Our 2022 list of the Top 10 Online MBA Programs in the Southwest. We define the Southwest as Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
| Ranking | School | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona State University | Arizona |
| 2 | University of Texas at Dallas | Texas |
| 3 | Rice University | Texas |
| 4 | University of Arizona | Arizona |
| 5 | University of Utah | Utah |
| 6 | Baylor University | Texas |
| 7 | Colorado State University | Colorado |
| 8 | Oklahoma State University | Oklahoma |
| 9 | University of Denver | Colorado |
| 10 | West Texas A&M University | Texas |
W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU) has several MBA Programs, including an Online MBA that was one of the first fully online MBA programs offered by an AACSB-accredited business school. With just one required in-person meeting at the beginning of the program, the W.P. Carey Online MBA consists of 17 courses (49 credit hours) that focus on leadership skills and personal performance.
Courses are five weeks each and students may take one class at a time. All courses culminate with final exams or final projects. Course examples include Decisions, Market Structure, and Games: Managerial Economics, Leading People, Teams and Organization: Organizational Theory, Create and Deliver Customer Value: Marketing Management, Finance: The Art of Managing Resources, and Ethical Issues for Managers.
Elective options and concentrations allow students to focus in one area or develop skills in multiple areas. Elective examples include Advanced Corporate Finance, Global Business Environment, Project Management, Sustainability & Social Responsibility, and Management of Technology and Innovation. Optional concentrations include Business Data Analytics, Leadership, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, International Business, Finance, and Entrepreneurship.
Other program features include small class sizes, case-based team projects, an inclusive online environment, and the option to earn two degrees in less time and at a lower cost. Dual online degree options include the MBA/MSE in Electrical Engineering, the MBA/Master of Legal Studies, and the MBA/MS in Industrial Engineering.
Graduates of the MBA Programs at Arizona State University are routinely hired by major companies such as Amazon, Bank of America, Walmart, Apple, Dell, Intel, American Express, CVS Health, Nestle, Capital One Financial Corporation, FedEx, Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, the United States Postal Service, Bayer, Northrop Grumman, Michelin North America, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and many others.
Arizona State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school opened on Feb. 8, 1886, nearly 30 years before Arizona was granted statehood, as the Territorial Normal School (TNS), Arizona’s first higher education institution. On the first day of class, the TNS welcomed 33 students to a four-classroom building in Tempe. Today, ASU serves 135,730 students enrolled in more than 800 degree programs across four campuses and ASU Online. Programs at Arizona State University are housed in 16 academic colleges and schools.
University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) houses Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM). Serving 9,365 students, JSOM is the largest of UT Dallas’ eight schools. Within JSOM is an AACSB-accredited MBA Program with multiple delivery options. For students seeking an online program, JSOM has an Online Professional MBA (PMBA) Program that can be completed in as few as 16 months or up to 72 months. Students in the program have access to 15 concentrations, 59 elective course options, and four specializations through the Academic Certificate Program.
Students also have access to 12 MS/MBA combinations, including eight STEM-designated options, and an MD/MBA Program in partnership with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern). Examples of MS/MBA combinations include Energy Management MS (STEM)/MBA, Management Science MS (STEM)/MBA, Healthcare Leadership and Management MS/MBA, and Information Technology and Management MS (STEM)/MBA. Students in STEM-designated programs are eligible for three years of (OPT) Optional Practical Training after graduation.
Online PMBA concentrations require 12 credit hours and include options such as Energy Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, International Management, Leadership in Organizations, Strategic Management, and Systems Engineering & Management. Certificate options include Project Management, Executive and Professional Coaching, Transformational Leadership, and Organizational Consulting. Students may select one or multiple concentrations.
Although the UT Dallas Online PMBA does not require campus visits (coursework can be completed entirely online) all students are encouraged to participate in the school's International Study Program. Students may choose from semester-long, summer, or 10-day experiences in Asia, Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Central America, among others.
Graduates of the MBA Programs at UT Dallas have been hired at major companies such as Amazon, Dell J.P. Morgan, FedEx, Nestle, Hewlett Packard, Intel, SpaceX, Deloitte Consulting, Texas Instruments, Toyota, Proctor & Gamble, Verizon, Fossil, and Wells Fargo.
The University of Texas at Dallas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The school dates back to the 1960s when Texas Instruments owners Cecil Green, Erik Jonsson, and Eugene McDermott established the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest. Today, UTD is one of the nation’s top public research universities. Serving nearly 29,000 students, UTD is also one of the largest public universities in Texas. More than 140 academic degrees are available, including top-ranked programs in the Arts. Degree programs at University of Texas at Dallas are housed across eight schools.
The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University offers an AACSB-accredited Online MBA program known as the MBA@Rice. Entrepreneurship is integrated throughout the curriculum and includes access to the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which hosts workshops, classes, competitions, and networking events. MBA@Rice students will also have opportunities to pitch to investors and advance their startups at the Rice Business Plan Competition—the world’s largest intercollegiate startup event.
Other program features include Global Field Experiences (GFE), which allow students to connect with peers, faculty, and mentors in locations around the world; 100% online assignments that include real-world case studies, video simulations, and collaborative projects; meetings with faculty members and peers each week for live, face-to-face class sessions over Zoom; small class sizes allowing for more one-on-one attention from professors; and seven focus areas including Corporate Finance, Corporate Strategy, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare, Investment Management, and Marketing.
MBA@Rice students will complete 54 total credits including 36 core credits, 12 elective credits, three credits of Residential Intensive Learning Experiences (ILEs), and three additional credits of electives or ILEs. ILEs consist of a variety of simulations, immersions, seminars, intersessions, and guided leadership exercises that bring students face-to-face with peers, faculty, and industry leaders. Domestic ILEs are often held on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas.
Exams for the MBA@Rice are held during the final week of each semester and the program can be completed in 24 months. Graduates of the MBA Program at Rice University enjoy a 97% employment rate within three months of graduation. Graduates are often hired in the Consulting, Financial, technology, and Petroleum/Energy sectors. Top employer’s include Top employers include Amazon, BCG, HP, McKinsey & Company, Accenture, Citigroup, Dell, EDP Renewables, EY, JP Morgan Chase and Morgan Stanley.
Rice University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The school was chartered on May 18, 1891 as the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art. When the Rice Institute finally opened in 1912, it welcomed 77 students and a dozen instructors. Today, Rice University serves more than 7,500 students served by 900 instructional faculty members. More than 75 programs are offered across eight colleges and schools.
Eller College of Management at University of Arizona (UA) is one of the 20 colleges at University of Arizona. This AACSB-accredited college serves around 6,600 students enrolled in 26 academic programs, including a flexible 100% Online MBA (OMBA). Known as the Eller OMBA, the program provides 24/7 access to coursework and assignments, allowing students to complete the program on their own time.
With six starts per year (every eight weeks), the Eller OMBA has six concentrations including Entrepreneurship, Health Care Management, Marketing, Management and Organizations, Privacy and Security, and Finance. The program requires 45 credits, including 28 core units and 17 elective units. Courses are completed across two sessions per semester. In general, each session offers two core courses and a minimum of two electives.
Students in the Eller Online MBA can decide how many courses to take at a time, so they may complete the program in as few as 14 months or up to 48. Course examples for the program include Marketing of Innovations, Communication Management, Leadership in Organizations, Strategic Management of Information Systems, Business Strategy, Managing Ethics in Organizations, and Applied Business Statistics.
For students who would like to enhance their MBA experience, Eller provides the opportunity to participate in a Global Experience with Full-time or Evening MBA students. Experiences take place in business environments from Brazil and Chile to Singapore.
Graduates of the Eller OMBA Program at University of Arizona enjoy an 86% employment rate within 90 days of graduation. Top employer’s include Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Intel, T-Mobile, Becton, Dickinson & Co. (BD), American Express, Gore, and Republic Services.
The University of Arizona has been accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1917. The school was established in 1885 before Arizona became a state, making it the first university in the Territory of Arizona or “Arizona Territory.” University of Arizona’s first graduating class in 1895 consisted of just two women and one male. Today, UA serves close to 49,500 students enrolled in 300 degree programs across 20 colleges, 23 schools and four campuses.
University of Utah (The U) is home to David Eccles School of Business, which provides access to 17 institutes, centers and initiatives, more than 40 undergraduate, specialized master’s, MBA, PhD, minor, and certificate programs, and a network of more than 42,000 alumni worldwide. Among the school’s MBA programs is an AACSB-accredited Online MBA that may be completed entirely online. Content for the program is available 24/7, GMAT/GRE waivers are available, and students can complete the program in 24-46 months.
While the Eccles Online MBA Program is delivered 100% online, students have opportunities to interact with faculty and peers in a weekly live web-conferencing session, and during one three-day on-campus residency. Online forums and multimedia are also utilized and students can select a mixture of online and on-campus classes at any time, if desired.
Consisting of 48 credit hours, the Eccles Online MBA allows students to customize the degree by choosing 15 elective credits from 26 options offered virtually and dozens offered on-campus. Just a few online elective examples include Cloud Computing, Date Mining, Digital Marketing and Analytics, International Management, IT Security, Business Intelligence and Analytics, Data Visualization, Strategic Leadership, Change Management, Venture Capital, Competitive Advantage Through People, Web Based Applications, and the International Trip. Past destinations international destinations include Johannesburg, South Africa; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Shanghai, China; Seoul, South Korea; Beijing and Tianjin, China; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Eccles Online MBA students may specialize in several other areas by adding a graduate certificate. Options include Business Analytics, Operations & Supply Chain Management, and Information Systems.
Around 62% of Eccles Online MBA students report receiving a promotion while in the program, and 15% receive a salary increase before graduating. Corporate partners at University of Utah-Eccles include Goldman Sache, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, L3 Technologies, Celtic Bank, Inflash, and University of Utah Health.
University of Utah has maintained its accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) continuously since 1933. Founded in 1850, The U is the oldest state university west of the Missouri River. When it opened in November 1850 as the University of Deseret, the school’s first term was designated “men only.” Today, nearly half of the students at University of Utah are women. With a population of more than 31,000 students, The U is one of the largest universities in the state. The school offers hundreds of programs across 17 colleges and schools and nearly 100 departments.
Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University (BU) has an AACSB-accredited accelerated MBA program that can be completed in just 12 months. This fully online program has four in-demand concentration options including Global Trade and Supply Chain Management, Cybersecurity, Marketing, and Executive Communication. To graduate, students must complete 48-60 credit hours of study. The number of credits will depend on the student’s academic background.
Course examples for the program include Management Communication, Business Intelligence, Strategic Management and Business Policy, Business Analytics for Decision Making, Business Frameworks, Data Warehousing, Management Information Systems, Corporate Finance, Management of Organizational Behavior, and Business Intelligence.
Employers represented in the BU Online MBA Program include Amazon, Dell, Google, Pepsi, Meta Platforms, Inc., (formerly Facebook), Bank of America, and AT&T. Recent graduates of the program enjoyed a 65% employment rate at graduation and an 80% employment rate within 90 days of graduation. Top employers for BU business graduates include GE, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, Dell, H-E-B, Textron, Capital One, BASF, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), USAA, Atos, PwC, AT&T, Nasdaq, ExxonMobil, McLane, HCA Healthcare, SAS Software, and Baylor Scott & White Health.
Baylor University is accredited by the by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Chartered in 1845, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Serving close to 20,630 students, Baylor University offers more than 250 degree programs across 12 academic divisions.
Colorado State University’s (CSU) College of Business was established in 1960. In the 1970s, the school pioneered MBA distance work through the mail and via VHS tape. The College of Business began offering Online MBA courses in the 1990s. Today, the school offers an MBA Program that may be completed 100% online. Students will attend the program remotely in the evening via Mosaic—CSU’s Online Learning Platform—or anytime of the day or night through lecture capture videos. The Online MBA with Mosaic requires just one two-day, face-to-face orientation. The video option does not require any campus visits.
The Online MBA Program at CSU explores five competencies: Innovation, Financial, Leadership, Data Analytics and Using Business for a Better World. Forty-two credits are required, with 40% dedicated to electives, allowing students to customize the program to meet their specific goals. For additional credentials, students may add a certificate in an areas such as IT Project Management or Marketing Management. CSU Online MBA students also have the opportunity to participate in the international business study trip.
Professional work experience is required to apply for the CSU Online MBA Program and five start dates are available annually. The GMAT and GRE scores are not required for admission and the program can be completed in in as few as 21 months or up to five years.
More than 80% of Colorado State University Online MBA graduates report at least a $10,000 raise after completing the program. Examples of career opportunities for CSU MBA graduates include Operations Director, Business Intelligence and Analytics Director, High-End Management Consultant, Marketing Director, Business Owner, Investment Banker, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Information Technology Director, VP of Supply Chain, Health Services Manager, and Nonprofit Executive Director.
Colorado State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Founded in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College, CSU is an RI, land grant university, and part of the three-school Colorado State University System. Colorado State University serves close to 33,000 students enrolled in more than 250 programs in eight colleges and the Graduate School.
Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Watson Graduate School of Management is home to Spears School of Business. Since 1958, all academic programs at Spears have been accredited by AACSB International. For students seeking a flexible, part-time MBA Program, Spears offers an Online MBA Program that can be completed in as few as 12 months.
Consisting of 33 credit hours, the program has an optional study abroad “Entrepreneurship” and three concentrations: Business Sustainability, Data Science, Energy Business, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Information Assurance, Marketing Analytics, and Nonprofit Management. Students may also create a General MBA through electives or add a Graduate Certificate. Twenty options are available 100% online. Business Analytics and Data Science, Business Sustainability, Human Resource Management, Health Analytics, and Nonprofit Management are just a few options.
Graduates of the MBA Programs at Oklahoma State University are prepared for leadership positions in all industries.
Oklahoma State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Established in 1890 on Christmas Day, OSU consists of a five-campus system that houses seven academic colleges, a veterinary school, an osteopathic medical school, and several centers and institutes. Serving around 26,650 students enrolled in 200 undergraduate majors and options, 79 master’s programs, and 45 doctoral programs. The programs at OSU are offered in seven academic colleges, a veterinary school, and an osteopathic medical school.
Established in 1908 and continuously accredited by the AACSB since 1923, the Daniels College of Business at University of Denver (DU) is the nation’s eighth oldest business school. All programs at Daniels combine business fundamentals with hands-on experiences via practicum projects, simulations, and interactions with local business leaders and professionals around the globe.
Known as the MBA@Denver, the Online MBA Program offers GMAT waivers, convenient January, March, June, and September start dates, and opportunities to network with more than 37,000 Daniels alumni through mentoring, company tours, and informational interviews. Other program features include live online classes, self-paced coursework, optional in-person domestic and global immersions, LinkedIn Premium benefits, and career support.
The MBA@Denver is 60 credit hours and consists of 13 required foundation courses, 16 elective course options, and one real-world capstone course. Four concentrations consisting of four courses each are part of the program and include Executive Leadership, Marketing, Executive Healthcare Administration, and Finance. Students living in close proximity to DU may explore on-ground concentrations such as Real Estate, Business Analytics, and Accounting.
Course examples for the MBA@Denver include Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset, Leading with Integrity, Supply Chain Management, Marketing for Social Impact, Business Data and Analytics, and Financial Planning and Analysis. Students can expect to complete the Online MBA program at University of Denver in as few as 21 months.
MBA@Denver students and graduates work the Energy, Government and Military, Health, Transportation, Banking, and Consumer Goods and Services sectors, among others. Within these industries, students have worked in roles such as Director, Analyst, Vice President of Finance, C-Suite Executive (CEO, CFO, COO), Marketing and Sales Manager, and Program Manager.
University of Denver is accredited as a doctoral degree-granting institution by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Founded in 1864 as the Colorado Seminary, DU is the oldest independent higher education institution in the Rocky Mountain West. The school serves 12,000 students enrolled in more than 220 programs across 12 colleges and schools.
The Paul and Virginia College of Business at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) has an AACSB-accredited MBA Program that can be completed entirely online. Students may choose core courses to suit their goals and one of five specializations to enhance the degree. Specializations are optional and consist of nine credit hours. Options include Procurement Management, Computer Information Systems, Management, Marketing, and Healthcare Management.
The WTAMU Online MBA is delivered in an asynchronous format and students are welcome to complete any course on campus. The program culminates with a Capstone Course. Students may choose between MBA Portfolio (1 hour) and Research Methods in Business and Economics (3 hours).
Students can take up to six years to complete the WTAMU Online MBA, but most finish within two years. Graduates have been recruited by hundreds of local, national, and global companies and organizations. Examples include FedEx, Fox Network Center, PNC Bank, EY, Pepsi, the U.S. Air Force, Verizon Wireless, Pacific Design Technologies, USAA, Seton Healthcare Family, First Capital Bank, State of Vermont Department of Health, the Kentucky Horseracing Commission, Southwest Media Group, the State of New Jersey, Scientific Games, and Dwyer Group.
West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Founded in 1910, WTAMU serves more than 10,000 students enrolled in 60 undergraduate programs, 38 master’s degree programs, and two doctoral degrees across six colleges and The Graduate School.
