Key takeaways:
- An MBA, or Master’s of Business Administration is a graduate degree that typically takes full-time students one to two years to complete.
- Graduates taking online programs can balance school, life, and family, as classes can be taken on their schedule.
- Some of the best accredited online MBA programs come from Indiana University-Bloomington, Babson College, and Pepperdine University.
Online MBA programs allow students to earn their graduate degree on their time. Flexible, they’re perfect for working professionals or those with busy lives. Many top-rated schools across the United States offer online and hybrid programs, too. Below, we’ve put together a list of some of the best accredited online MBA programs with information about their programs, average accepted GPAs, available concentrations, and more.
What is an MBA?
An MBA is a Master’s of Business Administration, a graduate degree. Depending on the school, full-time students take between 30 and 60 credits over one to two years. Classes cover everything from accounting to ethics and data analytics to communications.
Online MBAs are becoming a more popular option for students and universities, as it provides additional flexibility for graduates, especially working professionals. They can attend classes without the commute and complete coursework around their schedule, allowing for more time for other responsibilities. There are often accelerated options, where students can earn their degree in as little as a year.
However, some “online MBAs” are not entirely online and may require residencies or classes on campus.
Best accredited online MBA programs
Here are just some of the best accredited universities with online MBA programs that you should consider.
Indiana University-Bloomington
Location: Bloomington, IN
Indiana University, Bloomington, offers the Kelley Direct Online MBA through the Kelley School of Business. While a majority of the program is online, the school requires you to take 1.5 credits on campus during the first quarter. Indiana University states that students reported an average salary of $147,000 and 79% started a new job or received a promotion. Accepted students had a median GMAT score of 678 with an average 3.4 GPA.
Babson College
Location: Wellesley, MA
Babson College and its F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business has part-time and part-time flexible online MBA programs for students. Nine core courses cover the fundamentals, while the rest of the program is made up of electives. Available concentrations include Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Marketing, Quantitative Finance, and Business Analytics and Machine Learning. Those who completed the program reported a $163,004 average salary three years after graduation.
Pepperdine University
Location: Malibu, CA
Students can complete their MBA at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School in just 15 months. Through the Education to Business (E2B) program, graduates work directly with global brands to solve business problems. Students also benefit from partnerships with more than 300 corporations and an alumni network of over 50,000 strong. Some veterans are eligible for full scholarships.
University of Iowa
Location: Iowa City, IA
34% of students who completed the MBA program at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business reported a salary increase four months after graduation. You can finish the program in just two years, but students are welcome to take up to 10 years to earn their degree. Some available concentrations include Leadership, Business Analytics, Finance, Innovation, Business Communication, and Strategy.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Location: Amherst, MA
The Isenberg Online MBA through the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, has several focus areas, such as Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Administration, and Sport Management. Incoming students averaged a 650 on the GMAT. Graduates have access to career coaches and career workshops that focus on interview prep, job planning, salary negotiation, job search strategies, and more.
Santa Clara University
Location: Santa Clara, CA
According to Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business website, 92% of its online MBA alumni reported salary increases within six months of graduating. Available concentrations are Leading Innovative Organizations, Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurship and New Venture, and Data Science and Business Analytics. While you can finish the entire program online, some elective courses are only available on campus – students can opt to take up to 16 elective courses on campus.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School’s MBA program takes 18 to 36 months to complete. Students can opt to start in January, April, July, or October. Incoming graduates tend to have a 3.4 GPA, 652 GMAT, and a 319 GRE, and many have undergraduate degrees in Business, Economics, and STEM fields. The school doesn’t require GMAT/GRE scores if you have at least five years of professional experience.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
A Michigan Ross Online MBA through the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is made up of 57 credits and takes about two to three years to complete. While a majority is online, the program requires three in-person residencies. The school’s website states that 88% of graduates reported a new position between the start of their program and four months after graduation, with a $175,000 median base salary.
Rice University
Location: Houston, TX
Rice University’s online MBA program mirrors their on-campus offerings, so students can expect the same experience no matter where they study. Graduates also have access to career coaching, resume help, interview preparation, networking events, and more. Focus areas include Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Energy, Healthcare, and more. Rice’s program requires students to complete two field experience courses, including one on-campus through the MBA@Rice Residentials and one Global Field Experience, such as study abroad and seminars.
Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
The Tepper School of Business’s Online Hybrid MBA at Carnegie Mellon University includes weekly online classes and group projects with Access Weekends, in-person learning and networking events either in Pittsburgh or another U.S. city. If you completed undergraduate coursework, you could qualify for the Online Hybrid Accelerated MBA which takes 24 months rather than 32. Accepted students tend to have around a 3.45 GPA, with undergraduate degrees in Engineering and Business.
And more
Other top rated schools that offer online MBA programs include:
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- University of Utah
- University of Washington-Seattle
- University of South Florida
- University of Florida
- University of Arizona
- University of Southern California
- Arizona State University
- North Carolina State University
- Texas Tech University
Highly-rated programs are often competitive, which means you need to put your best application forward if you want an acceptance letter from one of these graduate programs. College Raptor can help you identify the best schools for your goals and learn more about each institution. Start here for free with College Match.
