2021

Our 2021 list of the Top 50 Public Online MBA Programs in the US. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.

Top 50 Public Online MBA Programs in the US – 2021 Rankings
RankingSchoolState% Considered
1University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorth Carolina 1%
2Indiana University BloomingtonIndiana 1%
3Arizona State UniversityArizona 2%
4University of FloridaFlorida2%
5University of Texas at DallasTexas 3%
6University of WashingtonWashington 3%
7Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 4%
8University of Michigan-Ann ArborMichigan 4%
9University of MarylandMaryland5%
10University of ArizonaArizona 5%
11Auburn UniversityAlabama 6%
12University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignIllinois 6%
13North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina 7%
14University of UtahUtah 7%
15University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusetts 7%
16Temple UniversityPennsylvania 8%
17University of Wisconsin MBA ConsortiumWisconsin 8%
18Washington State UniversityWashington 9%
19University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraska9%
20University of KansasKansas 10%
21University of California, DavisCalifornia 10%
22Rutgers UniversityNew Jersey 15%
23Florida State UniversityFlorida 15%
24University of PittsburghPennsylvania 15%
25The College of William & MaryVirginia 15%
26University of CincinnatiOhio 15%
27Colorado State UniversityColorado 15%
28Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma 15%
29Clemson UniversitySouth Carolina 15%
30Florida International UniversityFlorida 15%
31Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana 15%
32Ball State UniversityIndiana 15%
33Boise State UniversityIdaho 15%
34Mississippi State UniversityMississippi 20%
35Ohio UniversityOhio 20%
36University of MississippiMississippi20%
37University of Massachusetts at LowellMassachusetts 20%
38University of MemphisTennessee 20%
39University of South FloridaFlorida 20%
40Kansas State UniversityKansas 20%
41Portland State UniversityOregon 20%
42University of Nevada, RenoNevada20%
43University of North TexasTexas25%
44Georgia WebMBAGeorgia 25%
45University of Michigan-DearbornMichigan25%
46University of DelawareDelaware25%
47West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia 25%
48Oregon State UniversityOregon 25%
49California State University-San BernardinoCalifornia 25%
50George Mason UniversityVirginia 25%
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (top 1% of schools considered)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

In 1795, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill) became the only public university in the U.S. to award degrees in the 18th century. The School of Commerce was established in 1919 and is known today as Kenan-Flagler Business School. With more than 42,000 graduates working in all states and dozens of countries, UNC Kenan-Flagler is considered one of the nation’s top business schools.

The online MBA program at UNC (MBA@UNC) is one of the most recognized and established in the country. This 66 credit hour, STEM-designated degree program allows students to interact with faculty weekly using a face-to-face online platform. Program highlights include a customizable curriculum, on-campus summits, and experiential global opportunities that allow students to travel to major business centers around the world such as Johannesburg, Istanbul, London, Singapore, and others.  MBA@UNC students can customize their studies and refine their leadership skills with 25+ elective options in five concentration areas including Data Analytics and Decision Making, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, and Strategy and Consulting.

Students may participate in several additional programs to gain even more hands-on business and international experience. Optional programs include Student Teams Achieving Results (STAR), the Exchange Program, and Doing Business In (DBI). STAR students "students learn by doing as they take on the role of consultants to real companies,” says the school, while the Exchange Program “allows MBA@UNC students to study at another top-ranked business school in countries across the globe." Doing Business In (DBI) "gives students an opportunity to study abroad at an MBA exchange partner school."

With four annual start dates (January, April, July and October), the MBA@UNC can completed in as few as 18 months or as many as 36, depending on the students schedule and other commitments. The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

2. Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Indiana (top 1% of schools considered)
Indiana University Bloomington

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.

3. Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (top 2% of schools considered)
Arizona State University

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.

4. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (top 2% of schools considered)
University of Florida

Founded in 1853 and serving nearly 58,000 students, the University of Florida (UF) is one of the largest and oldest universities in the state. The school houses more than 200 bureaus, education centers, institutes, and research & service centers, along with more than a dozen colleges and schools.

In 1999, the Warrington College of Business at University of Florida became one of the first schools to offer a fully accredited, 100% online MBA program. The school says the “innovative 24-month option does not require a single campus visit.” The school also offers a 16-month accelerated option for those who have an undergraduate degree in business and graduated in the last seven years.

A concurrent Outreach Engineering Management (OEM) Master’s (OEM/MBA) is also available. This degree option “reduces the amount of time and coursework required for students to obtain both the MBA and the OEM degree from UF."

Course highlights for the online MBA include Business Plan Formation, Business-to-Business Marketing, Customer Analysis, Introduction to Real Estate, Marketing Analytics, Measuring and Managing Value, and The Art & Science of Negotiation.

All online MBA students are encouraged to enroll in UF's MBA Global Immersion Experiences (GIE). Students register for the two-credit course that meets in person and online over the course of the semester and includes a seven- to 10-day experience abroad in Argentina, Brazil, China, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, and others.

The Online MBA programs at UF’s Warrington College of Business are AACSB-accredited.

5. University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas (top 3% of schools considered)
University of Texas at Dallas

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.

6. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (top 3% of schools considered)
University of Washington

University of Washington (UW) has three campuses (Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma) that offer more than 600 degree options to a population of just over 57,500 students. The Michael G. Foster School of Business at University of Washington (UW Foster) offers a hybrid MBA program that can be completed mostly online.

This two-year, interactive program is the first of its kind offered by Foster and it allows students to complete 95% of the program online and 5% on campus. The online component consists of a combination of guided independent work supplemented with virtual teamwork, Foster Live sessions (60-90 minute interactive sessions with Foster faculty and Hybrid classmates for weekly class), and optional Thursday evening online review sessions. The in-person component consists of a mandatory three- to five-day intensive, on-campus immersion, at the beginning of each quarter.

The curriculum for the program is comprised of 52 credits of core courses and 10 credits of Hybrid MBA electives. Due to the unique online and in-person format, Hybrid MBA electives are exclusive to the Foster Hybrid MBA program. Elective highlights include Behavioral Finance, Digital Marketing Strategies & Systems, Foundations of Entrepreneurship, International Study Tour, International Supply Chain Management, Leading Organizational Change, Mergers & Acquisitions, Negotiations, Product Management, Real Estate Finance, and Tools for Big Data: Business Analytics.

Students in the program will also benefit from “hands-on case analysis,” says the school, which allows them to “examine real-world business problems and learn how to best evaluate a situation by applying concepts and strategies acquired throughout the program.”

Other program highlights include support through workshops, training, and coaching sessions, and the opportunity to attend networking events with employers on the UW campus.

The UW Foster School of Business is AACSB-accredited.

7. Pennsylvania State University – World Campus, State College, Pennsylvania (top 4% of schools considered)
Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) serves 100,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff across 24 campuses and in 20 colleges and schools. As Pennsylvania's only land-grant university, Penn State has a broad mission of teaching, research, and public service. The school houses the Smeal College of Business, which offers 1300+ internship and co-op opportunities annually, 300+ career fairs and corporate recruiting events each year, and a 94% placement rate for MBAs within three months of graduation.

The online MBA program is led by the Smeal College of Business, in partnership with Black School of Business, Penn State Behrend; Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies; and Penn State Harrisburg School of Business Administration. This AACSB-accredited program consists of 48 credit hours, which includes 39 General Management credits and nine credits of concentration work.

Core coursework prepares students to become “more effective business professionals,” says the school, “by exposing them to the principles and practices essential to modern management,” including accounting, communications, data analysis, digital transformation, economics, ethics, finance, human resources, innovation, leadership, marketing, strategy, and supply chain.

An impressive 24 concentration options are available. Just a few include Business Analytics, Business Architecture, Business Sustainable Strategy, Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Cybersecurity Intelligence Leadership, Engineering Leadership and Innovation Management, Health Care Business, Homeland Security, Negotiation and Influence, Strategic Leadership, and Taxation.

The MBA program runs on the Penn State semester system, so in addition to a declaring a concentration, students can take advantage of other Penn State online graduate degree and certificate courses and programs.

At the start of the Penn State Online MBA Program, students must attend a five-day Orientation Residency held at University Park, Pennsylvania. The residency provides the opportunity for students to meet program faculty and fellow students while immersing in the first core course in the program, Team Performance. Students will also attend other “highly engaging sessions during the residency that focus on professional development and using online technology.”

The residency is required to start the program, and is currently offered virtually, but an on-campus option will return beginning in summer 2022.

8. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan (top 4% of schools considered)
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

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.

9. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland (top 5% of schools considered)
University of Maryland

Founded in 1856, University of Maryland (UMD) is the flagship campus of the University System of Maryland. UMD is the original land-grant institution in the state and it is one of only 62 members of the Association of American Universities, an organization composed of the leading research universities in the United States and Canada.

Serving nearly 41,000 students and employing 14,505 faculty and staff members, UMD has 388,000 alumni including famous graduates such as Co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin, Jim Henson, founder of The Muppets, and Seinfeld co-writer, Larry David.

The school houses the Robert H. Smith School of Business (est. 1920), which offers an AACSB-accredited online MBA program with six career-focused specializations. Options include Accounting, Finance, General Track, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. The program, which consists of 54 total credits completed over six 14-week terms, is largely asynchronous, which allows students to continue to meet personal and professional obligations during their course of study.

The school says “a small number of live online classes presented via the state-of-the-art video conferencing tool, Adobe Connect, provide the benefit of “attending” class and interacting with professors and peers in real time.” Students will also benefit from audio and video messaging, integrated multimedia, collaborative online workspaces, and career coaching. Smith’s Office of Career Services (OCS) takes students through “a phased approach” to creating their “core career portfolio, complemented with next-level learning and capstone experiences.” This entire career development protocol repeats each year so students can “get what [they] need when [they] need it.”

The UMD Smith Online MBA may be completed in as few as 24 months, while still providing “the same academic rigor and top faculty” as is offered in the school’s campus-based programs.

The online program has two three-day required campus-based residencies that “allow students to build a strong working relationship with their cohort peers and the faculty from the outset, setting the stage for academic success and professional growth, and to come together for a capstone experience at the end of the program.”

10. University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (top 5% of schools considered)
University of Arizona

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.

11. Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama (top 6% of schools considered)
Auburn University

Auburn University was chartered in 1856 as East Alabama Male College—a Methodist institution. Beginning with EAMC, the school has had four official names: Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, and Auburn University. Classes were first held for 80 students with a faculty of six in 1859. Today, the school serves approximately 30,737 students enrolled in 140 programs within 13 colleges and schools.

The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, which has grown an impressive 50% over the last seven years, offers a video-based Distance MBA that may be completed in 2.5 years, part-time. The 36 credit hour program offers an optional three-day orientation at the beginning of the program and a three-day on campus residency on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before graduation. Otherwise, all coursework for the program is delivered through the University's online student learning platform CANVAS.

Students use CANVAS to view lectures, work with team members on group assignments, ask questions and hold discussions with professors and classmates, submit homework, and access course materials. The lock-step curriculum allows online students to watch the exact same lectures, take the same tests, and communicate with the same professors as on-campus students.

Students can live-stream classes or choose to watch at the time most convenient for them. Courses are taken at the student’s own pace, with most online students taking one or two classes each semester. The curriculum includes a mix of core business classes and business electives and the final semester includes the Capstone Course, where groups of MBA students provide consultation to a number of real businesses on various topics.

In addition to optional concentrations in Finance, Marketing, Management, Information Systems, Supply Chain, Business Analytics and Human Resource Management, this AACSB-accredited program offers dual degrees (MBA/MS) in Finance, Information Systems, and Industrial and Systems Engineering as well as graduate certificates that complement the online MBA. Certificates range from nine to 24 credit hours and include Business Analytics, Cybersecurity Management, Management Information Systems, and Supply Chain Management Innovation to name a few.

Graduate research assistantships, which are awarded annually, are also available.

12. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois (top 6% of schools considered)

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.

13. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (top 7% of schools considered)
North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University (NC State or NCSU) held its first classes in the fall of 1889 with 72 students and six faculty members in one building. Today, NC State is the largest of the 16 higher-education institutions in the University of North Carolina system, with over 2,000 faculty members, an administrative and support staff of more than 5,500, and a current enrollment of more than 36,700 students from across the state and around the world. Through its 11 colleges, NC State offers 100+ undergraduate programs, 100+ master’s programs, 60+ doctoral programs, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

The school’s most popular majors are Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; and Engineering.

Founded in 1992 and serving more than 3,500 students, Poole College of Management at NC State offers a 40 credit hour Professional Online MBA that has six “Depth Areas” comprised of the same functional area options as concentrations, but with fewer credit hours required to graduate. Known as the “Jenkins MBA,” areas for the program include Biosciences Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology Commercialization, Financial Management, Innovation Management, Marketing Management, and Supply Chain Management. This AACSB-accredited program also offers the opportunity to earn Decision Analytics or SAP Certification. SAP is the world's largest enterprise applications software company, with a wide range of software used by more than 38,000 firms in over 120 countries.

Students in the Jenkins Online MBA program may choose the Accelerated Path, which takes as few as 21 months to complete, or the Flexible Path, which allows students to complete their degree in as little as 21 months or up to six years. Both pathways “integrate proven technology strategies to help connect” students with professors, guest speakers, and peers, “using podcasts, videos, and online presentations.” Students will work with virtual teams during discussions and on group projects. Professors also provide office hours through a virtual collaborative space, phone, email, and online chat.

The Jenkins Online MBA requires two three-day residencies on NC State’s main campus in Raleigh. In addition, students are encouraged to complete an optional International Immersion that lasts for seven to eight days. “The focus of the trip is to provide global business and cultural awareness skills,” says the school.

For 2019, travel experiences include France: MBA, Art & Science of Negotiation in Paris and Germany: MBA, Innovation & Marketing Systems in Munich. Study abroad trips take place during the Spring and Summer semesters, (usually mid-March or mid-May).

14. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (top 7% of schools considered)
University of Utah

Founded in 1850, University of Utah (The U) is the oldest state university west of the Missouri River. When it opened in November 1850 as the University of Deseret, the school’s first term was designated “men only.” Today, nearly half of the students at University of Utah are women.

With a student population of over 31,000 students, The U is one of the largest universities in the state. The school offers hundreds of programs in 17 colleges and schools and nearly 100 departments. The David Eccles School of Business offers an online MBA (Eccles MBAO) that takes 24 months to complete. Consisting of 48 credit hours, the program allows students to take two courses at a time held in five and 10-week blocks.

Eccles MBAO classes are available 24/7 and “provide a dynamic, highly interactive learning experience,” says the school. Course highlights include Business Ethics, Business Technology, Data Analysis, Global Business, Data Analysis, Managing & Leading Organizations, and Project Management. “On-demand lectures with in-depth discussions between team members and faculty using high-end web conferencing means “class is “whenever and wherever” students want it to be.

Students also have the opportunity to interact with faculty and other students in a weekly live web-conferencing session, as well as during one three-day on-campus residency. Online forums and multimedia are also utilized in this AACSB-accredited program and students can select a mixture of online and on-campus classes at any time, if desired.

Graduates of the Eccles MBAO report a 34% salary increase by graduation and on average, 56% of students are promoted while in the program.

15. University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts (top 7% of schools considered)
University of Massachusetts-Amherst

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.

16. Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (top 8% of schools considered)
Temple University

Founded by Russell H. Conwell in 1884, Temple University (Temple) is a public, four-year research university in Philadelphia that serves 37,365 students enrolled in more than 200 programs in 17 colleges and schools. The Fox School of Business at Temple houses the online MBA program known as the “Fox OMBA.”

Students in this 48 credit hour program will use a combination of “leading-edge virtual technology,” including web conferencing technology and HD, mobile-friendly, and on-demand lecture videos. While coursework for the program is available entirely online, students must attend one weeklong residency, which is held at the school’s main campus.

Students must also “attend” live weekly classes held through WebEx. This gives students the opportunity to meet classmates and faculty in an environment that allows them to “speak with and see one another.”

The Fox OMBA offers more than a dozen concentration options. Just a few include Business Analytics, Corporate Compliance, Governance and Regulatory Policy, Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management, International Management, Sport Business, Strategic Management, and Travel & Tourism. Concentrations require nine of students’ 12 elective credits. Students in pursuit of a General MBA degree may choose nine credits worth of any elective course.

Dual degree programs are also available and include MBA/MS in Business Analytics, MBA/MA in Human Resources Management, and the MBA/MS in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship.

Even with a concentration, many FOX OMBA students complete this AACSB-accredited program in as few as 20 months. Others take up to six years, utilizing the schools flexible “hop-on, hop-off curriculum carousel.” Each student can expect to spend approximately 10-20 hours each week on coursework. The program culminates in an Enterprise Consulting Practicum (Capstone), worth three credits.

17. University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium, Eau Claire-La Crosse-Oshkosh, Wisconsin (top 8% of schools considered)

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.

18. Washington State University, Pullman, Washington (top 9% of schools considered)
Washington State University

Established in 1890, Washington State University (WSU) began as Washington State Agricultural College and School of Sciences. The name changed to State College of Washington in 1905, and finally, to Washington State University in 1959. The school, which serves nearly 20,000 students from 50 states and 98 countries, offers 565 study abroad programs in over 70 countries, it houses 260+ registered student organizations, and it offers more than 200 degrees and majors in 11 colleges.

The Carson College of Business at WSU offers an AACSB-accredited online MBA with four concentrations and a General Track. Concentrations include Finance, Hospitality Business Management, International Business, and Marketing. The program may be completed in as few as 22-29 months and the GMAT is not required for qualified applicants.

Two major highlights of this 36 credit hour program are the optional international field study and the option to earn a nine-credit graduate certificate upon completion of any concentration. In July 2021, the international field study option offers the opportunity to travel to Prague. Students will learn from local professors and experts, meet classmates in person, and network with professionals outside the U.S., helping students build confidence to venture into overseas markets after graduation. A wide range of topics specific Prague will be covered, in addition to tours of cultural landmarks.

The WSU Carson Online MBA experience closes with three capstone courses for an additional six credits. All coursework is entirely online and may be completed in as few as 22-29 months.

19. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (top 9% of schools considered)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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.

20. University of Kansas, Hays, Kansas (top 10% of schools considered)
University of Kansas

In 1866, University of Kansas (KU) welcomed its first class of 55 students to what the school calls “an unfinished building on a treeless ridge called Mount Oread.” Today, the school has five campuses — Lawrence, the Edwards Campus in Overland Park, and medical branches in Kansas City, Wichita, and Salina — serving nearly 28,000 students in dozens of schools and departments.

The School of Business at University of Kansas (KU School of Business) offers an AACSB-accredited MBA program that may be completed entirely online. There are no residency requirements for this 42 credit hour program and courses are eight weeks each. Three focus areas are available including Finance, Management & Leadership, and Marketing.

The Finance focus requires four courses including Advanced Topics in Finance, Corporate Finance, Financial Institutions and Markets, and Investments. Management & Leadership requires Developing Effective Management and Team Skills, Leadership Philosophy and Practice, Managing Internationally, and Strategic Organizational Design and Change Management. The Marketing focus requires Consumer Behavior, Digital and Social Media Marketing, Global Marketing, and Integrated Marketing Communications.

With three start dates per year (spring, summer and fall), the KU School of Business Online MBA may be completed in just over two years.

21. University of California Davis, Davis, California (top 10% of schools considered)
University of California Davis

University of California Davis (UC Davis) opened in 1908 as the University Farm—the research and science-based instruction extension of UC Berkeley. Today, the school is one of the nation’s top 10 public universities and is the largest in area of the 10 campuses in the UC system and the third largest in student population. The almost 40,000 students who attend UC Davis pursue more than 200 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law, business management, medicine, and engineering. Programs are offered across eleven colleges and schools.

The UC Davis Graduate School of Management offers an online MBA program known as “MBA@UCDavis.” The school says the program offers “first-of-its-kind access to a nationally ranked University of California management school.”

The “centerpiece” of the online MBA@UCDavis experience is the live online classes, where students participate in “spirited, face-to-face conversations” with peers and the school’s “world-class faculty” on a “state-of-the-art technology platform.”

This STEM-designated MBA program requires 72 units with core courses that provide a foundation in the functional areas of business, such as accounting, economics, finance, marketing and strategy. Electives allow students to expand or narrow their interests. Course highlights include Data Analysis for Managers, Digital Marketing, Management of Innovation, New and Small Business Ventures, and The Individual and Group Dynamics.

Students may participate in a series of In-Person Residentials, where they will have the opportunity to join classmates, professors and business leaders for multiday, in-person experiences. “Planned for Silicon Valley, Davis and Napa Valley,” these residentials allow students to network and sharpen their skills.

Graduates of the MBA@UCDavis Program enjoy an 84% job placement rate within six months after graduation.

22. Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey (top 15% of schools considered)
Rutgers University

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.

23. Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida (top 15% of schools considered)
Florida State University

Founded in 1851, Florida State University (FSU) is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. Serving nearly 42,600 students. FSU is also one of the largest universities in the state serving. With notable alumni such as Benjamin Crump, Deion Sanders, Jim Morrison, and Sara Blakely, members of the New York Yankees, and over twenty current and former generals and admirals in the U.S. military, FSU also has a network of more than 360,000 alumni from Florida and around the world.

The College of Business at FSU (COB FSU) serves more than 6,000 students enrolled in dozens of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. The school offers two online MBA programs: the Part-Time MBA and the Part-Time MBA with a Real Estate Specialization. The 39 credit hour Part-Time MBA offers a General Track or a Specialization in Management Information Systems or Risk Management and Insurance. The program may be completed in two to 2.5 years or seven semesters.

Online MBA students may participate in the Global Business Seminar for Graduate Students, which provides the opportunity to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea at firms such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai, Kia and LG. The program, which also features several cultural excursions, focuses on the "globalization and sustainability of Korean multinational firms," says the school.

The Part-Time MBA with a Real Estate Specialization also consists of 39 credit hours and features a “rigorous set of elective courses focused on real estate and analysis.” The program, which also offers a study abroad option, may be completed in two to 2.5 years. As part of the FSU College of Business, both the Part-Time MBA and Part-Time MBA-Real Estate are AACSB-accredited.

24. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (top 15% of schools considered)
University of Pittsburgh

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.

25. The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia (top 15% of schools considered)
William & Mary

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.

26. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio (top 15% of schools considered)
University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati (UC) traces its origins to 1819 when both Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio were chartered. In 1870, the City of Cincinnati established the University of Cincinnati, which later absorbed the two predecessor institutions. One of the oldest and largest municipal universities in the country, UC serves nearly 47,000 enrolled in nearly 800 degree, certificate, and minor programs.

UC also houses one of the country’s top three co-op programs. CP students “earn a collective $75 million annually working for about 1,300 international employers via their co-op work placements,” says the school “alternating academic semesters with professional, paid work directly tied to their majors with employers like Apple, Boeing, Disney, Fisher Price, HBO, NASA, Nike, P&G, Toyota and hundreds more.”

UC programs are housed in 11 colleges, UC Blue Ash College, UC Clermont College, and the Graduate School. The Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati has been accredited by the AACSB since 1919. The school offers an online MBA program with two options—part time or accelerated. The part-time program can be completed within two years and the accelerated program can be completed in as few as 12 months.

Consisting of 38-48 credit hours, the MBA program helps students develop “strategic leadership and decision-making skills” as well as core skills in accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, information technology, leadership, marketing, and operations management. The Linder Online MBA Program also offers eight online certificate/concentrations including Corporate Taxation, Health Care Administration, Health Care Finance, Health Care Policy and Regulation, Health Care Operations, Individual Taxation, Investment Management, and Marketing.  Each certificate/concentration requires 12 credit hours of study.

Other program highlights include research-intensive learning with real-world experiences, opportunities to study abroad, engagement with corporate partners, and career services that connect students and graduates to employers.

27. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado (top 15% of schools considered)
Colorado State University

Colorado State University (CSU) was founded in 1870 as the Colorado Agricultural College. Situated on nearly 5,000 acres of land, including the main campus, a foothills campus, an agricultural campus, and a Mountain Campus, CSU has an additional 4,600 acres for research centers, Cooperative Extension offices, and Colorado State Forest Service stations.

CSU serves around 32,650 students enrolled in 250 academic programs, more than 80 minors, and several professional advising tracks across eight colleges and a graduate school. The College of Business offers a Professional MBA Program that dates back to 1975—when the first “distance” offering was introduced.

Today, this 42 credit hour program is offered 100% online and it consists of self-paced lectures in step with class assignments. Focus areas include Computer Information Systems, Finance, and Marketing Data Analytics. Students may also choose to focus in “Professional Enrichment,” which consists of electives such as the International Study Trip. During this 7-10 experience, students will meet with business leaders, where they will learn international business culture, and become acclimated to environments different from their own.

Other program highlights include the opportunity to complete a business certificate. Options include Accounting, Applied Finance, Business Analytics and Accounting Systems, Business Information Systems, Business Intelligence, Ethics and Auditing, IT Project Management, Marketing Management, Nonprofit Administration, and Ski Area Management.

Including the focus area and study trip, students can expect to complete the AACSB-accredited online MBA program in as few as 21 months. However, students have the option to take up to five years to complete the program. Start dates include August, October, January, March, and May.

28. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma (top 15% of schools considered)
Oklahoma State University

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.”

29. Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (top 15% of schools considered)
Clemson University

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.

30. Florida International University, Miami, Florida (top 15% of schools considered)
Florida International University

Founded in 1965, Florida International University (FIU) is Miami’s first and only four-year, public research university. The school, which has the highest research classification offered by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has earned more than $1 billion during the past decade and it operates the world’s only underwater ocean laboratory—Aquarius. Serving nearly 54,000 students, FIU is one of the top 10 largest universities in the nation.

More than 250 programs are offered at FIU, including popular majors such as Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Psychology; and Social Sciences.

The FIU Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Graduate School of Business offers a fully online MBA tailored for busy, working professionals. Known as the “Professional MBA (PMBA) Online,” the program offers the flexibility to study anytime, anywhere, and at the students own pace. Students may choose from three different pacing tracks, five term starts, and ten specializations. In addition, the PMBA Program offers unique performance-based scholarships of up to $15,000.

FIU lists the following specialization options: Business Data Analytics, Business Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, International Business, Leadership, Marketing Channel Strategy, Real Estate, Sports Management, and Strategic Negotiations. Each specialization consists of two courses (out of the 14 total in the program).

In addition selecting a specialization, students will are required to take three Professional Development Seminars (PDS) during the first quarter of the program. Professional Development - Work Preference Indicator Assessment, Professional Development - Presentation Skills Seminar, and Professional Development - Career Services Seminar. An optional two-day MBA residency in Miami is available and highly recommend. The school says that the residency is “is a great opportunity for students to come to our beautiful campus to meet their professors, the program’s administrators, and network with their peers.”

During the two-day residency, the program focuses on “developing soft, career-enhancing skills. Activities include expert speakers on hot topics, case-method analysis, team-building workshop, an etiquette luncheon, and networking events.” The residency is included in tuition. 

The FIU PMBA utilizes discussion boards, chat, and email, online e-advising and e-tutoring, and academic coaches. This AACSB-accredited program requires 42 credit hours of study to graduate and students interested in the healthcare industry may choose the Online Healthcare MBA. This program also requires 42 credit hours of study, which may be completed in as few as 18 months.

Depending on factors such as whether student attends full- or part-time, prerequisite requirements, and more, the FIU PMBA may be completed in as few as 18 to 21 months, or 33 months.

31. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (top 15% of schools considered)
Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University (LSU) welcomed its first class on January 2, 1860. Today, the school is in the elite 1% of U.S. universities having land-, sea-, and space-grant designations. Serving 34,290 enrolled in more than 235 programs in 15 colleges and schools, LSU is known for graduating students that leave the school with zero debt and the chance to earn, on average, $12,000 more than those graduating from other universities.

The E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University (LSU) is home to the Flores Online MBA. Designed for professionals with at least five years’ work experience, this AACSB-accredited program offers six start dates annually.

Flores MBA students are required to take 14 courses (42 credit hours) and they have the opportunity to choose elective courses to create a focus. A few options include Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence, and Seminar in New Developments in Business Administration.

There are no residency requirements for the LSU Flores Online MBA and students may complete the program in as few as 18 months.

32. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana (top 15% of schools considered)
Ball State University

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.

33. Boise State University, Boise, Idaho (top 15% of schools considered)
Boise State University

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.

34. Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi (top 20% of schools considered)
Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University (MSU) was established in 1878. This comprehensive, doctoral degree-granting institution holds the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s designation as a Doctoral/Extensive institution. As the state’s leading research university, the school serves nearly 23,000 students enrolled in more than 175 programs leading to a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree.

MSU programs are offered in the colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Architecture, Art and Design; Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Forest Resources; Veterinary Medicine; the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, and Shackouls Honors College.

The College of Business at MSU is recognized as the oldest business school in the south. It offers a 30 credit hour fully online MBA and a 33 credit hour online MBA with a Project Management Concentration. Courses for both programs emphasize Accounting, Business Decision Analysis, Finance, Management, Marketing, Strategic Management in a Competitive Environment, and Supply Chain & Operations Management.

Both AACSB-accredited programs offer enrollment in fall, spring, or summer and they typically take two years to complete. However, students who have completed all undergraduate prerequisites can finish either program in as few as 18 months. Prerequisite courses are also available online.

35. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio (top 20% of schools considered)
Ohio University

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.

36. University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi (top 20% of schools considered)
University of Mississippi

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.

37. University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts (top 20% of schools considered)
University of Massachusetts at Lowell

Founded in 1894, University of Massachusetts at Lowell (UMass Lowell) is a top 200 national public research university and one of the largest employers in the region. The school has 2,260 faculty and staff members who serve around 18,000 students enrolled in 190 undergraduate majors, graduate degrees and doctoral degrees. Programs are offered in six colleges and schools including the College of Education, Francis College of Engineering, the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Kennedy College of Sciences, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, the Honors College, and the Robert J. Manning School of Business.

The Manning Online MBA program has nine optional concentrations including Accounting, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare, Information Technology, International Business, Managerial Leadership, and Marketing. A General MBA is available for students seeking a broader degree.

All students will complete 12 credit hours of prerequisites (six courses – two credits each – eight weeks), the required advanced core 21 credit hours (seven courses at three credit hours each), and nine credit hours of electives (three courses at three credit hours each) for a total of 42 credit hours. Course highlights include Accounting Information for Management Decisions, Analysis of Customers and Markets, Global Enterprise and Competition, Managing Organization Design and Change, and Strategy Formulation and Implementation.

Courses for this AACSB-accredited program are offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. A minimum of nine credits is considered a full-time course load. Full-time students usually complete their degree requirements in two years. Part-time students must complete their degree requirements within five years. An accelerated option allows students to earn their MBA in as little as 12 months.

38. University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee (top 20% of schools considered)
University of Memphis

University of Memphis (UofM) was founded in 1912 as West Tennessee State Normal School. The school serves 22,203 students enrolled in 17 bachelor’s degree programs in more than 250 areas of study, master’s degrees in 54 subjects, doctoral degrees in 26 disciplines, education specialist degree in two areas, a Juris Doctor, and graduate certificate programs in 44 areas of study. Programs are offered in 13 colleges and schools.

The Fogelman College of Business and Economics (FCBE) at UofM offers six different tracks to earn an MBA, including the Online MBA. This 36 credit hour, AACSB-accredited program has no prerequisite requirements for the core curriculum, and learning is synchronous (time-specific delivery of selected course activity) and asynchronous (does not require specific compulsory time windows for meeting online).

Course highlights for the FCBE Online MBA include Business Analytics for Managers, Global Financial Management, Global Strategic Management, Information Systems in the Global Enterprise, Leadership and Negotiation, Supply Chain Operations Management, and the Global Strategic Management Capstone. All students have access to the FCBE Professional Development Center (PDC), which offers resources such as the Fogelman Internship and Career Network (FIN), resume building resources, career training resources, and networking events.

Graduates of the FCBE Online MBA Program have found success in positions at top companies such as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL), FedEx, Hilton Worldwide, McDonald’s, Nike, Toshiba, the U.S. Army, Verizon, and Wal-Mart.

39. University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida (top 20% of schools considered)
University of South Florida

Founded in 1956, the University of South Florida (USF) serves more than 50,000 students at locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee, Florida. The school is the fourth largest public research university in Florida and one of the largest in the U.S. USF students choose from 180 majors and degree programs at the graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, in 14 colleges.

The Muma College of Business at USF offers an AACSB-accredited MBA Program that may be completed entirely online. The school says the Online MBA is not a “one-size-fits-all” program. With an advisor, students have the option to “choose electives curated for this limited access program according to particular career aspirations,” or they “may opt to select one of four concentrations unique to the online program. Concentrations include Compliance, Risk, and Anti-Money Laundering, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and Healthcare Analytics.

Courses are asynchronous and the program highlights teamwork, weekly discussions, and collaboration sessions. Most MUMA MBA students are working full-time while enrolled and complete the program in two-three years. Others may choose to enroll full-time and finish in one year.

Recent USF MUMA MBA graduates are employed at international companies as well as in positions at some of Florida’s top corporations.

40. Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas (top 20% of schools considered)
Kansas State University

Kansas State University (K-State) was founded in 1863 as Kansas State Agricultural College—the nation's first operational land-grant university, and the only one in Kansas. The school serves nearly 21,000 students enrolled in more than 250 undergraduate majors and programs and 165+ graduate degrees and certificates in nine colleges and one school.

The College of Business Administration at Kansas State University (K-State CBA) offers a Professional MBA (PMBA) that may be completed online. The program has just one required two-day on-campus orientation that includes team building, networking, and professional development components. An optional faculty-led international trip is also part of the program as well as the Professional Development and Learning Seminar.

The Online PMBA is a “high-quality, interactive program” says the school, that allows students to “work at their own pace and integrate examples from their own professional experience within each class.” Courses for this AACSB-accredited program are taught by the same qualified professors who teach graduate courses on campus in Manhattan, Kansas. Students will take a total of 36 credit hours or as few as 30 depending on previous undergraduate coursework.

Course highlights include Business Strategy, Economic Analysis for Business, Information Technology Strategy and Application, Managing the Triple Bottom Line Business, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. Students will also complete a Business Capstone during the second eight weeks of the fall and spring terms and during the 8-week summer term. The Business Capstone allows students to apply what they’ve learned to a final project.

41. Portland State University, Portland, Oregon (top 20% of schools considered)
Portland State University

Portland State University (PSU) was founded in 1946 as Vanport Extension Center. When it opened, the school had 220 students. Today, this public research university serves just over 26,000 students enrolled in more than 200 degree programs in 10 colleges and schools. The School of Business Administration at PSU offers a Healthcare MBA in partnership with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) - Division of Management.

The 63 credit hour program, which can be completed 80% online and 20% in-person, “provides students the flexibility to complete an MBA while working full-time,” says the school. In-person classes are held at OHSU, and they take place two Fridays and Saturdays per term. Coursework focuses on Finance, Marketing, and Strategy; Leadership and Management; Operations and Quality Management; Understanding the Industry; and Capstone and Application Projects.

The PSU Online Healthcare MBA attracts students from all locations and healthcare roles including doctors, dentists, nurses, clinic managers, lab specialists, nurses, dietitians, and medical technologists. As part of Portland State’s School of Business, the PSU MBA is AACSB accredited, and it may be completed in just 33 months.

42. University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada (top 20% of schools considered)
University of Nevada, Reno

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) is Nevada's land-grant institution. Founded in 1874 and serving 21,000 students, UNR offers the opportunity to customize an academic path with more than 460 undergraduate & graduate degree, certificate & minor programs within 12 academic colleges and schools.

The College of Business at UNR offers an Executive MBA (EMBA) “designed for mid-career executives and experienced professionals who want to advance in today’s challenging work world,” says the school. This 36 credit hour (12-course) program is offered as a two-year cohort beginning in fall and each class runs for 12 weeks. All coursework may be completed entirely online. Courses for UNR’s AACSB-accredited EMBA program “are sequenced to assure continuity in learning”.

Course highlights for the program include Economics of the Firm, Information and Communications Technology in Organizations, Personal Branding, Management and Organizational Science, Managing Organizations in a Global Economy, Personal Branding, and Strategic Management for Executives. Because the EMBA is rigorous degree program that requires a significant time commitment, students can expect to spend at least 10–12 hours each week on course assignments, discussions, and research.

The EMBA at UNR is open to those who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution and any undergraduate major is acceptable. However, applicants must have five or more years of professional work experience beyond undergraduate studies.

UNR EMBA students are required to complete their degree in two years. Each year is divided into three semesters (fall, spring, and summer), with each containing two courses.

43. University of North Texas, Denton, Texas (top 25% of schools considered)
University of North Texas

Established in 1890 and serving close to 40,800 students, the University of North Texas (UNT) is one of the state’s oldest and largest universities. The school offers 109 bachelors, 94 masters, and 36 doctoral degrees across 14 Colleges and Schools. The College of Business (CoB) at UNT offers an Accelerated MBA that may be completed 100% online in just 14 months.

This AACSB-accredited program has six specializations including Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Analytics, and Supply Chain Management.

Courses for UNT’s Accelerated MBA Program are offered in eight-week sessions and the curriculum is identical to the school’s traditional MBA program. Students can expect to take 18 hours in the MBA core, 15 hours in the specialization, and three elective hours, for a total of 36 credit hours. Course highlights include Administrative Strategy, Discovery and Learning with Big Data, Large Data Visualization, Managing Organizational Design and Change in Financial Management, Organizational Behavior Analysis, and Sport Entertainment Management.

Depending on the specialization, students will also take seminar courses such as Seminar in Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Seminar in Compensation and Motivation, and Seminar in Labor Relations.

The UNT Online MBA Program offers five start dates annually including January, March, June, August and October.

44. Georgia WebMBA, Atlanta, Georgia (top 25% of schools considered)
Georgia WebMBA

Established in 2001, the Georgia WebMBA is jointly offered by seven University System of Georgia Schools—Augusta University, Columbus State University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University. 

Designed for professionals who want to earn their MBA without the restrictions of set class times and locations, the program requires just one onsite two-day orientation in Atlanta. After this, all required activities are exclusively online. However, Georgia Web MBA students have access to the same services as other participants in the home university MBA programs, including career services, on-campus events, and networking opportunities.

This AACSB-accredited program relies primarily on virtual team-based learning. This unique cohort structure “promotes efficient student interactions, peer-to-peer learning, and long-lasting relationships,” says the school. Course highlights include Global & International Business, Entrepreneurship, Managerial Decision Analysis, Strategic Marketing, Management Information Systems, and Human Behavior in Organization, to name a few.

Georgia WebMBA students have the option to complete the program in five consecutive semesters within a year and a half. This accelerated option allows students to begin the program in January or August and complete two online courses each term. Otherwise, the program typically takes around 20 months to complete.

The Georgia WebMBA has graduated over 2,700 students and many have gone on to successful careers at top companies across the U.S. and around the world.

45. University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan (top 25% of schools considered)
University of Michigan-Dearborn

University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM Dearborn) was founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company. Since registering its first class of 34 students, the school has set new enrollment records annually since 2014. Currently, the school serves close to 8,800 students enrolled in more than 200 programs in four colleges.

The College of Business at UM Dearborn serves more than 1,250 undergraduate and 450 graduate students from 20 states and 12 countries. The College houses the one of the oldest online MBA programs in the country, with options including the MBA with a Concentration, the MBA/MS in Finance, and the MBA/MSE-ISE (MBA/MS in Engineering, Industrial Systems Engineering). Programs are also available on-campus and in hybrid (on-campus and online) format.

Concentrations for the Online MBA are optional and include Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management Information Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. MBA students can complete the concentrations in Finance and International Business online, or they can take online elective courses, instead.

Students who choose the hybrid option will have full access to campus-based resources and they will participate in face-to-face events, such as professional organizations and study-abroad opportunities.

 

The AACSB-accredited UM Dearborn Online MBA requires 36 to 48 credit hours of study, and it may be completed within two to two-and-a-half years. Admission is rolling, so students may begin the program in September or January. May admission is also usually possible for part-time students.

46. University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (top 25% of schools considered)
University of Delaware

University of Delaware (UD) was established in 1743 after a petition, led the Rev. Dr. Francis Alison and the Presbytery of Lewes, expressed the need for an educated clergy to open a school in New London, Pennsylvania. Today, UD is a land-, sea- and space-grant university that serves just over 23,600 students enrolled in more than 400 majors, minors and graduate programs in 10 colleges and schools.

The Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics offers an AACSB-accredited MBA that may be completed entirely online in as few as 16 months. A hybrid option is also available. The program has five concentrations including Business Analytics, Finance, Healthcare Management, International Business, and Strategic Leadership. Students in the program may combine multiple concentrations (two or more) to “gain greater flexibility in the job market,” says the school and “stand out from the crowd.”

A customized option is also available for students seeking a concentration in another area. Students who choose this option may tailor the degree by selecting the electives that match their personal career needs. The MBA with one concentration consists of 44 credits, a dual concentration consists of 47 credits, and a triple concentration is 53 credits. All students will take core online MBA courses such as Corporate Strategy, Ethical Issues in Domestic and Global Business Environments, and Managing People, Teams and Organizations.

Other Lerner MBA highlights include intensive, seven-week courses, access to a personal career coach and career workshops, GMAT and fee waivers for qualified applicants, and six start dates per year. Lerner Online MBA students also benefit from partnerships with Bloomberg, JPMorgan Chase, and KPMG, among others, along with a network of more than 30,000 alumni around the country and across the world.

Graduates of the UD Lerner Online MBA Program typically earn more than their peers do at other business schools. The Class of 2019 earned around $8,500 more in their starting salaries and an average salary increase of $16,381.

47. West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia (top 25% of schools considered)
West Virginia University

West Virginia University’s research classification is R1: Doctoral Universities—the highest research activity as described by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Founded in 1867, this public, land-grant institution serves just over 29,100 students across the entire WVU system, which includes Morgantown (26,269), WVU Tech (1,645), and Potomac State College (1,193). Nearly 400 undergraduate and graduate majors are offered in more than a dozen colleges and schools.

The John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University offers an online hybrid MBA that takes two years to complete. This asynchronous program consists of 13 courses and it has two start dates each year including August and January. Students must attend two three-day residencies to meet their professors, network with classmates, and engage in experiential learning.

During the final semester of the program, students will participate in the mock venture capital fair held in Morgantown, WV where they will work with teammates to navigate through a simulation and pitch their business's needs to mock VCs. The project is part of the Integrated Global Business course. Other course highlights include Export Management, Management Information Systems, Negotiation Strategy, Personal Financial Planning, and Strategic Communications.

Students will also complete Executive Project 1 & 2, which provides the opportunity to develop and demonstrate project management skills through the preparation and presentation of a full and complete project/business implementation plan. Students may choose from several unique specializations including Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination, Energy Finance, or Integrated Marketing Communications. To enhance the degree, “Bolt On” Certificates are available in Business Data Analytics, Business Cybersecurity Management or Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination.

The AACSB-accredited Chambers College of Business and Economics at WVU also offers a 39 credit hour Healthcare MBA, delivered fully online. This program can be completed in less than two years. A Military Online MBA, Dual JD Online MBA, Dual PharmD Online MBA, and the Dual MBA/MS Nursing Online MBA are also available.

48. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon (top 25% of schools considered)
Oregon State University

Oregon State University (OSU) was founded in 1858 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Today, the school is considered a major teaching, research, and public service institution, and it’s just one of two land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant universities in the U.S.

Serving around 33,350 students, OSU is also the largest university in the state for the seventh consecutive year. The school has two campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations, Extension programs in all 36 counties, and 200+ academic programs.

The OSU College of Business and the top-ranked Oregon State Ecampus offer online MBA programs in Business Analytics, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, and Supply Chain and Logistics Management.

The OSU Online MBA blends the schools’ “world-class curriculum, faculty, resources and Beaver alumni network with the flexibility of online learning,” says the school. Students in the program “will take classes with accomplished leaders in a variety of industries and earn the same degree” as on-campus students.”

MBA students will “build a network of peers and graduate with a strong network of Beaver alumni from different industries that can help propel” their careers.  

The AACSB-accredited OSU Online MBA can be completed in 30 months. Students who qualify for the accelerated program can finish in as few as 21 months.

49. California State University-San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California (top 25% of schools considered)
California State University-San Bernardino

California State University-San Bernardino (CSUSB) began as San Bernardino-Riverside State College in 1960. The school’s original three-building campus welcomed its first 293 students in 1965 and celebrated its first graduating class of 59 students in 1967. Today, as a member of the 23-campus California State University System, CSUSB serves around 19,400 students enrolled in more than 70 degree programs and certificates offered in five academic colleges.

The Jack H. Brown College of Business (JHBC) and Public Administration offers a 12-course, 48 quarter-unit MBA program that may be completed entirely online. The MBA Online for Executives (formerly known as Online MBA), is designed for “qualified applicants possessing early- or mid-career experience who seek to expand their professional knowledge and skills through graduate business education,” says the school.

Courses for this AACSB-accredited program are taught in five-week sessions and students typically dedicate 20-25 hours of study time per course. Students can expect to take courses such as Advanced Managerial Communication, Corporate Strategy in a Global Economy, Information Systems & Technology, Entrepreneurship and New Ventures, Data Driven Decision Making and Project Management.

All JHBC MBA programs include a Boot Camp (0 units) to help students prepare for subsequent classes, two foundation classes (eight units) to develop problem-solving and communication skills, seven essential classes (28-units) to develop specific business knowledge and skills, and two culminating classes (four units) to apply knowledge and prepare students for subsequent career aspirations. Two elective courses (eight units) are also part of the program. Boot Camp modules cover accounting, finance, information management, marketing, and supply chain management.

The JHBC MBA Online for Executives has an open enrollment process and it may be completed in just 18 months.

50. George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia (top 25% of schools considered)
George Mason University

George Mason University (GMU) was founded in 1957 as University College, the Northern Virginia branch of the University of Virginia, offering courses in Engineering and the Liberal Arts. Named for statesman and patriot George Mason, GMU has grown into a public, coeducational institution of higher learning consisting of 12 colleges and schools offering more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The School of Business offers a 48 credit hour online MBA that provides the opportunity to earn a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics (BA). BA Certificate students will gain the skills needed for big data through hands on-use of modeling and other techniques. In addition to the BA Certificate, GMU Online MBA students will have the opportunity to participate in GMU’s Global Residency program, consisting of a week abroad, where they will “visit and study companies in a foreign country while completing a team project and gaining a transformative view of business from another country’s perspective,” says the school.

All Mason Online MBA students will engage in four areas of study: Analytical Decision Making, Collaborative Communication and Leadership, Contemporary Issues in Business, and Knowledge of Functional Business Disciplines. Courses for the program are offered in convenient, part-time online asynchronous format and include Advanced Data Mining For Business, Financial Reporting and Decision Making, Global Business Perspectives, Management of Information Technology, and Project Management, to name a few.

GMU graduates enjoy an 80% employment rate within six months of graduation. Mason Online MBA graduates go on to “fulfill a range of in-demand leadership roles,” including Analyst, Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer, Director, Logistics Analyst, Negotiator, Project Manager, Senior Analyst, Senior Consultant, Senior Financial Analyst, and many others.