Top Online Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) Programs

AACSB Accreditation

This is one of the most important characteristics to look for. Programmatic accreditation from the AACSB is no substitute for institutional accreditation (every potential school should have that), but it does demonstrate additional clout and quality. The best online MBA programs will hold this credential because it provides additional backing specific to business and management.

Professional Specializations

Many students earn a generalist MBA, but you can advance your career even further if you choose a specialization that deepens expertise and expands your profile. With that in mind, it’s worth considering schools that give you some options. We detail some of those options later in this guide. If you already work in finance or entrepreneurship, for example, pursuing a course of study that supports those interests can go a long way.

Resources and Support

Most schools will have some services in this area, but the best online MBA programs showcase their ability to support students (especially online learners) throughout their studies. In this regard, things to look for include professional development tools, built-in alumni networks, technology resources, robust fieldwork placements, and career services for soon-to-be graduates.

3 Best Reasons to Earn an MBA Online

Obtaining the skills and knowledge you need to advance your business career is easier and more accessible than ever, thanks to new technologies and online learning tools. The best MBA online programs provide quality training from industry experts with built-in options for customization. Also, you will enjoy the following benefits and advantages:

Flexibility

These programs stand among the most convenient and flexible options out there. Designed with busy learners and working professionals in mind, online MBA programs can accommodate various circumstances. This means you can study without any personal or professional hiccups, graduating quickly so you can put your degree to good use.

Diversity

Business and corporate enterprise are more globalized than ever. The most successful leaders aren’t just aware of this; they encourage it by hiring, interacting, and working with people from all walks of life. Earning an MBA online prepares you for this reality by transcending national and geographic boundaries. You will study with a diverse group of colleagues that reflects real-world work conditions.

Affordability

Online MBA programs tend to be quite cheaper than the traditional, brick-and-mortar alternatives. Tuition rates vary by individual program, of course, but this approach could save you money in the long run. For example, many schools extend a flat rate to online learners and sometimes forgo many of the fees often associated with in-person education.

Popular Types of Online MBA Programs

To accommodate different starting places and diverse circumstances, most schools offer several different ways to earn your MBA online. The program types discussed below are usually tailored to fit unique needs. If you’re concerned that your situation might make more school difficult, rest assured – there’s a viable starting place for everyone.

Executive Online MBA Programs

Theoretically, you can become a top business executive with an MBA or MBA specialization. These programs fast-track that path and are designed for working professionals with some corporate experience. They typically offer evening courses (if synchronous) and blend traditional business programming with instruction in executive-level leadership and management.

Accelerated/1-Year Online MBA Programs

These programs attract learners who want to complete their studies quickly and have few outside commitments. Most programs graduate students in 16 months or less and administer an intensive curriculum covering a broad range of topics in less time. Because of their rigorous nature, many accelerated programs call for an undergraduate degree in business.

Part-Time Online MBA Programs

If you are already working in business, want the career advancement opportunities an MBA provides, and are in no rush to graduate, this could be the best option. These programs move at a slower pace to accommodate professional commitments and family responsibilities.

No-GMAT MBA Programs

These online MBA programs fast-track the admissions process by waiving traditional test requirements. Many programs require the GMAT (a standardized management test), but if you’re pressed for time or don’t have a business or management background, this could be the way to go. Some programs might call for additional admission requirements in some cases.

Online MBA in Accounting

Online MBA programs in accounting provide foundational instruction in business management principles and emphasize how those principles inform bookkeeping and financial decision making. They prepare you for roles in professional accounting, auditing, and finance management. The material usually covers managerial accounting theories, taxation, and cost analysis.

Online MBA in Business Analytics

Earning an MBA online in business analytics helps you build the core skills necessary to manage complex datasets and make data-driven business decisions. Most programs in this area involve high-level instruction in statistical analysis and methods of quantitative reasoning. They also look at real-world applications in data science, machine learning, scaling operations, and forecast modeling.

Online MBA in Cybersecurity

If you have a background in information technology and an interest in implementing security measures to enhance business outcomes, this could be the perfect path for you. Online cybersecurity MBA programs cultivate a technical knowledge base in data integrity, privacy protection, and risk assessment. Courses typically cover cyber warfare and security breaches, infrastructure design, and corporate compliance.

Online MBA in Economics

The best MBA online economics programs qualify you for roles in public policy, consumer behavior, and market analysis. They offer training in the history and development of economic theory and its division into macro and micro configurations. Students also receive tools and analysis methods for better understanding global economic trends, market exchange, and investment protocols.

Online MBA in Entrepreneurship

Pursuing an online MBA with an emphasis in entrepreneurship supports a broad skill set in small business management, franchising and licensing, and venture capital. Studies in business and entrepreneurship look at improving sales techniques and identifying new and emerging markets. Most programs do this by offering courses in commercial innovation, equity strategy, digital marketing, and product development.

Online MBA in Finance

Online MBA programs in finance begin with the same foundations as the accounting specialization but look to how to finance principles function in the life of a thriving business. They prepare you for work in investment banking, financial advising, budget analysis, and many other professions. Topics may include international finance, portfolio management, real estate, and trading strategy.

Online MBA in Healthcare

Healthcare MBA online programs look at how business administration and management strategy can support quality healthcare delivery. They build core competencies in critical decision-making and healthcare leadership. Graduates from these programs often find work as organizational leaders, medical facility managers, and healthcare administrators. They also acquire soft skills in communication, professional ethics, and organizational management.

Online MBA in Human Resources

This degree path builds advanced skills in human resource management at scale. Students learn to analyze and interpret data that will help improve employee outcomes. They also look at how to navigate compensation and benefits issues in a range of organizations. Graduates can develop employee training programs rooted in adaptability, cultural diversity, and sustainability.

Online MBA in Information Technology

Graduates from these online MBA programs stand fully prepared to lead teams of IT and data science professionals within large organizations. Instruction typically involves training in project management, human capital management, and information security. Many degree recipients work in big data and use their expertise to optimize enterprise systems to integrate new and emerging technologies.

Online MBA in International Business

This pathway focuses on business and management from a global perspective. It looks at the infrastructure and regulatory processes that undergird international trade and multinational commerce in our globalized economy. Graduates in this area fulfill various professional roles in corporate auditing, government, and real estate development, among other areas.

Online MBA in Leadership

Earning a leadership MBA online prepares you for high-level management and oversight roles across the industry. It trains you to lead effectively and successfully within business contexts, including corporate and small business settings. Along the way, you will learn how to manage human capital, develop clear benchmarks that support your leadership style, and motivate teams at scale.

Online MBA in Marketing

Marketers and advertisers plan promotional campaigns and devise new ways to sell their organization’s products and tap into new target audiences. This degree builds the knowledge and key skills you need for management roles in this area. It looks at market strategy, consumer behavior, branding, and revenue forecasting. There are also an increasing number of online digital marketing MBA programs for students wanting to specialize in social media marketing, search engine marketing (SEM), and other forms of online marketing.

Online MBA in Operations Management

Professionals with this degree type usually optimize and oversee the day-to-day operations of their company. An online MBA in this area offers expert training in policy formulation, staff scheduling and delegation, human resources, and employee training. Additional instruction in managerial economics or supply chain management could also be involved.

Online MBA in Project Management

This route develops the specialized skills you need to fulfill various project management roles in business contexts. It builds soft communication skills, critical thinking, and organization, and develops core competencies in statistics, brand optimization, data analytics, and microeconomics. It also cultivates your management and delegation capabilities.

Online MBA in Sports Management

Graduates with a sports management MBA online typically work in the sports industry’s highest levels as franchise owners and front office managers. A typical course of study looks at how business management’s basic principles can be effectively implemented in sports contexts. Common courses may include sports law and management and finance for sports enterprises.

Online MBA in Strategy

If you’re a big picture person who delights in analyzing how all the small details work together, this could be a good option for you. It builds macro-level skills in problem-solving and market behavior. You’ll learn how to be both a leader and manager who sets key organizational benchmarks well ahead of the game.

Online MBA in Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is closely related to general operations but focuses on product storage, transportation, and distribution. These online MBA programs develop hard logistics, scheduling and planning, production methods, material sourcing, and budgeting. It also looks at how to reconcile localized demand with broader cost/benefit concerns.

Online MBA in Sustainability

This program focuses on business ethics and how corporate functioning’s daily rigors can be optimized to support social and environmental sustainability. This specialization qualifies you for work in consulting, creative direction, human resources, and engineering. Core instruction covers climate law, fiscal responsibility, and multicultural awareness.