Our 2022 rankings of the Top Online MBA Programs in Colorado. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado State University | Fort Collins |
| 2 | University of Denver | Denver |
| 3 | University of Colorado-Denver | Denver |
| 4 | University of Colorado-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs |
| 5 | Colorado Technical University | Multiple |
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.
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 Business School at University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) has been providing business training to students for more than 30 years. AACSB accredited, CU Denver Business School has more program options than any other business school in the state, including six MBA Programs. Four of the six options are available in hybrid format or entirely online and include the Online Professional MBA (100% online), the Professional MBA (hybrid evening and online), the Executive MBA (hybrid), and the Executive MBA in Health Administration (hybrid).
The hybrid MBA Programs require at least two in-person meetings per term, on weekends, and participation in one international immersion. The Online Professional MBA is CU Denver’s most flexible MBA Program. This 45 credit hour option features an optional Global Experience, a variety of elective courses, nine specializations with online courses, Fall, Spring, and Summer starts, and a two- to three-year timeline. Specialization examples include Information Systems, Risk Management and Insurance, Managing for Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Business Intelligence. The GRE/GMAT is not required for admission to the Online Professional MBA Program.
CU Denver Business School graduates have been recruited by Charles Schwab, KPMG, Arrow Electronics, Centura Health, First Bank, DaVita, Plante Moran, and Ball Corporation, among others.
University of Colorado Denver is accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The school opened in 1912 as an extension of the University of Colorado Boulder and became CU Denver in 1973, making it an independent campus. Organized into eight colleges and schools, University of Colorado Denver serves 15,000 students enrolled in more than 110 academic degrees.
The College of Business at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) has been providing programs to working professionals in the Pikes Peak Region since 1965. The College has been offering many of these programs online since 1996. Among them is an Online MBA that was one of the first AACSB-accredited degrees to be offered fully online.
The program features eight-week courses, so students can take two classes a semester, focusing on one class at a time. Students may customize the degree by choosing from 10 Specializations. Examples include Health Care Administration, Innovation Management, and Finance. The Online MBA with a Specialization requires 36 credit hours and the General MBA requires 30 credit hours.
Start times for the UCCS Online MBA include Fall, Spring, and Summer, and the program can be completed in as few as 18 months or as many as three years.
Graduates are prepared for leadership roles at local, national, and global companies. Some of the top employers in the Pikes Peak Region include Lockheed Martin, Progressive Insurance, Microchip Technologies, Newmont, and Team USA.
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1965, UCCS serves more than 12,000 students from across the U.S. and over 80 nations. More than 80 programs are delivered through six colleges and schools.
This Online MBA Program at Colorado Technical University (CTU) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The program features 100% online and mobile-friendly classes that run for five weeks. Students may choose from 12 concentrations such as Global Leadership, Technology Management, Data Analytics, Logistics Management, and Entrepreneurship. All concentrations require successful completion of the Management Capstone.
In this culminating experience, students will have the opportunity to work in teams to make business decisions for a simulated $100 million corporation. Students will also have opportunities to solve business problems individually.
The CTU Online MBA has nine start dates a year, and it requires 48 credit hours to graduate. Students can complete the CTU Online MBA in as few as 12 months.
Colorado Technical University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1965, CTU serves more than 25,000 students enrolled in more than 80 programs.
