A Master's in Business Administration is commonly referred to as an MBA degree. An MBA is a powerful and wide-ranging degree that gives students tremendous potential to pursue a wide range of business-related careers. Many MBA students come from backgrounds like economics and business, but there are also students from less traditional backgrounds like English or even nursing!
MBA programs take a student's unique skills sets and gear them towards the management of money and people. Students become experts in coordinating communication between teams and performing complex analyses to optimize decision-making at high levels of business. Online students also get the added bonus of being tech-friendly and getting to keep their families and careers moving at the same time as their MBA. So, let's take a look at the 18 Best Online MBA in Michigan!
FINDING AN MBA DEGREE
MBA programs all share the same initials, but each program will have its own unique structure and perks that students should pay careful attention to. This starts with the structure of the program, where some schools choose to put students into cohorts or pre-set their coursework from start to finish. These give students less flexibility in terms of coursework, but the strong structure, especially when students are in a cohort, and can increase networking opportunities and allow students to explore a wide variety of new subjects. Other programs allow students to be more independent, namely by choosing elective courses or even entire concentrations that they feel fit their future career plans. Most schools will have at least three to five concentrations covering key topic areas like Finance or Human Resource Management, while more ambitious programs will cover up to 17 topics, including Sport Management. It's up to prospective MBA students to figure out which mixture of flexibility and structure is best for them.
This wide variety of MBA programs gives students a tremendous amount of potential when it comes to the job market after graduation. Special experiences like internships or global business experiences give students real-life peeks into the roles they can fill. Many schools have large alumni bases that students can draw on during and after the program, to grow and then harvest networking connections that can lead to steady and well-paying jobs. For instance, a student choosing a concentration in Marketing Management will be well-qualified to fill a position as an Advertising, Promotions, or Marketing Manager. The Bureau of Labor Statistics affirms that this career path is growing at a faster than average pace and is slated to have 24,000 new openings in the coming decade. Employees in this position report a median annual salary of around $132,000 per year. That is just one of the many options that MBA students will have ahead of them.
RANKING THE 18 BEST ONLINE MBA IN MICHIGAN
Online MBA Today uses eight metrics to grade each school: Quality of Online Programs from U.S. News, Mid Career Pay from Payscale, Student Review Score from Rate My Professor, aggregate reputation score from other ranking sites, and Percentage of Online Programs, SAT Scores, Average Net Price, and Retention Rate from the National Center for Education Statistics. For a comprehensive breakdown of how we categorize and source data, please visit our methodology page.
#1. KETTERING UNIVERSITY
Kettering University is a private university located in Flint, MI. Kettering has an online Master of Business Administration program that can be completed in as few as 18 months. Students finish one course at a time, with a total of 40 credit hours required. Credits are divided between seven core courses, and then three courses in the Certificate/specialization program of the student's choosing. The options for the certificate include Global Leadership, Healthcare Management, Operations Management, or Supply Chain Management Level I and II. Featured courses from the program include International Business, Leadership, and Strategic Management. Alumni from the program now work at organizations such as Boeing, Bosch, General Motors, Fisher-Price, and GE. Students can connect with these alumni for internship and professional networking opportunities, which can help jump-start their career.
Students do not have to submit scores for the GRE/GMAT as a part of the admissions process. In addition to the MBA program, Kettering also offers a Two Degrees in Two Years master's program, where students are able to earn either a Master of Science in Engineering Management or a Master of Science in Operations Management degree alongside their MBA. The core MBA program includes ten courses, and the dual degree program requires students to complete an extra four courses on top of that. Students graduating from the dual degree program enter job markets with annual salaries between $120,000 to $140,000 per year. Payscale.com ranked Kettering University as No. 1 for a 20-year return on investment for its graduates.
Format: Online
#2. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN – DEARBORN
The University of Michigan – Dearborn is a public university located in Dearborn, MI. UM-D has an online Master of Business Administration program, which requires students to complete between 36 and 48 credit hours of coursework. The variation in credits depends on whether or not a student chooses to pursue an optional concentration as a part of the program. Three of the MBA program concentrations are available for the online program: Finance, Human Resource Management, and International Business. Students complete core courses such as Economic Analysis: Firm and Consumer, Applied Statistical Modeling, as well as Financial Fundamentals and Value Creation. In addition to core and elective courses, students also complete an international business course and one Applied Integrated Management course. The program ends with a Strategic Planning and Decision-Making capstone course.
During the last enrollment period, almost exactly half of the students in the program completed it online (162 online students and 167 on-campus students). Students entered with an average of seven years of full-time work experience, along with an average undergraduate GPA of 3.4. The admissions committee takes a holistic view of an applicant's profile and does not look for any one particular academic or professional qualification. The online MBA program is also offered as a dual degree program, which combines the MBA with either a Master of Science in Finance or a Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering program. Additional concentrations available through the on-campus version of the program include Accounting, Business Analytics, Information Systems Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management.
Format: Online
#3. LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Lawrence Technological University, located in Southfield, MI, is a private university. LTU offers an online Master of Business Administration program. It is a 36 credit hour program that is designed to be completed in two years. Students choose from one of four concentrations — Finance, Cybersecurity, Project Management, and Information Technology – which help determine their course schedule. All students take nine core courses and three elective courses. Core courses include Enterprise Information Technology, Global Leadership, and Corporate Finance. Each concentration option has a management-centered course that students are required to take, and which they then pair with two additional electives of their choosing. Sample concentration courses include Managing a Global Workforce and Agile Project Management for the Project Management concentration.
Students without an undergraduate background in business or a related field may be required to take foundation courses before beginning their graduate coursework. Students in the program have seven years to complete all of the necessary requirements for graduation. Foundation courses include Fundamentals of Marketing, Finance, and Macro Economics, as well as Legal Environment of Business. Students who took these or similar courses during their undergraduate coursework will have the foundation course requirement waived. Students holding a master's degree or who earned above a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate coursework are not required to submit GMAT scores. Applications are accepted year-round and students may enter in the summer, spring, or fall semesters.
Format: Online
#4. CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Central Michigan University is a public university located in Mount Pleasant, MI. Central Michigan has an online Master of Business Administration program, which requires 36-40 credit hours of study to complete. CMU offers five different specializations to pursue through the program: Enterprise Resource Planning, Human Resource Management, Logistics Management, Marketing, and Value-Driven Organization. Twenty-seven hours of the credit requirements are core courses, covering topics such as Marketing-Based Management and Data Analysis for Data Managers. The remainder of the program credit requirements are devoted to elective credits related to the specialization chosen by the student. All iterations of the degree end with a Strategic Management capstone course, which focuses on the integration of analyzing, selecting, implementing, and evaluating courses of action from a management point of view.
The Enterprise Resource Management concentration gives students skills with data software designed by the company SAP. SAP software is used by a number of major business and even sports leagues to manage and organize large sets of information. The ERP emphasis also includes a SAP Boot Camp course at the end of the student's elective coursework. There are start dates for the program available in the summer, fall, and spring sessions, and students may begin the program in any semester space allows. Applicants to the program should have a bachelor's degree and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7. They should also submit GMAT scores with a minimum score of 450, although this requirement can be waived for students with a graduate degree, qualifying GPA, or significant work experience.
Format: Online
#5. FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Ferris State University, located in Big Rapids, MI, is a public university. Ferris State has an online MBA program consisting of 30 credit hours of core coursework and nine credit hours of elective coursework, for a program total requirement of 39. Core courses cover fundamental subjects such as Business Law and Marketing, as well as Informational Systems Strategy and Lean Enterprise Systems. Students then choose a concentration area or work with an advisor to select electives that are best tailored to the student's career interests. The concentrations available for students to choose from include options such as Business Intelligence, Design & Innovation Management, Incident Response, and Performance Metrics, among others. The final course of the program is a Business Strategy & Innovation course.
The program is an open-enrollment program, meaning that students may register during the semester prior to taking courses. Applicants to the program must submit satisfactory GRE or GMAT scores, but these can be waived if a candidate possesses a Graduate or Professional Degree, or has a satisfactory level of leadership experience. Applicants are assigned a composite score based on GPA and GMAT/GRE, along with other required documents, to arrive at the admission decision for the program. Applicants to the program are also expected to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher for their undergraduate coursework. Almost 80% of students at Ferris State receive some kind of state or private aid, with Ferris State awarding more than $173 million in student aid each year. Concentration options not listed above include Supply Chain Management, Project Management, as well as Lean Systems and Leadership.
Format: Online
#6. ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
Andrews University is a private university located in Berrien Springs, MI. Andrews University offers a Master of Business Administration program, which allows students to complete almost all of their coursework online. Students are required to complete their final few courses on-campus with three-week intensives that help to bring together all of their learning and experiences from the program. The Andrews MBA is a 33-credit program, which students can complete in just one full year if attending the program full-time and needing no business prerequisites. Twenty-four credit hours are dedicated to core courses such as Christian Ethics, Service & Society, and Managerial Economics. The final nine hours are chosen from available elective courses, such as Financial Statement Analysis and Management Information Systems.
Andrews University is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination of Christianity and was the first place of higher learning founded by the Seventh-day Adventist church. In addition to the three-week intensives, students are also expected to participate in graduation exercises which usually occur during the first weekend in August. Students without undergraduate coursework in business will be required to take prerequisite courses before beginning their graduate studies. These courses can include Fundamentals of Accounting, Business Law, and Elementary Statistics, among others. Students with qualifying work experience or undergraduate GPA levels can waive the GMAT requirement for admission. Students may transfer in up to six credits of transfer credit from another accredited college or university MBA program, or another school of Andrews University.
Format: Hybrid
#7. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-FLINT
The University of Michigan-Flint is a public university located in Flint, MI. UM-Flint offers a Master of Business Administration program delivered through a Weekend Net+ format. The format blends online education with two on-campus weekend sessions per semester, which generally take place on a Friday & Saturday. Depending on the number of prerequisite business courses a student must complete, the credit requirements for the program vary between 33 to 45 credit hours of coursework. Core courses cover 24 credits, with topics such as Nonmarket Strategy, Financial Management, as well as Organizational Communication and Negotiation. Students may then choose to pursue either a General MBA degree or a concentration in any of the following areas: Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Finance, Healthcare, International Business, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, or Organizational Leadership.
In addition to the hybrid Weekend Net+ format, the MBA can also be delivered in an evening or on-campus format. Flint's MBA classes are structured around the concept of team-based project work, which helps develop the student's collaborative and practical skills with business management. It also doubles down on the networking benefits of the three-week intensive sessions, allowing students to build strong business connections that will serve them in their business careers moving forward. Depending on the format that a student chooses to pursue, the MBA can be paired with another graduate degree through a dual degree program. Currently, dual degrees exist with the Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems and the Master of Science in Lean Manufacturing, among others.
Format: Hybrid
#8. SPRING ARBOR UNIVERSITY
Spring Arbor University is a private institute of higher learning located in Spring Arbor, MI. Spring Arbor University offers a fully online Master of Business Administration program, which can be completed in as few as 12 months and helps prepare students to become Christian business leaders of tomorrow. Core courses cover 24 credits of coursework, with classes such as Leadership in Business, Marketing for Managers, and Statistics for Business Managers. Students then choose from one of five concentration areas – Healthcare Administration, Human Resource Development, Management, Organizational Consulting, and Strategic Leadership – that then determines their final three courses for the program. The MBA Capstone experience then completes the program, as students work with a real organization or client to prepare a business consultancy report and presentation.
Spring Arbor is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church. The accelerated degree plan allows students to finish the program in 12 months, but there is also a part-time path that allows students to take one course at a time and finish the degree program in as few as 18 months. Students are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores as a part of the admission process. The core curriculum for the MBA program includes an option for students to complete an International Business course, which can include a four-day trip to New York City, where students are able to practice applying their coursework practically. Students are not required to take the course if they do not wish, and are able to complete a non-travel option of the course.
Format: Online
#9. WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Wayne State University is a public university located in Detroit, MI. Wayne State offers a Master of Business Administration program. The program is offered in full-time and part-time formats, with the option for students to take all of their courses online. Students choose from one of 11 concentration options to supplement their degree and help them stand out in a crowded job field. There are six core courses, which make up 18 credits, and six elective/concentration courses, another 18 credits, in the 36 credit program. Each concentration includes three courses, meaning that students can complete two concentrations in the program without incurring extra costs or time to graduation. Concentration options available in the program include International Business, Human Resources, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as Sport and Entertainment Management.
A large number of courses in the program are offered both on an accelerated four-week or 11-week delivery system, with some courses being completed in as little as one week. Some courses are even offered simultaneously as on-campus and online sections taught by the same faculty member, which allows students to attend the course virtually or in-person at their discretion. The Ilitch School of Business offers students in the program study abroad options in Brazil, China, Italy, and Central Europe. Visits to these countries involve foreign operations of Detroit-area companies and myriad cultural sites. Students with acceptable LSAT, GRE, or MCAT scores do not need to take or submit scores for the GMAT. Students may also have the requirement waived if they have three years of professional experience with upward mobility.
Format: Online
#10. MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Michigan Technological University is a public university located In Houghton, MI. Michigan Tech offers a Master of Business Administration program, which is referred to as the Tech MBA Program. The program is designed to blend foundational skills in business with the cross-discipline benefits of studying at a top engineering and technological research university. It is a two-semester, 30 credit hour program delivered through evening courses that focus on three key areas: technology and decision-making, leadership and management skills, and innovation and strategy. There are 24 credit hours of required and core courses, with students then choosing two final elective courses – one each semester – to round out the program.
Courses outside the core curriculum cover topics such as social responsibility, ethics, and legal issues. Prerequisite courses for beginning the Tech MBA include Statistics and Principles of Economics. The Michigan Tech "Senior Rule" allows undergraduate seniors to take courses that could apply to a graduate program that they have already gained admission towards. Admissions decisions are made upon a rolling basis, with entry terms available for either the Fall or Spring semesters. Students may transfer in up to six graduate credits into the program. Learning outcomes from the program include problem-solving, technological understanding and application, written communication and oral presentation skills, and key understandings of functional/subject-matter areas.
Format: Residential
#11. CLEARY UNIVERSITY
Cleary University is a private university located in Howell, MI. Cleary University has a Master of Business Administration program which can be completed fully online. Students choose between one of three specialty programs in Analytics, Technology and Innovation, Global Leadership, and Health Care Leadership. The programs are structured in a cohort-based format, which places students in teams similar to those they will share in the business world. All three versions of the program involve 33 credit hours of study and 11 total courses. The core sequence includes eight courses covering Managerial Economics, Law and Ethics, and Organizational Management. The concentration sequence then covers the final three courses of the program, which generally includes leadership and global course, as well as ethics or a general course in the concentration.
The program is designed to be completed in 22 months. Students enroll year-round, taking one seven-week course at a time, meaning two courses per semester. Students admitted to the program at the same time will take courses together throughout the duration of the program, which is designed to create consistency and networking advantages for students in the program. Elective courses from the various concentrations include Survey of Global Leadership for Global Leadership, Health Policy Law and Ethics for Health Care Leadership, and Business Analytics for the Analytics concentration. Students are given a one week break between each course to ensure they have the best possible ability to focus on and manage their course load.
Format: Online
#12. EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Eastern Michigan University, located in Ypsilanti, MI, is a public university. EMU offers a Master of Business Administration program, which can be delivered on-campus, in the evening, or through online courses. Students complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of study, which is divided between 18 credits of core courses, six restricted elective credits, and 12-15 specialization credits. Eastern Michigan's MBA program offers 14 different specializations, which include options such as Computer Information Systems, Marketing Management, Sports Management, and Nonprofit Management. Most students are able to complete the program in approximately two and a half years. Courses utilize case studies, simulations, guest speakers, and work with real clients to make the learning as practical as possible.
Students have six years to complete their degree requirements. The degree program is offered in a hybrid format, and some classes themselves might also be offered partly online and partly on-campus. In addition to the main courses required for the degree, students may also be required to complete up to 18 foundation course credits. Students who received their bachelor's degree in business or a related subject will be able to waive these requirements. Faculty members in the program bring a mixture of practical business experience and academic expertise to the classroom. Other specialization options available in the program include E-Business, Entrepreneurship, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Internal Auditing.
Format: Hybrid
#13. CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY
Cornerstone University Nis a private university located in Grand Rapids, MI. Cornerstone offers a Master of Business Administration program, which requires 38 credit hours of coursework. There are 29 credits of core courses, which cover research methods, accounting for decision making, marketing strategies, and economics. The final nine credits of coursework are in vocationally-focused concentration courses, which relate to a student's chosen specialization. The Cornerstone online MBA program offers four different concentration areas in Finance, Global Business, Health Care, and Project Management. Sample concentration courses include Entrepreneurial Finance, Global Finance, and Advanced Managerial Finance for the Finance concentration.
Cornerstone is an independent, non-denominational Christian university, and is home to two different seminary schools: Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and Asia Baptist Theological Seminary. Students with at least one year of full-time work experience are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, while students with less than one year of experience should have at least a 3.0 GPA. Students are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores as a part of the application process. Each specialization course last six weeks. There is also a blended/hybrid version of the program available in addition to the fully online version of the program.
Format: Online
#14. SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Saginaw Valley State University, located in University Center, MI, is a public university. Saginaw Valley offers an online Master of Business Administration program. The Saginaw MBA consists of 31 credit hours of core courses, as well as three graduate-level business electives. There are 15 core courses, each of which are taught as hybrid-format courses. Courses cover a wide range of topics such as Social Responsibility & Ethics, Leadership & Organizational Behavior, Global Supply Chain Management, and Managerial Accounting. Students then choose their three elective courses, which can be drawn either from the same discipline or multiple disciplines. Students who pursue three elective courses from the same discipline will graduate with a specialization in that discipline.
In addition to the online MBA program, there is also an accelerated "Fastaway MBA" program for students entering Saginaw as a freshman. The program allows students to earn their bachelor's degree and an MBA degree in only a total of four years. Admission to the MBA program is based on a formula that translates GPA and GMAT scores into an index, which determines whether or not a student is accepted. Applicants to the program are expected to have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. There is no formal admission deadline for domestic students, but students are encouraged to submit application materials as early as possible to ensure their best chance at admission.
Format: Hybrid
#15. MADONNA UNIVERSITY
Madonna University is a private university located in Livonia, MI. Madonna University has a Master of Business Administration program, which is described as a generalist program designed for students meant for students seeking a broad understanding of the social, political, and economic forces of business. Madonna's MBA requires students to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, which includes nine credits of foundation courses, 24 credits of core courses, and one MBA capstone course. Core courses include Business Finance, Strategic Management, and Global Business Perspectives. Students are required to have an admission interview with a faculty advisor before they can be accepted into the program.
Madonna is a Catholic university, specifically associated with the Congregation of St. Felix. While they do have this official association, the school does admit students and faculty from all faiths. Students may add graduate certificates to the MBA program to further enhance their professional development and employability post-graduation. Available certificate programs at Madonna include Criminal Justice Leadership, Non-Profit Leadership, Quality Management, and Financial Crimes Compliance. Madonna University offers a dual degree program where students may earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree alongside their MBA. Students may transfer in up to six credit hours of coursework into the program. Students with undergraduate GPAs below 3.0 may be admitted to the program on a conditional basis.
Format: Residential
#16. DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY
Davenport University is a private university based out of Grand Rapids, MI. Davenport offers an online Master of Business Administration program, which can be delivered in either a traditional or 12-month format. The 12-month format accelerates the program and has students progress through a predetermined schedule for completion in only one year, completing 30 credits and receiving a general MBA. The traditional MBA can be completed as either a 30-credit or 39-credit program, depending on whether or not a student chooses to pursue a nine-credit concentration. Available subject areas for the concentration include Finance, Forensic Accounting, Internal Auditing, and Marketing, among others. The program ends with a business integration capstone course.
Students are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores as a part of the admissions process if a student has earned an undergraduate degree in business or a related subject. Students must have earned a 2.75 GPA or higher to qualify for the waiver of these foundation courses. Students may receive academic credit for professional certifications, licenses, or corporate/non-corporate training. Other specialization options available in the program include Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, Managerial Accounting, and Strategic Management. Over 95% of Davenport students receive some kind of financial assistance during the course of their studies.
Format: Online
#17. SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY
Siena Heights University is a private university located in Adrian, MI. Siena Heights offers an online Master of Business Administration program, which is designed around ethical and sustainable business practices specifically designed by employers and business leaders. It is a 36 credit hour program, divided between 24 hours of required core courses, nine hours of professional core/managerial coursework, and a final three-credit capstone course and culminating experience. Required core courses include Sustainable Business Management, Project Management, and Ethics in a Global Environment. Students also have the option of pursuing a Healthcare Administration specialization, which includes courses in Health Systems Management, Contemporary Issues in Health Care Administration, and Medical Law.
Siena Heights is a Catholic University, specifically affiliated with the Adrian Dominican Sisters or the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary. There are no prerequisite qualifications for admission to the program. Students from all disciplines, from nursing to engineering, have pursued the Siena MBA. Courses are delivered in eight-week online formats that are geared towards working individuals. Students seeking full admission should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Students beneath this threshold may be admitted on a conditional basis. Siena's MBA program director is Dr. Eboni Mathis, who has a Doctorate of Management from the University of Maryland, along with a pair of other graduate degrees in Administration and Community Counseling.
Format: Online
#18. NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY
Northwood University, located in Midland, MI, is a private university. Northwood University has an online Master of Business Administration program, which is intended to last 24 months or two years. The program requires students to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, which is composed of 12 preset courses. Courses include Integration & Implementation, Managing & Leading People, and Financial Reporting. The final course in the sequence is a Management & Leadership Capstone course, which is a five-day learning event centered around integration and application of the skills that students have gained through the MBA program. Students are divided into teams of 15, with each student then receiving a role in a business problem-solving situation. The course integrates students from all of the different iterations of the MBA program: Accelerated, Traditional, Online, and Evening.
All of the courses in the program can be taken online and there are no requirements for students to complete any part of the degree on campus. However, Northwood does offer an option for students to take the final capstone course as a one-week residency at the Midland campus. Courses are structured to fit the busy schedules of the students. Course content is available at any time, and students are expected to fulfill weekly deliverables associated with the content. In addition to the online MBA, Northwood also offers an Executive Master of Business Administration programs focusing on the automotive industry. These program options include an Automotive Aftermarket Executive MBA, GM Executive MBA, and Retail Automotive Executive MBA. These programs are only available in traditional, on-campus formats.
Format: Online