Top 50 Online MBA Programs in the U.S. – 2021 Rankings

Kelley School of Business (KSB) at Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington) was established in 1920 as the School of Commerce and Finance. When it opened, the school had just 70 students. Today, KSB serves more than 12,000 students enrolled in more than 30 programs in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and online.

Kelley School of Business offers a flexible online MBA program that allows students to customize their experience by selecting 12 credit hours of electives to create a specialized area. Known as “Kelley Direct Online,” the program offers the opportunity to complete a dual MBA/MS degree with an online MS in Business Analytics, or Strategic Management. This may be accomplished with only 12 additional credit hours.

Other unique opportunities for students include AGILE—Accelerating Global Immersion Leadership Education, which allows students to gain international business experience while pursuing their online degree. Offered each quarter, the AGILE curriculum features travel to places such as Gaborone, Botswana; Sao Paolo, Brazil; Beijing, China; New Delhi, India; Yangon, Myanmar, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Havana/Vinales, Cuba.

The AACSB-accredited Kelley Direct Online MBA takes just two years to complete.

In fall 2021, Arizona State University (ASU) welcomed 103,609 undergraduate students and 25,179 graduate students, making it one of the nation’s largest public universities by enrollment. The school’s nationally ranked programs have positioned the university as a “top-tier” recruiting and hiring institution by more than 50 of the country’s top corporations, according to professional recruiters and rankings services around the world. Among the school’s nationally ranked programs is the MBA, which has a 70% employment rate at graduation and a 90% employment rate within 90 days of graduation.

Offered through W.P. Carey School of Business, the ASU MBA program has a flexible online option that includes just one meeting at the beginning of the program. This mandatory orientation session allows students to meet W.P. Carey faculty, staff, students, and teammates. After orientation, coursework for the 36 credit hour program may be completed entirely online.

This competitive AACSB-accredited program consists of 49 total credit hours (17 classes) and students are allowed to take just one course at a time (five weeks per course). Students also have the opportunity to customize their MBA by declaring an area of emphasis in Finance, International Business, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management.

Other program highlights include the opportunity to interact with teammates in case-based projects, an inclusive online environment, and the option to earn two degrees in less time and at a lower cost. Concurrent online degree options include the MBA/MSE in Electrical Engineering, the MBA/Master of Legal Studies, and the MBA/MS in Industrial Engineering.

Students in both the single and dual online MBA programs have the option to start in January or August.

Graduates of the program are prepared to work in a variety of industries, including Business, Communications, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, and STEM.

In the 1960s, Texas Instruments owners Cecil Green, Erik Jonsson, and Eugene McDermott watched “promising young Texans leaving the state to pursue education,” says University of Texas Dallas (UTD), “while their company recruited out-of-state talent to work at their Dallas-based headquarters.”

“Hoping to create better higher-education opportunities in North Texas, the trio established the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest — the foundation for what will become” The University of Texas at Dallas. “Rooted in an entrepreneurial spirit, UTD has grown into one of the nation’s top public research universities.”

UTD server nearly 29,000 students enrolled in eight schools and more than 140 academic degrees including top-ranked programs in Arts and Technology, Audiology, Business, Engineering, and Science. 

Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM) is the largest of UT Dallas’ eight schools. It houses the Online Professional MBA (PMBA), which allows students up to 72 months to complete the program. Students also have the option to complete the program in as few as 16 months. There are no on-campus requirements and students have full access to the MBA Program Office and Jindal School Career Management Center staff. 

This AACSB-accredited program utilizes "streaming audio lectures, video clips, online exams, online submission of assignments, and interactivity for group projects using discussion forums, email, and web conferencing." The 53 credit hour Online PMBA also highlights 24 hours of electives, along with an impressive 13 MS/MBA options, including six STEM-designated, and 15 concentrations. Nearly 60 elective options are available and just a few concentrations include Business Analytics, Energy Management, Healthcare Leadership and Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Internal Audit, and International Management Studies, and Systems Engineering & Management, to name a few.

Online PMBA students may also pursue specialized elective coursework through the Academic Certificate programs offered within Executive Education in addition to the programs regular MBA concentrations. Certificate options include Executive and Professional Coaching, Organizational Consulting, Project Management, and Transformational Leadership.

JSOM Online PMBA students are encouraged to participate in the school's International Study Programs, which "give direct exposure to business in a global context." Programs last the duration of a long semester, a summer term or even seven to 10 days abroad. To date, the JSOM Study Abroad Office has conducted more than 35 faculty led international study trips in more than 16 countries for the past 15 years.

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.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UM Ann Arbor) was established in 1817 in Detroit, Michigan as one of the first public universities in the nation. Serving 48,090 students, UM Ann Arbor is the largest of the three University of Michigan Campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint). The school offers 250 degree programs in 19 schools and colleges. The Stephen M. Ross School of Business (Michigan Ross) offers a part-time MBA program that may be completed mostly online.

Program features include live, interactive classes + self-guided modules, hands-on, in-person residencies, and an individualized approach to career development & recruiting. Students will complete 27 core credits, 18 elective credits, nine credits over three residencies, and three Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) course credits. Elective credits allow students to customize their studies according their specific interests and goals and the semester-long MAP course work allows students to work in a team to solve a problem for a real-world company or organization. The experience is designed to test the student’s business acumen.

Elective course highlights include Bargaining and Influence Skills, Communicating in a Virtual World, Competitive Tactics and Policy, Digital Marketing, Leading Diverse Teams, High Stakes Leadership: Building Resilience Through Relationship, The Science of Success: Who Succeeds, Who Doesn’t and Why and Venture Capital.

Other program highlights include the opportunity establish and run a functional team within a real company in the school’s immersive Living Business Leadership Experience (LBLE) course and Global Experiences that will take students to places such as China, Germany, Israel, and more.

Graduates of the Michigan Ross Online MBA Program move on to successful careers at companies in cities such as Boston, Chicago, NYC, San Francisco, Seattle and abroad. Many have gone on to secure positons in consulting (nearly 40% of graduates), with a base median salary of $160,000 and median signing bonus of $30,000.

Established in 1885, University of Arizona (UA) was the first university in Arizona Territory. The school’s first graduating class in 1895 consisted of just two women and one male. Today, UA serves nearly 47,000 students enrolled in 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in 20 colleges and 12 schools across four campuses.

Eller College of Management is one of the 20 colleges at University of Arizona. This AACSB-accredited college serves just over 6,600 students enrolled in 10 undergraduate majors and 16 graduate programs, including a 100% online MBA that may be completed in as few as 14 months. With six starts per year (every eight weeks), the program requires 14 core two-unit courses and 17 units of electives for a total of 45 units to graduate. Six concentrations are available including Entrepreneurship, Finance, Health Care, Management and Organizations, Management Information Systems, and Marketing.

Also known as the OMBA, the Eller Online MBA highlights 24/7 asynchronous delivery of content that minimizes students’ time away from work and family, the option to decide how many courses to take at a time (take up to six years to complete the program), and AACSB accreditation. Graduates of the program enjoy an 86% employment rate within 90 days of graduation, along with an average starting salary of $89,870.

Top recruiters for the Eller OMBA include EY, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, Intel, Honeywell, Macy’s, Microsoft, Nationwide, and PwC.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is one of the original 37 public land-grant institutions created after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862. Founded in 1867 and serving more than 52,000 students, the school is the oldest and largest campus in the University of Illinois system. Eighteen colleges housed within UIUC provide more than 150 programs of study.

Officially formed in 1915, Gies College of Business serves more than 8,000 business students each year, with more than half enrolled in graduate programs, including Gies’ fully online MBA (iMBA). This career-curated program organizes material in a way that mirrors how students will “actually use it on the job,” says the school. “On top of that, it includes heavy development of leadership skills and vision, including special pathways and team projects on the forces shaping the future—digitalization, globalization, and innovation.”

The iMBA is divided into several specializations, groups of related courses. To finish the program, students must complete at least five specializations and a group of electives, or complete six specializations. The degree culminates with a program-wide experiential learning course. Specializations include Digital Marketing, Financial Management, Global Challenges in Business, Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship, Managerial Economics and Business Analysis, Strategic Leadership and Management, Value Chain Management, and Business Analytics.

Specializations ultimately come together as a capstone project and lead to the complete MBA. The capstone is self-directed and consists of a strategic leadership and management plan covering the design and management, effective people management, analysis of a business situation, and the formulation and implementation of a strategy.

Learning for the program takes place through the University of Illinois and Coursera. The part of the curriculum in the Coursera platform is on-demand, so students can complete it at their own pace. Other program highlights include hands-on faculty who are interactive in classes and projects, and weekly live class sessions, covering multiple time zones across the world. iMBA students live in more than 90 countries.

Highlights of this AACSB-accredited program include job placement and students’ ability to immediately apply what they learn. More than half of iMBA students earn a promotion, receive a job offer, or accept a new position during their time in the program. And students report receiving a 21% average pay increase before graduation.

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.

Established in 1863 as a land-grant agricultural college, University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass-Amherst) offered its first classes in 1867 with four faculty members, four wooden buildings on 310 rural acres, 56 students and a curriculum combining modern farming, science, technical courses, and liberal arts. Today, UMass-Amherst sits on 1,463 acres, the school serves nearly 31,700 students, and it houses the tallest research library on any college campus in the country and the second tallest library in the world.

UMass-Amherst also houses Isenberg School of Management, which opened its doors in 1947 with just 10 faculty members and 15 students. Today, this business school has a faculty of 133 educators and 124 staff-members serving more than 5,300 students. The Isenberg Online MBA enrolls more than 1,400 professionals, many with more than 10 years’ work experience.

The 45 credit hour program offers five focus areas including Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Administration, and Marketing. Fully accredited by the AACSB, the Isenberg MBA also offers a unique opportunity for students to “try before you buy.” Potential MBA students can take up to two classes before applying to learn why the program is a good fit.

Besides five in-demand focus areas and the opportunity to experience the program before committing, Isenberg Online MBA students have an additional delivery option available to them. The Blended Option Part-Time MBA allows students to take some classes online and others at a conveniently located satellite campus in Boston, Shrewsbury, or Springfield, Massachusetts.

Serving approximately 165,000 students at 13 universities across 26 campuses, the University of Wisconsin System (UW) is one of the largest systems of public higher education in the nation. Through its statewide extension and outreach programs, the system also serves more than one million citizens. Three campuses—UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, and UW Oshkosh—have joined forces to create the University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium.

This AACSB-accredited program is the only offering among UW’s peer consortial programs to grant the degree from the MBA Consortium Program rather than from one of the partner schools. The program curriculum “combines four credits of business essentials courses, 22 credits of core courses, and ten credits of electives to cover general business competencies,” says the school, “while enabling” students to design a customized learning experience based on their individual interests.

Through electives, students may focus in a specific area or two, without officially declaring an emphasis/concentration. Elective course highlights include Corporate Venturing, Incorporation of Exchange Rates in Strategic Decision-Making, Introduction to Enterprise Resource Planning, Managing Technology in Turbulent Times, Mutual Fund Investing, Regional Trade Agreements and Multinational Corporations, and Sustainability and Organizational Management.

Other course highlights for the MBA Consortium Program include Competing Strategically in a Global Environment, Developing New Products and Services, Leading a Diverse and Dynamic Workforce, and Navigating Change amid Uncertainty. Students will also complete a capstone (Refining Your Plan for Success) at the end of the program. Coursework for the program may be completed entirely online—no campus visits required.

Graduates of the Online MBA Program will be able to “demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective leaders, who can lead a diverse and inclusive organization, identify and evaluate market opportunity, and use critical thinking and analytical reasoning to make informed business decisions.” Graduates will also be able to “create and maintain a dynamic vision for personal and professional development in a global and domestic context.”

The Online MBA at UW may be completed in 2.5 to three years.

Chartered in 1869, University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is a member of the Big Ten Conference and the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Classified within the Carnegie “R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity” category, UNL is also a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

Serving 25,390 students, UNL offers more than 250 majors, degree programs, and certificates. One of the school’s most popular programs is Business.

The College of Business offers a variety of flexible pathways to the coveted MBA. Options include the Traditional MBA and a 48 credit hour MBA delivered entirely online. Online courses for this program are offered in eight-week sessions. The College of Business also offers a Flex MBA program, which is a blend of both on-campus and online courses. However, the majority of courses for this program are taken on-campus at the “renowned” Howard L. Hawks Hall, which opened in 2017.

For the 100% online MBA program known as MBA@Nebraska, students “will never have to come to campus, which makes this option the most flexible” of the school’s three MBA programs, says the school. The program includes 10 core classes (30 hours), nine hours of breadth electives, and nine hours of electives. Specialization options include Business Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Online graduate certificates are also available in Business Analytics, Financial Communications, Human Resource Management, and Supply Chain Management.

In addition to the option to choose a specialization or certificate, MBA@Nebraska students are expected to participate in an internship. “Internships are designed to give students practical experience in managerial and/or administrative situations.” Students can participate in a maximum of two internships and earn three hours of elective credit for each internship, for a maximum of six hours.

Start times for the AACSB-accredited MBA@Nebraska program are January, March, June, August or October of each year. The average completion time for the program is three years, but it is possible to finish in 1.5 years. However, students are allowed up to 10 years to complete the program.

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.

This 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.

Chartered in 1766, Rutgers University is the eighth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Known as the Birthplace of College Football, Rutgers serves more than 71,000 students from all 50 states and 125 countries, making it one of the nation’s largest schools by enrollment. More than 150 undergraduate programs and over 200 graduate programs of study are offered in 29 schools and colleges.

Rutgers Business School offers an MBA program that is delivered entirely online. Students in the Rutgers-Camden Online MBA may attend classes year-round, full or part-time, and they may choose from Fall, Spring, and Summer starting points. The 42 credit hour program allows students to learn “in real-time about challenges and solutions that cross disciplines,” says the school, with a focus “on the key areas of business.” The program also offers “an extensive selection of elective courses that cover every avenue of modern business including marketing, finance, IT, and human resources.”

Graduate Certificates allow students to “delve deeper into” a specialty area that matches their career interests and goals. Options include Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Investment & Private Wealth Management, Modern Financial Technology (FinTech), and Strategic Leadership.

More than 300 current MBA students have the opportunity to travel abroad to satisfy one, three-credit elective requirement. Those who choose the study abroad option will be given the opportunity to meet with top executives and solve real-life international business challenges. There will also be an opportunity to experience cultural activities on the weekends and evenings. Just a few study abroad locations include Brazil, China, Cuba, Panama, Portugal, South Africa, and South Korea.

Graduates of the AACSB-accredited Rutgers-Camden Online MBA program will learn to “make knowledgeable decisions and become a respected leader, increase their influence by employing management skills to guide their teams and companies, better analyze problems and clearly articulate effective solutions, and expand their network and connect with notable Rutgers alumni, classmates, and faculty.”

Other program highlights include small class sizes, learning tools and tutoring, access to student coaches and advisors, a five-year ROI of $169,768, and Focused Learning Modules that allow students to “build expertise” in their career area. Modules include Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Investments & Private Wealth Management, and Strategic Leadership.

Graduates of the Rutgers-Camden Online MBA have gone on to successful careers at Aramark, Christie’s, Comcast, Deutsche Bank Securities, Easterseals, Ernst & Young, JP Morgan, Lockheed Martin, Morgan Stanley, Prudential, Shell Oil, Subaru, US Bancorp, the US Navy, Verizon, Westinghouse Lighting Corp., and many others.

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.

Founded in 1787 as Pittsburgh Academy, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. This state-related research university is one of the 17 founding members of the AACSB. The school is also home to one of the first federally funded centers for international business and research.

University of Pittsburgh serves 33,320 students enrolled in more than 300 programs at the Pittsburgh campus as well as Pitt's regional campuses in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville. Pitt houses the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, which offers a part-time, flexible MBA designed for “working professionals seeking business acumen and individualized career growth,” says the school. “The elements of the part-time Katz MBA are delivered in several convenient formats including either online or on-campus core courses.” Students set the pace that works for them.

The program requires campus visits two to three weekends a semester. Like the full-time Katz MBA, the online program offers “an integrated core curriculum with a solid foundation in business principles; countless networking, leadership, and career-building opportunities; and an expert faculty made up of innovative thought leaders.”

A unique component of the online program is the Katz Credential. MBA students may choose to complete a Credential “in order to highlight expertise and hands-on experience in a particular business area.” Credentials include a “bundle of specialized coursework that build the students capabilities, knowledge, and experience in a meaningful way.” Options include Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing Operations, and Technology Management.

Another innovative component of the program is the Business Disruption Series. “Through this innovative series, students learn what business disruption is and how to become a catalyst for change.” Students can select “game changer” courses that “highlight faculty expertise on relevant and current business issues and trends.” For example, the student may take a course “exploring augmented reality (AR) marketing or learning how the global pandemic has influenced private equity investing.”

Students typically complete the part-time Katz Online MBA Program in three years.

On February 8, 1693, King William III and Queen Mary II of England signed the charter for a "perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences" to be founded in the Virginia Colony. With original plans for the school dating back to 1618—decades before Harvard—William & Mary (M&W) is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in America.

A 17-year-old George Washington received his surveyor's license through W&M and would later return as its first American chancellor, Thomas Jefferson received his undergraduate education here, as did presidents John Tyler and James Monroe.

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business at W&M offers a 49-credit MBA program for working professionals. This interdisciplinary program consist of 12 courses and it may be completed entirely online. Each course is 7.5 weeks, with just 22 students per course. Students begin the program with the unique Renaissance Manager course, which explores “design thinking as an iterative approach to identifying and solving problems,” says the school.

The program also explores “the importance of both deep expertise and broad knowledge, understanding systemic connection as a part of creative problem-solving, how a willingness to experiment promotes a growth mindset, and the ability to synthesize new ideas from seemingly unrelated or opposing ideas,” and more.

Other highlights include courses such as Global Managerial Economics, Integrated Technology, Leadership for the 21st Century, Revolutionary Leader Practicum, and Strategy.

Students will attend just one on-campus residency. This Friday thru Sunday event includes speakers, team-building activities and networking functions and students will have the opportunity to “discuss core business topics such as leadership, finance and marketing, as well as current events and global issues.” Students will meet the school’s Executive Partners (EPs), “a select group of retired professionals who volunteer their time as mentors to all Mason School of Business students.”

Students can expect to complete the AACSB-accredited W&M Mason Online MBA in just two years.

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.

Founded in 1890 on Christmas Day, Oklahoma State University (OSU or OK State) is Oklahoma’s first Truman Honor Institution. The school has the largest comprehensive student union and its Edmon Low Library is one of the America’s top 100 academic research libraries. Famous alumni include Garth Brooks, T. Boone Pickens (business magnate and financier), Barry Sanders (NFL running back), and Anita Hill.

Serving nearly 25,000 students, OSU houses six academic colleges, plus a veterinary school and an osteopathic medical school, that offer more than 300 undergraduate majors and options, master's programs, and doctoral programs.

Watson Graduate School of Management houses the Spears School of Business, which offers a 33 credit hour MBA that can be completed part-time, online in as few as 12 months. “Online courses are available 24/7,” says the school, and they are “designed with multimedia content and virtual activities to promote student collaboration.”

Course highlights for the program include Corporate and Business Strategy, Design, Prototyping, and Testing Creative Products, Emerging Enterprise Consulting, Launching a Business: The First 100 Days, Professional Development (Part 1, Part 2 and Case Consulting), Social Entrepreneurship, Talent Acquisition, and Teams in Organizations.

Students in this AACSB-accredited program also have the opportunity to complete a study abroad “Entrepreneurship.”

Founded in 1889, Clemson University is a public, land-grant research university that serves around 26,400 students. The second-largest university in South Carolina, Clemson offers more than 170 majors and minors, and 130+ graduate degree programs in 10 colleges and schools.

The College of Business launched an online MBA program in 2019 for candidates with more than two years’ work experience. This part-time, AACSB-accredited program designed for working professionals “utilizes the same corporate MBA curriculum and faculty and is designed to accelerate careers into areas of management and executive leadership,” says the school. The flexible format allows students to “select the class structure that best fits their schedule and learning style - and change it anytime during the semester.” This means, students can “join a live class through video conferencing,” allowing them to “participate fully and ask questions at any time.” Access to recorded lectures is available as well.

Other program highlights include the opportunity to earn a certificate to enhance the students’ credentials (Cybersecurity Business Practices and Reliability Engineering are just a few options), networking, seminars, conferences, and extensive resources in career planning. Students also have access to optional short-term study abroad opportunities in places such as Paris, Rome, and the UK.

Graduates of the Clemson University Online MBA Program enjoy a 95% job placement rate.

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.

Established in 1918 as the Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division, Ball State University (BSU or Ball State) serves 22,000 students enrolled in more than 300 programs in nine colleges. With one of the lowest tuition rates in the Mid-American Conference, Ball State houses the Miller College of Business, which offers an online MBA program that may be completed in as few as two years.

The Miller Online MBA includes 24 credits of core courses and six to nine credits of MBA electives “covering in-depth knowledge of business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, marketing, sales, and more,” says the school.

This AACSB-accredited program offers nine optional concentrations including Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Construction Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Administration, Health Economics Policy and Administration, Information Technology Leadership, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Sales Management. A General MBA that allows students to customize their experience through a variety of course subjects is also available, as well as Certificates in Health Economics and Professional Sales.

Miller Online MBA students will complete coursework for the program through a combination of asynchronous (no specific sign-on time each week) and synchronous (specific time to watch and participate in live webcast lectures and discussions) formats. Students will “keep in contact with instructors and classmates using e-mail, discussion boards, file sharing, chats, web page posting, and possibly over the telephone.” 

Miller College of Business offers an additional delivery format option designed for students who prefer a combination of online and on-campus classes. The Hybrid MBA allows students to choose which classes they would like to take on-campus and which ones they prefer to complete online. Most students (in either program) enroll in an average of two courses each semester and typically complete the program in five to six semesters. Three start times are available including fall, spring, and summer.

There are no residency requirements for the fully Online Miller MBA.

Boise State University (Boise State) was founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church. The school, which became an independent junior college in 1934, has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965. Serving 19,825 degree-seeking students enrolled in 200 areas of study, Boise State University is Idaho’s largest university. Programs at this doctoral research institution are offered in seven academic colleges, the Honors College, and the Graduate College.

The College of Business and Economics at Boise State University (COBE Boise State) offers an MBA program that is the only MBA in the Treasure Valley with AACSB accreditation. Designed for mid-career professionals, the COBE Online MBA (OMBA) provides 49 credit hours of study in 13 courses offered in eight-week quarters. Launched in Fall 2019, the program now offers Construction Management, Healthcare Leadership, and Management Specializations.

Course highlights for the programs include Business Plan Development, Design Thinking and Strategic Management, Global Economics: Policy and Trade, Information Technology and Business Alignment, Managing Successful Projects, and People and Organizations.

Offered entirely online (campus visits are not required), the COBE MBA uses 100% digital content, “replacing traditional textbook cost and hassle,” says the school. Program tuition includes all course materials, which are accessible through any web-enabled device that supports HTML5. Students can complete the program in as few as 12 months, full-time.

Graduates of the COBE OMBA are prepared for advancement opportunities in their current careers or new positions such as Business Owner, Director, Executive, General Manager, Project Manager, Senior Manager, and many others.

Ohio University was established in 1804 as the state’s first university. Serving more than 33,000 students, the school offers 250 academic programs in 20+ colleges and schools.

The College of Business at Ohio University is a Top 15 Public Business School. It offers an AACSB-accredited MBA program that may be completed entirely online. There is no GMAT requirement for admission and students may choose from nine concentrations including Accounting, Business Analytics, Business Venturing & Entrepreneurship, Executive Management, Finance, Health Care, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Strategic Selling & Sales Leadership, and Project Management. Students may also complete an online graduate certificate that will allow them to “upskill in as few as three courses,” says the school. Students may choose more than one certificate and courses can be applied towards the MBA.

Course highlights for the MBA include Accounting for Executives, Advanced Corporate Finance, Applied Business Experience (CAPSIM), Data Analysis for Decision Making, Descriptive Analytics, Operations Management, and Strategic Use of Information Systems. In the CAPSIM course, “students will work in teams and apply course material to complete a simulated business experience.” In the simulation, each team runs a fictitious firm.

Students “will define a business problem to address, assess the organization and its context, suggest solutions, and deliver an action plan for implementing the solution. Teams compete with one another in a dynamic industry environment.” The CAPSIM course “provides an opportunity to apply many of the concepts learned throughout the program.”

The MBA program at Ohio University may be completed in just two years, full-time.

Chartered on February 24, 1844, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss or UM) is Mississippi's flagship university. The school opened its doors in 1848 to just 80 students. For the next 23 years, UM was Mississippi’s only public institution of higher learning. For 110 years, it was the state’s only comprehensive university.

Today, UM serves nearly 19,000 students at the Oxford campus and regional campuses in Grenada, Southaven, and Tupelo. UM offers hundreds of programs in the College of Liberal Arts, nine schools, and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.

The School of Business Administration at UM offers an Online Professional MBA that “employs a fully supported online learning system integrated with features such as video conferencing, interactive discussions and similar collaborative technologies necessary for effective online instruction,” says the school.

The 36 credit hour program covers Communication, Entrepreneurial, Interpersonal, and Leadership skills as well as Critical and Strategic Thinking, and Creativity. Geared towards working professionals, the UM Online MBA highlights courses such as Contemporary Business Analysis, Managerial Accounting, Mobilizing Technology, and Organizational Behavior.

The UM Online MBA is AACSB accredited and it may be completed in as few as two years or extended to accommodate any work schedule.