Top 10 Online MBAs from US Business Schools 2021

The online MBA from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University has been ranked the best in the United States in the QS Online MBA Ranking 2021.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide. You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

Read on to find out more about the top 10 US programmes setting the standard for exceptional online MBA provision worldwide.

10) Poole College of Management

Kicking off the top 10 is the online MBA from NC State University Poole College of Management, one of the top programmes in the world for employability.

The course offers an integrated core curriculum with a focus on technology, business processes, and practical applications. Students can choose between a range of electives and specialised concentrations to meet their interests and career needs.

The 2021 class of 394 students has an average of 10.7 years’ work experience and 40 percent of students identify as female.

Tuition is US$46,155.

9) CSU College of Business

Coming in ninth is the 21-month online MBA from Colorado State University College of Business, which scored high for class experience and class profile.

The course has five start dates: August, October, January, March and May. This year’s cohort is the largest in this top 10 with 960 enrolled, with an average 10 years’ work experience. 43 percent of students identify as female, but only one percent are international.

Fees are US$42,615.

8) Kogod School of Business

In eighth position is the online MBA from Kogod School of Business at the American University, which was one of the top overall scorers for class experience.

The Kogod online MBA has a standard course duration of 24 months, but can also be completed on a 12, 15 or 18-month track. The curriculum features two in-person immersions, 13 core courses and two elective courses.

The programme has the second highest percentage – 51 percent – of female students in the US top 10. Tuition is US$86,976.

7) Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland

In seventh place is the online MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business – another top scorer for class experience.

The curriculum is built in seven phases, which can be enhanced with seminars, networking events and coaching initiatives. The programme has an average length of 24 months and is conducted fully live.

Tuition is US$88,776.

6) George Washington University School of Business (GWSB)

Next we have the online MBA from the GW School of Business, which received high scores for class experience and class profile.

This year’s cohort of 355 students includes the highest percentage of female students on the list (alongside the UF Warrington College of Business): 54 percent. International candidates make up 11 percent of the class profile, for a total of 15 nationalities represented.

The programme has three intakes: August, January and May. While all coursework is completed fully online, students can participate in in-person global and experiential opportunities.

Tuition is US$103,635.

5) Naveen Jindal School of Management – UT Dallas

Halfway through the list is the Global Leadership MBA from Naveen Jindal School of Management, which scored high for class experience.

The programme, which lasts 21 months on average, has a small cohort of 75. The class profile is diverse compared to other US-based online MBA courses: 43 percent of students are women, while 17 percent are international.

Online MBA candidates have access to fully live classes, international experiences, and career support.

Fees are US$53,000.

4) University of Florida – Warrington College of Business

In fourth place is the online MBA at UF Warrington College of Business, which takes an average 21 months to complete.

This year’s cohort of 378 students has an average 6.4 years’ work experience. 37 percent of students identify as female, while four percent are international, accounting for 11 nationalities represented.

Tuition is US$58,000.

3) Chapman Graduate School of Business – FIU

Taking home the bronze medal is the Professional MBA (PMBA) Online from the Chapman Graduate School of Business at Florida International University, which scored particularly high for class profile and employability.

The programme is highly customisable: students can choose from three different pacing tracks (33 months, 21 months, and 18 months), five term starts (January, March, May/June, August and October) and eight specialisations. It also includes a two-day in-campus residency, seminars, industry nights, virtual meetings and business career management opportunities.

Tuition for the entire programme is US$42,000 for both in-state and out-of-state students.

2) Marshall School of Business

The second-best online MBA programme offered by an American university is the OMBA at Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, which is ranked eighth best in the world, which also scored particularly high for the class experience indicator.

The programme includes an integrated curriculum that spans across five cross-disciplinary courses, through which students acquire essential knowledge about core subject areas of business such as marketing, finance, management, and entrepreneurship.

34 percent women make up this year’s cohort, which is also the least international on the list, with only three percent international students and three nationalities represented.

Tuition is US$106,596.

1) Kelley School of Business

The online MBA programme offered by Kelley School of Business is this year’s best US-based online MBA. The course scored high for class experience and employability.

The programme was the first online MBA offering from a top school and it’s highly customisable. Students can enrich up to 50 percent of their curriculum with electives and choose from seven major specialisations including Business Analytics, Marketing and Finance. Students can also participate in international experiences, consulting projects, fully live classes and group discussions.

This year’s class profile is made up of 17 percent women and 41 percent international students with an average of 13 years’ work experience.

Tuition is US$74,520.