The Financial Times has updated its Online MBA Ranking for 2018.
For the first time in the history of the ranking, Warwick Business School's Distance Learning MBA has taken the top spot. IE Business School, which has led the ranking since the inaugural edition in 2014, has dropped to position number two. According to the ranking, graduates of IE's Online MBA made more than their Warwick counterparts (Three years after completing the MBA, IE grads had a an average salary of $184,030, compered to $182,994 for Warwick grads.)
The Online MBA from UMass Amherst holds on to spot number three for the second year in a row. The Online MBA from IU - Kelley has climbed three spots to land at number four. The top-five in this year's ranking is rounded out by the Online MBA from Durham University Business School, which rose four positions.
Of the 20 schools that are current ranked, one is new this year. The Online MBA from Washington State University's Carson College of Business debuts this year at position number 20. The EuroMBA, which was ranked 12th last year, has dropped out in the 2018 edition.
According to the FT, the programs are ranked primarily on career progress of alumni, but also on the diversity of the cohort and the quality of the online delivery.
Below is a table which shows the 15 schools ranked in the FT's Online MBA Ranking 2018.
The FT's Online MBA Ranking 2018
| 2017 Rank | Business School | MBA Program | Change from 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warwick Business School | MBA by Distance Learning | +1 |
| 2 | IE Business School | Global MBA | -1 |
| 3 | Umass Amherst - Isenberg | Online MBA | no change |
| 4 | IU - Kelley | Online MBA | +3 |
| 5 | Durham | Online MBA | +4 |
| 6 | Babson - Olin | MBA Blended Program | +2 |
| 7 | Florida - Hough | Hybrid Online MBA | -2 |
| 8 | AGSM | MBAx | -4 |
| 9 | ASU - Carey | Carey Online MBA | -2 |
| 10 | George Washington | Online MBA | -4 |
| 11 | Syracuse - Whitman | MBA@Syracuse | -1 |
| 12 | Northeastern | Online MBA | +1 |
| 13 | University of Nebraska at Lincoln | Online MBA | +2 |
| 14 | Bradford | Distance Learning MBA | no change |
| 15 | Colorado State University | Online MBA | +4 |
| 16 | Drexel - LeBow | LeBow Online MBA | +4 |
| 17 | NCSU - Poole | Professional Online MBA | +1 |
| 18 | FIU - Chapman | Corporate MBA | -2 |
| 19 | Centrum Católica | Virtual International Managerial MBA | -2 |
| 20 | Washington State - Carson | Carson Online MBA | not ranked in 2017 |
For more information on MBA rankings, please see FIND MBA's MBA Rankings page.
Image: Euclidthalis / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
Best for overall salary: IE ($184,030)
Lowest course fee: Bradford (£17,000)
Best for international mobility: IE
Highest value for money rank: Bradford
Bradford still seems like the best value for the investment: 36% salary increase; $114,680 average salary after three years.