Do you want to study an MBA but can’t find the time? Maybe you don’t feel like being out of a job for 2 years isn’t worth the investment? Perhaps all the online MBA programs you know of seem too generic? Do you feel like you want a quality MBA without sacrificing your job, your family, or your earnings? This is a brief summary of the top ten online MBA programs based on ranking/reputation, structure, networking opportunities, skills acquired, and tuition investment.
1. Business Institute (IE)
Location: Madrid, Spain
Program: Global MBA
Ranking*: #11 by Financial Times, #12 by The Wall Street Journal, #6 by Forbes.
Description: IE offers an 18-month Global MBA program for English and Spanish speakers. The program allows students to connect to the virtual classroom from anywhere in the world. In addition to virtual conferences and video conferences, students must participate in “blended sessions” in different cities, including Madrid, London, New York, Santiago, Shanghai and other cities.
Networking Opportunities: Students from 48 countries with backgrounds and experience in a wide variety of fields, including financial markets, banking, marketing, and technology.
Acquired skills: strategy, finance, marketing, operations, information systems, intercultural skills.
Tuition investment: EUR 33,000 (approx. $43,000 USD)
2. Thunderbird School of Global Management
Location: Arizona, USA
Program: Global MBA
Ranking: #1 in International Programs by US News & World Report, #1 in International Business by Financial Times, #1 in International Business by The Wall Street Journal.
Description: Thunderbird offers a global MBA program where students participate through virtual classrooms and face-to-face seminars in the US, China, and Europe.
Networking Opportunities: Students have lived and worked in over 16 different countries with backgrounds in a wide variety of companies ranging from Coca Cola to Boeing to the US Department of Defense.
Acquired Skills: Intercultural Communications, Global Political Economy, Global Finance, Global Operations, Global Marketing, Global Negotiations, Global Leadership, Global Strategy.
Tuition Investment: $57,000 USD (includes on-site costs for international study tours except airfare)
3. Duke University
Location: North Carolina, USA
Program: Intercontinental MBA
Ranking: #11 by US News & World Report, #23 by Financial Times, #11 by BusinessWeek.
Description: The program is 20 months in length and combines Internet-enabled distance learning with 9 one-week residential sessions held in North Carolina, Europe, and Asia.
Networking Opportunities: Students from 23 countries have an average of 3-9 years of experience and are currently employed full-time in a variety of industries.
Acquired Skills: Finance, Accounting, Decision Models, Intercultural Communications, Marketing, Strategy, Global Financial Management, Global Economy.
Tuition Investment: $93,450 USD
4.Manchester Business School
Location: Manchester, UK
Program: distance MBA
Ranking: #22 by Financial Times, #15 by MBA Career Guide Survey.
Description: This flexible 2-year program combines self-study with face-to-face workshops in one of six world destinations: the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Malaysia and Jamaica.
Networking Opportunities: Students are located in more than 90 countries around the world and possess years of work experience in industries such as construction, engineering, and finance.
Acquired Skills: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Managerial Economics, Quantitative Methods, Corporate Strategy.
Tuition Investment: £14,400 (approximately $28,383 USD)
5. Indiana University
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana – USA
Program: Master of Business Administration (Kelley Direct)
Ranking: #23 by US News & World Report, #65 by Financial Times, #18 by BusinessWeek.
Description: This two-year program focuses on general management, but can be tailored to meet the needs of individual students. The program is offered almost exclusively via the Web with two internal week-long courses in Indiana.
Networking Opportunities: Students in the program come from nearly every state in the US, as well as more than 20 countries around the world. Almost all students have several years of business or military experience.
Acquired Skills: Accounting, Finance, Economics, Quantitative Analysis, Project Management, Strategic Marketing, Human Resources, Global Business, Business Law, Strategic Capabilities.
Tuition Investment: $42,000 USD
6. Pennsylvania State University
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania – USA
Program: Penn State Online MBA
Ranking: #38 by US News & World Report, #43 by Financial Times, US Second Tier Programs by BusinessWeek.
Description: This 2-year program combines online courses with 2 residency experiences: the first at a US company (anywhere in the US) and the second at Penn State’s University Park campus.
Networking Opportunities: Penn State iMBA students represent employers from 37 states and 5 countries.
Acquired Skills: Finance, Accounting, Organizational Change and Behavior, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Marketing, Corporate Strategies, Global Operations, Global Management.
Tuition Investment: $49,000 USD
7. University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida – USA
Program: Internet MBA
Ranking: #41 by US News & World Report, #13 by The Wall Street Journal.
Description: The University of Florida Internet MBA program offers students two options: the two-year MBA and the one-year MBA option. The two-year MBA program begins in February, offers a 27-month curriculum, and requires campus visits over 8 weekends at the end of each term. The one-year MBA option is offered to students with a business degree and 2-7 years of work experience. It begins in January, offers a 16-month curriculum, and requires 5 weekend campus visits at the end of each term.
Networking Opportunities: Students in these programs have an average of 6 years of work experience in a variety of industries, such as telecommunications, banking, and international trade.
Skills Acquired: Personal Finance, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Marketing Management, Professional Writing, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, E-Commerce, Brand Equity, Business Policy, Business Law.
Tuition investment: $34,000 USD – One-year MBA option; $39,000 USD – Two-year MBA option.
8.Bason University
Location: Boston, Massachusetts – USA
Program: Fast Track MBA
Ranking: #1 Entrepreneurship by US News & World Report, #1 Entrepreneurship by Financial Times, #49 Overall MBA by US News & World Report, #89 Overall MBA by Financial Times.
Description: This 24-month program combines face-to-face learning, web-based learning, and field projects. In-person instruction is based on two-day sessions held in Babson or Portland, Oregon approximately every six weeks, all day on Fridays and Saturdays.
Networking Opportunities: Students in this program have an average of 10 years of work experience and come from nearly every state in the US and approximately 10 countries.
Acquired Skills: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Creativity, Human Behavior, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Ethics and Law.
Tuition Investment: $48,500 USD.
Website: 9. University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts – USA
Program: Online MBA
Ranking: #56 by US News & World Report, #2 (Best Overall Academic Experience) by Princeton Review.
Description: The entire program of 12 courses can be completed online and typically lasts 2 years.
Networking Opportunities: Students in the program come from all 50 US states and 15 countries and have experience in a variety of industries.
Skills Acquired: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Business Data Analysis, Independent Research.
Tuition Investment: $24,790 USD.
10. The George Washington University
Location: Washington, DC – USA
Program: Health MBA
Ranking: #70 by US News & World Report, #67 by Financial Times.
Description: The GWU Healthcare MBA is a new program created for professionals interested in or involved in the healthcare industry. The program’s core curriculum consists of 12 courses and two interdisciplinary projects totaling 48 credits and can be completed in 24 months.
Networking Opportunities: Groups consist of 15-20 professionals with experience in the health field.
Skills Acquired: Global Economics, Public Policy and Strategic Management, Finance, Accounting, Health Care Policy Analysis, Human Resource Dynamics, Statistics, Marketing, Operations Management, Personal Financial Counseling.
Tuition Investment: $47,472 USD
*Rankings are based on regular MBA rankings.
