What Are the Best Online MBA Schools?
The Financial Times released a list of the top 40 distance learning MBA programs in 2008. Ranked by the number of enrolled students, the University of Phoenix online came out on top with 40,000 enrolled students and 7 MBA specializations. Other notable schools to make the Financial Times’ list include University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s UNL Distance MBA, Drexel University’s MBA Anywhere, Syracuse University’s iMBA, and Henley Management College’s Global Distance Learning MBA.
The Quacquarelli Symonds network for careers and education considered the top 5 business programs for marketing, finance, and school reputation. IE Business School in Spain took the top spot for all three categories. Manchester Business School in the UK is also to be noted, as it made the top 5 in these categories as well.
MacQuil offers an in-depth look at some of the best online MBA programs with their detailed top 10 list. Topping this list is IE Business School in Spain, which offers a 16-month Global MBA program that blends virtual lectures and conferences with two short residence sessions in Madrid. Next is Thunderbird School of Management, based in the US, which has a Global MBA program lasting 19 months. In this program, you’ll use a virtual classroom as well as on-site seminars in the USA, China, and Switzerland. Also of note is Manchester Business School’s Distance Learning MBA, which lasts 2 years. The program combines self study with face-to-face workshops in the UK, Brazil, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Malaysia and Jamaica.
Business Week, which offers rankings of the best business schools, has listings for online MBAs as well. Although they are not ranked, Business Week’s list offers a look at some of the best online MBA programs available. Here, you’ll find some of the big names in online MBAs.
If you’re looking for an affordable MBA program, be sure to check out GetEducated.com’a Top 30 Ranked Best Buys. This list focuses on AACSB Accredited programs that offer quality education at a bargain price. The MBA program at East Carolina University is considered the top bargain pick at a price of only $7,848 for North Carolina Residents. Texas residents have a great opportunity to save money on an online MBA, with the University of Houston Victoria’s Global Master of Business Administration coming in at $8,730 for residents, Texas A&M University Commerce for $11,445, and the University of North Texas MBA for $12,000. Additionally, great MBA bargains can be found in Oklahoma State University’s program for $10,620 and Florida Atlantic University’s $11,539 MBA.
MBA candidates that place student and faculty quality high on their list will want to read guides from the Financial Times and the Economist Intelligence Unit. In a report by the Financial times, schools ranked by number of enrolled MBA students University of Phoenix came out on top with 40,000, while the Edinburg Business School of Heriot-Watt University had 8,349 and Open University Business School had 6,037. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Curtin, Audencia, Florida, IE, and Thunderbird as the best for student quality, taking into consideration program completion, work experience, and student ratings of classmates. For faculty and program content, the EIU looked at student to faculty ratios, faculty PhDs, and ratings from students to rank IE, Warwick, Florida, Thunderbird, and Curtin as the best.
MBAs gain a lot of prestige from the reputation of their school, so if you’re looking for a school that will lend you a good name, turn to Quacquarelli Symonds‘ ranking. According to their list, recruiters tend to rank European schools as the most reputable. Spain’s IE Business School topped their list, followed by Thunderbird School of Management and Manchester Business School. The SC Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University in the US comes in at fourth, followed by Warwick Business School in the UK.
With these rankings and lists, you should be able to find some of the best online MBA schools available. Even more importantly, you can use this information to find an MBA program that is perfect for your needs and desires.
Top Online Business Schools & MBA Programs
 A.A. in Accounting B.S. in Business Administration B.S. in Accounting |
University of Phoenix - Associate’s & Bachelor’s Degrees. Perhaps the most well known online university, University of Phoenix Online lends its vast faculty to assist its students in higher learning at home or on one of their many campus locations. For students seeking a bachelor’s in business or a MBA, University of Phoenix offers 21 business degree plans to fit the individual’s needs.
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 A.A.S. in Business Administration B.S. in Accounting B.S. in Business Administration |
Kaplan University - Associate’s & Bachelor’s Degrees. As one of the largest and most prolific online universities, Kaplan University provides numerous MBA & Bachelor of Science Degrees in Business at their campus and online locations. Full-time and part-time students will be satisfied with the business degree plans offered by Kaplan.
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 B.S. in Business Administration B.S. in Human Resource Management B.S. in International Business |
Walden University - Bachelor’s Degree – For years, Walden University has been educating students at different campuses all over the United States. Now, Walden offers affordable business degree plans for students seeking for a career in fast growing industries across the world.
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 A.A. in Business Administration B.B.A in Management |
American InterContinental University - Associate’s & Bachelor’s Degrees. With multiple business concentration degrees, American InterContinental University is ideal for any student looking for a degree focusing on Accounting, Marketing, Finance, International Business, or Management. Their flexible programs also allow students to engage in other responsibilities while earning their degree entirely online.
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 M.B.A. - General M.B.A. in Innovation Entrepreneurship M.B.A. in Finance |
Northeastern University - Master’s Degrees. Northeastern University"s Distance Learning Program offers business degrees that prepare men & women to take leading roles in the business sector. At Northeastern University, students can reach their personal and career goals quickly and conveniently.
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 M.S. in Project Management M.S. in Business Analysis M.S. in Organizational Management |
Capella University - Master’s Degrees. An ideal choice for working adults, Capella University is dedicated to providing quality learning environments for all students. With business degree options that are affordable, Capella lets the student choose when and where to take classes.
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 A.A. in Business B.A. in Business Management B.A. in Accounting |
Ashford University - Associate’s & Bachelor’s Degrees. Ashford University offers advanced, quality education for students seeking to further advance their career into leadership or management roles in several different entities. Their programs are based on current business practices and trends to prepare students for the competitive, demanding business industry.
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 Associate’s in Business Bachelor’s in Business Associate’s in Accounting |
Everest University - Associate’s & Bachelor’s Degrees. Offering business programs in three different degree levels, Everest University is able to accommodate your career plans geared towards the business sector. They offer interactive and convenient courses to ensure students get the most out of their educational experience at Everest University.
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 Bachelor’s in Business Administration A.A.S. in Business Mgmt. A.A.S. in Internet Marketing |
Rasmussen College - Associate’s & Bachelor’s Degrees. Focused on helping students attain industry-current degrees, Rasmussen College prepares students with career-centric learning. Rasmussen College is accredited and offers 49 different business degree plans.
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