Best Online MBA Programs in Illinois

Illinois is home to 181 recognized colleges and universities. Most of these schools offer programs for aspiring business professionals and many are nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Some of the state’s best business schools also offer fully Online MBA Programs that comprise the same curriculum and access to resources as the traditional campus-based program. Just a few of Illinois’ top business schools for Online MBA Programs include the College of Business & Technology (CBT) at Western Illinois University, the School of Business and Management at National Louis University, and the College of Business & Health Administration at University of St. Francis-Joliet. Let’s take a look at what these and other top Illinois business schools have to offer. 

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale 

The College of Business at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU Carbondale) offers a fully Online MBA Program with an optional Concentration in Agribusiness Economics. Per the school, both the General MBA and the MBA with a Concentration in Agribusiness Economics feature a “structured, 23-month curriculum delivered through a focused, modular format,” as well as “participation with a cohort of fellow students that encourages interaction and collaboration.” The Online MBA Program at SIU’s College of Business accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and it: 

• Ranked #6 in the Midwest in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings (top 6% of schools considered)
• Ranked #25 Nationally among Public Schools and Colleges in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings (top 17% of schools considered)
• Ranked #30 Nationally in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings (top 9% of schools considered)
• Ranked #34 Nationally by U.S. News & World Report 

Concordia University Chicago, River Forest 

The College of Business at Concordia University Chicago offers a new Online MBA Program that takes just one year to complete. Students may choose from a variety of specializations such as Digital Marketing, Leadership and Change Management, School Business Management, and Sports Management, to name a few. MBA Certificates are also available and include Digital Marketing, Finance, Health Care Management, Leadership and Change Management, Not-for-Profit Management, and Sports Management. The College of Business is a member of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and a candidate for the additional specialized accreditation by ACBSP. The College also: 

• Ranked #19 among Faith-Based Schools in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings
• Ranked #105 Nationally by U.S. News & World Report 

McKendree University, Lebanon 

McKendree University offers two MBA programs: The McKendree MBA and the MBA-Human Resource Management Concentration (MBA-HRM). Both programs consist of 12 courses and they may be completed 100% online. While the MBA is “designed for students who desire a broad understanding of business operations without concentrating their studies in a particular field,” the MBA-HRM requires three Concentration courses including Organizational Leadership and Transition, Global Human Resource Development, and Managing the Changing Workforce.

Just a few required courses for both programs include Economics of the Firm, Corporate Finance, Stakeholder Management and Ethics, and Organizational Behavior. Students have up to six years to complete either program. In addition to International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) accreditation, McKendree University: 

• Ranked #13 among Faith-Based Schools in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings
• Ranked #115 Nationally by U.S. News & World Report 

University of St. Francis-Joliet, Joliet 

The College of Business and Health Administration at University of St. Francis-Joliet (USF) offers an MBA Program that may be completed 100% online. The program has eight concentration options including Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Health Administration, Human Resource Management, Transportation & Logistics, Management, and Training and Development. The program, which may be completed in 12 to 18 months, requires 36 semester hours of study including the MBA Core (12), Competency Area (12), and Concentration (12). 

In addition to an MBA with eight concentrations, the College of Business and Health Administration offers second master’s degrees as well as Graduate Certificates, which may be applied towards the MBA. Just a few include Business Analytics, Logistics, and Accounting. The Online MBA Program at USF is ACBSP accredited and the school: 

• Ranked #8 among Catholic Schools in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings
• Ranked #124 Nationally by U.S. News & World Report 

American InterContinental University, Schaumburg 

American InterContinental University (AIU) offers Online MBA Program that takes as few as 11 months to complete. The program offers 10 specializations including Accounting, Finance, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Technology Management, and Project Management. All programs require 48 credit hours to graduate, including 24 specialization hours. In addition to obtaining ACBSP accreditation, American Intercontinental University ranked #136 Nationally by U.S. News & World Report.  

DeVry University, Chicago, Downers Grove 

Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University offers an Online MBA Program with 17 concentrations. Just a few include Business Intelligence and Analytics Management, Customer Experience Management, Entrepreneurship, Global Supply Chain Management, and Network & Communications Management. Sessions for the 48 credit hour programs last eight weeks, so students taking just one class per session will complete the program in as few as 32 months. The Online MBA Program at Keller is ACBSP accredited and the school ranked #141 Nationally by U.S. News & World Report. 

North Park University, Chicago 

The North Park MBA can be completed through traditional face-to-face classes, 100% online, or a combination of formats. The 36 credit hour program is offered through the School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM) and it covers Organizational Behavior and Ethics, Marketing Analysis and Consumer Behavior, Multi-Sector Convergence and Social Responsibility, Financial Decision Making, and Strategy for Competitive Advantage. North Park University and all programs in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM) are accredited by HLC and the school has also received specialized accreditation for its business programs through IACBE. 

Western Illinois University, Macomb       

The College of Business and Technology (CBT) at Western Illinois University (WIU) offers an MBA Program that may be completed on campus, online, or hybrid/blended format. The WIU MBA requires between 33 and 54 semester hours of coursework and students can expect an average class size of 16. A Management Emphasis is on the menu as well as internship opportunities. Depending on previously completed coursework, the program may be completed in as few as 12 months. The WIU MBA is AACSB accredited. 

Benedictine University, Lisle 

The Daniel L. Goodwin College of Business at Benedictine University offers an Online MBA Program that may be completed via the traditional one-course-at-a-time format or at an accelerated pace of two courses at a time. The traditional format takes as few as two years to complete and the accelerated pace may be completed in as little as one year. Concentration options for the programs include Accounting, Entrepreneurship and Managing Innovation, Financial Management, Health Administration, International Business, Internet Marketing, and Marketing Management. Students may also customize their own concentration. The school, which ranked #10 among Catholic Schools in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Benedictine is also a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers. 

Dominican University, River Forest 

Brennan School of Business at Dominican University offers an Online MBA Program with a concentration in General Management, Accounting, Finance, Healthcare Administration, International Business, Leadership, or Marketing.  Students must complete 12 to 18 courses to graduate and all are offered in accelerated eight-week sessions over a calendar year, for a total of six sessions per year. Courses feature asynchronous learning, allowing students to complete coursework when it is most convenient for them, from anywhere in the world. The Brennan School of Business at Dominican University is AACSB accredited.

Governors State University, University Park 

The College of Business at Governors State University offers an MBA Program that may be completed fully online (part-time or full-time). Options include a General Management MBA or an MBA in Supply Chain Management. A hybrid MBA with seven specialization options is also available. Options include Finance, Human Resource Management, Corporate Entrepreneurship, International Business, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Students may also choose the custom specialization by selecting nine hours of a group of specific courses. The College of Business at Governors State University is AACSB accredited. 

National Louis University, Chicago 

The School of Business and Management at National Louis University (NLU) offers three Online MBA Programs including a General MBA, an MBA in Entrepreneurship, and an MBA in Nonprofit Management. A blended program of online and on-campus work is also available. All programs begin with “Leadership and Organizational Behavior,” and end with the comprehensive Capstone Simulation, where student teams work together to run a company. The School of Business and Management at NLU is IACBE accredited. 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign 

The College of Business at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is home to a fully Online MBA (iMBA) with four required specializations including Strategic Leadership & Management, Managerial Economics and Business Analysis, Value Chain Management, and Financial Management. Focus Area/Advanced Specializations include Global Challenges in Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Digital Marketing. Students may take two of the three. 

The College of Business at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is AACSB accredited and the school: 

• Ranked #7 in the Midwest in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings (top 7% of schools considered)
• Ranked #33 Nationally among Public Schools and Colleges in our 2016 Online MBA Program Rankings (top 10% of schools considered) 

Looking for even more Online MBA options in the region? Consider the following programs in the neighboring states of Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin: 

 

Kentucky 

• Campbellsville University, Campbellsville
• Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green
• University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg
• Morehead State University, Morehead
• Murray State University, Murray
• Sullivan University, Louisville

Indiana 

• Indiana University, Bloomington
• Ball State University, Muncie
• Grace College, Winona Lake
• Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion
• Oakland City University, Oakland City
• University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne
• Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne
• University of Southern Indiana, Evansville
• Fort Hays State University, Hays

Iowa 

• Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield
• Upper Iowa University, Fayette

Michigan

• Central Michigan University. Mt. Pleasant
• University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn
• Andrews University, Berrien Springs
• Lawrence Technological University, Southfield
• Ferris State University, Big Rapids
• Kettering University, Flint
• Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids
• Davenport University, Grand Rapids
• Madonna University, Livonia
• Baker College, Flint
• Cleary University, Howell
• Michigan Technological University, Houghton
• Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor
• Wayne State College, Wayne

Missouri 

• Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla
• Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau
• Columbia College, Columbia
• Missouri State University, Springfield
• Lindenwood University, St. Charles
• Webster University, Webster Groves
• Park University, Parkville
• Maryville University of St. Louis, St. Louis
• Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville
• William Woods University, Fulton
• Fontbonne University, St. Louis
• Grantham University, Kansas City
• Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis
• Missouri Southern State University, Joplin
• Stephens College, Columbia

Wisconsin 

• University of Wisconsin (MBA Consortium - UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside)
• Herzing University, Kenosha
• Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon
• Edgewood College, Madison
• Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee
• Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee