Our 2021 list of the Top 25 Private Online MBA Programs in the US. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
| Ranking | School | State | % Considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California | California | 1% |
| 2 | Rice University | Texas | 1% |
| 3 | Pepperdine University | California | 2% |
| 4 | Syracuse University | New York | 2% |
| 5 | Baylor University | Texas | 3% |
| 6 | University of Miami | Florida | 3% |
| 7 | Northeastern University | Massachusetts | 4% |
| 8 | Santa Clara University | California | 4% |
| 9 | Babson College | Massachusetts | 5% |
| 10 | George Washington University | District of Columbia | 5% |
| 11 | Villanova University | Pennsylvania | 6% |
| 12 | University of Denver | Colorado | 6% |
| 13 | Lehigh University | Pennsylvania | 7% |
| 14 | Rochester Institute of Technology | New York | 7% |
| 15 | Creighton University | Nebraska | 7% |
| 16 | Howard University | District of Columbia | 8% |
| 17 | Quinnipiac University | Connecticut | 8% |
| 18 | Drexel University | Pennsylvania | 9% |
| 19 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Massachusetts | 9% |
| 20 | Stevens Institute of Technology | New Jersey | 10% |
| 21 | University of Dallas | Texas | 10% |
| 22 | American University | District of Columbia | 15% |
| 23 | University of Dayton | Ohio | 15% |
| 24 | Liberty University | Virginia | 15% |
With 46,000 students and a distinguished faculty of more than 4,000 innovative scholars, researchers, teachers and mentors, University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s largest private research universities. The school is also one of the most competitive, admitting just 12% of more than 70,000 applicants.
Marshall School of Business at USC (USC Marshall or Marshall) was established in 1920 as the USC College of Commerce and Business Administration, making it the oldest AACSB-accredited school of business in Southern California. The school offers an online MBA program that “teaches students to become forward-thinking business leaders who can analyze a situation from diverse perspectives and create effective, practical solutions,” says the school.
Students will complete the program through multiple delivery methods including interactive games, virtual learning exercises, group video conferences, class sessions led by instructors, and one-on-one faculty discussions via webcam. Telly Award-winning video content and presentations produced at the USC Marshall dedicated studio are also highlighted, as well as case studies and dramatizations of real-world business scenarios, and collaborative video activities and assessments.
Students must attend a one-week, on-campus residency to complete this AACSB-accredited program.
On May 18, 1891, Massachusetts-born businessman William Marsh Rice chartered the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art as a gift to the city of Houston, where he made his fortune. In 1907, astronomer and mathematician Edgar Odell Lovett became the first president of Rice. In 1912, the Rice Institute finally opened with 77 students taught by a dozen faculty. Today, Rice University serves just over 7,500 students taught by nearly 900 instructional faculty members. More than 50 undergraduate majors and dozens of graduate programs are offered in 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. Program highlights include meetings with faculty members and peers each week for live, face-to-face class sessions over Zoom, small class sizes, and assignments—which include real-world case studies, video simulations and collaborative projects—that may be completed each week from anywhere, using any connected device.
The program, which has seven focus areas, develops students’ understanding of “essential business principles such as financial accounting, business analytics, marketing strategy, leadership and finance,” says the school. Students will “learn to apply these larger concepts throughout an organization” as they hone their skills in one of the focused specializations of study. Focus areas allow students to customize the academic experience and include Corporate Finance, Corporate Strategy, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare, Investment Management, and Marketing.
In each 10-week term, students will take courses totaling up to six credits. The first year will consist of all core courses, and the second year features a combination of core and elective courses. Course highlights include Business-Government Relations, Competitive Strategy, Corporate Investment Policy, Corporate Responsibility, Economic Environment of Business, Futures and Options, Geopolitics of Energy, Leadership, and Negotiations.
Students must 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.
Global Field Experiences (GFE) are also part of the program. GFE’s allow students to connect with peers, faculty and mentors in person in locations around the world.
Exams for the MBA@Rice are held during the final week of each semester and the program can be completed in 24 months.
Pepperdine University was established by entrepreneur George Pepperdine in South Los Angeles in 1937. The school, which expanded to Malibu in 1972, serves 8,000 full-time and part-time students, with a full-time faculty of more than 300 professors and scholars. The school has five separate graduate and undergraduate schools offering more than 70 degree programs.
Founded in 1969, the Graziadio School of Business and Management offers online degree programs across six California campuses, including Malibu and Silicon Beach. The online MBA program focuses on building “essential business knowledge in areas such as finance, marketing, accounting, economics, quantitative analysis, law, human behavior, information systems, strategy, management, and leadership,” says the school. Students will build “business intelligence” as they “examine business from a global perspective and address the impact of globalization, competition, technological innovation, and ethics in the workplace.”
Students in this 52 credit hour, AACSB-accredited program will “do more than read case studies about top brands, such as Disney, Starbucks, and Warner Bros.” They will “will actually work” with top executives on” live consulting projects” to “solve real-time challenges.”
Other program highlights include the Personal and Leadership Development Workshop residency, which takes place at the schools’ coastal Malibu campus, Global Business Intensives, which cover relevant topics such as international economics, culture, marketing, finance, and business law, and seven in-demand concentration options. These include Business Analytics, Digital Innovation and Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Business, Leadership and Managing Organizational Change, and Marketing. A General Concentration that allows students to develop expertise across multiple business areas is also available.
Students will have the option to complete an international residency. The experience allows students to explore global issues and work with international experts to understand foreign markets.
The Graziadio Online MBA can be completed in as few as 24 months or up to 48 months part-time.
Founded in 1870, Syracuse University (SU) is a private, coeducational, research institution located in the heart of Central New York. Additional centers are located in New York City, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles, and study abroad programs are available in 60 countries throughout the world. Around 22,850 students have access to more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs across the SU’s 13 schools and colleges.
In addition to offering a large number of degree and study abroad programs, Syracuse University has more than 30 research centers and institutes spanning disciplines from performance, design, fine arts, and humanities to information, health, social sciences, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University offers an online MBA known as the MBA@Syracuse. The program consists of 36 credits of core business courses, 15 credits of specialization-focused electives, and three credits of U.S. and global residencies. Students may choose from six optional specializations including Accounting, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing Management, or Supply Chain Management.
The AACSB-accredited program combines “live online classes led by Syracuse University faculty, self-paced coursework, and hands-on learning through domestic and international residencies,” says the school. While coursework for the MBA program may be completed entirely online, all students will participate in “three day-long residencies in cities around the world.” The school says these hands-on experiences are structured like businesses conferences.
Whitman Online MBA students will listen to local speakers who host “relevant discussions and interactive panels,” meet with classmates for socializing, and engage with professor’s fact-to-face for workshops and networking.” In 2019, residencies took place in Hong Kong and Syracuse. In 2018, students also traveled to Dublin, Ireland to study “the industry-leading innovation” taking place there.
The MBA@Syracuse does not require the GMAT to apply. Including residencies, the program can be completed in as few as two years.
Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, Baylor University (BU) serves just over 19,500 students enrolled in more than 250 degree programs in 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Hankamer School of Business at BU offers an online MBA that can be completed in as few as 12 months.
The 48-60 credit hour BU Online MBA has four in-demand concentrations, with courses taught by the same faculty as on-campus MBA students. Concentrations include Cybersecurity, Executive Communication, Global Trade & Supply Chain Management, and Marketing.
Through “engaging conversations,” with professors and classmates, students in the General MBA option and all concentrations “will learn to communicate professionally, work in teams and approach complex business situations with faith-based integrity,” says the school.
Depending on the concentration, graduates go on to enhance their careers or to new careers such as Brand Manager, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Communications Operations Manager, Cybersecurity Consultant, Digital Marketing Manager, Division Leader, Entrepreneur, Global Logistics Manager, IT Director, Management Consultant, Marketing Director, Senior Marketing Analyst, Supply Chain Consultant, Transportation Director, and many others.
Established in 1925, University of Miami (UM) serves more than 17,000 students enrolled in more than 180 majors and programs across 11 schools and colleges. One of the region’s top research universities, UM houses the School of Business Administration, which offers an inline MBA known as the “UOnline Professional MBA.” This 42 credit hour, AACSB-accredited program is “taught by the same high-caliber faculty members that also teach on-campus,” says the school, and it takes 24-48 months to complete.
Focus areas for the program include Accounting Practice, Corporate Finance, and Financial Decision Making. Accounting Practice requires an additional nine credit hours of study and Corporate Finance and Financial Decision Making require an additional five credit hours.
Though the MBA program is delivered entirely online, students may attend an optional, on campus residency and/or an optional on campus orientation and campus tour. The residency is a “week-long immersion session, during which you will take one full, accelerated course on campus.” The orientation allows students to meet faculty, University staff, and fellow classmates before their studies begin.
The GMAT is not a requirement for admission to the UOnline Professional MBA Program.
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University serves 20,400 undergraduate students and 17,379 graduate students across 10 locations in Boston; the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Charlotte, North Carolina; London; San Francisco; Seattle; Silicon Valley; Toronto; and Vancouver. The school offers more than 250 programs in nine colleges and schools.
Serving around 5,500 students, Northeastern University’s D'Amore-McKim School of Business offers an AACSB-accredited MBA degree program that can be completed 100% online in as few as two years. The program, which places emphasis on digital analytics and expertise, consists of 50 credit hours of study divided into two segments: 13 core courses and five electives. Eight in-demand specialization options are offered including Finance, Healthcare Management, High Technology Management, Innovation Entrepreneurship, International Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainability.
D'Amore-McKim Online MBA students also have the option to earn a Dual Masters in Finance/MBA by taking "as few as four to seven additional finance electives," says the school. Both the single and dual online programs utilize interactive multimedia tools such as virtual class discussions, and discussion boards, as well as team projects and individual assignments for a well-rounded academic experience.
An optional residency is offered to online MBA students who have (or will have) completed at least three courses (nine credits). The campus-based residency is an intensive one-week course equivalent to a three-credit elective. An International Field Study Residency is offered to online MBA students in good standing who have (or will have) completed the first year core courses (26 credits) with a GPA of 3.0 prior to the start of the field study trip. Recent locations include China, Russia, Greece/Turkey, and Chile/Peru.
Established in 1851, Santa Clara University (SCU) is a Jesuit university located in Silicon Valley. The school serves close to 8,700 students enrolled in 50 majors, minors, and programs across six schools and colleges. SCU’s Leavey School of Business (LSB) houses the MBA program, which has on both campus and online options.
Designed to help students become “Silicon Valley Professionals (SVPs),” this AACSB-accredited program highlights a curriculum based in “innovation and responsibility,” says the school. Sample courses include Doing Business in Silicon Valley, Leading People and Organizations, Ethics for Managers, Strategy, Analysis, Design, and Management of Enterprise Platforms, and Marketing is Everything. The program also highlights 28 units of free electives that allow students to focus in one or more areas.
The Leavey Online MBA requires two on-campus intensives, where students will meet their peers and experience Santa Clara University in person. These are the only two campus requirements. Otherwise, online students will take courses whenever and wherever, but they will learn from the same professors who teach the on-campus program. The program may be completed in as few as two years.
Leavey Online MBA alumni include C-level individuals from Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Google, GoPro, LinkedIn, and many others.
Established in 1919, Babson College is an independent, not-for-profit institution that opened with just 27 students. Today, the school serves more than 2,350 undergraduate and nearly 1,000 graduate students representing more than 80 countries.
The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson grants highly ranked MBA and MS degrees, as well as Certificates. The school also offers an Executive Education program for professionals looking to grow in today’s rapidly evolving business environment and Babson Global works with corporate, university, government, and foundation partners to advance entrepreneurship education and Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® worldwide.
Olin offers an MBA in Entrepreneurship that can be completed 100% online. Students in the program have the option to register for on-campus classes. Forty-five total credits, of which one-third are the required core and two-thirds are electives that the student chooses. Because the program has multiple start dates, “there’s never a wait to dive in,” says the school.
Highlights for this AACSB-accredited program include experiential learning “woven throughout,” the opportunity to participate in student consulting projects across more than 80 partner organizations each year, and seven unique concentrations, including two STEM-designated options. Concentrations include Business Analytics, Business Analytics and Machine Learning (STEM), Entrepreneurship, Global Management, Finance, Quantitative Finance (STEM), and Marketing. Students may choose up to two concentrations.
Graduates of the Olin Online MBA Program enjoy an 81% employment rate within three months of completing the program. Program alumni are “succeeding as entrepreneurial leaders in organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to dynamic startups.” Top industries for graduates include Technology, Consumer Products/Retail, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences/Healthcare, and Consulting.
Founded in 1821 and serving more than 26,000 students, George Washington University (GW or GWU) is the largest higher education institution in DC. Located just four blocks from the White House, the school has a long list of prominent alumni including around 18 state governors, three current and 20 former US senators and six current and 86 former members of congress.
GWU offers hundreds of programs, including 100 online programs in 12 areas, in 14 schools and colleges. In addition to these programs. The School of Business (GWSB) offers an Online Traditional or Healthcare MBA that may be completed in just two years and up to five. Both programs require 55.5 total credit hours of study including 28.5 credit hours of core courses and 27 credit hours of elective courses for the Traditional MBA, and 31.5 credit hours of core courses, 12 healthcare electives, and 12 general electives for the Healthcare MBA.
The Healthcare MBA is delivered 100% online (or hybrid) and features specialized electives such as Service Line and Project Management, Managing the Skilled Nursing Facility, and Physician Practice Management. Designed for professionals on the path to becoming Health Care Managers, Administrators, and Executives, the program also offers the option to complete one of seven graduate certificates offered by the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences as part of the curriculum. Clinical Research Administration, Integrative Medicine, and Regulatory Affairs are just a few options.
The Traditional MBA option may be completed 100% online or in hybrid format. The program offers optional concentrations in Consulting, Finance, Global Management, Government Contracts, Information Systems & Technology Management, and Project Management. Students may choose up to two concentrations or they may customize their electives to create their own focus area. Electives may be chosen from the schools of Business, Health Sciences, Public Health, Law, and more. Elective courses may also serve to add a graduate certificate to this Traditional MBA.
The GWSB Online MBA curriculum also includes Business and Society (a required 1.5 credit on-site residency course in Washington, DC) and a 1.5 credit Information Systems and Technology Management selective course. Students are offered nine opportunities to complete the on-site course, which offers a firsthand look through visits to the Federal Reserve, the US Congress, and the World Bank.
Both AACSB-accredited programs offer three start times (August, January, and May), along with optional short-term study abroad opportunities in places such as Denmark, Israel, Mexico, and more.
Villanova University was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842. The school serves 11,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business (VSB), the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. More than 100 programs are available.
Villanova School of Business offers an MBA program that can be completed entirely online. The program is the “very same” program as the on-campus Villanova MBA, says the school. The curriculum includes courses that will expand students’ “essential business knowledge with a focus on innovative and applied concepts, real-world immersion experiences and peer-to-peer learning.” Program highlights include small classes (approximately 20 students per online section), live weekly sessions, and two residency opportunities, which foster “a strong learning community among faculty and students.” Students may also participate in an optional international immersion into an emerging economy.
Students in the VSB Online MBA can begin the 48 credit hour (21 course) program in the fall, spring or summer semester. The curriculum is comprised of core, elective, fundamental, and capstone classes and students may choose up to two specializations from five areas including Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, and Strategic Management.
Semesters for this AACSB-accredited program are divided into two sessions, each of which is eight weeks in the fall and spring and seven weeks in the summer. Students in the program progress through the curriculum, typically taking one or two courses per session. The VSB Online MBA can completed in just two years (Fast Track) and graduates of the program enjoy a 25% average salary raise.
Founded in 1864 as the Colorado Seminary, University of Denver (DU) is the oldest independent higher education institution in the Rocky Mountain West. The school serves 12,000 graduates and undergraduates enrolled in more than 220 degree programs in 10 colleges and schools.
DU highlights include small class sizes (under 21 students), a “robust” study abroad program, experiential learning opportunities, career achievement through internships and job placement, and access to one of the nation’s first business schools.
Established in 1908 and continuously accredited by the AACSB since 1923, the Daniels College of Business is the nation’s eighth oldest business school. All programs at Daniels combine the study of business fundamentals with hands-on experience via simulations, practicum projects and interaction with local, regional and global business leaders. The Daniels Online MBA, also known as MBA@Denver, offers GMAT waivers, four start dates (January, March, June and September), and networking opportunities with 37,000+ Daniels alumni for mentoring, informational interviews, company tours, and more.
The program highlights an innovative digital campus, a hands-on curriculum, live online classes, self-paced coursework, in-person domestic and global immersions, LinkedIn Premium benefits, career support. The program also offers four concentrations including Executive Healthcare Administration, Executive Leadership, Finance, and Marketing. Students living in close proximity to the DU campus have the unique opportunity to explore on-ground concentrations such as Accounting, Business Analytics, and Real Estate.
MBA@Denver students and graduates work in various industries, including Banking, Consumer Goods and Services, Energy, Government and Military, Health, Transportation, and many others. Within these industries, students have held titles such as Analyst, C-Suite Executive (CEO, CFO, COO), Director, Program Manager, Vice President of Finance, Marketing or Sales, and many others.
Lehigh University is a small, private research university that serves more than 7,000 students. Founded in 1865 by industrial pioneer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Asa Packer, Lehigh University offers more than 100 majors, minors and programs across four colleges.
The College of Business and Economics at Lehigh University offers a 100% online Flex MBA. This 36 credit hour program highlights global business concepts and analysis, cultural intelligence, organizational leadership, sustainability, crisis management resolutions, social consciousness issues, ethical decision-making, and optional business consulting projects. While the program does not offer any concentrations, students may earn a Professional Certificate in Corporate Entrepreneurship in addition to the MBA. The certificate is offered through VENTURESeries, which the school describes as a “one-of-a-kind executive certificate program that focuses squarely on new venture creation.”
Another option, the 45 credit hour MBA & Engineering (MBA & E) program, is offered through the College of Business and Economics and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. This unique program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in engineering. Classes for the program can be taken both on campus and online. MBA & E concentrations include Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Upon completion of the MBA & E Program, students receive an MBA degree with a concentration in their chosen area. Both programs are AACSB-accredited.
Despite a global pandemic, three out of four Lehigh MBA students were able to secure employment within three months of graduation. With an average starting salary of $109,000, MBA graduates have been hired by companies such as Anheuser-Busch, ADP, AstraZeneca, BP- China, HubSpot, Motorola, QVC, TESLA, The Hershey Company, and the United Nations.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) “was born of an unlikely institutional marriage of an influential cultural association, the Rochester Athenaeum, founded in 1829, and a technical training school, the Mechanics Institute, founded in 1885,” says the school. “The institute adopted the name Rochester Institute of Technology in 1944 and awarded its first bachelor of science degree in 1955.”
Today, RIT serves nearly 19,000 students in nine colleges and two degree-granting units. The school also has partnerships on nearly every continent and overseas campuses located in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo.
The Saunders School of Business at RIT offers an interdisciplinary, accelerated Online Executive MBA (EMBA) that requires just one three-day on-campus orientation. The program delivers 49 credit hours of study in just 17 months (four semesters).
The Online EMBA is AACSB accredited and offers foundational courses such as Accounting, Finance, and Leadership, as well as “distinctive” courses such as Product Commercialization and Technology Management. Classes are delivered via weekly synchronous sessions, “offering high-quality video and audio functionality for optimal interaction.”
Other program highlights include a curriculum that is identical to the on-campus program, with many of the same faculty teaching both formats, a required International Immersion Experience (airfare and lodging is are provided by the program), and the Capstone Consulting Program where students serve as consultants to actual businesses.
The RIT Saunders Online EMBA offers two starts each year (late August and January). Because it is a cohort-based program, “all students enter the program at the same time, take the same classes, and move through the program with their initial cohort,” explains the school. “Some courses will be taken with another cohort (i.e., dual-cohort) and students are assigned to teams at the start of the program and will remain with their team for the duration of the program.”
Students who start the Online EMBA in late August will finish in December of the following year and students who start in January will finish in May of the following year.
Creighton University is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Founded in 1878, this private school serves 8,200 undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled in degrees and certificate programs in more than 160 areas. More than 40 graduate degree programs are also available and programs are offered in nine colleges and schools.
Heider College of Business offers an MBA program designed for the working professional. The program has three delivery options including online, on campus, or a combination of the two (hybrid). Highlights for this 33 credit hour program include several MBA concentrations, the option to add a graduate certificate or a dual degree in addition to the MBA. Concentrations include Accounting, Business Intelligence and Analytics, Financial Psychology & Behavioral Finance (also a certificate), Finance, Leadership, and Personal Financial Planning (also a certificate).
Other certificate options include Business Analytics, Healthcare Management, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution, Organizational Leadership, and Project Management. Students can combine numerous degrees with the MBA. Just a few include MBA + Law, MBA + PharmD, MBA + MS in Investment Management & Financial Analysis.
Graduates of the AACSB-accredited Heider Online MBA Program have gone on to pursue careers at numerous Fortune 500 companies such as ConAgra Foods, Mutual of Omaha, TD Ameritrade, Union Pacific, and others. Job titles of recent graduates include CEO, Finance Manager, Marketing Manager, Operations Manager, President, Project Manager, and Vice President.
The Heider Online MBA Program can be completed in just over two years.
Founded on March 2, 1867 by Civil War hero General Oliver O. Howard, Howard University is a leader in STEM fields and a top provider of African-American undergraduates who go on to earn Doctoral degrees in Science and Engineering. The school, nearly 9,700 students enrolled in over 80 undergraduate degrees along with 30 disciplines and 100 specializations at the graduate level. Programs are offered in 13 colleges and schools.
The Howard University School of Business offers an online MBA designed for “early to mid-career professionals who want to grow as business leaders,” says the school. The program consists of 48 credit hours including 11 core courses and five electives. Course highlights include Data Analytics, E-Commerce in Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship, Financial Modeling, Global Management Consulting, Principles of Information Systems, and Productions and Operations Research.
Other program highlights include international immersion opportunities, recruitment programs (connections with corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations) and access to an extensive alumni network.
Founded in 1929, Quinnipiac University (QU) began as Connecticut College of Commerce. In 1935, the school became the Junior College of Commerce (JCC), and in 1951 it was renamed Quinnipiac University. This private, coeducational university offers more than 140 programs to approximately 10,000 undergraduate, graduate, medical and law students. The school’s three campuses are located in Hamden and North Haven, Connecticut, and programs are offered in the College of Arts and Sciences and eight professional schools.
The School of Business at QU offers a 33 credit hour Professional MBA Program that may be completed 100% online in as few as two years. The program allows students to choose from a variety of career-focused electives to tailor their learning experience “for maximum alignment” with career goals, says the school. Elective coursework builds on the core curriculum, “using those skills as a lens” as students “explore areas ranging from finance and marketing to entrepreneurship and health care management.”
Elective course highlights include Business Sustainability, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Data Mining, Decision Making in a Global Economy, Designing Mentoring and Coaching Programs, International Business Negotiation, Quality Management in Health Care Facilities, Predictive Modeling, Strategic Public Relations and Reputation Management, and Technology and Innovation Management.
The AACSB-accredited QU Professional Online MBA offers three start dates: Fall (late August), Spring (late January), and Summer (late May).
Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel University (Drexel) serves approximately 24,205 students enrolled in more than 200 degree programs in 15 colleges and schools. Housing one of the nation's oldest, largest, and best-known cooperative education programs, Drexel has three Philadelphia campuses along with a number of other regional sites, it’s home to The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University—the nation’s oldest major natural science museum and research organization, and it has international research partnerships including China and Israel.
Drexel Online is one of the oldest and most successful providers of online degree programs in the U.S. Through Drexel Online and the LeBow College of Business, students can earn what the school describes as a “versatile” online MBA that allows students to explore the latest trends in business, such as AI and blockchain, and apply them to their current careers immediately.
This 49 credit hour AACSB-accredited program “is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two semester system),” which means students “can take more courses in a shorter time period.” Course highlights Business Problem Solving, Corporate Financial Management, Essentials of Financial Reporting, Leading High-Performance Teams, Legal Options in Decision Making, Managing and Leading the Total Enterprise, and Strategy Analysis.
LeBow Online MBA students may customize their learning experience to their interests and career goals through concentrations, graduate minors, and dual degree programs. Online concentration options include Business Analytics, Finance, General Business/Customized, and Marketing. Finance and Marketing minors are also offered online.
All students may take advantage of multiple networking opportunities, both local and international residency options, portfolio projects, and case simulations. In addition, any online business degree can be paired as a dual degree such as MBA/MS Business Analytics, MBA/MS Sport Management, or MS Business Analytics/MS Sport Management, with shared coursework usually through elective credits.
The Drexel LeBow Online MBA may be completed in few as 18 months or up to five years.
Founded in 1865, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is one of the nation's earliest technological universities. The Institute offers a “groundbreaking project-based curriculum” says the school, along with opportunities to work with faculty on “interdisciplinary research seeking solutions to important and socially relevant problems, both on campus and at more than 50 project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.” Just a few graduate research programs include Cybersecurity, Learning Sciences and Technology, Materials Science, and Robotics.
Serving nearly 7,000 students, WPI offers dozens of programs in four schools and 17 departments and divisions. Foisie Business School at WPI offers a STEM-focused MBA that many be completed entirely online. Program highlights include an asynchronous schedule, a project-based curriculum with 20 specialization options, and in-demand and tech skills woven into every course.
Students may choose up to two specializations. Just a few options include Advanced Business Analytics Methods, Brands, Products, and Consumers, Digital Transformation, IT User Experience, Operational Excellence, Organizing and Managing Innovation, and System Design for UX. Students may also customize their own specialization.
Graduates of the AACSB-accredited Foisie WPI Online MBA Program have gone on to successful careers in business or acceptance into the PhD in Business Administration program at WPI.
Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University™, serves more than 6,800 students annually enrolled in more than 100 programs at all levels. Academic offerings are organized and delivered by three schools and one college focused on Business, Engineering & Science, the Humanities, and Systems & Enterprise.
The School of Business at Stevens Institute of Technology offers a fully online MBA program that “emphasizes the potential of technology, data and analytics, with students learning how to interpret information and use it to make the best decisions for their enterprise.” Students in this 39 credit hour program will collaborate with one another through group projects and presentations, while developing creativity and critical thinking skills “through the incorporation of the latest faculty research in management, analytics, innovation and marketing.”
The AACSB-accredited Stevens Online MBA also highlights a Field Consulting Program that pairs students with a partner company to help solve a “real problem” or assess a potential opportunity for a partner company. Field Consulting Program projects “span a range of interests, from business process design, supply chain management and technology assessment to market research, innovation adoption and customer relationship management.”
Graduates of the Stevens Online MBA Program enjoy a 93% employment rate within three months of graduation. Many have gone on to secure high-profile positions at Google, Goldman Sachs, and others.
University of Dallas (UD or UDallas) opened its doors in 1956. Welcoming all faiths, this private, Catholic, co-educational liberal arts university offers a comprehensive list of bachelor's, master's, doctoral and continuing education programs to nearly 2,500 students from across the U.S. and around the world. Programs are offered in four main academic divisions in the Arts, Business, Education, Humanities, Nursing, and Sciences.
The Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business offers an AACSB-accredited MBA program that can be completed 100% online, 100% on campus, or a combination of the two (hybrid). Course schedules are flexible for this 30 credit hour (10 course) program and nine concentrations options are available including Accounting, Business Analytics, Cybersecurity, Finance, Healthcare Analytics, Information & Technology Management, Marketing, Strategic Leadership, and Supply Chain Management. Concentrations require four additional courses (12 credits).
The UD MBA with a concentration can be completed in two to three years. The MBA without a concentration can be completed in just one to two years.
Graduates of the UD Online MBA Program work at companies around the world in hundreds of different industries. Examples of job titles earned by UD MBA alumni include Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Computer and Information Systems Manager, Financial Manager, Health Services Manager, High-End Management Consultant, Investment Fund Manager, IT Director, Marketing Manager, and Sales Manager.
Chartered by Congress in 1893, American University (AU) is a Methodist-affiliated, private, co-educational doctoral institution that serves around 14,300 students from all 50 states + D.C. and 124 countries. More than 170 programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels in eight schools and colleges.
Kogod School of Business at AU offers a 48 credit hour online MBA known as the MBA@American. The program “prepares students to apply leadership and financial analysis skills to help businesses operate more effectively across a wide range of industries,” says the school. The curriculum includes 12 courses, three electives, and two in-person immersions. During these mandatory immersions, “students learn from leading experts in business capitals around the world.” Immersions are also hosted in international cities such as Beijing, Brussels, and Madrid. This unique opportunity provides students with “new perspectives on how different cultures conduct business.”
The MBA@American offers six pre-designed focus areas including Business Analytics, Consulting, Cybersecurity, Finance, Legal Studies, and Marketing. An Analytics Certificate is also available as well as the opportunity to customize a focus area through dozens of electives.
Should students choose to visit the AU campus outside of the required times, they will have access to the Entrepreneurship Incubator. Highlights include pitch days and competitions, access to the incubator to network, participation in workshops, and guest speakers.
Most students complete the MBA@American on a 24-month course sequence, but the Kogod Online MBA can also be completed on a 12-month, 15-month, or 18-month track.
University of Dayton (UD) was founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary (Marianists) as St. Mary's School for Boys. The school opened in a frame building with just 14 students. Known at various times as St. Mary's School, St. Mary's Institute, and St. Mary's College, the school assumed its present identity in 1920. Today, the University of Dayton sits on nearly 400 acres and the school is recognized as a top-tier national research university rooted in the Catholic tradition.
Serving nearly 11,700 undergraduate, graduate, and law students and more than 120,000 living alumni worldwide, UD houses five colleges and schools including the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Schools of Business Administration, Education and Health Sciences, Engineering, and Law.
The School of Business Administration offers an MBA program known as the MBA@Dayton. This AACSB-accredited program offers concentrations in Business Analytics and Marketing. Students choosing either option will complete three elective courses instead of two (for a total of nine credits). This will add three credits to the course of study.
Several pathways are available including Accelerated, One-Year and Foundational. The One-Year MBA path allows students to advance their careers sooner, for less of a financial investment, by completing the program in a shorter amount of time. Students will take 13-14 courses (30-31.5 credits), along with two immersions in just 12 months. Immersions are collaborative learning experiences that provide opportunities to learn from influential business leaders, engage in group workshops, and network with peers.
The Accelerated MBA is designed for business professionals who have eight or more years of full-time work experience. Students complete fewer foundation courses, allowing them to advance their careers faster and for less of a financial investment. The program consists of 14-19 courses (31.5-39 credits) and two immersions and it may be completed in 15-18 months.
The Foundational MBA is designed for professionals who need to build a comprehensive foundation in the fundamentals of business. Students will take 18-22 courses (36-45 credits) and two immersions in 18-24 months.
Graduates of all programs will have the skills needed to advance into any leadership role in their current industry, transition into a different industry, or move from a small business or nonprofit organization to a more corporate environment.
As part of the UD School of Business, the MBA@Dayton is AACSB accredited.
Liberty University was established in 1971 by American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and conservative activist Jerry Falwell, Sr. This private, evangelical Christian university serves more than 100,000 students, including more than 30,000 military and over 700 international students. The school offers 750+ programs of study, with many offered both residentially and online. Programs are offered in 15 colleges and schools.
The Liberty School of Business offers a 45 credit hour MBA program that may be completed entirely online. The curriculum builds students’ “existing knowledge and experience” to develop their “critical thinking, leadership, and management skills,” says the school. The program is designed for those seeking to advance in their current position or explore other areas within the field of business administration.
Students have the option to choose the 45 credit hour online MBA with a specialization or the 36 credit hour program with no concentration. More 20 specializations are available. Some options include American Legal Studies, Criminal Justice Administration, Finance, Healthcare Management, International Business, International Legal Studies, Nonprofit Leadership, Public Administration, and Strategic Media and Digital Content, to name a few.
Students may transfer up to 50% of MBA program credit hours from another institution, courses are eight weeks, and there are eight different start dates each year with no set login times. The Liberty University Online MBA may be completed in two years and it is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
