While many online Master’s of Business Administration programs can offer some of the characteristics distance learners are most looking for in a degree, few have enough attributes across the board to be true standouts. Perhaps one specialized program a business school offers has been recognized for delivering a high quality and robust curriculum, but a lack of consistency between concentrations can sometimes be detrimental to a business school’s over all reputation. A program’s tuition rates can look attractive at first glance but if the graduates of that particular school do not generally fair well among salary averages, it may not have been the best option for a return on the investment.
With these characteristics in mind, we have put together a comprehensive ranking of the very best Online MBAs that the top business schools in the nation offer. By taking a closer look at each business school and judging components like what specific specializations are included in these degrees, the cost and lengths of the programs, accreditations, pay scale salary reports, and how these programs performed within national and globally-trusted ranking entities, we have been able to process and present online Master’s of Business Administration programs worth considering. With students’ needs often being as diverse as the types of degrees offered, you will find programs that can be completed in as few as 12 months or as many as three years on average, there is coursework that is presented as a 100% online format and some that requires several on-campus short-term residencies throughout the period of study, and while some business schools are unranked by trusted entities like the Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report, some of the programs listed here have been awarded as the top online MBAs on the planet by Quacquarelli Symonds and The Financial Times.
Let this ranking help you find the highest quality Online MBA program that will equip you for future success in business and leadership!
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 the nation can be found at the end of the ranking.
#50 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics – Whitewater, Wisconsin
 An Online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Management, Supply Chain and Operations Management, Human Resources, Information Technology Management, International Business, Project Management, or a customized emphasis is offered at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics. Distance learners seeking a highly-accredited online program will want to consider this degree that is offered at $22,947 in total tuition fees. |
Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a four-year public institution of higher learning which offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level to the 12,657 students currently enrolled there. Founded in 1868 as Whitewater Normal School, the school was originally dedicated to training educators for careers as teachers in Wisconsin. UW-Whitewater became part of the University of Wisconsin System in 1971 when the University of Wisconsin merged with Wisconsin State University. Situated on 400 acres in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the school houses over 170 student clubs and organizations. Home of the Warhawks and wearing the official school colors of purple and white, the athletic department at UW-Whitewater competes at the NCAA Division III level within the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $22,947
#49 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide College of Business – Daytona Beach, Florida
 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s College of Business features a Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting, Finance, Leadership, Information Technology, Marketing, International Business, and Public Administration. This 33-credit hour program features an attractive total tuition fee of just $21,120 and is backed by the College of Business’ being named the 100th best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. |
Featuring the simple motto of “Real Education. Above all.,” Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a four-year private, not-for-profit university which offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 14,221 students currently enrolled there. The school was founded in 1926 just a year after Talton Embry and John Riddle formed a partnership and established the Embry-Riddle Company based in Cincinnati, Ohio at Lunken Airport. In 1939, the school was moved to Miami and trained many WWII pilots under the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Today, Embry-Riddle’s main campus is situated in Daytona Beach, Florida where it houses the second-largest fleet of aircraft in the country at 67 planes. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Estimated Program Tuition: $21,120
#48 Troy University Sorrell College of Business – Troy, Alabama
 An online Master’s of Business Administration in General Management is offered at the Sorrell College of Business at Troy University. Regarded as one of the most affordable online MBAs in the country, this 31-hour program features a total tuition fee of just $12,927. |
Home of the Trojans and wearing the official school colors of cardinal, silver, and black, the athletic department at Troy University supports both men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Sun Belt Conference. The football team at Troy has experienced some success through the years including three national championships in 1968, 1984, and 1987. With a main campus in Troy, Alabama, the school exists as a four-year, public university which offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level to the 17,855 students currently enrolled there. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Troy University got its start in 1887 as a normal school focused on educating public school teachers.
Estimated Program Tuition: $12,927
#47 Missouri University of Science & Technology College of Arts, Sciences, and Business – Rolla, Missouri
 The College of Arts, Sciences, and Business at Missouri University of Science & Technology features an online Master’s of Business Administration with various graduate certificates and specializations. U.S. News & World report has recently recognized the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business as the 91st best in the nation among business schools. |
Missouri University of Science & Technology was founded in 1870 as the very first technological school west of the Mississippi River and originally named the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. Currently, this four-year, public and space grant university, referred to by some as Missouri S&T, offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels to the student body of 8,886 on-campus in Rolla, Missouri and online through distance learning. The university receives its regional accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.
Estimated Program Tuition: $43,200
#46 East Carolina University College of Business – Greenville, North Carolina
 The College of Business at East Carolina University features an online Master’s of Business Administration with certificates in Business Analytics, Finance, Health Care Management, Hospitality Management, International Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Project Management, Security Studies, and Supply Chain Management. Qualifying distance learners can complete all coursework for this degree by taking only 33-credit hours priced at $1,122 for a total tuition rate of $12,350. |
Originally named the East Carolina Teachers Training School and founded in 1907, East Carolina University’s goal was from the onset was to educate both men and women yet it would be 1932 before there was a male graduate of the school. Today, ECU exists as a four-year public university granting degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 28,962 students currently enrolled there. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, East Carolina maintains a 530-acre urban residential campus near downtown Greenville, North Carolina. The school’s athletic program supports men’s and women’s varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the American Athletic Conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $12,350
#45 Kettering University School of Management – Flint, Michigan
 Kettering University offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a specialization in Global Leadership, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or Healthcare Management at its School of Management. Distance learners looking for a sound return on the investment of education will be impressed with an average early career salary of $76,600 reported by some students upon graduating from the School of Management. |
Kettering University was originally established as the School of Automotive Trades in 1919. Later acquired by General Motors in 1926, the school was used to train the automaker’s engineers until 1982 when the school and GM parted ways. The school received a name change in 1998 to honor the memory of inventor and automotive engineering legend, Charles Kettering. Today the school, which receives it regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, exists as a four-year private, not-for-profit university maintaining a main campus in Flint, Michigan. The school currently oversees 2,326 students pursuing degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Home of the Bulldogs, the official school colors of Kettering are gold and blue. Payscale.com recently recognized the university as the 12th-best return on investment in the nation.
Estimated Program Tuition: $42,720
#44 University of Michigan, Dearborn College of Business – Dearborn, Michigan
 An online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration option of Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management Information Systems, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management is offered at the College of Business at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. The College of Business, which receives its stellar business accreditation through the AACSB, has been recognized as the 36th best online MBA in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. |
Featuring the motto of “Arts, Knowledge, Truth,” the University of Michigan, Dearborn is a four-year, public institution of higher learning which offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 9,131 students currently enrolled there. Founded in 1959, the school got its start after a report by Archie Pearson of the Ford Motor Company revealed the company would soon lack competently trained engineers and administrators unless intervention took place. A work student program was instituted shortly thereafter between the automaker and the University of Michigan in order to help meet the need. Home of the Wolverines, the athletic department at UM-D supports five men’s varsity teams and five women’s varsity teams as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Estimated Program Tuition: $31,788
#43 University of North Dakota College of Business and Public Administration – Grand Forks, North Dakota
 The College of Business and Public Administration at the University of North Dakota offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a general focus or a concentration in International Business. While this 43-credit hour program features an attractive total tuition rate of just $17,635, some graduates of the business school have reported an average early career salary of $56,400 revealing a healthy return on the investment of education. |
Founded in 1883, The University of North Dakota predates the state itself being established by six years. From its meager beginnings of classes held in Old Main on just a few acres located two miles from downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota, UND today exists as a four-year public institution of higher learning which offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 14,648 students currently enrolled there. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, the school’s nickname is the Fighting Hawks and the official colors are green and white. The athletic department at the University of North Dakota supports both men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Big Sky Conference. One interesting feature of the school’s campus is that it houses the North Dakota Museum of Art.
Estimated Program Tuition: $17,635
#42 Wright State University Raj Soin College of Business – Dayton, Ohio
 Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business features an online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Economics, Finance, Healthcare Management, International Business, Interdisciplinary Business, Investments, Management, Innovation and Change, Marketing, New Venture Creation, or Project Management. This 33-credit hour online degree is priced at $640 per hour making the total cost of tuition an accessible $19,200. |
With a main campus in Fairborn, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, Wright State University is named after pioneering aviators Orville and Wilbur Wright, who lived in Dayton. The school opened its doors in 1964 as a branch of Ohio State University and Miami University. Today, Wright State exists as a four-year public university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 16,655 students currently enrolled there. Receiving its regional accreditation thorough the Higher Learning Commission, the school’s official school colors are green and gold while the school’s nickname is the Raiders. The athletic department at Wright State University consists of 15 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Horizon League.
Estimated Program Tuition: $19,200
#41 Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management – Malibu, California
 Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management offers a general management online MBA with optional concentrations in Finance, Leadership and Managing Organizational Change, and Marketing. This 52-unit MBA is bolstered by the Graziadio School of Business and Management’s recently being named as offering the 18th best online MBA in the U.S. by the Princeton Review and the 21st among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. |
Though established in 1937, the main campus of Pepperdine University, nestled along ridges in Malibu, California, was planned and mostly completed by 1973. Located just next to the Pacific Coast Highway, the building at Pepperdine have a Mediterranean Revival Style flavor appropriate for the scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, Long Beach, Catalina Island, and Palos Verdes Peninsula. Other centers for learning the university maintains are in west Los Angeles, Encino, Irvine, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. This four-year private, not-for-profit institution of higher education currently offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 7,826 students currently enrolled there. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission.
Estimated Program Tuition: $89,180
#40 Baylor University Hankamer School of Business – Waco, Texas
 Baylor University in Waco, Texas features a top-notch online MBA with numerous concentration tracks at its Hankamer School of Business. This MBA shine for its high early-career salary, giving students a great ROI. |
Baylor University is a four-year, private not-for-profit institution of higher learning located in Waco, Texas and offering degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 16,959 students currently enrolled there. Baylor receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Though established in 1845, the school got its start four years earlier when 35 members of the Union Baptist Association voted to establish a Baptist university in Texas. The vote was spearheaded by Judge R.E.B. Baylor and Reverend William Milton Tryon. In its first year of existence, students were required to attend chapel as part of their education – a tradition that is still in practice today. Baylor University was the first university in the state of Texas and the second university west of the Mississippi River to teach law.
Estimated Program Tuition: $49,296
#39 Old Dominion University Strome College of Business – Norfolk, Virginia
 An online Master’s of Business Administration with certificates in Modeling, Simulation and Visualization; Maritime, Ports and Logistics Management; Public Procurement and Contract Management; or Business Analytics and Big Data is offered at the Strome College of Business at Old Dominion University. The business school, which has enjoyed its excellent accreditation through the AACSB since 1964, has recently been recognized as the 55th best online MBA in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. |
Old Dominion University is a four-year, public university which features a main campus in Norfolk, Virginia and two satellite centers for learning in the Hampton Roads area. The school currently oversees 24,322 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, ODU. With a motto of “Idea Fusion”, the school was established in 1930 and was primarily focused on educating engineers and teachers. The schools within Old Dominion include the College of Arts and Letters, the Strome College of Business, the Darden College of Education, the Batten College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Health Sciences and the College of Sciences. Home of the Monarchs, the athletic department at ODU supports 18 varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level.
Estimated Program Tuition: $19,840
#38 California State University, Fresno Craig School of Business – Fresno, California
 The Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno offers one of the nation’s best general online Master’s of Business Administration programs. Qualifying distance learners can complete all coursework for this degree with as few as 33-credit hours taken and at a rate of just $24,984 in tuition. |
Commonly known as Fresno State, California State University, Fresno is one of 23 schools within the California State University System. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission, this four-year, public university currently oversees 24,405 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The campus of the school, which features a planetarium, vineyards, and a commercial winery, sits less than 60 miles away from the Yosemite National Park entrance at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Originally established as the Fresno State Normal School in 1911, the school was first designed to train educators within the California public school system.o
Estimated Program Tuition: $24,984
#37 Saint Joseph’s University Erivan K. Haub School of Business – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 Saint Joseph’s University’s Erivan K. Haub School of Business offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with specialization choices in Business Intelligence, Finance, International Business, Leading, Managing Human Capital, or Marketing. Students with the proper academic background can waive up to eight Foundation courses and complete all coursework for this program by taking only 33-credit hours. |
Home of the Hawks, the athletic department at Saint Joseph’s University is comprised of nine men’s varsity teams and nine women’s varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Atlantic-10 Conference and the Philadelphia Big 5 which includes rivals Temple University, Villanova University, LaSalle University, and the University of Pennsylvania. The school’s official colors are crimson and grey. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joes’ is well-known as the seventh-oldest Jesuit University in the nation. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. With a campus situated in the Merion Station suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the 8,415 students currently enrolled at Saint Joseph’s have access to associate degrees, 60 bachelor’s majors, 53 master’s programs, and doctoral degrees.
Estimated Program Tuition: $33,759
#36 Central Michigan University College of Business Administration – Mount Pleasant, Michigan
 Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration features an online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in ERP Emphasis using SAP Software, Human Resource Management, Logistics Management, Marketing, or Value-Driven Organization. This 36-credit hour program is priced at $600 per credit hour making the total tuition price an accessible $21,600. |
Central Michigan University is a four-year, public research university located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Offering degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, the school currently oversees 25,986 students seeking degrees there. Founded in 1892, CMU is one of the state’s largest universities and a member of the top 100 largest schools in the nation. With a motto of “Wisdom, Virtue, Friendship”, the university offers over 200 academic fields of study and is best known for its audiology, entrepreneurship, journalism, music, psychology, and teacher education programs. Home of the Chippewas and wearing the official school colors of maroon and gold, the athletic department at CMU is comprised of men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Mid-American Conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $21,600
#35 Louisiana Tech University College of Business – Ruston, Louisiana
 An online General Master’s of Business Administration is featured at Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business. Priced at just $774 per three-hour course, the total cost of tuition for this degree is an impressive $7,740; making it one of the most affordable online degrees in the nation. |
Dating back to 1894 when it was known as the Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana, Louisiana Tech University was first established to educate students in the arts and sciences following the Second Industrial Revolution. The athletic department at Louisiana Tech is comprised of seven men’s varsity teams and nine women’s varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of Conference USA. Most notable at the school is the Bulldogs football team and the Lady Techsters basketball team which has made it to the Final Four tournament 134 times and accrued three national championships in 1981, 1982, and 1988. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Tech exists today as a four-year public university in the city of Ruston, Louisiana where 12,672 students are currently seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Estimated Program Tuition: $7,740
#34 Lamar University College of Business – Beaumont, Texas
 Lamar University’s College of Business offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with concentration options in Criminal Justice Management, Healthcare Administration, Enterprise Resource Planning (tech), Management, or Construction Project Management. While the total tuition rate of this 36-credit hour program is just $13,092, some graduates of the College of Business have reported an early career salary of $59,900 revealing a strong return on the investment of education. |
Founded in 1923 as South Park Junior College, Lamar University has come a long way after its humble beginnings of offering classes on the third floor of South Park High School in Beaumont, Texas. The school merged with Port Arthur College in 1975 and became Lamar university-Port Arthur. Today, this four-year, public institution of higher learning offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 15,001 students currently enrolled there. Lamar University receives it regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Home of the Cardinals and Lady Cardinals, the athletic department at Lamar supports seven men’s varsity sports teams and eight women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Southland Conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $13,092
#33 James Madison University College of Business – Harrisonburg, Virginia
 Featuring specializations in both Executive Leadership and Information Security, an online MBA is offered at James Madison University’s College of Business. Distance learners will appreciate the College of Business’ being named the 10th best program in the nation by the Princeton Review. |
Established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1908, James Madison University got its start as an all-women’s college called the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg. Thirty years later the name was changed to James Madison College in honor of the fourth president of the United States, James Madison, whose Montpelier Estate was located in nearby Orange, Virginia. The school achieved its university status in 1976 and was renamed a final time. Today, the school exists as a four-year public university in Harrisonburg, Virginia that offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 21,270 students currently enrolled there. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Estimated Program Tuition: $37,800
#32 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a choice of concentrations including Corporate Finance, Entrepreneurship, Global Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Investment Management, Sustainable Enterprise, Management Consulting, Data Analytics and Decision Making. Regarded as offering the absolute best online MBA in the country by the Princeton Review, the Kenan-Flagler Business School has also recently been named the 4th best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. |
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. With a main campus in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, UNC is a four-year public research university, which currently maintains a student body of 29,468 members and offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. With a school motto of “Light and Liberty”, the school was chartered in 1789 and was the first public university in America to be chartered under the US Constitution. UNC is one of three universities in the nation to claim to be the oldest. Home of the NCAA Division I Tar-Heels, the sports teams at UNC wear the official school colors of Carolina blue and white.
Estimated Program Tuition: $114,078
#31 West Virginia University College of Business and Economics – Morgantown, West Virginia
 West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics offers an online hybrid Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Energy Finance, Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination, or Integrated Marketing Communications. This 48-credit hour program features an accessible tuition rate of $36,384 and has been named by Quacquarelli Symonds as the 34th best online MBA on the planet. |
West Virginia University is a four-year, public university with a main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. an enrollment of 28,488 The city of Morgantown has formed the reputation as one of the most desirable small towns in America to live in because of its active culture, historical traditions, and relatively close driving-distance to cities like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Washington D.C. Home of the Mountaineers, the school’s colors are blue and old gold. The men’s and women’s varsity teams at West Virginia compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Big 12 Conference. WVU was founded as a land-grant institution in 1867 and today receives its regional accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission. The university offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Estimated Program Tuition: $36,384
#30 University of Massachusetts, Lowell Robert J. Manning School of Business – Lowell, Massachusetts
 The Robert J. Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell features an online Master’s of Business Administration with the option of concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, and Marketing. Qualified students with the proper academic background can complete this 100% online MBA with as few as 30-credit hours taken. |
The University of Massachusetts, Lowell is a four-year, public research university currently offering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 17,849 students who attend. UMass Lowell features a total of 122 undergraduate programs, 43 master’s degrees, and 36 doctoral programs. Home of the River Hawks, the athletic department at the university is comprised of seven men’s varsity teams and eight women’s varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the America East Conference. The teams’ mascot, Rowdy the River Hawk is a nod to the university’s scenic surroundings along the Merrimack River in Lowell, Massachusetts. The school receives its regional accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
Estimated Program Tuition: $17,250
#29 Texas A&M University-Commerce College of Business – Commerce, Texas
 One of the nation’s best online Master’s of Business Administration programs is offered at the College of Business at Texas A&M University-Commerce. With a total tuition rate of just $12,380, this well-accredited program is one of the most affordable high-quality online degrees in the country. |
Home of the Lions and wearing the official school colors of blue and gold, the athletic department at Texas A&M University-Commerce consist of five men’s varsity sports teams and seven women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level as members of the Lone Star Conference. Originally named the East Texas Normal College, the university was first established in 1889 in Cooper Texas as a training school for public school teachers. The school was acquired by the state of Texas in 1917 and transformed into a public school. The university was renamed once more when it joined the Texas A&M University System in 1996. Today, this four-year public school oversees 13,514 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the school’s official motto is “Ceaseless Industry, Fearless Investigation, Unfettered Thought, Unselfish Service to Others.”
Estimated Program Tuition: $12,380
#28 Marist College School of Management – Poughkeepsie, New York
 The School of Management at Marist College features an online MBA with concentrations in Ethical Leadership, Financial Management, and Healthcare Administration. This 36-credit hour program features an accessible tuition rate of just $28,800 and a 100% online format. |
With a main campus situated on 180 acres along the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York, Marist College also maintains centers of learning in 26 countries and features a campus in Florence, Italy. The college is a four-year, private not-for profit institute of higher learning, which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to the 6,569 students currently enrolled there. Marist receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Besides being listed as one of the best colleges in the nation by ranking organizations like U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review, Marist was recently named by Kiplinger as one of the best values in private school education.
Estimated Program Tuition: $28,800
#27 Auburn University Raymond J. Harbert College of Business – Auburn, Alabama
 Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business features a general online Master’s of Business Administration with dual graduate degree options in MSBA-Finance, Management Information Systems, and Industrial and Systems Engineering. While this 39-credit hour program is only available to students living in The United States, military personnel of the U.S. stationed in foreign countries can participate in this 100% online program. |
Founded in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College with an affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Auburn University would later become Alabama’s first public land-grant university after the Morrill Act of 1872 when the school was renamed the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama. Twenty years later, the school would become the first co-educational school in the state and in 1960, Auburn achieved university status. The university is now one of the few in the United States designated as a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant, research center. Auburn receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Located in Auburn, Alabama, the university currently exists as a four-year, public institution of higher learning which offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 28,290 students enrolled there.
Estimated Program Tuition: $34,125
#26 Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business – Stillwater, Oklahoma
 Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business features an online Master’s of Business Administration in a general format or a concentration in Business Sustainability, Data Science, Energy Business, Entrepreneurship, Global Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Assurance, Marketing Analytics, Non-profit Management. The Spears School of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the AACSB International and offers this program at an accessible tuition rate of just $17,012. |
Receiving its regional accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission Oklahoma State University is a four-year land-grant, sun-grant, public university in Stillwater, Oklahoma where it oversees 25,622 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Founded in 1890, as a result of the Morrill Act of 1862, OSU was established before Oklahoma became a state and was first named Oklahoma Territorial Agricultural & Mechanical College. The school was renamed in 1957 to better represent the vast array of educational opportunities the school offered. Oklahoma State is home of the Cowboys and Cowgirls, both of which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma State University’s major athletic rivalry is with the University of Oklahoma Sooners.
Estimated Program Tuition: $17,012
#25 Ball State University Miller College of Business – Muncie, Indiana
 The Miller College of Business at Ball State University offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a specialization in Entrepreneurship, Finance, Health Economics, Policy, and Administration, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, or Sales Management and a Certificate in Business Essentials for Professionals, Health Economics, Policy, and Administration, or Professional Sales Management. Featuring a total tuition rate of just $12,060 makes this 30-credit hour program one of the most affordable degrees in our ranking. |
Ball State University is a four-year public research university in Muncie, Indiana, which offers programs at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 21,998 students currently enrolled there. Wearing the official school colors of cardinal and white, the athletic department at Ball State supports seven men’s varsity teams and 12 women’s varsity teams competing at the NCAA Division I level within the Mid-American Conference. The men’s basketball team has a thriving history of national success and has been a powerhouse in the MAC for over two decades. Established as the Indiana State Normal School in 1918, Ball State University began meeting for classes with a student body of 235 with the purpose of educating public school teachers. The university got its start when two successful businessmen and owners of the Ball Corporation, the Ball brothers, donated the school’s first buildings to the state of Indiana. The school achieved university status in 1965 and changed its name to Ball State University.
Estimated Program Tuition: $12,060
#24 George Washington University School of Business – Washington, District of Columbia
 George Washington University features an online Master’s of Business Administration with optional concentrations in Consulting, Finance, Global Management, Government Contracts, Information Systems and Technology Management, and Project Management at its School of Business. This 55.5-credit hour program is bolstered by the School of Business’ stellar business accreditation through the AACSB and a global ranking of #15 by Quacquarelli Symonds. |
With a national reputation as one the country’s “Most Politically Active” institutions of higher education, GWU has equipped many notable politicians and business leaders through the years including Senate Minority Leaders, Presidential staffers, and even former First Ladies. In his first State of the Union address, United States President George Washington cast the vision for a centrally located national university established near the nation’s capital. Plans for the university were then set into motion by an act of Congress in 1821. Although it was first known as Columbian College, the university would later be renamed in 1904 to honor of the nation’s first president. This four-year, private not-for-profit university currently maintains a student body of 27,159 students seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Estimated Program Tuition: $97,957
#23 Babson College F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business – Wellesley, Massachusetts
 Babson College features a Blended Learning Master’s of Business Administration with concentration choices of Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Management, and Marketing at the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business. While the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business receives its excellent business accreditation through the AACSB International, this 46-credit hour program features two start dates each year and can be completed in just 21 months. |
Receiving its regional accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, Babson College was founded in 1919 as the Babson institute which held classes in the home of Roger and Grace Babson in Wellesley Hills. The first enrollment featured only 27 students and the school sought to educate its students over the topics of finance, production, and distribution over one year as opposed to the typical four-year plan most schools supported. Though still located in Wellesley, Pennsylvania, today the school exists as a four-year, private not-for-profit college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees to the 3,165 students currently enrolled there. Babson’s athletic department is comprised of 22 men’s and women’s varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level within the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $85,238
#22 University of North Texas College of Business – Denton, Texas
 The University of North Texas’ College of Business features an online Master’s of Business Administration with specializations in Finance, Marketing, Strategic Management, and Organizational Behavior. Featuring an accessible total tuition rate of $25,237, this 36-credit hour program has recently been recognized by U.S. News & World report as the 55th best online MBA in the nation and #21 in the country by the Princeton Review. |
Established in 1890 as a private teacher’s college and music conservatory named the Texas Normal College and Teachers Training Institute, the University of North Texas is a four-year, public research school in Denton, Texas comprised of two schools and ten colleges. The school’s main campus is in Denton while the school also maintains learning centers in nearby Dallas and Fort Worth UNT currently offers the 38,145 students enrolled there an array of degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Home of the “Mean Green”, the varsity sports teams at UNT wear green white and black as they compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Conference USA.
Estimated Program Tuition: $25,237
#21 Washington State University Carson College of Business – Pullman, Washington
 The Carson College of Business at Washington State University offers an Executive Online Master’s of Business Administration as well as an online MBA with a concentration in Marketing, Finance, International Business, or Hospitality Business Management. The Carson College of Business has recently been recognized by Quacquarelli Symonds as offering the 33rd best online MBA program on the planet. |
Recognized as one of the top research universities in the United States, Washington State University is a four-year, public institution of higher learning featuring a main campus in the Pacific Northwest city of Pullman, Washington. Offering degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 30,142 students currently enrolled there, the university receives its regional accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Washington State maintains satellite campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver. Founded in 1890, Washington State University is Washington’s largest land-grant university. Wearing the official school colors of crimson and grey, the athletic department at the university consists of men’s and women’s varsity sports teams competing as the Cougars within the NCAA Division I-FBS.
Estimated Program Tuition: $27,000
#20 Lehigh University College of Business and Economics – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
 Lehigh University offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with specialization choices of Corporate Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Marketing, Project Management, and Supply Chain Management at its College of Business. Distance learners looking for a high-quality program at an accessible tuition rate will want to consider this 36-credit hour program priced at $38,700. |
Featuring the motto of “Man, the Servant and Interpreter of Nature,” Lehigh University is a four-year, private not-for-profit university featuring a main campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The school currently offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 7,059 students enrolled there. Home of the Mountain Hawks, the athletic department of Lehigh maintains 25 men’s and women’s varsity teams competing at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Patriot League. Receiving it regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Lehigh features the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Business and Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Education.
Estimated Program Tuition: $38,700
#19 Mississippi State University College of Business – Mississippi State, Mississippi
 The College of Business at Mississippi State University offers both a general online Master’s of Business Administration and one with an emphasis in Project Management. This degree can be completed with as few as 30-credit hours taken and features an attractive total tuition fee of just $13,680. |
Originally named the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, Mississippi State University was founded in 1878 because of Congress passing the Hatch Act, which allowed the Agricultural Experiment Station to be built the following year. After further development in programming and infrastructure, the school achieved its university status in 1958 and began offering graduate degrees. Today’s MSU stands as a four-year, public university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs to the 21,622 students currently enrolled there. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Estimated Program Tuition: $13,680
#18 Colorado State University College of Business – Fort Collins, Colorado
 Colorado State University offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Information Systems, Finance, Marketing, or Professional Enrichment at its College of Business. This 42-credit hour program offers a total tuition rate of $39,732 and quality curriculum for students seeking a competitive advantage in higher education. |
Colorado State University is a four-year, public research institution of higher learning featuring a main campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school currently oversees 31,856 students who are seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. CSU is Colorado’s land-grant university and is known as the flagship school of the Colorado State University System. The university’s official school colors are green, gold, and white, while the mascot is CAM the Ram. The athletic department at the university is comprised of 11 women’s and 6 men’s varsity sports teams competing at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Mountain West Conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $39,732
#17 University of Colorado Colorado Springs College of Business and Administration – Colorado Springs, Colorado
 An online Master’s of Business Administration with an optional concentration in Finance, Health Care Administration, Innovation Management, International Business, or Management is featured at the College of Business at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Priced at just $2,369 per course, this 36-credit hour program features an accessible total tuition rate of $28,428. |
Established in 1965, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a member of the University of Colorado system and receives its regional accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission. This four-year public university offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 12,559 students currently enrolled there. U.S. News & World report named it the 51st best among the public and private schools in the west. Home of the Mountain Lions, the athletic department at UCCS is comprised of 13 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The school’s official colors of black and gold are shared with Colorado University-Boulder. Notable graduates of the school include figure skaters Max Aaron and Jason Brown and Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno.
Estimated Program Tuition: $28,428
#16 University of Arizona Eller College of Management – Tucson, Arizona
 The University of Arizona features an online Master’s of Business Administration with concentration choices in Entrepreneurship, Health Care, Finance, Management and Organizations, Management Information Systems, or Marketing at its Eller College of Management. This 45-unit program is bolstered by the business school’s recent recognition as the 55th best online MBA program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review’s awarding it as the 19th best in the country. |
Home of the Arizona Wildcats, the athletic department at the University of Arizona consists of men’s and women’s varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division I-A level as members of the Pac-12 Conference. Receiving its regional accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission, Arizona features a main campus in Tucson and offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 43,161 students currently enrolled there. Before Arizona was even established as a state, the university was founded in the Arizona Territory in 1885 and named the Arizona Normal School with the intent of educating public school teachers in the southwest territories. In 1887 construction began on the first building on campus, Old Main. Old Main still stands on the UA campus and is still used for classes today.
Estimated Program Tuition: $45,000
#15 University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics – Memphis, Tennessee
 One of the best online Master’s of Business Administration programs in the United States is found at the University of Memphis’ Fogelman College of Business and Economics. This 33-credit hour program is bolstered by the business school’s recently being recognized as the 25th best in the nation by the Princeton Review. |
Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the University of Memphis is a four-year, public research university located on an 1,100-acre campus just five miles from downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The school currently offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 21,301 students enrolled there. Established in 1912 as the West Tennessee Normal School, the university can trace its roots back to 1909 when the Tennessee Legislature passed the General Education Bill which allotted for three new institutions for higher learning to be built in the state. Wearing the official school colors of blue and gray, the U of M Tigers compete at the NCAA Division I level within the American Athletic Conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $18,900
#14 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Business – Champaign, Illinois
 The College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a choice of specializations in Digital Marketing, Global Challenges in Business, and Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship. This 72-credit hour program features an accessible tuition rate of just $18,000 and an innovative infrastructure and curriculum. |
Home of the Fighting Illini, the men’s and women’s varsity sports teams at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign compete at the NCAA Division I level and wear the school’s official colors of Illinois blue and Illinois orange. Widely known as the trailblazing member of the Big Ten Conference and the kingpin university within the University of Illinois state system, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign got its start as a land-grant institution within the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. Today the school offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 46,951 students enrolled there. The four-year public university receives its regional accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.
Estimated Program Tuition: $18,000
#13 Florida International University College of Business – Miami, Florida
 The College of Business at Florida International University features an online MBA with a variety of concentrations including Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, International Business, Marketing Channel Strategy, Strategic Negotiations, and Business Analytics. Among this degree’s recognitions and awards includes the College of Business’ being named the 21st best in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds. |
Featuring a main campus in University Park, and another major campus in Miami-Dade County, Florida International University is the largest institution of higher learning in South Florida and the second-largest in the state. FIT receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. This four-year, public university maintains an enrollment of 55,003 students seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Featuring a school motto of “Hope, Knowledge, Opportunity”, the official school colors are blue and gold while the school’s mascot is Roary the Panther.
Estimated Program Tuition: $42,000
#12 Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management – Syracuse, New York
 The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University features an online Master’s of Business Administration with concentration choices of Accounting, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing Management, or Supply Chain Management. Featuring four start dates throughout the calendar year, this 54-credit hour program is bolstered by the Martin J. Whitman School of Management’s receiving its exemplary business accreditation through the AACSB. |
With a $100,000 donation from the city of Syracuse and a $25,000 gift from Bishop Jesse Truesdell Peck, Syracuse University was chartered in 1870 and began meeting for classes in rented space the next year. Always having a priority for gender equality, Syracuse has been a co-educational institution of higher learning with equal ratios of men and women in many of their programs from the early years. Today, the Cuse exists as a four-year private, not-for-profit university, which offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 21,970 students currently enrolled there. Syracuse receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Estimated Program Tuition: $81,000
#11 University of Utah David Eccles School of Business – Salt Lake City, Utah
 The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah offers one of the best online Master’s of Business Administration programs in the country. Featuring one three-day residency in August, this 48-credit hour degree features a total tuition rate of $58,800. |
Founded in 1850 by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret as the University of Deseret, the University of Utah stands today as the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The university took on its current name just four years before Utah became a state and the campus was established in its current location of Salt Lake City in 1900. The U of U is a four-year, space-grant, public research university which offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 31,860 students currently enrolled there. The university receives its regional accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Wearing the official school colors of red and white, the University of Utah Utes compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Pac-12 conference.
Estimated Program Tuition: $58,800
#10 Drexel University Bennett S. LeBow College of Business – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 The Bennett S. Lebow College of Business at Drexel University offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with concentration options of Accounting, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship/Innovation Management, Finance, Healthcare Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain and Logistics. This 49-credit hour program is backed by the business school’s stellar reputation and recent recognition by Quacquarelli Symonds as offering the 18th best online MBA in the world. |
First established as Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in 1891, Drexel University today stands as a four-year private not-for-profit institution of higher education offering associate, 70 bachelor’s degrees, over 100 master’s, doctoral, and professional programs to the 24,232 students currently enrolled there. The school’s founder, Anthony J. Drexel, was a businessman and philanthropist with a vision for a university that would provide a quality education in the “practical arts and sciences” to men and women of all backgrounds. After achieving its university status in 1907, the school became Drexel University. Drexel receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Estimated Program Tuition: $63,994
#9 North Carolina State University Poole College of Management – Raleigh, North Carolina
 A Professional Online Master’s of Business Administration with a choice of a Depth Area in BioSciences Management, Financial Management, Innovation Management, Marketing Management, Supply Chain Management, or Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialization is featured at the Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University. With a total tuition fee of $44,320, this 40-credit hour program is backed by the award-winning and AACSB-accredited Poole College of Management. |
North Carolina State University is a four-year, urban, public university and home of the Wolfpack. The athletic department at NCSU maintains 11 men’s varsity teams and 11 women’s varsity teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Atlantic Coast Conference. The school’s main athletic rivalry is the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Offering degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, NS State currently maintains a student body of 33,755 strong. With a main campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, the school receives its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Estimated Program Tuition: $44,320
#8 Temple University Fox School of Business – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 An online Master’s of Business Administration with concentration options in Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Innovation Management, Marketing Management, and Strategic Management is offered at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Among the business school’s numerous recognitions is a global ranking of #8 by Quacquarelli Symonds, a ranking of 3rd best in the nation by the Princeton Review, and a nod as the very best online MBA in the country by U.S. News & World Report. |
With a school motto of “Perseverance Conquers”, Temple University is a four-year, public institution of higher learning situated on a main campus of 105 acres in North Philadelphia just a mile and a half north of Center City. Besides the main campus, Temple maintains six other centers for education all over the world with notable buildings including the Temple University Katz School of Medicine, Fox School of Business, Barrack Hall, the Liacouras Center, Anderson Hall, and Gladfelter Hall. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Temple was founded in 1884, incorporated as a university in 1907, and today instructs 39,296 students seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Estimated Program Tuition: $59,760
#7 Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business – Tempe, Arizona
 A high-quality online MBA is offered at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. This degree has been designed to be completed in just 21 months, features five-weeks sessions, and is bolstered by the business school’s national ranking of #5 by U.S. News & World Report. |
Home of the Sun Devils, Arizona State University’s official school colors are maroon and gold. The athletic program at the school is comprised of 24 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Pac-12 Conference. Featuring a history of athletic success, the school has won 24 NCAA championships. ASU receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. With a main campus situated in Tempe, Arizona, Arizona State was established in 1885 as the Territorial Normal School after the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature voted to establish a school to teach educators in the territory. Achieving its university status in 1958, ASU now stands as a four-year, public university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 51,869 students currently enrolled there.
Estimated Program Tuition: $60,000
#6 University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management – Richardson, Texas
 The Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas features an online Master’s of Business Administration with several specializations. This 53-credit hour program is backed by the business school’s excellent accreditation and an accessible tuition fee of $41,051. |
With a main campus located just 18 miles north of downtown Dallas in Richardson, Texas, the University of Texas at Dallas is a four-year, public research university that can trace its roots back to the Texas Instruments’ Graduate Research Center of the Southwest founded in 1961. The school’s motto is “Education, the Guardian of Society” and official school colors are flame orange, eco green, and brilliance white. Home of the Comets, the athletic department at UTD maintains 30 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level within the American Southwest Conference. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, the university currently oversees 26,793 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Estimated Program Tuition: $41,051
#5 Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business – Boston, Massachusetts
 An online Master’s of Business Administration with specialization choices of Finance, Healthcare Management, High Technology Management, Innovation Entrepreneurship, International Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, or Sustainability is offered at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. Distance learners desiring an award-winning program with excellent accreditation will be interested to know Quacquarelli Symonds has ranked the D’Amore-McKim School of Business as offering the 17th best online MBA in the world. |
Northeastern University was established in 1898 as the Evening Institute for Younger Men while classes were first held in the Huntington Avenue YMCA. The school became Northeastern College in 1916 after the passing of a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature. NU kept ties with the YMCA until 1948 and after World War II, the school began enrolling women students. Today, the four-year, private not-for-profit school receives its regional accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. With a main campus in Boston, Massachusetts, Northeastern features a current enrollment of 20,381 students seeking degrees at the undergraduate graduate and doctoral levels.
Estimated Program Tuition: $78,000
#4 University of Nebraska, Lincoln College of Business Administration – Lincoln, Nebraska
 An online Master’s of Business Administration with concentration options in Business Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management is offered at the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Featuring an affordable tuition rate of just $28,800, this 48-credit hour program can be completed 100% online. |
Home of the Cornhuskers, the athletic department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is comprised of 21 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams which compete at the NCAA Division I level within the Big Ten Conference. Wearing the official school colors of scarlet and cream, one of the most notable sports programs at the school is the football team which features three Heisman Trophy winners and five national championships which range from 1970 to 1997. Receiving its accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, Nebraska currently oversees 25,897 students seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Estimated Program Tuition: $28,800
#3 University of Massachusetts, Amherst Isenberg School of Management – Amherst, Massachusetts
 The University of Massachusetts, Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with concentration choices in Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Administration, Marketing, or Sport Management. The Isenberg School of Management enjoys excellent business accreditation through the AACSB and has priced this 39-credit hour program at a total tuition rate of just $35,100. |
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst is a four-year public research university featuring a main campus in Amherst, Massachusetts and widely known as the largest university in New England. Established in 1863 as a result of the Federal Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, the school was first named the Massachusetts Agricultural College and was founded with the intent to equip students in the areas of “agricultural, mechanical, and military arts”. Renamed Massachusetts State College in 1931, the school received its university status just 16 years later in 1947. The school receives its regional accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. With a student body of 30,037 members, UMass Amherst offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The official school colors are maroon, black and white and the school’s motto is “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”
Estimated Program Tuition: $35,100
#2 Indiana University Kelley School of Business – Bloomington, Indiana
 The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University offers one of the nation’s best general online MBAs. The business school’s numerous accolades include being named the 2nd best program in the U.S. by the Princeton Review and being ranked the 3rd best program in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds. |
Home of the Hoosiers, and the fabled tradition of Hoosiers basketball, Indiana University was established in 1820 as the “State Seminary” by the state’s government in Corydon at the time. The school’s first instructing professor was Presbyterian minister Baynard Rush Hall who was responsible for 12 students and drew a $250 pay check. Today’s nearly 2,000-acre IU campus sits on Indiana Limestone, is in Bloomington, Indiana, and features historic buildings and a green space. Indiana receives its accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. The four-year public university offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 49,695 students currently enrolled there. Featuring the motto of “Light and Truth”, the school’s official colors are crimson and cream.
Estimated Program Tuition: $66,300
#1 University of Florida Warrington College of Business – Gainesville, Florida
 The University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business offers a hybrid online Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship, Finance, International, and Marketing. This hybrid online MBA, recognized as the 4th best program in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds, is designed to be completed in two or even one year based on the student’s schedule and preference for pace. |
Wearing the official school colors of orange and blue, the Gators of the University of Florida have amassed over 35 national team championships and over 270 individual national championships since the school’s being founded in Gainesville, Florida in 1906. Along with the nationally-ranked and very successful football program, the athletic department at the university competes at the NCAA Division I level as a flagship member of the Southeastern Conference. Florida is regionally accredited the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Situated on 2,000 acres in Gainesville, Florida, the university is currently a four-year, public school that currently oversees 50,645 students seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The University of Florida is a public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university.
Estimated Program Tuition: $48,000
Methodology
A list of over 440 online and hybrid MBA programs was obtained and then evaluated on the following four factors:
Estimated Tuition Cost: Each Online MBA program was evaluated upon the estimated total base tuition cost, because this base investment data gives insight on the possible return on investment once the MBA degree is completed. Each tuition figure was gathered from the most recent data given on each program or school website. This financial 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 only offer all-inclusive figures. In the event that a school offers a lower in-state tuition cost, the in-state pricing was used. The lowest online MBA tuition in this ranking is $7,740, the highest came in at $1114,078, with the average resting at $38,765.
Accreditation: Accreditation plays a significant role in education. Accreditations can help prospective students identify which schools and business programs have gone to extensive measures to reach high national and global standards in its research and delivered education. Programs without accreditation do not automatically indicate low standards, but programs with accreditations give assurance that high standards have been met. Each program in this top online MBA ranking is evaluated on whether it holds a regional accreditation, as well as an additional business accreditation. The regional accrediting agencies are one of six institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Business school accreditations affects an MBA’s brand and prestige, which can affect a student’s competitive advantage in the job market. The three business accrediting institutions that are used for ranking purposes in this list are IACBE, ACBSP, and AACSB. AACSB is widely regarded as the highest level of business accreditation, and thus the Online MBA programs that hold this accreditation are given the highest marks.
PayScale Early Career Salary: The salary data is highlighted in this top online MBA ranking because it is important for prospective students to explore the affect a degree can have on a graduate’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. The highest early-career salary reported in this ranking is $102,000 and the average salary collected rests at $66,890.
Prestige: 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 was evaluated on how many rankings included their program.
All of the data for each four factors was weighted equally and then averaged. This average score provided 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.
