Top 10 Largest Online MBA Cohorts 2021

The online MBA at Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education (ADDOE), Amity University has the largest class size of all the online MBA programs featured in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021, with 28,110 students.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021 assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA remotely.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

10) FIU – Chapman School of Business

Kicking off the top 10 for largest cohorts is the tenth-best programme in the world and the third-best in the US: 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. There are 660 students in the 2021 cohort.

The programme is highly customisable: candidates 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.

9) Deakin Business School

Next, we have the online MBA from Deakin Business School, which scored high for class experience and class profile.

Out of the 690 enrolled students in this year’s cohort, 45 percent are women and two percent are international candidates, accounting for nine nationalities, with an average of 12 years work experience among students.

The programme includes 12 core courses and four electives that students can choose from. Candidates also have the option to reduce the duration of the course based on their previous qualifications and experience. Tuition is US$39,963.

8) West Texas A&M University

In eighth place is the second-cheapest online MBA programme in the world: the online MBA from West Texas A&M University. The programme usually takes 24 months to complete, combining electives, specialisations, and remote group activities.

Out of this year’s cohort of 883 students, 49 percent women, seven percent are international students, and participants have an average of seven years’ work experience.

Fees are US$9,900.

7) Warwick Business School

Next we have the Distance Learning MBA from WBS, the third-best online MBA programme in the world. The course achieved high scores in the employability, class profile and faculty and teaching indicators.

The Distance Learning MBA cohort of 930 students is diverse, with 14 years’ average work experience, 79 percent international students and 33 percent female students.

Warwick’s programme takes between one and two years to complete. It combines eight required modules, two “Warwick Weeks” on campus, four elective modules and a consultancy project. Fees for the programme are £34,150 (approx. US$47,000).

6) CSU College of Business

In sixth place is the 21-month MBA from CSU College of Business, which has a cohort of 960 students. The programme 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.

5) AGSM @ UNSW Business School

Halfway through the list – with a cohort of 976 participants – is the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of New South Wales Business School.

The school’s MBAX earned high scores across the board, especially for employability and class experience. The programme includes a compulsory starter course, followed by five core courses, five specialisation courses, and a capstone course within an elective the area of study, including Change, Social Impact, Technology or Finance.

Tuition is US$44,588

4) Kelley School of Business

Next we have the online MBA offered by Kelley School of Business, the top programme in the US and the seventh-best in the world.

The course – which this year attracted 1,403 students – scored high for class experience and employability. Students can enrich up to 50 percent of their curriculum with electives and choose from seven major specialisations including Business Analytics, Marketing and Finance. Participants can also take part 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. Fees are US$74,520.

3) Alliance Manchester Business School

The online MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School has the third-largest cohort among the ranked programmes with 1,598 students enrolled this year.

The Manchester Global Part-time MBA has tuition fees of £30,000 (approx. US$37,293) or £27,500 (approx. US$34,177) for the accelerated Finance pathway. The programme combines live-taught core courses, electives, applied learning and in-person interaction opportunities.

The large cohort is highly diverse, with 80 percent international students coming from 70 different countries, 30 percent female students, and an average of 12 years’ work experience.

2) Jack Welch Management Institute

In second place for largest cohort is the online MBA programme from Jack Welch Management Institute, which scored high for class profile.

This year’s cohort of 1,987 participants is made up of 51 percent women, 18 percent international students, and an average 15 years’ work experience. Students can complete the programme from 18-36 months, there are 12 classes (10 weeks per course), each amounting to 10 to 15 weekly hours.

Students will learn business lessons from Welch, as well as from CEOs of companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Starbucks. Tuition is US$46,200.

1) Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education (EDDOE), Amity University

The programme with the largest cohort in the world – with 28,110 students – is the online MBA at Amity University, which boasts high scores for class experience and class profile.

This year’s cohort includes 61 nationalities – accounting for 31 percent international students – and 41 percent women.

Amity’s online MBA offers systematic and structured PCP (personal contact point), live interactive lectures, virtual recorded sessions, books, and study material received via courier. The average length is 24 months.

Fees are US$3,300.