Our 2021 rankings of the Top Online MBA Programs in Tennessee. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Memphis | Memphis |
| 2 | University of Tennessee at Martin | Martin |
| 3 | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga |
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.
University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) dates back to the founding of Hall-Moody Institute in 1900. The Institute established UT Junior College in 1927, which would eventually become University of Tennessee at Martin. Today, this comprehensive, public university serves 1900 of Hall-Moody Institute, through the establishment in 1927 of UT Junior College. Students choose from more than 100 different undergraduate and graduate programs in five colleges and more than 20 departments.
The College of Business and Global Affairs at UT Martin has an AACSB-accredited MBA program that has been in existence since 1978. The program has an online option that consists of 33 credit hours. Designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree and at least one year of full-time work experience who are seeking to advance their careers, this cohort-based pathway allows students to interact with peers and faculty via discussion boards, email, virtual classrooms and virtual group meeting rooms.
Courses for the program are delivered sequentially and include Banking and Financial Services, Corporate Financial Management, Legal and Ethical Environment of Business, Organizational Theory and Design, and Strategic Management and Business Policy, to name a few.
Trips to the UT Martin campus are not required, so all interaction between the programs diverse group of students and faculty takes virtually. Other assignments and exams are completed and submitted online. The UT Martin Online MBA emphasizes that it has just 25 students per cohort “to keep each other motivated.” Students typically begin the program in January or June, and most will complete their MBA in approximately 18 months.
University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) began as Chattanooga University in 1886. Today, UTC has become a statewide system of higher education comprised of four primary campuses including Chattanooga, Knoxville, Martin, and Memphis. UTC Serves just over 11,700 students enrolled in more than 100 programs in the areas of Accounting, Business and Business Analytics, Data Analytics, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, and Marketing. Programs are offered in six colleges and schools and more than 25 departments.
The Gary W. Rollins College of Business offers an MBA program that may be completed entirely online or in hybrid format (combination face-to-face and online). Rollins business programs are the only AACSB-accredited business graduate programs in the area. Other features include cooperative education assignments, experiential learning opportunities, and three career-focused concentrations—Business Analytics, Finance, and Healthcare Administration.
Students may also supplement the core curriculum in the UTC Rollins General MBA program by taking the elective courses that align best with their career goals. For the 100% Online MBA, interaction with instructors and colleagues takes place virtually via Zoom meetings, online chats, email, and phone calls. Hybrid students (Flexible Online MBA) will attend some classes during evening hours.
The programs consist of 12 courses (36 credit hours), including eight core courses, three elective courses or three concentration courses, and one capstone course. Students in both programs have access to support services such as graduate career services and coaching, counseling services, and the UTC library.
Part-time and full-time study options are available for both programs with four start dates: Fall, Spring, Summer 1, and Summer 2. Full-time students can complete the program in as little as 18 months, while part-time students can graduate in as little as 24 months.
