The 30 Best Online MBA Degree Programs

Featured Schools

Accreditation: AACSB, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Affordability Score: Above Average

#18 Colorado State University College of Business – Fort Collins, Colorado

The College of Business at Colorado State University delivers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, Finance, Professional Enrichment, and Computer Information Systems. Coming in at 42-credit hours of excellent coursework, 100% of this degree is delivered online which means no campus visits. This online MBA has a lot going for it, and that is clear from the recognitions it has received. U.S. News calls this one the 51st best in the nation while also placing it among the top 50 for student services provided to online and nontraditional students. As for the global perspective, The Financial Times rates this one at #15 among the very best in the world while Quacquarelli Symonds places the degree as the 12th best on the planet. At less than $50,000 in total tuition, CSU’s online MBA is considered above average in expense. This degree is the perfect fit for a student interested in learning in a robust academic environment while being taught by distinguished faculty and industry-leading practitioners. Distance learners will work on assignments and projects alongside classmates who are experienced business professionals from diverse backgrounds who provide unique perspectives in the classroom. Students will be encouraged to apply relevant concepts, knowledge, analytical tools discussed throughout the curriculum in their respective roles in business.

Colorado State University’s College of Business benefits from the exemplary accreditation through the AACSB-International. The Higher Learning Commission regionally accredits Colorado State University. CSU features a large student body of 33,083 and a main campus in scenic Fort Collins, Colorado. Students at the university are enrolled in undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The university opened its doors in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College after the passing of the Morrill Act. Colorado State’s online MBA is an impressive program which can be completed in just 18 months. Business Systems and Processes, Accounting Concepts, Quantitative Business Analysis, Managerial Accounting, Leadership and Teams, Financial Reporting and Analysis, and Managing Human Capital are included within its curriculum.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Above Average

#19 Southeast Missouri State University Harrison College of Business – Cape Girardeau, Missouri

An online Master’s of Business Administration with Sport Management, General Management, and Health Administration concentrations is featured at the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University. Organizational Behavior in Practice, Integrated Decision Information Systems, Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods Strategic Decision Making, Strategic Cost Management Strategic Marketing, and The Financial Environment are just some of the excellent classes distance learners will be exposed to in this degree. Students looking to spend less than $15,000 in total tuition will be pleased with this very affordable 33-credit hour program. Some business schools require academic experience in business of its candidates, but the Harrison College of Business realizes some professionals have more experience in the job market than in the classroom. Candidates lacking a business degree are welcomed to apply for this excellent online MBA, yet there may be prerequisite courses that need to be completed before moving on to core coursework. The business school is within U.S. News & World Reports’ top 30 programs which offer excellent support services for online students.

The highly-respected Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University. The university was first known as Southeast Missouri State Normal School when it opened its doors as a public-school teacher training institution in 1873. Since its inception, the school grew in scope and influence and had several name changes. Today, Southeast Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and educates a student enrollment of 11,486. In addition to the stellar online MBA, the university offers two-year associate degrees and four-year undergraduate programs. U.S. News & World Report ranks Southeast Missouri State’s online MBA as the 109th best in the nation.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#20 Mississippi State University College of Business – Mississippi State, Mississippi

An online Master’s of Business Administration with the option of a Project Management specialization or delivered as a general MBA can be pursued at the College of Business at Mississippi State University. U.S. News & World Report raves for this program awarding it the 26th spot among the very best online MBAs in the nation and identifying it as the 28th best overall among distance degrees offering the best support services for online students. This online MBA consists of 30-credit hours and costs less than $15,000 in total tuition fees. There is no campus visit required for this program, so 100% of the curriculum is provided online. Students never need to leave the comfort of their homes to complete all course requirements which shows an extreme value and convenience. Leadership Skills, Economics for Managers, Strategic Marketing Management, Corporate Finance, Management Information Technology & Systems, Law, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution, and Financial & Accounting Report Analysis and Dispute Resolution are some of the courses contained within this stellar degree. This very affordable online MBA consists of three hours of electives and twenty-seven required core credits.

Mississippi State University’s College of Business is accredited by the exemplary AACSB-International while the school is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. MSU considers “Learning, Service, Research” to be its pillars for education and operates as a public four-year university with an enrollment of just over 21,800 students. The university is situated in Mississippi State, Mississippi and was established as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi in 1878. MSU became a full-fledged university in 1958 and features maroon and white as its official colors.

Accreditation: AACSB, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#21 Lindenwood University Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship – Saint Charles, Missouri

An online Master’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Management is featured at Lindenwood University’s Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship. This program can also be completed as a general MBA with no concentration. This program is a perfect fit for a distance learner interested in combining a general business understanding with practical, real-world application. This online MBA is not merely a stepping-stone to career advancement, but instead a first-class ticket to gaining hands-on experience in the world of business. Students in the Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship benefit from learning the latest practices, concepts, and management skills by being exposed to case studies and relevant issues in the global marketplace. Many of today’s businesses are staking claims in the global marketplace, but their success is dependent on skilled leaders who can manage effectively within a multitude of business environments. U.S. News & World Report identifies this 39-credit hour program as the 153rd-best online MBA in the country. This online MBA also breaks into the top 15 degrees providing excellent support services for distance learners according to U.S. News & World Report.

In addition to this great online MBA, Lindenwood University also features degree plans for undergrads, master’s, and doctoral students. The university got its start all the way back in 1827 and is named to honor the numerous linden trees which were seen throughout the campus. The school’s history is a rich one as Lindenwood is the second-oldest university and very first women’s college west of the Mississippi River. Ten thousand twenty-five students currently are enrolled at the school which receives its regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. Managerial Accounting, International Business Operations, Financial Policy, Management Practices, Statistics and Quantitative Analysis, Business Law and Ethics, and Business Policies and Strategies are just some of the core courses associated with this degree which gets its accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Accreditation: ACBSP, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Affordable

#22 University of North Texas College of Business – Denton, Texas

The University of North Texas offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with Marketing Analytics, Marketing, Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Analytics, and Strategic Management at the College of Business. A very affordable tuition rate is one of the most sought-after characteristics of a high-quality online MBA. This 36-credit hour distance degree provides an excellent curriculum and can be completed for less than $15,000 in total tuition. The degree focuses much on experiential learning, team collaboration, and direct-industry interaction. The curriculum is based within an intensive cohort paradigm allowing students to be exposed to a high level of industry interaction. This provides the student with an opportunity to grow a business network among other students and industry representatives. The overriding goal of this online MBA is to equip tomorrow’s business leaders to grow into agents of change. Instructors expose distance learners to an explicit understanding of many aspects of business and commerce and train students to translate this knowledge into practical capabilities. Students interested in applying for this program are encouraged to submit a resume, essay answers, two letters of recommendation into the business school’s admissions office to get the acceptance process initiated. Candidates who have achieved a degree from UNT with at least a 3.5 GPA will not have to submit a GMAT score.

This online MBA is just one of the stellar programs one will find at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. The university which got its start in 1890 awards degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Thirty-eight thousand two hundred seventy-six students currently call UNT their academic home by taking courses online or on campus. The university was established initially as a teacher’s training school named the Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges regionally accredits UNT. Students interested in the online MBA will be required to take part in an interview before beginning coursework.

Accreditation: AACSB, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#23 Tennessee Technological University College of Business – Cookeville, Tennessee

An online Master’s of Business Administration with specializations in Finance, Accounting, HR Management, MIS, International Business, and Marketing is offered at the College of Business at Tennessee Technological University. The business school has designed this stellar 30-credit hour program to provide a top-notch degree which will prepare distance learners from diverse backgrounds for satisfying careers in organizations of all types. The general area of business focus is broad in scope and will ensure general managerial competence through an array of various systems like research projects, simulations, and case methods. Electives have been designed to help students develop specialized skills of interest. All of this can be enjoyed at the average expense of less than $30,000 in total tuition. U.S. News & World Report ranks this online MBA as one of the top 20 in the nation for support services specific to the online student. The respected ranking entity has also deemed the program the 77th best in the country among distance degrees. Financial Management, Accounting Information for Management Decisions, Analytical Decision Making, Organizational Leadership, Strategic Marketing, Management of Information Technology, and Business Strategy are just a few of the excellent core courses included in this degree.

The AACSB-International accredits Tennessee Technological University’s College of Business while the university is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Tennessee Tech was founded in 1915 and took advantage of the University of Dixie’s closing by taking over operations at the newly defunct campus. TTU features a campus in Cookeville, Tennessee and operates as a public four-year school providing students with undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Just over 10,500 students are enrolled at Tennessee Tech.

Accreditation: AACSB, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Affordability Score: Average

#24 University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management – Richardson, Texas

An online MBA is offered in the renown Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. This degree allows students to pursue emphases in Business Analytics, Accounting, Energy Management, Healthcare Leadership and Management, Finance, Information Technology Management, Internal Audit, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, International Management, Marketing, Leadership in Organizations, Real Estate, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management, Strategic Management, and Systems Engineering & Management. This online MBA consists of 53-credit hours and has been cited by U.S. News & World Report as offering excellent support services for distance learners. Quacquarelli Symonds awards this program as the 22nd spot among online MBAs in the world while U.S. News & World Report deems it the 6th best in the United States. The Princeton Review recognized the business school as offering the 12th best online MBA in the country. This program features an expensive tuition rate of over $50,000 and less than $100,000.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business has awarded the Naveen Jindal School of Management with its business accreditation while the University of Texas at Dallas is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Richardson, Texas is where the school’s main campus is located. Twenty-seven thousand six hundred forty-two students currently are enrolled in degrees there at the undergraduate through doctoral levels. The university was established in 1969 and features the school motto of “Education, the Guardian of Society.” The university’s business school requires no campus visits for the completion of this 53-credit hour degree. The program is divided between 23 elective credits and 30 core credits.

Accreditation: AACSB, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Affordability Score: Expensive

#25 University of Maine Business School – Orono, Maine

The University of Maine’s Business School provides an online Master’s of Business Administration program. Distance learners looking for an incredible value will want to take notice of this 30-credit hour program which can be completed for less than $15,000 in total tuition fees. The business school receives high marks in the area of support services to online students from U.S. News & World Report. The trusted ranking powerhouse also places this degree at its 90th spot among the top online MBAs in the country. The AACSB-International accredits the Maine Business School which adds a high level of credibility and validation for this program as one of the nation’s best. The goal of this degree is to equip individual students with the tools they will need to lead organizations through an unstable and rapidly changing business landscape with wisdom, agility, innovation. MBA students will be trained and educated within strategic and creative ways of thinking. This degree focuses on the problem solving of complex issues. Instructors will act as mentors as they encourage distance learners to communicate, manage, and lead well skillfully. Graduates are not only ready to be leaders in America; they will be prepared to meet the challenges of the global marketplace.

Creating & Capturing Value in the Digital Economy, Statistical Analysis and Modeling for Organizational Operations, Financial Statement Analysis, Management of Contemporary Organizations, Management Policy, Law, Business and Society, and Financial Management are just some of the stellar courses the University of Maine has included in this great online MBA. The university is located in Orono, Maine and offers a four-year public-school education to bachelor’s students as well as programs for graduate and doctoral students. 11.240 students are enrolled at UMaine. The New England Commission of Higher Education grants the school its regional accreditation.

Accreditation: AACSB, New England Commission of Higher Education
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#26 Kettering University School of Management – Flint, Michigan

An online Master’s of Business Administration with graduate certificates in Supply Chain & Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Global Leadership, Healthcare Management, and Operations Management is offered by the School of Management at Kettering University. The advantages of this program are numerous. Incoming students interested in this degree do not need to submit GMAT or GRE scores in order to be accepted into the program. The business school allows students to take just one class at a time which will enable the distance learner the chance to fit coursework more naturally into his or her professional and personal schedule. The excellent choices for graduate certificates allow students to custom fit a degree plan which will serve them best by giving them exposure to a specific field of study and potential career path. This 40-credit hour program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The ACBSP is one of the nation’s most respected accrediting organizations. U.S. News & World Report gives high marks for this degree as it ranks it within the top three online programs for support services to nontraditional and online students and gives it a nod at #175 as one of the nation’s best. This degree can be completed in just 18 months which helps to save time and money. Total tuition for this program comes in at less than $50,000 revealing an above average rate.

Kettering University got its start as an automotive training school called the School of Automotive Trades in 1919. The Industrial Fellowship oversaw the school’s development and operations. Albert Sobey established the school and functioned as its president for over thirty years until 1950. In 1926 General Motors took over the school and rebranded it as the General Motors Institute of Technology. Kettering gets its name from an American businessman, inventor, engineer, Charles Kettering. The school’s final name change took place in 1998 as it was a priority for Kettering’s administration to distance itself from GM and show it had more to offer academically than just automotive training. The Higher Learning Commission regionally accredits this nonprofit private school in Flint, Michigan.

Accreditation: ACBSP, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Above Average

#27 Marist College School of Management – Poughkeepsie, New York

Marist College offers one of the nation’s best online Master’s of Business Administration degrees with choices of Financial Management, Ethical Leadership, and Healthcare Administration for emphases. This degree has been dubbed the 58th best online MBA in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Quacquarelli Symonds deems it the 40th best on the planet among online Master’s of Business Administration degrees. The cost for the program is less than $50,000 in total tuition making it above average in affordability. Speaking of above average, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business grants the School of Management its business accreditation. Students are well on their way to an excellent graduate degree in business once they have submitted a $50 application fee, essay questions, official transcripts showing previous colleges attended, a current resume, GMAT/GRE score, and a completed Graduate Admission Application into the admissions office. The GMAT waiver for this program is granted to students with the proper academic experience including holding a master’s degree or higher. The 21st Century Manager, Economics, Global Environment of Business, Analytics Bootcamp, Marketing Management, Accounting, Finance, Strategic Management, and Operations Management are just some of the exemplary courses included in this online MBA.

Excellent student services are found within this distance degree offered by Marist College. Marist dates back to 1929 when it was formally established as Marist Normal Training School. The original intent of Marist was to equip students with the tools they would need to become public school teachers in the region of New York. Today the college is a private not-for-profit school which offers four-year degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education grants Marist its regional accreditation and 6,657 students currently are enrolled there.

Accreditation: AACSB, Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Affordability Score: Above Average

#28 Ball State University Miller College of Business – Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University features an online Master’s of Business Administration program with a concentration in Finance, Entrepreneurship, Health Economics, Policy, and Administration, Sales Management, and Logistics and Supply Chain Management, a certificate in Health Economics, Policy, and Administration, Business Essentials for Professionals, and Professional Sales Management at the Miller College of Business. This distance degree is also delivered as a general MBA. Students can enter into this program at the start of the fall, spring, or summer semester. A very affordable overall tuition rate of less than $15,000 is associated with this online MBA. The AACSB-International is responsible for the Miller College of Business’ exemplary business accreditation. This incredible distance degree has a strong reputation for excellent instruction that provides the practical and relevant experiences necessary to thrive in today’s digital and global marketplace. This degree offers many advantages including personal attention and extreme convenience. The business school’s program centers on building the manager’s ethics, strategy, leadership prowess, and skills.

This high-powered online MBA is just one of the stellar programs offered at Ball State University. Ball State operates under the motto of “We Fly,” and it is clear the school strives to give its students many opportunities to achieve academic excellence. Twenty-two thousand five hundred thirteen students currently pursue associate, bachelor’s, graduate, and doctoral degrees at the university. The school’s campus exists in Muncie, Indiana, and is home to Charlie Cardinal. The sports teams at the university compete within the NCAA Division I realm. Ball State was founded as Indiana Normal School in 1918 and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. U.S. News & World Report has cited Ball State’s business school as offering the 13th best online MBA in the country. Entrepreneurial Leadership, Information Systems, Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Accounting and Decision Making, Economic Analysis for Managers, Marketing Management, Managerial Finance, and Global Strategic Management are just some of the courses included within the online MBA.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Very Affordable

#29 University of Florida Warrington College of Business – Gainesville, Florida

The Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida provides a one- or two-year online hybrid Master’s of Business Administration with specializations in Entrepreneurship, Finance, International, and Marketing. Impeccable recognition is no stranger to this degree as U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review consider it the fourth best online MBA in the country. Quacquarelli Symonds deems it the fifth best degree in the world and Financial Times has awarded it the seventh top spot on the planet. Interesting options like the chance to complete all coursework as a two-year hybrid, two-year 100% online, or one-year hybrid format are associated with this program. The degree is above average in affordability with a $10,000 price difference (increase) for the two-year option. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits the Warrington College of Business. Financial Accounting, Professional Writing, Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Economics of Business Decisions, Organizational Behavior, Problems and Methods in Marketing Management, Operations Management Economics Organizations and Markets, and International Finance are some of the core courses included in this degree.

The business school is just one of the great departments that make up the University of Florida. Florida’s current student enrolment is comprised of 52,669 associate, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students seeking degrees at the online and on-campus levels. The university is home of the Gators and a successful football team which has won national championships in recent years. UF got its start as East Florida Seminary in 1853 and would be renamed Florida Agricultural College before the turn of the 19th century. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges awards the University of Florida with its regional accreditation. The school’s main campus is in Gainesville, Florida.

Accreditation: AACSB, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Affordability Score: Above Average

#30 Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business – Stillwater, Oklahoma

The Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University features an online Master’s of Business Administration with emphases in Data Science, Entrepreneurship, Information Assurance, Global Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Energy Business Non-profit Management, and Business Sustainability. Students less-interested in a concentration may pursue this program as a general MBA. U.S. News & World Report places this 42-credit hour program within its top-40 in the nation citing a high-quality curriculum and average total tuition rate. For less than $30,000 in total tuition, online students can take advantage of this degree which the business school has infused with the same focus on teamwork that full-time traditional MBA students enjoy. This degree has been designed to integrate skills, knowledge, and experience within a networking environment that awards a degree and focuses on building a student’s circle of influence which will last for a career in business.

The AACSB-International awards the Spears School of Business with its business accreditation while Oklahoma State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. OSU is a top-notch four-year public university in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Surrounded by a rural area and with a long tradition of agrarian culture, the school’s mascots are the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Nearly 25,300 students are currently enrolled at Oklahoma State University making it one of the largest universities in the state of Oklahoma. OSU provides undergraduate through doctoral degrees in many fields of study, including its stellar online MBA. U.S. News & World Report has given the university’s Spears School of Business high marks for excellence in support services for online MBA students. MBA Financial Reporting, Managerial Economics, MBA Managerial Accounting, Marketing Management, Business Finance, Management and Organization Theory, and Introduction to Marketing Analytics are just some of the courses included in this program.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Average

How will getting an MBA affect my job prospects?

The benefits of a Master’s of Business Administration are too numerous to list. Here are just a few of the most-important realities to remember when contemplating the pursuit of an MBA.

An MBA makes you attractive to employers

There has never been more competition in the job market than what currently exists. Nobody wins with a poor hire, so organizations are careful to screen potential hires and make sure they will be a good fit for the company. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that the average tenure for employees, both at the hourly and salary level, is just over four years. Most younger employees in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties will stay in a position for less than ten years. With roll-over like that, companies rely heavily on their HR departments. The completion of an MBA degree on your resume shows a potential hiring organization that you are serious about committing to your career and that you are competent in the skills needed for loyal employment.

An MBA equips students for a multitude of positions

While some of the best MBAs in the nation are all based on solid business theory set upon the pillars of finance, management, accounting, economics, and statistics, they also commonly offer students specializations in an array of choices. No other Master’s of Business Administration can deliver in this area more than the online MBA as it provides students with extreme convenience and flexibility not usually found in a traditional classroom setting. MBA students can go onto work in government positions, for-profit global corporations, and the non-profit sector. Entrepreneurs and real estate moguls alike all have a wealth of knowledge and experience to gain from pursuing this degree.

An MBA broadens a business professional’s business network

A professional’s business network is usually only as extensive as the organization that she works for, and sometimes merely as broad as the department she works within. Traditional MBA students have the benefit of working alongside other business professionals and having interaction with them in the classroom. These people also enjoy the benefit of spending time learning from business educators. Online MBA students have many of the same benefits when their business schools design the curriculum to include group projects, cohort groups, and regular communication with course instructors. Forming relationships and networking with fellow students, business mentors, and course instructors can often result in the opportunity to apply for positions with organizations MBA students would not have had access to without their degrees.

What should I look for in an MBA?

There are several important characteristics when researching Master’s of Business Administration programs. Here are some of the most crucial.

Pursue an MBA that fits your schedule

You may have lofty goals for higher education and picture yourself being able to complete a 42-credit hour program in just one year. Be realistic about how much time you have to offer higher education. Professionals already working a full-time job do not have the margin of time to study, read, and complete group projects that a full-time student does. An online MBA is structured to allow students to work at their own pace and complete a degree in as short as a year or as long as six years in some cases.

Find a program with some level of prestige

In business, like many other areas of life, reputation goes a long way. If you are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a degree, you need to find one you will be proud of revealing on your resume. Find out if the business school you are researching is accredited by the AACSB-International. This incredible accrediting body is exclusive enough to only accredit the world’s top five percent of business schools. You will also want to consider if the MBA of your choice is ranked by entities like U.S. News & World Report or the Princeton Review. Simply put, good programs get noticed and awarded.

Know what the program costs

Many students choose an “affordable” online MBA yet may be taking a gamble when it comes to the return on investment (ROI). Ask questions of the business school and see if they publish a graduate’s potential ROI. The Financial Times recently reported that the MBA continues to be a smart move for a salary increase. Find a healthy balance between a program’s tuition cost and the potential return on the investment.

Should I use a general MBA or a specialization?

There are wise reasons one would choose when considering the notion of pursuing a general MBA or adding a specialization to the degree. Here is some food for thought.

The benefits of a general MBA

Most incoming students to an MBA program have an academic background in business. An undergraduate degree in business administration, for example, will include exposure to the concepts of business, accounting, statistics, economics, and finance. A degree like an online MBA builds on that base of business instruction and goes more in-depth with case studies, group projects, and higher-level curriculum. Without a concentration, general MBA students can complete an MBA with fewer courses taken. Fewer hours means a shorter time to graduation and overall tuition savings.

The benefits of an MBA with a concentration

Online MBA students who choose a specialization are responsible for the same number of core courses which general MBA students are responsible for. Emphasis classes give the MBA student a chance to learn more about a topic of interest. For example, an MBA student may consider a dream job to be a position in marketing with a professional hockey team. That student may then add six credit hours to her MBA schedule and then graduate with a specialization in Marketing Management. A team’s front office will find the employee more attractive with this relevant degree emphasis.

Whether you decide to graduate with a general MBA or add a concentration to the program, a degree like the online MBA is a smart choice.