Master's in Business Administration programs give up and coming business professionals new skills in the management and organization of both money and people. Students get advanced training in topics such as accounting, economics, and finance. They also learn how to delegate, inspire, and support teams of employees from all areas of business. But many programs can be too expensive for some students, which is why today we're looking at degree programs that will give students a high-quality education without breaking the bank. So let's take a look at the Top 50 Best Value Online MBA Programs 2020!
FINDING AN MBA DEGREE
Finding the right MBA program can be hard at first. A lot of programs have similar structures, courses, and even concentrations! But not to fear – while they may share a number of similarities, all MBA programs have unique features that make them best suited for certain students. For example, students who thrive on structure and group work often prefer cohort-structured programs, which frequently utilize a preset course sequence that students progress through together. These courses also allow students to cover a breadth of subject matter, which can be good for professionals who are still figuring out their business niche. Students with a stronger idea of their career goals and focuses often prefer programs that have a wide range of concentrations and a higher proportion of elective credits. These programs will sometimes dedicate more than half of their required courses related to students' career goals and interests.
To qualify for entry into an MBA program, students are generally expected to have completed prerequisite coursework in business, accounting, or other related subjects. Students who earned their undergraduate degree in one of these subjects will likely meet these requirements, while students who earned a non-business related degree will probably have to take foundation courses before starting their MBA. Other programs also require work experience, from anywhere between two to seven years, for entry into the program. Once students graduate with their MBA, they immediately become prime candidates for a raise or promotion at their current job. It can also give professionals the flexibility to find a new job or forge a new career path. For example, Management Analysts in business earn a median income of more than $80,000 per year, and the BLS expects more than 200,000 job openings in this field over the coming decade.
RANKING THE TOP 50 BEST VALUE ONLINE MBA PROGRAMS 2020
Online MBA Today uses eight metrics to grade each school: Quality of Online Programs from U.S. News & World Report, 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. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS
CSU Dominguez Hills offers an online Master of Business Administration degree program, which can be completed in as few as 18 months. The online program is delivered in an asynchronous format, which allows students to access and complete course materials at any time. The online program is scheduled separately from the university's academic calendar, with four sessions of courses scheduled in 12-week intervals. Students are required to complete a total of ten courses, or 30 credit hours, in the program. Seven courses are core courses, such as Human Behavior in Organizations and Marketing Management. Students then choose an area of emphasis, which guides them in selecting their final three courses. There are seven available concentration areas, including Finance, Marketing Management, Information Technology Management, and Human Resource Management.
In addition to the online program, Dominguez Hills also has an on-campus program, which requires students to come to campus two nights per week. There are also certificate programs available in Logistics Management and Marketing, both of which are offered only online. The Logistics Management certificate requires four courses, and the Marketing certificate requires five courses. Prerequisite courses for the program include Financial Accounting, Operations Management, and Marketing Principles, among others. Students can complete these "Bridge Courses" at Dominguez Hills. There are a total of five prerequisite courses, which are worth two credit hours each and are offered in intervals of eight weeks. Other concentration options not listed above include International Business and Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Format: Online
#2. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
The University of Michigan-Dearborn has a 36 credit hour online Master of Business Administration program. The degree program is open to students from all academic backgrounds and work experience levels. Students can complete the program on-campus, online, or through a hybrid combination of both. Students attending the program part-time can generally complete the requirements in 2.5 years; full-time enrollment status is also available. Nine core courses make up the first 27 credit hours of the degree program. Students take courses such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Applied Statistical Modeling, and Marketing Management. Students then take a series of four Applied Integrated Management courses. There is also the option to pursue a concentration, including Supply Chain Management, International Business, or Business Analytics.
Students may be required to complete up to 48 credit hours of coursework in order to satisfy concentration requirements. Concentrations add an extra three courses to the curriculum. Applied Integrated Management courses cover topics such as International Business and Managerial Decision Making. The final capstone course is also a part of the AIM sequence. Admission to the program is considered on a rolling basis, and students are able to begin the program in either January or September. It is also possible for part-time students to enroll during the May semester. The on-campus version of the program involves night classes, which are scheduled to allow students to continue working during their degree.
Format: Online
#3. UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE
The University of Louisiana at Monroe has an online Master of Business Administration program. The program requires ten total courses, or 30 credit hours, which is divided between eight core courses and two electives. The core curriculum includes Economic Environment, Financial Analysis, International Business, and Organizational Theory and Behavior. Students then choose two elective courses, which can be used to pursue an area of concentration. Pre-approved areas of concentration include Construction Management, Educational Leadership, and Gerontology. The standard curriculum has only two elective courses, while concentration areas require students to complete at least three courses, meaning that a concentration will increase the overall credit and course requirements. Students pursuing a general concentration will simply be required to complete any two upper-level MBA electives.
The Educational Leadership and Construction Management tracks cover three preset courses, while the Gerontology track has two required courses and then allows students to choose the final elective. Students may also propose an elective from outside of business, but all three courses must be taken from outside the field of business administration to count towards the elective requirement. Students are expected to have completed background coursework in Financial/Managerial Accounting, Economics, and Finance. Applicants are expected to have a minimum GMAT score of 450 or the GRE equivalent. They should also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5. The Admissions Committee also takes managerial work experience into account when weighing a student's GMAT and GPA numbers.
Format: Online
#4. UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MARTIN
The University of Tennessee at Martin Online MBA program is a 30-credit-hour degree program, which can be pursued as either a general concentration or agriculture concentration degree. The agricultural concentration adds an extra 12 credit hours of required coursework onto the 30-credit base program. The program is open to students from all undergraduate academic backgrounds and is structured as a 20-student cohort program. Students generally are able to complete the program in 18 months. The first 27 credit hours of coursework are core courses, such as Accounting for Managerial Decisions, Critical Thinking, and the Legal and Ethical Environment of Business. Students completing the general degree will then finish the program with a culminating experience course entitled "Strategic Management and Business Policy."
The Agriculture concentration adds on a requirement of 12 credit hours – four courses – from a list of nine different elective options offered in both Agricultural Economics and Natural Resource Management. Some of the courses from this list are as follows: Commodity Futures and Options Markets, Advanced Natural Resource Economics, and Seminar in International Agricultural Trade. Prerequisite courses are required for the program, but they do not have to be completed until the end of a student's second semester in the program. Students with seven or more years of full-time business experience or who have previously earned another master's degree may be able to waive the GRE/GMAT score requirement. Applicants must submit their application at least four weeks prior to when courses start.
Format: Online
#5. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
UNC Chapel Hill's Online Master of Business Administration program requires students to complete 62 credit hours of coursework. Students generally take two classes per quarter, which allows them to complete the program in around 24 months. However, students have flexibility in determining their course load and enrollment status. Students can complete the program in as little as 18 consecutive months or as many as 36. There are nine core courses, such as Analytical Tools and Business Communications, with which students begin the program. They then move on to elective courses, of which they are able to select from a list of options including Python for Business Analytics or Business Modeling. Students are required to attend at least two on-campus summit experiences as part of the program.UNC also offers global immersion experiences as a part of the MBA program. There are four start dates available throughout the year. Each application cycle has both a regular and a priority application date. Submission by the priority date allows students to have their application fee waived. Students are admitted by cohort, and applications are accepted up to four cohorts in advance. To be considered for admission, applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university as well as two years of full-time professional experience. Advanced degrees may be a valuable part of a student's application, but they cannot be used to substitute the work experience requirement. Students with fewer than six years of work experience are also required to submit GRE or GMAT scores.
Format: Hybrid
#6. COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY
Columbus State's Online Master of Business Administration program, which is a part of the Georgia WebMBA consortium, is a 30-credit-hour program. Students are required to complete an in-person WebMBA orientation at the beginning of the program, after which the entirety of their coursework is online. Students take a sequence of ten preset core courses, which begins with Human Behavior in Organizations, Managerial Accounting, and Strategic Marketing. The Columbus State Program opens three cohorts in the fall and spring, and students are expected to take two courses per semester for five consecutive semesters. Later core courses cover entrepreneurship, management information systems, and operations management. Students complete the program with a Business Strategy capstone course.
Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in business or a related field may be required to complete prerequisite requirements in accounting, finance, and quantitative analysis. Columbus State offers a series of self-paced, online modules that students can complete to meet these prerequisite requirements. Applicants to the program must submit either GMAT or GRE scores, as well as three professional letters of recommendation. The in-person orientation for the program is generally held in Atlanta over the course of two days toward the beginning of August. Columbus State originally began as a junior college in 1958, before becoming a four-year university in 1965 and eventually joining the Georgia State University system in 1996.
Format: Online
#7. SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Sam Houston State University offers an online Master of Business Administration degree program, which requires 36 credit hours of coursework. Students are able to enroll in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Credit requirements are broken down between 27 hours of core courses and nine hours of electives. Core courses include Accounting for Managers, Techniques of Statistical Analysis, and Managerial Communication. Students then select four elective courses, one of which will be an upper-level economics course, while the other three can be any graduate-level College of Business electives. The Seminar in Strategic Management and Policy is a part of the core sequence and serves as the capstone course for the program.
Students who graduate from their undergraduate institutions with a degree in a non-business and non-accounting field will be required to complete prerequisite "stem" courses covering introductory accounting, business, and economics courses. There are 15 total credit hours of stem courses required. Applicants to the program must submit official transcripts, GMAT scores, and a current resume. Students may receive a GMAT waiver if they have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher or a GPA of at least 2.5 with at least three years of significant managerial and professional experience. Students may elect to take any portion of the program either online or in face-to-face courses at the Woodlands Center. Most Woodlands Center courses are offered in the evenings.
Format: Online
#8. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, MAIN CAMPUS
The University of South Florida offers students an online Master of Business Administration program requiring 32 credit hours of coursework. Full-time students can complete the program in just four semesters, while part-time students can finish in around three years. Additional time may be required for students who have to complete foundational courses before beginning the MBA curriculum. The program coursework begins with 14 credit hours of core courses, such as Social, Ethical, and Legal Systems; Strategic Business Analysis; and Data Analytics for Business. Students then get to choose an area of concentration from the following list: Cybersecurity, Data Analysis, and Compliance, Risk and Anti-Money Laundering [sic]. Concentration areas require students to complete 18 hours of coursework, which includes a mixture of required elective courses and chosen electives.
Each concentration area is also offered as a graduate certificate program. The certificate versions of the concentrations require a total of 12 credit hours, or four courses, divided between two core and two elective courses. Students have an option to pursue a practicum as a part of the program, which is a three-credit course devoted to the investigation of practical business issues. The project is typically completed at a student's place of work and is jointly supervised by both the student's supervisor and his or her academic advisor. The practicum credits count towards the elective requirements for the degree program. All students in the online program are required to attend a three-day residency orientation at the beginning of the program as well as another three-day residency at the end of the program.
Format: Online
#9. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
North Texas' Online Master of Business Administration program can be completed in as few as 14 months through coursework that is delivered in a 100%-online format. It is a 36-credit-hour degree program, which is divided between 18 hours of core courses, 15 hours of specialization courses, and three hours of electives. Core courses include classes such as Accounting for Management and Organizational Behavior & Analysis. Students then choose an area of specialization from a list of options including Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Strategic Management, and Supply Chain Analytics. Each concentration has five preset courses that students are required to take, after which they may then choose an elective course from the remaining upper-level concentration courses. For example, the Marketing Analytics track offers a Discovery and Learning with Big Data elective course.
Other concentration area options not listed above include Supply Chain Management and Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management. There are five semesters each year – in January, March, June, August, and October – during each of which students generally take two courses. The capstone course for the program is an Administrative Strategy course, which focuses on the integration of functional areas of business through lectures, case analysis, and special topics. North Texas has a number of excellent faculty members in the MBA program, including Dr. GG Ganesh, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Houston in 1985 and teaches some of the Marketing-concentration courses.
Format: Online
#10. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
North Alabama offers an online Master of Business Administration program, which includes nine different concentration area options for students. Concentration area options for the program include Information Systems, Accounting, Sales and New Business Development, and Global Business. Each concentration area has its own sequence of core courses, but each degree program requires a total of 34 credit hours of coursework. Along with the general MBA program, North Alabama also has an Executive MBA program, which is tailored to meet the needs of experienced business professionals. The Executive MBA can be completed online and also offers students international residency opportunities in areas such as China and Taiwan. Students can even complete the entire EMBA program abroad.
In addition to the MBA program, North Alabama offers a graduate certificate in Project Management. Students applying to this program are expected to have at least five years of full-time work experience, including the demonstration of increasing responsibility within professional/entrepreneurial positions. Students applying to the basic MBA program are required to have either three years of professional experience or a GMAT score of at least 400. Applicants must also have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or a GPA of 3.0 in the final 30 hours of coursework. The North Alabama Executive MBA was ranked the No. 1 Online EMBA program in the country by College Consensus.
Format: Online
#11. PURDUE UNIVERSITY, MAIN CAMPUS
Purdue University has a Master of Business Administration program, which is delivered in a 100%-online format. The program is designed to last around two years, and students have three start dates to choose from throughout the year. The 48-credit-hour program includes core courses in Financial Accounting, Business Analytics, and Management Information Systems. Students then have elective coursework, before finishing the program with a Capstone Simulation course. The capstone is designed as an advanced investigation into a specific management field and allows students to work in teams on a business simulation. Applicants to the program must submit GMAT scores, unless they have at least three years of credible work experience and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the Purdue Global Campus MBA No. 3 among online MBA programs in the country for return on educational investment. On top of Purdue Global's Online MBA program, Purdue also has Weekend Professional, Executive, and Global Executive MBA programs available. The Global Executive program allows students to travel with their cohort to seven countries on four continents to experience the different ways that business is done around the world. The Weekend Professional MBA program is a blended-delivery program, offering a 21-month curriculum. Students attend in-person courses every other weekend, in addition to completing online coursework in between. Both the Global Executive and Weekend Professional MBA programs require 48 credit hours of coursework.
Format: Online
#12. FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY
Fort Hays State has an online Master of Business Administration program, consisting of 34 credit hours of coursework. Coursework is split between core courses and concentration courses. Core courses include Advanced Managerial Accounting, Business Research and Quantitative Methods, and Managerial Economics. Students then choose a concentration area from a list of options including Digital Marketing, Finance, Information Assurance, and Leadership Studies. There are 13 total concentration areas offered at Fort Hays State, though a small number of these concentrations are available only to on-campus MBA students. Each concentration requires nine credit hours, which can come from either a preset sequence or student-directed electives, depending on the area of concentration. The final core course, Organizational Behavior in a Global Context, is designed to give students practical applications for their new MBA knowledge.
Students without undergraduate coursework may be required to complete up to 12 additional hours of foundation courses. The four foundation courses cover topics relating to economics, marketing, management, accounting, and quantitative methods. Other concentrations not listed above include Leadership Studies, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. Students also have the option of choosing a General MBA, which means that they simply take any three elective courses from within the MBA program. Students must submit two letters of recommendation with their application, which should also include scores from either the GMAT or the GRE. Alumni from the online MBA program have gone on to fill important leadership roles at institutions including Walmart, Texas Instruments, IBM, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and GE.
Format: Online
#13. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Florida International University has a Professional Master of Business Administration program, which is designed for working professionals and offers a fast-paced, vigorous structure. It is a fully-online program, with courses delivered in eight-week formats. Students have three different pacing tracks to choose from, depending on their desired enrollment status and completion time. These pacing tracks range from 18-33 months in length, with students taking anywhere between two courses per eight-week quarter to one course per quarter. The curriculum includes 12 core courses and two elective courses. Core courses include Corporate Finance, Accounting for Managers, and Financial Reporting and Analysis. Elective courses can be directed towards a specialization area such as Finance, Marketing Channel Strategy, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Start dates are available at five different points during the year, including twice in the fall and spring, as well as once during the summer. Each fall and spring, FIU hosts a two-day residency in Miami. The residency is not required, but it is highly recommended, as it provides students with great opportunities to meet professors and program administrators, as well as network with peers. Activities during the residency include case-method analyses, team-building workshops, guest speakers, and networking events. The costs of the residency are included in the price of tuition for the program. The program's most recent cohort was evenly divided between male and female students. Students had an average of just over seven years of work experience and had an average age of 30.5 years.
Format: Online
#14. UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
The University of Utah is home to an online Master of Business Administration program, which is delivered in an asynchronous format that is available for students 24/7. There are three semester starts available per year, and there are no prerequisite requirements for starting the program. Each student also receives one-on-one executive career coaching, which includes a personalized career plan that makes sure students' coursework has direct practical relevance to their career aspirations. Students take a total of 48 credit hours of coursework, which includes a mandatory three-day residency in August of their first year of the program. Students are able to get advice from professors through virtual office hours set up through discussion threads or by phone.
Utah offers students the opportunity to take classes both online and in-person at the same time. Students in Utah's Online MBA program report an average salary increase of 34% after they graduated. All Online MBA students receive full access to career advancement resources, which includes not only the career coaching mentioned above but also career advancement workshops and online videos, content, and tools. Utah's online coursework tool allows students to learn through a multi-faceted and interactive approach to learning, which also incorporates peer interactions. Students complete group assignments together and use discussion boards to delve into relevant issues, as well as complete peer reviews of peer assignments.
Format: Online
#15. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a Master of Business Administration program, which offers on-campus, online, or hybrid delivery formats. Students can attend the program full or part-time. Students must complete 36 credit hours of coursework in the program, which is divided between Breadth, Emphasis, and Elective courses. There are 11 different emphasis options available in the program, which include options such as Project Management, International Business, Data Analytics, and Finance. Students also have the option of creating a customized specialization tailored around their professional goals and interests. Whitewater has more than 50 elective course options for MBA students to choose from.
Students have the option of taking on-campus courses at the Whitewater campus, as well as at a corporate campus in Madison. Students graduating from the program become a part of an alumni network of more than 30,000 active alumni. Students without prerequisite coursework in business will be required to take common-body-of-knowledge courses or to complete the Graduate Business Foundation certificate. There are a number of different qualifications that Whitewater accepts for entry into the MBA program. These include undergraduate record, graduate record, work experience, military service, professional certification, or scores from the GRE/GMAT. Students who wish to qualify through work experience should have either seven years of full-time experience or four years of experience along with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Format: Online
#16. INDIANA UNIVERSITY-BLOOMINGTON
IU Bloomington has a Master of Business Administration program, which is described as being an 80-99% online degree. Students are required to complete 54 credit hours of coursework, which is delivered through online courses and on-campus residencies. The on-campus residencies are called "Kelly Connect Weeks", which are one-week residencies that happen at the beginning and end of the program. These are intensive academic and networking opportunities, held at the IU Bloomington campus, where students meet with their peers and professors to work on a live business case for a real client. The degree curriculum was recently designed to make more than 50% of the program available for personal customization. Students can even select from one of seven major options to add to their MBA degree.
IU Bloomington also offers students the opportunity to extend their studies in a given specialization to turn their program into a dual degree program. This requires students to take just four extra courses on top of the MBA curriculum. Students graduating from the program have gone on to pursue careers in industries including Healthcare, Finance, Engineering, Technology, Consulting, and Project Management.
Format: Hybrid
#17. ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, TEMPE
Arizona State, Tempe has an online Master of Business Administration program, which requires 49 credit hours of coursework. Students take a total of 17 courses in the program that each last for a period of 7.5 weeks. Most students are able to graduate from the program in around 24 months. They also have the option of choosing an area of emphasis to go along with their degree. Courses begin with core classes covering topics such as Statistics for Managers, Financial Performance Reporting, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. Students then choose elective courses, which can include Global Business Environment, Business to Business Marketing, and Strategic Procurement. Students finish the program with a Strategic Management capstone course where they formulate business strategies with an emphasis on the integration of decisions in the different functional areas of business.
ASU has a number of different areas of emphasis that students can choose for their degree, including Finance, Marketing, International Business, and Supply Chain Management. U.S. World News & Report ranked ASU's online MBA program as the No. 6 best online MBA in the country. The program has been similarly lauded by The Princeton Review and the Financial Times. Students can start the program in either January or August. Students have the option of electing to take the summer off from the program. Elective courses can be taken on-campus, even by students who are registered in the online program. Applicants to the program are expected to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in either the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or in an applicable master's degree program.
Format: Online
#18. FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Ferris State is home to an online Master of Business Administration program. It is a 39-credit-hour program, which is divided between 30 hours of core courses and nine hours of electives. The curriculum core draws from subject areas including Business Management, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Economics, and Business Law. Students then either choose an existing concentration, or they can work with an advisor to create a customized area of study. This customized area of study can include independent research, along with a combination of graduate courses centered around the student's main career interests. All classes are taken online, and there are no residency requirements for the program. Concentrations available in the program include Incident Response, Design & Innovation Management, Project Management, and Lean Systems and Leadership.
There are more than 20 faculty members who teach as a part of Ferris State's MBA program, each of whom either has a terminal degree or a significant amount of industry experience. All courses are taught by faculty who are either tenured or tenure-track. The MBA is an open enrollment program, which means that students are able to register for the program during the semester before they will begin taking classes. Applicants to the program are expected to submit GRE/GMAT scores, though they can earn a waiver for this by either possessing a previous graduate degree or through demonstrated leadership experience. Elective courses available in the program include Database Management and Security, Leadership by Design, and Quality Improvement Principles & Apps.
Format: Online
#19. EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
East Carolina University is home to a Master of Business Administration program, which requires students to take a total of 18 courses. These courses can be delivered through online, face-to-face, or hybrid interfaces. While the default program requires 18 courses, there are course waivers available for students to reduce that to as few as 11 courses. The first seven courses cover foundation topics and are mostly designed to introduce students from non-business undergraduate backgrounds to foundational topics in business. Students then take eight common-body-of-knowledge courses, which include coursework that encourages students to accumulate practical business skills as well as to begin compiling a business portfolio. The final three courses in the program are elective or graduate certificate courses.
If students wish to complete a graduate certificate, then they will need to add an extra one-to-two courses onto the base program requirements – meaning they will take as few as 12 or as many as 20 total courses. Students have three electives, but some certificate programs require as many as four courses to earn the certificate. Some of the certificate options offered in the program are Finance, Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality, and Business Analytics. Applicants are required to submit scores from the GMAT, but they can earn a waiver if they have full-time professional experience, a qualifying GPA, or have previously earned a terminal degree. Students are given full control over their course load and enrollment status, and so the program does not employ a cohort structure, and the program has no intended time-to-completion.
Format: Online
#20. ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, MAIN CAMPUS
Arkansas State University has an online Master of Business Administration program, which was created to meet the needs of working professionals from a diverse range of academic backgrounds. The general MBA program consists of 27 credit hours of core courses and six hours of elective courses, making the program total requirement 33 hours. MBA core courses include Management Information Systems, Corporate Financial Management, and Accounting for Planning and Control. Students also have the option of pursuing a concentration in either Supply Chain Management or Finance. There are a number of other concentration areas available for students completing the program on-campus. In addition to topic area knowledge, the program is designed to train students in leadership/values, international business, and action-based learning.
Applicants to the program are required to submit GMAT scores as a part of the admissions process. Arkansas State has a number of formulas that combine GRE/GMAT scores with undergraduate GPA to determine a candidate's standing for admission. Students who meet the GMAT but not the GPA standards may be granted conditional admission to the program. No applicant will be admitted to the program without a satisfactory score on either the GMAT or the GRE. There are a number of business prerequisite courses that students must complete before they can begin the MBA curriculum. These include Survey of Accounting, Survey of Law, and Survey of Operations Management.
Format: Online
#21. NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH
North Carolina State's online Professional Master of Business Administration program is offered in two different formats: Accelerated or Flexible. This allows students to decide their course load and time-to-completion goals, with students being able to finish the program in as few as 21 months. Most of the program's courses are completed online, but there are two three-day residencies required. Residencies take place in Raleigh at the school's main campus. The MBA curriculum includes 40 credit hours of coursework, which includes the completion of an area of emphasis. Students devote 34 credit hours to core coursework and six hours to emphasis courses. Students pursuing the online version of the program have the same area of emphasis options as on-campus students. There are also graduate certificate programs offered in similar areas of study.
Program starts are available to students in either the spring or fall semester. Students who are currently active duty military members can have the residency requirements waived and instead replace them with further elective coursework. Students are expected to have at least two years of full-time post-graduation work experience to apply for admission to the program. Applicants should also have completed an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of at least ‘C' or higher. Students in the MBA program have the option of combining elements of the online and evening versions of the MBA program. However, beyond the two required residencies, students may complete all of the coursework for the program online.
Format: Hybrid
#22. BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
Ball State has a flexible Master of Business Administration program that students can take as an online, face-to-face, or hybrid program. Students begin the program with 24 credit hours of core courses. These core courses cover topic areas such as Entrepreneurial Leadership and Accounting and Decision-Making. They can then choose from one of the following five concentration areas: entrepreneurship, finance, health economics, supply chain management, and sales management. MBA elective/concentration coursework makes up between six and nine credit hours of the program requirements. Students who choose to earn a general MBA degree will only need to complete two elective courses, or six hours. The final course in the program is the Entrepreneurial Strategy course, which focuses on the idea of strategic management in the global marketplace.
U.S. News & World Report rated the flexible MBA as of the 20 best online programs in the country. Start dates are available for students in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Applicants who have already completed undergraduate coursework in business will only have to complete a total of 30-33 credit hours of coursework in the program. There are up to an additional 18 credit hours of coursework that students without an undergraduate degree in business may be required to complete, making the program total up to 51 credit hours. Ball State also has graduate certificate programs in business, which offer training in areas such as Business Essentials for Professionals, Health Economics, Policy and Administration, and Professional Sales Management.
Format: Online
#23. UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
The University of Memphis is home to an online Master of Business Administration program. The non-concentration version of the program requires 33 credit hours of coursework, and courses are delivered through both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. The coursework requirement is divided between 30 hours of core courses along with one three-credit elective. Core courses include Seminar in Leadership, Creativity and Innovation, Global Financial Management, and Global Strategic Marketing. Some of the courses in the program, such as Creativity and Innovation, can be taken as a three-day, on-campus residency course. On-campus residencies are scheduled on a rotating basis at the beginning of each semester.
The Memphis Online MBA program was ranked as one of the Top 25 Best Value schools for veterans by U.S. World News & Report. Applicants to the program are generally required to submit scores from either the GMAT or the GRE, unless they have previously earned a master's or another terminal degree. The class profile of one of the most recent Professional MBA cohorts shows an average GMAT score of 550 and an average GPA of 3.3. Students entered the program at an average age of 33 years old and brought with them seven-to-ten years of work experience. Students were 66% percent male and included international students from Japan, India, and Turkey.
Format: Online
#24. WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
West Texas A&M's online Master of Business Administration program can be completed fully online or through a hybrid format. Each student who applies receives a personalized plan of study based on their professional and academic qualifications. The program is generally intended to be completed in around two years. Students start the program with 28 credit hours of core coursework. Students take one core course from each subject area including Accounting, Computer Applicant & Technology, and Corporate Finance. Students then choose courses that they would care to earn toward their area of emphasis. Areas of emphasis require from three to nine credit hours of coursework. The program ends with an MBA portfolio course, which includes the compilation of a professional resume and seven projects completed during the program.
Applicants to the program are expected to have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. In 2019, The Princeton Review ranked the WT online MBA as one of the 25 Best Online MBA programs in the country. The General Business emphasis for the MBA program requires only one graduate-level elective, while emphasis areas such as Marketing and Management require nine credit hours of coursework. Students also have the option of pursuing a Healthcare Management emphasis or an emphasis in Computer Information Systems. Faculty members in the program come from a diverse range of academic and professional backgrounds, including Dr. Syed Anwar, who earned his Doctorate in Business Administration from the United States International University.
Format: Online
#25. MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Missouri University of Science and Technology has an online Master of Business Administration program, which requires a total of 36 credit hours of coursework. Students take 21 hours of core classes and 15 hours of electives. The MBA core includes Teambuilding and Leadership; International Marketing; and Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Information Systems Management. Students then have the opportunity to pursue elective courses centered around an area of emphasis. Emphasis areas include a mixture of required and fully-elective courses. For example, the Cybersecurity emphasis offers students elective options such as Enterprise Application Development, Foundations of Internet Computing, and Advanced Electronic and Mobile Commerce. Classes can be taken either in-person or through state-of-the-art virtual classroom environments.
Missouri has a number of Graduate Certificate programs in business, which requires 15 hours of coursework to complete. Certificate programs are available in Business Intelligence, Electronics and Social Commerce, Financial Technology, and Digital Media and Web Design. In total there are 16 different emphases available for students to choose from in the program. The program is open to any applicants holding a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in business, social sciences, technology, engineering, or a related discipline. Students who have the necessary prerequisite courses, despite having a degree in an unrelated discipline, may also be admitted to the program. Applicants are also expected to have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, as well as GMAT/GRE scores.
Format: Online
#26. UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
The University of Mississippi's Master of Business Administration online program is a 36-credit-hour comprehensive program that can be completed in as little as two years, including four semesters and two summer sessions. The program can also be extended to help accommodate students' work schedules. Courses are delivered 100%-online, taught by the same faculty members who teach the on-campus MBA program. Students take two courses per semester, which begins with core courses such as Managerial Economics, Managerial Accounting, and Business Planning and Entrepreneurship. Later courses then cover Project Analysis, Strategic Marketing Management, and Management of Technology and Innovation. There are no elective courses in the curriculum. Students also take a Strategic Management capstone course, which is generally taken a student's second to last semester.
Students have up to six years to complete the requirements for the degree. U.S. World News & Report ranked UM's program as the ninth-best affordable online program in the country. Applicants to the program are required to submit scores from either the GMAT or the GRE. Students must also submit two letters of recommendation, along with their statement of purpose. Prerequisite coursework is required in the following subjects: Principles of Accounting and Business Finance. Students must have completed these courses with a grade of "C" or better. Students may apply for up to six credit hours of transfer credit into the program. There is no conditional admission or non-degree status for students who have not been accepted into the program and who wish to begin coursework for the MBA. Students with a GMAT score below 500 are advised to retake the exam to be competitive for admission.
Format: Online
#27. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is home to an online Master of Business Administration degree program. The 30-credit-hour program consists of four, four-credit MBA modules and 14 credits of electives. Students can complete the program is as little as two years. Most students in the program are employed full-time, and therefore they choose to take four-six credit hours of coursework per semester. Each module in the core curriculum covers a different area of business. Module 1 covers leadership and communication, Module 2 touches on product launches and new ventures, and Module 3 teaches students about long-term strategy development. Module 4 then attempts to tie all of the previous modules together, while also preparing students to consider present conditions and possible future events.
The program can be completed in two years; however, if students need to complete prerequisite courses, then they will likely finish the program in between 2.5-3 years. Wisconsin-Eau Claire offers more than 35 different elective course options, such as Financial Statement Analysis, Fundamental Methods of Forecasting, Consumer Behavior, and Work-Family Issues in Contemporary Times. The minimum undergraduate GPA for applying to the program is 2.5. No campus visits or residencies are required as a part of the program. Classes have an average size of just 25, to ensure a highly personal experience, even in the virtual learning environment.
Format: Online
#28. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, MAIN CAMPUS
Oklahoma State University is home to a part-time online Master of Business Administration program. The curriculum for the program requires 42 credit hours of coursework, which is delivered in an asynchronous format that allows students to determine their pace of progression. Students start by taking classes covering subjects such as financial reporting, economics, and accounting. They then move on to management and analytics courses. In total, the program requires 14 courses. Students generally enroll part-time, and on average students are able to complete the program in approximately three years. There are also specialization options for students who are interested in using their elective courses to pursue a particular area of emphasis. Some of the concentration options available include Data Science, Business Sustainability, and Nonprofit Management.
Oklahoma State recommends but does not require that students have work experience to apply for admission. Students should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and will need to submit scores from the GRE or the GMAT. The graduate employment rate for the program is 98.4%. The rate refers to how many recent alumni have started or been offered a new job, or who have made other professional plans within three months of graduating. The program is structured in a team-oriented model that attempts to build personal and professional connections between peers, so that they can learn not only the subject matter but also the teamwork skills they will need to thrive in the workplace.
Format: Online
#29. CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Central Michigan offers a 36-40-credit-hour online Master of Business Administration program. Along with the core curriculum of the program, students have the option of pursuing one of five different areas of specialization: Value-Driven Organization, Enterprise Resource Planning, Logistics Management, Marketing, and Human Resource Management. Core courses make up the first 27 credit hours of coursework. Core courses include Marketing-Based Management and Data Analysis for Data Managers. The rest of each student's coursework is for elective credits, which generally relate to the student's chosen area of specialization. All degree programs end with a capstone course. The Strategic Management course centers around the combination of analyzing, selecting, implementing, and evaluating possible decision points from a management perspective.
As one example of a concentration area in the program, the Enterprise Resource Management concentration connects students with software created by the technology firm SAP. This concentration even includes a course referred to as a SAP Boot Camp course. Students can begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semester, so long as there is space remaining in the given semester. The minimum requirements for applying to the program are to have a baccalaureate degree and to have earned a minimum GPA of 2.7. Applicants are also required to submit GMAT scores with a minimum score of 450. Students with a strong undergraduate academic record, a terminal graduate degree, or significant work experience can have the GMAT score requirement waived.
Format: Online
#30. OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Old Dominion University has an online Master of Business Administration program, which requires students to complete 40-45 credit hours of coursework. Courses are delivered in accelerated, eight-week formats. The program offers areas of expertise for students to pursue, which includes options such as Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization; Maritime, Ports, and Logistics Management; and Public Pronouncement and Contract Management. Students begin the program with core courses covering Financial Accounting and Managerial Economics. Students have two elective course spaces that they can fill during their final few semesters in the program. The degree program ends with a two-semester long seminar in Strategic Management. Graduates from the program have gone on to pursue careers in areas such as Banking and Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Logistics Management.
The ODU online MBA program was ranked as one of the Top 50 Best Online MBA programs in the country by U.S. World News & Report. The Princeton Reviews even ranked the program in the Top 25 nationally! Students without a business degree start the program by taking five one-credit core courses, which cover topic areas such as Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Introduction to Accounting. ODU offers a number of degree-plan options for students to pursue. These include options that last as little as five-six semesters – 21 months – and as long as 10-11 semesters – 42 months. Students can also apply for Prior Learning Assessment, which can allow them to earn credit for what they already know, even if it didn't come from a classroom or a degree program.
Format: Online
#31. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
The University of Florida is home to an online Master of Business Administration program that can be taken as either a 20- or 21-month program. Students are required to complete 48 credit hours of coursework. This starts with core courses covering the Economics of Business Decisions, which is then followed by seminars in Financial & Managerial Accounting and a Professional Writing course. The next series of courses focus on the monetary aspects of managing a business. These include courses covering Investments, Corporate Finance, and Entrepreneurship. There are also optional "experiential learning courses" offered in the program, which often include international experiences along with the in-class course. Examples of some of these international courses include Global Immersion Experience and Global Business Concepts.
Applicants to the program should have at least two years of professional work experience. There is an accelerated 16-month version of the online MBA program that is intended for students who have graduated with a baccalaureate degree in business in the past seven years. This accelerated program is delivered through a hybrid format, which blends together face-to-face and distance learning elements. Each online class is capped at 65 students. Courses generally demand around 15 hours of homework per week for students to complete their personal assignments, group projects, and course readings. Students may start the program in January, May, and August.
Format: Online
#32. CAPELLA UNIVERSITY
Capella University's School of Business and Technology is home to an online Master of Business Administration program. There are four different emphasis areas that students can choose to specialize in: Human Resource Management, Health Care Management, Project Management, or a Self-Directed concentration. Students also have a choice in the structure of the MBA program that they pursue. They have a choice between the GuidedPath or FlexPath. GuidedPath classes operate in a quarter system. Students can take between one and three courses during each ten-week quarter, and the cost of the program is based on how many courses they take each term. FlexPath students pay a flat fee and can take an unlimited number of courses. Students in this program also set their own deadlines and do not participate in discussions, allowing for a more individualized degree program.
The curriculum of the program requires students to complete seven core classes, three electives, and the final capstone course. Every MBA student is assigned a personalized leadership coach. The coach puts the student through an introductory evaluation, which is then used as the basis for choosing a course and professional growth plan for the student during the program. The final product of the program is an EPortfolio, which contains some of the final products and practical solutions that students have developed during their courses. The FlexPath allows students to complete the program in less than a year. Each specialization area has its own elective courses, such as the following from the Health Care Management program: Business Strategy, Decision-Making in the Health Care System, and Analyzing the Health Care Environment.
Format: Online
#33. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
The University of Arizona offers students an online Master of Business Administration program that is delivered in an asynchronous format available to students 24/7. Students complete 45 credit hours of coursework, which is split between 14 core courses, including 28 hours, and 17 hours of electives. The courses are delivered in a series of "sessions", with two sessions occurring each semester. Students can complete the program in as little as 14 months, and there are no on-campus visits or residencies required in the program. There are six start dates available for the program each year, and students also have six areas of concentration that they can choose from. The concentration areas include Entrepreneurship, Health Care Management, and Finance.
In most cases, scores from the GMAT are required for admission to the program. The program is taught by the same high-quality faculty who teach in the on-campus program. Some of the required core courses from the program include Business Strategy, Survey of Finance as Analyst, and Leadership in Organizations. In addition to the options listed above, there are also concentrations offered in Marketing, Privacy and Security, and Management and Organizations. These concentrations include elective course options such as Business Law, Macroeconomics & Forecasting, and Customer Focused Entrepreneurship. The program also includes an option for a Global Experience Business trip, where students travel to an international business market to learn practical skills for global outreach and management.
Format: Online
#34. MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
Mississippi State's distance learning service offers students an online Master of Business Administration degree program. The program had a curriculum update in 2019, which included the addition of new courses, such as Business Decision Analysis, Strategic Management in a Competitive Environment, and Supply Chain & Operation Management. The program can be completed fully online, with students taking an average of two years to complete the requirements. Most students remain working full-time while they are in the program. Students taking one class per semester would take around five years to graduate from the program, and students have up to eight years to meet all of the degree requirements. The curriculum includes core courses such as Leadership Skills, Supply Chain & Operations Management, and Corporate Finance.
In 2019, this online MBA program was ranked No. 26 among programs of its kind in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Mississippi State has also been ranked by the same publication as being one of the 15 best schools in the country for veterans. All students applying to the program, even those with significant work experience, are required to submit GMAT scores from within the past five years as a part of the admissions process. The admissions committee also will consider competitive GRE scores. The online MBA program is managed by Cindy Smith, who helped start the program in 1998 as a way of providing educational opportunities for soldiers who were serving in Japan.
Format: Online
#35. UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
The University of Delaware's Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics is home to an online Master of Business Administration program. Students can earn a degree 100% online in as little as 16 months. There are even fee and GMAT waivers eligible for certain high-quality applicants to the program. Students do not need to have an undergraduate business background to be admitted to the program. The program curriculum is flexible to meet each student's unique professional needs. Students can choose to complete a degree with a major, a choice of two out of five available concentrations, or a combination of three concentrations. These program options require students to complete 44 credit hours, 47 credit hours, and 53 credit hours, respectively.
Each version of the program includes the following required core courses: Managing People, Teams, and Organizations; Economic Analysis for Business Policy; and Fundamentals of Analytics. The concentration options that students choose from include Business Analytics, Finance, Healthcare Management, International Business, and Strategic Leadership. Students may take any combination of electives that they are interested in, which can include skipping a concentration area and simply choosing a custom series of five elective courses. Students in the program have access to a personal career coach, and scholarships and financial aid are available to online MBA students. Courses are delivered in intensive, seven-week formats.
Format: Online
#36. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE
Southern Illinois Carbondale has an online Master of Business Administration program. This online MBA degree program is structured to last just 23 months. The curriculum is structured using a modular format, where students are paired together in cohorts to ensure that they are able to build personal and professional connections in the program. The curriculum for the program requires the completion of 16 total courses. Courses last eight weeks, with one module being delivered each week of the class. Students only take one course at a time. The spring and fall semesters both contain two eight-week sessions, and the summer semester contains one eight-week session.
The SI Carbondale program has three concentration options for students to choose from. It is also possible for students to simply pursue a general MBA in lieu of pursuing a concentration. The concentration options in the program include Agribusiness Economics and Analytics for Managers. Each student cohort in the program is paired with a minimum of two teaching assistants. Student assistants work with both faculty and students to help with content delivery and coursework completion. A sample of some of the courses from the program includes core courses such as Seminar on Career Effectiveness and Critical Issues for Business. Concentrations then have their own elective/core courses, which include Agricultural Development, Data Science and Analytics for Managers, and Resource Allocation in the Agribusiness Firm.
Format: Online
#37. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Florida State is home to a part-time Master of Business Administration program that can be completed 100% online. The program curriculum includes 39 credit hours of coursework. The first 27 hours are dedicated to core coursework, which is then followed by 12 hours of elective courses. The program includes the option for a concentration area such as Management Information Systems or Risk Management and Insurance. Students have four elective course openings in the degree plan, and to complete a concentration three of those courses must be related to a given concentration area. Core courses from the beginning of the program are as follows: Problems in Financial Management, Business Conditions Analytics, and Organizational Behavior.
Students must get approval from the program director before they may begin specialization in Business Analytics, Management Information Systems, or Risk Management and Insurance. Within the Risk Management and Insurance specialization, there are additional track options for students to focus on either the planning aspects or risk aspects of the specialty. Students who enter the program generally bring a significant amount of work experience with them, but there is no set minimum amount of work experience that students must have to apply. Prerequisite knowledge or coursework is expected in the following areas: accounting, economics, finance, and statistics. GRE/GMAT scores are a required part of the admissions process.
Format: Online
#38. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, MAIN CAMPUS
The University of Virginia offers students a 21-month online Executive Master of Business Administration, which it refers to as the EMBA. This program is offered in two forms: the regular EMBA and the Global EMBA. Students in the program learn through a series of on-campus residencies and online courses. The core curriculum, which makes up about one-third of the program requirements, is delivered through the online coursework. The rest of the program curriculum is then delivered through a mixture of weekend, leadership, and global experience residencies. Online courses are high-engagement experiences, which are taught using the technology platform Zoom Meeting. There are four different week-long global residencies offered to both programs. EMBA students complete one of these residencies; Global EMBA students complete all four of these opportunities.
The core curriculum includes the following courses: Financial Management and Policies, Marketing, and Strategic Thinking and Action. Many courses in the program help encourage practical knowledge and growth through case study work, along with role-playing, coaching sessions, and peer-mentoring. At the beginning and end of the program, students participate in Leadership residencies at UVA's main Charlottesville campus. These residencies provide students new perspectives on the challenges facing managers through a combination of workshops, coaching, and reflection time. Once a month, students also complete weekend residencies that follow a Friday-Sunday schedule. The Global Residencies completed by students have more than 80 different global business options to choose from through the Darden School of Business. Recent Global Residencies have gone to areas such as South America, East Asia, and Western Europe.
Format: Hybrid
#39. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
The University of Urbana-Champaign has an online Master of Business Administration program. The program is sometimes referred to as the "iMBA" program. The 100%-online program places an emphasis on career readiness and practical application of coursework. Students who need to complete prerequisite coursework for the program do so through the online learning platform Coursera. Once they have completed the introductory version of the course there, they will then take the advanced version of the course in the iMBA. Students begin the MBA by taking courses such as Everyday Leadership, Designing & Managing Organizations, and Strategic Management. Later courses delve further into key subject areas, such as economics, value chain analysis, and money management.
There are eight concentration areas available in the program for students to choose from. A sample of concentration areas includes Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Innovation, and Global Challenges in Business. Once they have completed their concentration electives, students may also take further electives that build on their core coursework. The most recent cohorts of the online MBA program have included students from over 90 countries and 46 U.S. states. Students also have a wide range of professional experience, which comes from for-profit, charitable, and entrepreneurial organizations, as well as from the U.S. military. Applicants to the program must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, as well as three or more years of operational or management experience. GRE or GMAT scores are highly recommended but not required for admission.
Format: Online
#40. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
The University of South Dakota has an online Master of Business Administration program, which is designed to develop leaders for business, industry, and government, as well as to encourage those with a passion for teaching and an interest in doctoral work. Students have five different concentration options they can choose to complete in the program, such as Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Health Services Administration. The program requires students to complete between 33-56 credit hours of coursework, depending on foundational course needs. Students can choose between thesis and non-thesis versions of the program. Both versions include 27 hours of core coursework. The final six hours are then either dedicated to the completion of the student's thesis or business-related electives.
The school's online Master of Business Administration program is accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business, a distinction earned by less than 5% of schools worldwide. USD's MBA program has been accredited by the AACSB since 1965. Partial admission can be granted to students who must still complete prerequisite coursework in introductory business courses and courses in other related subjects. These foundational courses can make up an additional 18 credit hours of coursework, covering calculus, economics, and operations management. Core courses in the program build on this foundation, through courses such as Managerial Economics, Quantitative Analysis, and Leadership Development. Students can complete the program in as little as two years, and there is also a hybrid version of the program available for students who wish to complete some of the requirements face-to-face.
Format: Online
#41. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA,-TWIN CITIES
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has an online Master of Business Administration program, which allows working professionals to take control of their education. Students are encouraged to apply lessons from their day jobs, while also broadening their knowledge base and advancing their leadership potential to open up new job opportunities and avenues. This program can be completed in as few as two years, with students completing a mixture of business fundamental courses and industry-specific electives. There are 52 credit hours required in the curriculum, and courses are offered in each of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The core course sequence is taken in a preset order, after which students gain control over which classes they take and what order they would like to take them in.
Students in the program are required to complete two on-campus residencies, which they are able to select from a series of different options. Options for the residency requirements include an immersive orientation experience centered around essential tools for academic success, condensed format/weekend courses, or career workshops/professional conferences. Students may also complete global enrichment courses, which provide a hands-on learning experience in international business communities. Some of the core courses from the program include Leading Others, Financial Accounting, Data-Driven Age, and Supply Chain & Operations. Applicants to the program are expected to have at least two years of full-time work experience, and they are also required to submit two letters of recommendation and official GRE/GMAT scores.
Format: Online
#42. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, LINCOLN
The University of Nebraska, Lincoln offers an online Master of Business Administration program. It is a 100%-online MBA, which includes 48 credit hours of coursework. Students start the program with 30 hours of core classes, such as Managerial Finance and Business Analytics. Students then take elective courses, some of which are referred to as Breadth Electives, which can be taken from any relevant areas. Students can even gain advisor approval to take elective courses from outside of the College of Business. Students must take at least one elective course that includes a global/international component. Students without significant work experience are encouraged to pursue a professional internship during the program, on top of completing their course requirements. There is also a hybrid version of the program available, which blends distance learning and face-to-face coursework.
Students must have at least one year of full-time post-baccalaureate work experience to apply to the online MBA program. Students who wish to pursue the FlexMBA program do not have a minimum work experience requirement that they need to meet. Students are encouraged to apply if they have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and a GMAT score within the range of 600. Students with at least seven years of work experience can have both the GMAT and GPA score requirements waived. The Online MBA program can also be taken as part of a dual degree program. Students can earn their MBA along with another master's or professional degree, such as a Juris Doctorate or Master of Architecture. There are also graduate certificate programs available in subjects such as Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management.
Format: Hybrid
#43. COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, FORT COLLINS
Colorado State University has an online Master of Business Administration program that requires students to complete a total of 22 classes. Most students are able to complete the program in 21 months, with the 42 credit hours of coursework broken down as follows: 16 core classes, five electives, and a capstone course. Core courses include Information Management, Business Economics for the World Market, and Business Systems and Processes. To fulfill the elective course requirement students can take any upper-level business elective, but they may also pursue opportunities such as international immersions or on-campus professional development seminars. Students can also direct their elective courses towards the completion of a concentration in Marketing, Finance, or Computer Information Systems, among others.
On average, students enter the program at 35 years old and have an average of ten years of professional, full-time work experience. The program is designed to last 21 months, but students have up to five years – 60 months – to meet all of the MBA degree requirements There is no thesis component to the program, and students cannot transfer previous graduate coursework. Some of the professional development seminar options mentioned above include courses in Career Management, Sustainable Venturing and the New Energy Economy, and Ethical Leadership. Students aiming to complete the program in 21 months should take two courses per semester, while students attending the program part-time take only one. Students do not have to submit GRE or GMAT scores for admission to the program.
Format: Online
#44. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
The University of Maryland, College Park is home to an online Master of Business Administration program. The Smith Online MBA, as the program is also known, requires students to complete 54 credit hours of coursework. Students can earn their MBA degree in as little as two years. Foundation courses include Data Analysis, Decision Modeling, Strategic Information Systems, and The Global Economic Environment. Students then have the option of choosing a concentration area, such as Accounting, Finance, or Marketing. Each specialization requires three courses, which are preset based on the concentration. Other concentration options in the program include Supply Chain Management and Information Systems & Business Analytics. Students may also elect not to choose a concentration and can instead take three elective course options.
There is a residency component of the program. Students are required to attend an opening residency, which is referred to as Introduction to Fundamentals of Business. In addition to the opening residency, there is also a closing residency towards the end of the student's degree program. As a part of the capstone experience, students complete an integrated business simulation, where students apply practical business skills accumulated throughout the program. Applicants to the program are expected to have at least two years of full-time professional work experience, though any student with more than one year of experience will be considered. Students tend to have GMAT scores ranging from 575-725, but there is no required score for admission.
Format: Online
#45. LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY
Lindenwood University has an online Master of Business Administration program, which focuses on giving students the latest skills, concepts, and management practices through learning techniques such as case studies. There are 11 different emphasis options that students are able to choose from in the program, including Leadership, Management, Sport Management, and Supply Chain Management. The basic MBA curriculum is made up of 33 credit hours of coursework, but students pursuing an emphasis may have additional credit requirements. For example, the Sport Management emphasis requires students to complete the Orientation to Sport Management course, before then taking four additional electives. These courses total 15 credit hours, which makes the total credit requirement for the Sports Management emphasis 36 credit hours.
In addition to the online MBA program, Lindenwood also offers students the opportunity to complete the program face-to-face. Other emphasis options not listed above include International Business, Nonprofit Administration, Entrepreneurial Studies, and Accounting. Students who do not have an undergraduate background in business may be required to take up to nine additional hours of prerequisite coursework, which is in addition to the 33 credit hour requirement for the degree. On top of the online MBA program, Lindenwood also has a number of graduate business certificate programs, in areas such as Human Resource Management, Leadership, and Nonprofit Management. There is also a Master of Accountancy program available for students who wish to pursue a business career in accounting.
Format: Online
#46. COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY
The College of William & Mary offers students an online Master of Business Administration program, which requires 49 credit hours of coursework. Class sizes are limited to around 22 students per course. Students are required to take 12 courses, which last 7.5 weeks each, and each student is also required to complete one on-campus residency. Residencies are hosted twice a year at the college's main campus in Williamsburg, VA. Residencies include speakers, team-building exercises, and networking functions. The most recent cohorts of students entering the program came from more than 179 different undergraduate institutions. Students had an average of ten years of work experience, with an undergraduate average GPA of 3.2.
Applicants to the program must meet two main criteria. They should have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university, and they should have at least two years of professional working experience. Students should also submit GMAT scores; scores below 500 will not be considered, and students with scores between 500-550 are encouraged to retake the exam. GRE/GMAT waivers are available for students with at least five years of full-time work experience or those who have either a graduate degree in a quantitative field or an undergraduate degree in a quantitative field with a GPA of at least 3.0.
Format: Online
#47. UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
Maine's online Master of Business Administration program requires 30 credit hours of coursework and can be completed 100% online. Students can be accepted into the program at any time and can begin coursework during the August, January, or May semesters. The program curriculum is delivered through a mixture of self-paced coursework, interactive classes, and virtual collaboration with other students. Core courses make up 24 hours of the course requirements, which include courses such as Law, Business, and Society, Financial Statement Analysis, and Management Policy. Students must then choose two elective courses from a list including Electronic Commerce and Selected Advanced Topics. There are also MBA internship, Independent Study, and International Field Study elective options available.
Applications to the program are considered on a rolling basis. The minimum GMAT and GPA scores for admission to the program are 500 and 3.0, though 550 and 3.5 are preferred, respectively. Students are generally required to submit GMAT scores for admission, but this can be waived for students who have already completed a terminal graduate degree, have a relevant professional certification, or have more than five years of post-graduate professional or military experience. 95% of graduates from the program find employment within three months of graduating. Students have gone on to pursue careers with companies such as LL Bean, Tyler Technologies, Bangor Federal Credit Union, and BC Partners. Students are expected to have completed prerequisite courses in finance, economics, marketing, and accounting.
Format: Online
#48. WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Washington State University's online Master of Business Administration is delivered in a flexible, 100%-online format. Qualified applicants do not have to submit GMAT scores, and there are four different concentration options, along with a general MBA option. Students can graduate from the program is as few as 22 months, with most students finishing in no more than 29 months. Students complete 36 credit hours of MBA coursework, which includes seven core courses and three electives. In addition to the general track option, students may choose to pursue a focus in marketing, finance, international business, or hospitality business management. Students then finish the program with a series of three capstone courses, which together help to combine each student's previous coursework and prepare them to apply it practically in the workplace.
Washington State's MBA program includes the option for an International Field Study. Students use the international trip as an opportunity to meet classmates in person and network with professionals outside of the United States. In July 2020, the program is planning to take students to Prague, Czechia. The concentration options from the program can also be taken as graduate certificate programs. Students without an undergraduate degree in business will need to complete additional foundation courses covering marketing, data analysis, operations management, and accounting. Core courses cover topics such as Strategic Planning for Personal and Program Success, Administrative Control, and Managerial Leadership. The end product of the three-capstone sequence will be a final business plan.
Format: Online
#49. PENN STATE WORLD CAMPUS
Penn State's global online campus houses an online Master of Business Administration program, which requires 48 credit hours of coursework. In addition to the core coursework in the program, students have the option to complete one of 15 different concentration options. Students are required to complete a residency program at the school's University Park campus. This residency occurs at the start of the program and provides students the opportunity to meet instructors and peers, along with immersion in workshops related to career management, alumni relations, and networking. Beginning in the spring of 2020, students in the program will also have the opportunity to participate in a Global Immersion trip.
Some of the concentration options available in the program are corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, finance, management consulting, and marketing analytics. Each concentration requires students to complete nine credit hours of coursework. Students entering the program in the Fall of 2017 had an average GMAT score of 577. Students with advanced degrees, significant leadership experience, or at least five years of relevant work experience can qualify for a GRE/GMAT score waiver. The global immersion trip is structured to bring together students from the resident MBA and Executive MBA programs, along with the online MBA program, and help expose them to a critical global business environment. A number of students at Penn State, including some students in the online MBA, pursue two online graduate degrees at the same time.
Format: Online
#50. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
The University of Massachusetts is home to an online Master of Business Administration program, which can include accelerated courses, flexible options, and part-time class schedules. Students can earn their MBA degree in as little as 18 months. Lowell's MBA program offers nine different concentration options for students to pursue. These options include Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Healthcare, and Information Technology. Students are required to complete 30 credit hours of coursework, which includes seven core courses – 21 hours – and three electives – 9 hours. Core courses cover topics such as Corporate Finance, Customers and Markets, Operations Management, and Managing Organizational Change. Students can choose to pursue a General MBA instead of a concentration if they wish, which simply involves completing any three elective courses.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so students can apply to the program at any time. Each concentration has its own subset of elective courses, with some concentrations offering as many as ten different elective options, while others offer closer to six. Some concentrations, such as the Healthcare Management track, require a mixture of preset courses and full electives. Students are required to submit three letters of recommendation for admission to the program, along with official GMAT scores. Part-time students usually take one to two courses per semester. Students have up to five years to complete the requirements for the degree, and course sizes vary from between 20 to 40 students.