian word meaning “cloudy water” or “sky water” in reference to the state’s many rivers. Besides its natural beauty, the state offers a rich cultural experience in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and state capital Saint Paul. In this region visitors to Minnesota will find many cultural landmarks, restaurants, shopping, and world-class museums. Minnesota also features some of the nation’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs. Many of the top-ranking online graduate degrees been designed at the business schools of the state’s most highly-respected universities.

While the MBA has certainly become the gold standard for business and management education, the online MBA is a logical choice for today’s business professional. While graduate students were once forced to move across the country in order to find the right program, today’s graduate students can enjoy the same rigorous curriculum offered in the classroom from the comfort of their own homes. Online MBAs like the ones in this ranking have been designed with flexibility and convenience in mind. While some programs may consist of 42 or more credit hours, many are offered as 30 or 36-credit hour degrees. Students looking for an accelerated pace can finish all requirements for their degree in a year or less while those that have more demanding work or personal schedules may take up to five or six years to graduate.

Knowing that there are more options today than ever before, we have compiled the top 10 online Master’s of Business Administration programs offered in the state of Minnesota. While some of these programs are rated as expensive, others are offered with a total tuition amount of less than $14,999. Let this ranking of the best online MBA programs in Minnesota help guide you in the important decision of finding an online degree that will serve you well.

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 Minnesota can be found at the end of the ranking.

#1 University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Photo creditThe Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota features the state’s best online Master’s of Business Administration. This program is classified as expensive in affordability with a total tuition price between $50,000 and $99,999. U.S. News reports that graduate students from the Carlson School of Management have an average base salary of a solid $106,129, reflecting the potential for a healthy return on the investment of education. The business school receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This 52-credit hour program can be completed in as few as 2.5 years by taking courses overran eight-semester period. Although the majority of courses are delivered online, there are two on campus experiences which students choose from between an orientation, a condensed format course, evening or weekend courses, a global program experience, and “career workshops, professional conferences, case competitions, and other student development events.” Core courses within this program include Financial Accounting, Strategic Management, Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Marketing Management, Leading Others, Managerial Accounting, Data Analysis for Managers, IT Solutions, and Business Ethics.

Home of the Golden Gophers who wear the school colors of maroon and gold, the athletic department at the University of Minnesota supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as powerhouse members of the Big Ten Conference. The sports program at the school has won more than 20 national championships since its inception. The university is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The university delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 51,579 students currently enrolled there. UMN was founded in 1851 and today stands as the state’s public flagship university holding a land grant and space grant. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and features Commune vinculum omnibus artibus “A common bond for all the arts” as its official school motto.

Affordability Score: Expensive
OMBAT Ranking Score: 100.00

#2 Minnesota State University Moorhead Paseka School of Business – Moorhead, Minnesota

Photo creditMinnesota State University Moorhead offers one of the state’s best online Master’s of Business Administration degrees with a general or Healthcare Management emphasis at the Paseka School of Business. This 37-credit hour program is classified as very affordable with a total tuition price of less than $14,999. The Paseka School 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 incredible distance degree “is a professional program providing you the knowledge necessary to become a more effective leader who embraces a high-level worldview of organizations and a strategic thinker who embodies an analytical approach to business. Courses in finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, investments, project management and more, will increase your operational understanding of the functional areas of business, give you the tools to apply critical thinking skills to managerial decisions, and provide a framework for strategic planning that applies to all areas of business.” The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 156^th best online MBA in the nation. Divided between 22 core credits and 15 program credits, the core courses within this program include Marketing Management, Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, and Strategic Management.

Established in 1887, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Moorhead, Minnesota. Operating under the school motto of “Sacrifice, Service, Loyalty,” the university was originally founded as Moorhead Normal School through the efforts of the Minnesota State Legislature and State Senator Solomon Comstock. The school would later become Moorhead State Teachers College before achieving its university status in 1975. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, the university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 5,923 currently enrolled there. Home of the Dragons, the athletic department at Minnesota State University Moorhead supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The school’s official colors are red, white, and grey.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 92.17

#3 Concordia University, St. Paul College of Business & Technology – Saint Paul, Minnesota

Photo creditAn online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management or delivered as a general MBA is offered at the College of Business & Technology at Concordia University, St. Paul. The business school has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as offering the 143^rd best online MBA in the nation. This 42-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. Students interested in a 100% online MBA will be pleased to know this program meets that criteria. The College of Business & Technology also features a Mentor and MAP Program where “each MBA student has a designated MBA faculty mentor to support and guide them through graduate school. Your faculty mentor will act as a personal business coach and help you develop networking strategies, polish interpersonal skills and enhance your resume.” Coursework can also be taken on campus allowing students to meet in a classroom setting during evenings. Courses within this program include Organizational Leadership and Development, Integrated Marketing Communication, Managerial Research Methods and Design, Global Economics, Applied Business Ethics, Strategic Human Resource Management, Managerial Finance and Accounting, Legal Environment for Managers, Operations and Technology Management, and Tools for Managerial Decision Making.

Concordia University, St. Paul was established in 1893. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, the university exists today as a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Delivering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, Concordia oversees a student body of 4,582. Home of the Golden Bears, the official school colors of the university are blue and gold. The athletic department at the university consists of six men’s and ten women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 78.23

#4 St. Cloud State University Herberger Business School – Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Photo creditThe Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University features one of Minnesota’s best online Master’s of Business Administration degrees. This 36-credit hour program is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $29,999. The business school receives its stellar business accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This program “targets working professionals with three years to five years of professional work experience who are looking for a high-quality, forward-thinking MBA program that will fit with their schedule. Available anytime, anywhere with an Internet connection, the 100 percent online program is a part-time, cohort program in which small classes of students complete their degrees together.” The school highlights its cohort structure as a way for students to build lasting bonds with fellow students and as a way to increase a student’s network which will serve her well into her career as a business leader. Courses within this program include MBA Ignite, Organizational Behavior, Global Legal and Ethical Environment of Business, Accounting for Mangers, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Information Systems Strategy and Management, Operations Management, and Marketing Management. Admission requirements include an undergraduate degree with GPA of at least 2.75, a GMAT of at least 470, and a resume.

Home of the Huskies who wear the school colors of Spirit red, black and white, the athletic department at St. Cloud State University supports 19 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SCSU is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 4,582 students currently enrolled there. St. Cloud State was established in 1869 as the Third State Normal School. Originally based in just one building, the first floor consisted of classrooms, the second floor was the model school, and the third floor was the women’s dormitory. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and features “Excellence and Opportunity” as its official school motto.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 77.46

#5 Walden University School of Management – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Photo creditWalden University’s School of Management features one of Minnesota’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Accounting, Corporate Finance, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, General, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership, Marketing, Project Management, Self-Designed, and Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Courses for this degree are delivered in sequence utilizing a schedule consisting of 16-week semesters made up of two consecutive eight-week long courses. This 30-credit hour degree is classified as average in affordability with a total tuition price between $20,000 and $39,999. The School of Management receives its excellent business accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Learning outcomes for this degree include a graduate’s being able to “evaluate the environment in which businesses operate with awareness of complexities, interdependencies, risks, consequences, and diverse stakeholder perspectives, make decisions within a business context that are effective, well-reasoned, ethical, and socially responsible, and formulate statements of business problems or opportunities to facilitate insightful dialogue and critical thinking.” While the General MBA consists of 30-credit hours, students interested in any of the 10 specializations offered can choose to add another nine credit hours to the program in that specific field. Core courses within this degree include Business Essentials, Dynamic Leadership, Managing People and Promoting Collaboration, Fostering a Culture of Innovation, and Managing Business Information Systems.

Established in 1970 by Bernie and Rita Turner, Walden University is a four-year, private for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Turners began offering classes in Naples, Florida, mostly focusing on educating school administrators. Operating under the school motto of “A higher degree. A higher purpose,” the university was licensed I 1979 by the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board to grant E.Ds. and PhDs three years before moving to Minnesota. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, the university delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 52,565 currently enrolled there. Walden University is one of 80 universities across the globe managed or owned by Laureate Education Inc.

Affordability Score: Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 72.80

#6 Southwest Minnesota State University School of Business and Public Affairs – Marshall, Minnesota

Photo creditThe School of Business and Public Affairs at Southwest Minnesota State University delivers one of the state’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with general, Leadership, and Marketing concentrations. This 36-credit hour program is classified as very affordable with a total tuition price of less than $14,999. Core courses within this program include Strategic Marketing Management, Management of Production and Operation, International Business and Leadership, Managerial Economics, Accounting for Managers, Legal Environment of Management, Financial Analysis, and Strategic Management and Policy. Candidates interested in this program are encouraged to complete an online application and submit a $30 non-refundable application fee, official transcripts from an accredited college or university, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement of qualifications and career objectives into the admission office in order to begin the acceptance process. This degree has been designed to “provide the leaders of tomorrow with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in a global business economy. The program emphasizes critical and strategic thinking, developing managerial skills, real-world applications, ethics, and leadership taught in a technologically-advanced, active learning environment.”

Home of the Mustangs who wear the school colors of brown and gold, the athletic department at California Baptist University supports seven men’s and seven women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU is a four-year, public institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Marshall, Minnesota. The university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, and graduate levels to the 7,495 students currently enrolled there. Southwest Minnesota State was founded in 1964 as Southwest Minnesota State College. The university consist of the two colleges, the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, and the College of Business, Education, and Professional Studies. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and features “Where You Belong” as its official school motto.

Affordability Score: Very Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 72.59

#7 Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Business Department – Winona, Minnesota

Photo creditSaint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers one of Minnesota’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Data Analytics, Social Media Management and Marketing, Sustainability and Environmental Management, and delivered as a general MBA at the Business Department. This 30-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. This degree “offers affordable paths to advanced skills in general business or with specialization in data analytics, social media management and marketing, or sustainability and environmental management. Our instructor-led courses provide a deeper understanding of today’s business issues and help to develop skills you can immediately apply to your career goals.” Courses within this program include Quantitative Decision Making, Managerial Economics, International Operations Management, Special Topics, Managerial Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Strategic Management Capstone (Domestic or International). The international capstone experience linked to this degree offers students the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, Florence, Milan, Paris or Rome and includes “coordinated business visits, cultural mentoring on local business practices and cross-cultural communications, hotel accommodations for five nights, two cultural activities/excursions, a six-day public transportation pass, and support services from SAI Programs.”

Established in 1912, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in Winona, Minnesota. Operating under the school motto of Virtus et Scientia (Virtue and Knowledge), the university was originally founded as Saint Mary’s College, an all-male college maintained by the Winona Diocese. Over the years the school grew in size and offered more programs and degrees until 1995 when Saint Mary’s achieved its university status. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, the university delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 5,640 currently enrolled there. Home of the Cardinals, the men’s and women’s varsity sports teams at SMU compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 70.24

#8 College of St. Scholastica School of Health Sciences and the School of Business and Technology – Duluth, Minnesota

Photo creditOne of Minnesota’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with a concentration in Rural Healthcare is delivered by the School of Health Sciences and the School of Business and Technology at the College of St. Scholastica. This 36-credit hour program is classified as affordable with a total tuition price between $15,000 and $19,999. This program has been designed “for healthcare professionals at all levels who serve rural communities and recognize the need to manage the emerging challenges and changes in the health care system. As administrators rise from healthcare professions such as medicine, nursing, pharmacists and physical and occupational therapy into leadership positions within business and management, there is an entirely new set of challenges to face.” Students taking coursework part time can expect to graduate in just two ears taking one course per term. Required courses within this program include Economics for Decision Making, Health Care Administration, Health Care Finance, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Development, Human Resource Management, Managerial Applications of Tec, and Monitoring and Evaluating Health Programs.

The College of St. Scholastica was established in 1912 as a two-year junior college offering just over 50 courses within eight departments. The initial enrollment at the school was six students. In just 12 years the school became a four-year liberal arts institute with an enrollment of 68 students. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, the college exists today as a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus in Duluth, Minnesota. Delivering degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, CSS oversees a student body of 4,351. Operating under the school moto of Omnes Semitae Eius Pacificae (All her paths are peace), the school’s official colors are Royal blue and gold.

Affordability Score: Affordable
OMBAT Ranking Score: 70.13

#9 Capella University School of Business & Technology – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Photo creditThe School of Business at Capella University features one of Minnesota’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs with concentrations in Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, Project Management, and a self-designed option. This 45-credit hour program is classified as above average in affordability with a total tuition price between $30,000 and $49,999. The School of Business & Technology receives its excellent business accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Benefits of this program include two learning formats for online coursework including GuidedPath and FlexPath. GuidedPath is structured to include pre-set deadlines for project completion and allows students the opportunity to design coursework habits based on personal schedules. The FlexPath program also students to self-pace their entire education experience and save on tuition fees through a faster pace of course completion. This online MBA consists of seven core courses, three electives, and a capstone experience. Courses within this program include MBA Leadership, Business Strategy, Applied Business Analytics, Accounting Methods for Leaders, Marketing Management, Applied Managerial Finance, and Operations Management for Leaders.

Featuring the school colors of red and black, Capella University is a four-year, private for-profit institution of higher learning with a campus located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The university delivers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 37,569 students currently enrolled there. Capella was established in 1993 by Harold Abel and Stephen Shank and originally known as the Graduate School of America. In just four years the school would receive its regional accreditation and in 1999 the school was renamed Capella University. Accolades of the school include its receiving the CHEA Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes by The Council for Higher Education Accreditation in 2010.

Affordability Score: Above Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 69.67

#10 Bethel University Graduate School – Saint Paul, Minnesota

Photo creditBethel University’s Graduate School features one of Minnesota’s best online Master’s of Business Administrations with concentrations in Finance, Management, and Global Management. This 42-credit hour program is classified as above average in affordability with a total tuition price between $30,000 and $49,999. The business school offers students the opportunity to take classes 10% online, in the classroom during the evening, or as a combination of the two. Courses for this degree start every six weeks so students can enjoy the convenience of beginning coursework at a schedule that works well with their professional and personal time tables. Core courses within this program include Data Analysis and Decision Making, Managerial Accounting, Managerial Finance, Marketing Management, Business Strategy, Worldview, Ethics, and Leadership, Leading Change in a Changing World, and Leadership Formation and Strategic Talent Management. Students in this online MBA program can also enjoy access to Bethel’s business alumni group, BethelBiz, and have the chance to attend six personal coaching sessions which are designed to help students “create a strategy for your career and personal growth, match your strengths to your career path, learn to lead from your values, and get advice on career issues you face.” 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 1871 as a seminary for Swedish immigrants, today’s Bethel University is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning with a main campus located in San Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school’s founder, John Alexis Edgren began offering classes in the basement of Chicago’s First Swedish Baptist Church. Within 50 years, the school would gain support from the Baptist General Conference and over the next 100 years would go through several name changes. Bethel achieved its university status in 2004. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission the university delivers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the student body of 4,016 currently enrolled there. Home of the Royals and the mascot, Roy the Lion, the athletic department at Bethel supports men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level as members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The school’s official colors are Navy blue and Vegas gold.

Affordability Score: Above Average
OMBAT Ranking Score: 65.49

Methodology

To find the top Online MBA programs in Minnesota, a list of 480 online MBA programs was collected, and each program was evaluated first for a location in the state of Minnesota, 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 on each program or school website. The base tuition was calculated for the whole program, 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 education, 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 program in this 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 accreditations affect an MBA’s brand and prestige, which can thus affect a graduate’s competitive advantage in the job market. 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 ranking because it allows prospective students to explore the potential affects 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. Scores were then averaged and 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 Minnesota.