There are several notable advantages to micro-credentials. The most obvious would be a significant reduction in the time commitment. At Oregon State University, for example, micro-credentials range from 9-12 credit courses, whereas a professional certificate ranges from 27-32 credits. Another advantage, is that micro-credentials offer potential students the opportunity to take courses that focus on a specialty, making them leaders in their field of expertise.

MIT's Sloan chool of Management offers MicroMasters in supply chain management, data, economics and policy design, statistics and data science, finance, and more. All courses are on an enrollment-only basis, so applying isn't even required. And students who complete their credentials, are offered pathways to apply for an accelerated masters degree program at MIT or other institutions.

Another advantage of micro-credentials is that many of these courses are offered online, or in a hybrid format, so anyone can upskill from almost anywhere. 

But how seriously are micro-credentials being taken in the workplace? While it may be true for now that traditional online MBA programs have an edge, that's also changing. In 2022, the European Union adopted a recommendation on a European Approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability, supporting the development and recognition of micro-credentials across business industries, sectors, and educational institutions. And in an April 2024 survey conducted by Robert Half International Inc, a human resources consultation firm, 95% of business executives reported challenges in finding skilled employees for specific staffing requirements. 

Micro-credentials encourage career-oriented people to specialize, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. And that just is exactly what businesses and candidates need most right now.

The aim of the BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship is to develop tech-savvy future leaders by complementing a STEM degree with top-caliber business education. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be admitted to the September 2023 intake of ESMT’s Global Online MBA.

In addition, they must have an undergraduate degree or significant work experience in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) field, must have been 35 or younger on February 1, 2023, and hold EU citizenship.

The citizenship requirement is waived for individuals who have held permanent residency in Hungary for at least three years. The special focus of this year’s BMW Group Change Maker Fellowship is a result of the company’s emerging production plant in Debrecen, Hungary.

The Global Online MBA from ESMT Berlin is a highly flexible, modular, 100% online program with a focus on decision-making, analytics, and innovation. Designed for professionals working full-time, the degree can be completed in as little as 24 months or up to five years.

For details on how to apply, visit the ESMT Berlin website.

Representatives from Europe’s top-ranked Online MBA programs will be on hand to share information and provide application tips, including Alliance Manchester Business School, ESADE, IESE, London Business School, and POLIMI Graduate School of Management. Scholarships and other funding options will also have a particular focus.

German Online MBA programs will be well-represented with ESMT Berlin, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, and HHL – Leipzig Graduate School of Management.

Participant numbers will be kept low to ensure close attention for everyone. Learn more about options for full-time and part-time MBA and EMBA programs, offered completely online or in blended format.

The event will be held on Zoom on Thursday, June 29 from 18:00–21:00 (CET).

For your chance to take part, make sure to apply online by June 28.

For details, visit the e-fellows event page (website in German).

As in previous years, European schools dominated the Top 10 list and took all three top spots. Madrid’s IE Business School clinched the top spot for the first time since 2017, pushing last year’s #1-ranked Warwick University to second place. Last year’s #2 school, London’s Imperial College Business School, moved to third on the rankings.

However, two U.S. newcomers to the list, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, soared to the #4 and #5 positions, respectively.

The Financial Times rankings place a strong emphasis on salary increase after graduation as well as the average salary earned three years post-MBA, and both Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business and Massachusetts’ Isenberg School of Management performed strongly in these areas.

Also new to this year’s Top 10 is the University of Liverpool, whose online MBA graduates reported a 32% increase in salary.

The dynamic shifts in the annual ranking reflect the changing landscape of Online MBA programs, in the wake of the pandemic-related boom in online and remote programs.

For the complete 2023 list, visit our Rankings page.

Details on the methodology behind the list can be found on the Financial Times’ website.

As part of the "Flex" online option, students will be able to take the core MBA classes online, and then will have the option of taking the elective classes either online or on-campus. Some 40 to 60 percent of the online classes will be delivered synchronously, in order to foster more of a cohort-based experience. 

Students in the Flex online option will be required to come to campus for orientation over a long weekend, as well as a class in "Leadership Communication," during a long weekend during the second half of the second semester. Another required in-person session will also take place in Napa Valley, in January. Other, optional in-person sessions will also be on offer.

Evening and Weekend MBA students typically complete the program in three years, although the program can be completed in as short as 2.5 years. 

For more information, please see the Haas news release announcing the launch of the Flex online option as part of the Evening and Weekend MBA.

In the new 'Flexible Executive MBA' program, 80 percent of the curriculum will be delivered online, with the remaining 20 percent to be made up of on-campus immersion time. The program is designed around the schedule of busy professionals, with live virtual lectures that can be played-back, and a number of elective courses on offer.

The core modules in the program include "Accounting & Financial Management," "Marketing," and "Economics for Global Markets," among others.

To apply for the new program, prospective students should have a degree and a minimum of 3-5 years of professional or managerial work experience. A preferred minimum GMAT Executive Assessment score of 140/200 is also suggested.

For more information, or to apply, please see Trinity College Dublin's Flexible Executive MBA program webpage.

Regardless of the top two positions, the ranking has changed somewhat, due to the addition of some new entrants in the table. The Global Online MBA, offered by the UK's Imperial College Business School, is the highest-ranked new entrant in position number three. It's followed by the Online MBA offered by UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School and then Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, which were also ranked in the fourth and fifth, respectively, last year.

The University of Utah's MBA Online is another new entrant, in position number 13. 

A total of 30 schools competed for the 15 spots in this ranking. To be considered for this ranking, a school's Online MBA must have run for at least four years and must be accredited by AACSB or EQUIS.

Read more about Online MBA Rankings on FIND MBA Online's Rankings page.

The program is modular, and is designed for students to pursue it at their own pace. Although it is set up to be a 24-month program, students can take up to five years to complete it.

The modular, flexible structure will allow for students to continue working on a full-time basis. 

The new Online MBA will feature two start dates per year: September and May.

Although the program takes place online, it will also include an optional "Berlin Experience Week" in the middle of the program. The program will also offer an optional global exchange module, where students can study with a partner organization such as Yale School of Management, Oxford Said School of Business, IMD, IE, Fudan University, Lagos Business School, Skolkovo Moscow School of Management, or others.

The first intake of the program will begin in September. Prospective applicants should have at least three years of experience. Those who apply for the September intake by June 1 will be eligible for a 2,000 EUR tuition discount.

For more information, please see ESMT Berlin's Global Online MBA program webpage.

The "Online MBA with a focus in Healthcare Management" program is aimed at professionals who are either already working in the healthcare sector or who would like to transition into it. The program includes MBA core classes, but some 40 percent of the curriculum will be healthcare-oriented, addressing topics such as "AI in healthcare," "healthcare decision making," and "lean operations in healthcare systems," among others.

Weatherhead's Online MBA in Healthcare will feature live, classes delivered online, meaning students can participate from anywhere in the world. Students will also have access to a career services team as well. The school's website that the career paths available to Healthcare Online MBA grads may include hospital administration, medial device manufacturing administration, and clinical informatics management, among others. 

It's estimated that the program will take eight semesters to complete. 

To apply for the program, prospective students should have between three to five years of work experience. The GMAT is not a required component of the Healthcare Online MBA application.

The new Online MBA is set to launch this fall. The early decision deadline is May 24 and the final application deadline is July 19.

For more information, please see CWRU's Healthcare Online MBA program webpage. 

Image: "Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio" by Harmanani / Creative Commons (cropped)

The program is designed around flexible, eight-week modules. The classes will be delivered synchronously, on weeknights, by the same faculty who teach on the school's in-class MBA.

The Online MBA's flexibility allows students to complete the program in between two and five years. There wil be intakes in both the spring and fall semesters. 

The application deadline for the Online MBA's spring intake is December 15. 

To apply, prospective applicants will need to submit either a GMAT or GRE score, or complete an entrance exam waiver. For international students whose native language is not English, proof of English proficiency— through either a TOEFL score of 100 or higher or an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher—will be required as well.

The University of Oklahoma's Price College of Business is accredited by AACSB. WIth the new program, the school joins a growing number of AACSB-accredited Online MBA programs in Oklahoma. Other accredited schools in the state that offer distance learning degrees include Oklahoma State University's Spears School of Business and Oklahoma City University's Meinders School of Business.

For more information,  please see the OU - Price news release announcing the launch of the new Online MBA. 

Image: Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

The program will provide a degree of flexibility, which makes it ideal for working professionals who need to balance their studies with work life. Typically, the program will take just over two years to complete and will be delivered entirely online. This helps it stand out from Wake Forest's part-time MBA, which is delivered through campus learning in either Charlotte or Winston-Salem.

The Online MBA will include the option to pursue one of three concentrations in a range of business fields, including Business Analytics, Finance, and Strategy and Leadership. 

The spring start date for Wake Forest's new Online MBA is January 18; applications are due by December 30. 

With the new program, Wake Forest University joins a growing group of AACSB-accredited, North Carolina-based business schools offering Online MBAs, including most notably, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, which offers a longstanding, highly-ranked Online MBA.

For more information, please see Wake Forest University's Online MBA program page. 

Image: Wakemba / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

At these online events, which are aimed at MBA applicants based in the US and Canada, participants will have the opportunity to meet with business school representatives in a virtual format. Some schools that are slated to be in attendance include Duke University's School of Business, IESE Business School, Vanderbilt University, and WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, among others.

One-on-one meeting and small group meetings will be held, so that participants can learn about the various facets of MBA admissions. Additionally, the events will also feature school presentations, partner workshops and advice about the GMAT and MBA scholarships.

Three events will be held, on August 22, August 27, and September 2.

Please see the Access Online website to learn more or register for an event. 

The new 'Global Online MBA' program allows a degree of flexibility, in that it can be completed in between 18 and 36 months. Those who wish to complete in program in 18 months can take courses that are four weeks long each. The 36 month option includes courses that take eight weeks to complete. An optional face-to-face option abroad will also be included.

The program will be delivered in English. 

The admissions cycle is set to start in August, for an October 2020 intake. The tuition cost for WHU's Global Online MBA will be 42,000 EUR.

For more information or to register your interest, please see WHU's Global Online MBA program webpage. 

Read more about the school and its MBA programs on WHU's Full Profile at FIND MBA. 

To better cater to working professionals, the new program will mix in-class and online learning. Face-to-face sessions will take place one weekend per month; the rest of the material will be delivered online.

Students will also be able to take a variable number of classes per term; the program can be completed in as few as two years or as many as five. Some students who have completed certain prerequisites before starting the program may be able to finish in just 15 months.  

Professional MBA participants will also be able to tailor their degree with up to four 'badges' in topics such as social responsibility, healthcare, analytics, or innovation, among other options. 

The new Professional MBA program will launch in fall 2021. No student visas will be issued to Professional MBA students; prospective participants should already have an H-1B visa or permanent residency status. Estimated cost of the MBA will be $74,800 for students who begin in the fall of 2021. 

For more information, please see the Wisconsin School of Business news release announcing the new Professional MBA. 

Image: Corey Coyle / CC BY 3.0 (cropped, adjusted colors)

The new program, dubbed "Cox MBA Direct" will allow those with less than two years of post-undergraduate experience to begin their MBA program online, while working full-time.

To participate in the new MBA, students are required to have a full-time job that begins around the time of the beginning of their first academic term. Working full-time will allow students to gain valuable experience while studying for the MBA. 

Through the program, which takes place over 33 months, students "can achieve MBA-level salaries within three years of finishing their undergraduate degrees," according to a release from the school. 

The MBA offers a variety of concentrations, such as in Marketing, Accounting, and Real Estate, for example, which allow students to tailor the program to their needs. 

For more information, please see Cox's MBA Direct program page. 

Image: Spencerjc1 / Creative Commons (cropped)

The new program will share the same curriculum and faculty as the school's in-class MBA program. According to the program website, 13 specialization areas will be available in the Online MBA, including Business Analytics, Corporate Finance, Management of Non-Profits, and more. It will be delivered in a 'one-class-at-a-time' format,  meaning that students will be able to devote all of their attention to a single class at any one time. The Online MBA can be completed in two years.

IIT's new Accelerated Online MBA program is set to launch this fall. Students who enroll in the program may be eligible for the school's Chicago Innovation Scholarships, which are valued at up to $14,000.

For more information, please see the IIT - Stuart news release announcing the Accelerated Online MBA program.

Image: "Harold Leonard Stuart Building at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, USA" by Joe Ravi / CC-BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

The new program is scheduled to launch in September 2020, and will allow students to start at three different times during the year: September, January, and May.

The Online MBA will take "just over two years" to complete, according to the school.

Students who pursue the program will be able to customize the Online MBA by selecting from three different concentrations: Business Analytics, Finance, or Strategy & Leadership. 

To apply for the new program, prospective candidates should have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and (preferably) two years of post-graduate work experience. Applicants who are not employed full-time will need to receive approval from the program director.

For more information, please see this Wake Forest University news release announcing the launch of the new Online MBA program.

Image: Boltlm17 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

Also for the third year in a row, Warwick is followed by Spain's IE Business School's Global MBA program. 

Up next is University of Massachusetts Amherst: Isenberg, whose Online MBA program has held the third-place position for four years in a row. 

Rising one position is the 'MBA@UNC' program from University of North Carolina: Kenan-Flagler. UNC swapped places with IU: Kelley, whose program is now ranked fifth.

The Online MBA programs from University of Florida: Warrington, Durham University Business School, and Northeastern University all hold steady this year, at positions six, seven and eight, respectively. 

In ninth place is a new entrant, MIP's International Flex MBA program. 

The University of Bradford School of Management remains in 10th this year.

A total of 22 schools were surveyed in this year's Online MBA Ranking. To be considered for the ranking, a program must be AACSB- or EQUIS-accredited and have been run for four consecutive years.

The FT's Online MBA Ranking - 2020

The top of the list looks the same as it did last year. The Online MBA programs from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School are tied for first place. Up next is the Online MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, which is followed by the program from the University of Florida. The top-five is rounded out by USC's Marshall School of Business.

See US News' Top 10 Online MBA programs below.

This year marks the return of the Online MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business, which led the ranking last year until it was removed for misreporting GMAT statistics. This year it is ranked at position number 88.

US News: Online MBA Ranking 2020 (top 10 schools)

In the new MBA, 80 percent of the program content will be delivered online, with the remaining 20 percent in face-to-face sessions. The in-class components will be held during long weekends every two months, in either Berlin or Munich.

Students in the new MBA will use an online learning platform which was developed in partnership with institutions like Imperial College Business School, IE Business School, and the University of Melbourne.

In all, ESMT's part-time MBA will take 24 months to complete. The program is cohort-based, meaning students will move through the MBA with the same group of people, which can enable the creation of a strong network.

The new MBA will cover a range of business topics, with courses such as 'Data analytics for managers,' 'Accounting,' 'New business creation,' The human factor of innovation,' and 'Marketing and sales in a digital world,' among others.

ESMT's new part-time MBA is set to launch in September 2020. The tuition for the program will 38,000 EUR, although those who submit an application by June 15, 2020 will qualify for an early-bird rate of 29,500 EUR.

To apply for the program, prospective candidates should have at least three years of work experience, and an undergraduate degree. A strong GMAT or GRE score—or strong performance in ESMT's admissions test—will also be required. Some applicants may also be required to take an English proficiency test.

ESMT Berlin is triple-accredited, meaning, it has accreditation from the three main international business school accreditation organizations (AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB.)

For more information, or to apply, please see ESMT Berlin's part-time MBA program webpage. You can also read more about the school and its MBA programs on ESMT Berlin's Full Profile on FIND MBA.

For more 

The new AACSB-accredited Online MBA program will focus on technology, according to the school. “The program has a focus on technology and innovation that will be ideal for students with a STEM background or any student seeking career-changing opportunities with high-tech companies," according to Krannert dean David Hummels. 

As such, the program's curriculum will include classes such as "Business Analytics," and "Management Information Systems;" in addition to tried-and-true offerings like "Marketing Management," "Financial Accounting," and "Microeconomics."

In all, Purdue's new Online MBA will take two years to complete. Classes will be taught in seven-week segments. 

There will be three start dates in 2020 for the Online MBA: January, May, and August.

To apply for Purdue's new Online MBA program, prospective candidates must submit essays, letters of recommendation, and a GMAT score, among other requirements. There is a possibility to waive the GMAT score requirement, if an applicant has at least three years of credible work experience and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA.

For more information or to apply, please see Krannert's Online MBA program webpage.

On FIND MBA, you can also find a list of all business schools offering AACSB-accredited Online MBA programs.

Image: Amerique / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)

In the new program, which is set to launch this November, students can take classes from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. The program will take 18 months to complete.

Iona's new Online MBA will include 24 credits of core courses and 15 credits of electives. The MBA's core curriculum includes classes like "Business Perspectives," "Marketing for Managers," and "Finance for Managers," among others.

To apply for the program, prospective students should have at least two years of work experience. A GMAT score is not required to apply.

Iona College's LaPenta School of Business is accredited by AACSB International.

For more information, or to apply, please see Iona College's Online MBA program webpage. 

Image: Iona College Hagan School of Business by Anthony22 at English Wikipedia [CC0] (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

To deliver the new program, the school is partnering with edX, an online course provider. 

The new Online MBA will include 45 credit-hours of coursework, delivered over five, 9-credit integrated modules. These are the titles of the modules:

• Creating Socially Responsible Businesses in the Digital Age
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Leading with Integrity
• Leveraging Global Business Opportunities
• Developing the Innovative Mindset

According to the school, each module will require approximately 9 to 16 hours of work per week. 

The program length will be flexible, and students will be able to complete the new program in as few as two years. At launch, the tuition for BU's Online MBA will be $24,000.

The new Online MBA will launch in the fall of 2020 and will begin accepting applications in August. Few other additional details—such as application requirements—have been announced. 

For more information, please see BU's Online MBA program webpage.

You can read more about the school and its MBA programs on BU Questrom's Full Profile at FIND MBA.

The program's inaugural intake will launch in October 2019. The Online MBA will offer four start dates per year, in January, April, July and October. 

UC Davis' new Online MBA will be offered in a flexible format; most students will take between 24 and 36 months to complete the degree. The program will include 11 core courses—including, for example, "Financial Accounting" and "Marketing Management," along with 64 units of elective classes. Students in the Online MBA program will also participate in two in-person residential sessions.

To apply for the new program, prospective candidates should have at least two years of work experience, and submit either a GMAT or GRE score, along with essays, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, among other application requirements. The final deadline to apply for the program's October 2019 intake is August 2.

At the current cost per unit, the total cost for UC Davis' Online MBA program will be $104,400. 

With the new program, UC Davis has joined a number of other US business schools that have launched high-profile Online MBA programs in recent years. Last year, for example, Michigan - Ross announced the launch of another premium Online MBA program. 

UC Davis' Graduate School of Management, like Michigan - Ross, is AACSB-accredited. You can see a list of all AACSB-accredited business schools offering Online MBA programs here.

UC Davis has developed the quite original and unique name "MBA@UCDavis" for its new Online MBA program. Read more about the MBA@UCDavis on the program page.

Image: Bev Sykes / CC BY 2.0 / (cropped)

The new program—dubbed the Accelerated MBA—is aimed at working professionals and will include both online components and in-class sessions, which will be held in downtown Toronto. The in-class sessions will take place one long weekend per month.

In all, Ivey's new MBA will take 12 months to complete.

The program is designed for those who want to continue working while doing an MBA. Prospective applicants should have between two and seven years of work experience, as well as an undergraduate degree in business.

Beyond the MBA's classes, the program will also include a field project—where students will partner with an organization to solve a business problem or seize an opportunity—as well as an international study trip to southeast Asia.

Ivey's new Accelerated MBA program will begin in January 2020. The GMAT is not required to apply.

For more information, please see the Ivey news release announcing the launch of the Accelerated MBA program.

Image: Balcer / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

Aimed at full-time professionals, the new Online MBA program is designed to be completed in two-and-a-half years. Besides the online components (the program includes 19 courses), the MBA will also include one on-campus retreat.

To apply for the Online MBA, prospective candidates should have at least two years of work experience plus a GMAT score of at least 500 (or a comparable GRE score). GMAT waivers are available for some applicants.

In addition to the Online MBA, Albers has also announced the launch of an Online Master of Science in Business Analytics. This program is designed to competed in two years, and will cover a variety of topics in business analytics, programming, and data science. To apply for this program, applicants should have a GMAT score of at least 550, although GMAT waivers are available.

Seattle - Albers is accredited by AACSB International.

For more information, please see the Seattle - Albers news release announcing the launch of the new online programs.

Image: Joe Mabel / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

In the new Online MBA program, students will learn through weekly, live classes—taught in English—delivered through an online platform. Students will also have the opportunity to attend in-person immersion experiences at one of the EGADE centers located throughout the Americas. 

While many business schools in other parts of the world have launched Online MBA programs in recent years, business schools in Latin America have been somewhat behind the curve. Indeed, only a handful of Latin America schools with accreditation from AMBA, EQUIS, or AACSB currently offer Online MBAs. These include, for example, Rio de Janeiro's Ibmec, which offers an online Executive MBA in Portueguese; Peru's CENTRUM Catolica, which offers a Virtual International Managerial MBA; and Fundação Getulio Vargas, which offers an Online MBA.

EGADE Business School is triple-accredited; meaning, it has accreditations from the three main international MBA accreditation organizations (AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB).

EGADE's new Online MBA is set to launch in the fall. No other practical details—such as course content, admissions deadlines, tuition and program length—have been announced. Read more on EGADE's news release announcing the launch of the new Online MBA.

You can also read more about the new program on EGADE's Full Profile at FIND MBA.

Image: "EGADE Business School as seen from Rufino Tamayo Park in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico" by Alex Ruiz / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)

This year, the top position is shared by the Online MBA programs from Indiana University's Kelley of Business (IU Kelley) and the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School (UNC Kenan-Flagler). Last year, the ranking was led by the Online MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business, but this school was removed from the ranking after it was found that it had mis-reported GMAT statistics.

Coming in third in this year's ranking is the Online MBA from Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper), which is followed by the programs from the University of Florida (Hough) and the University of Southern California (Marshall), in that order. See below for the top 20 Online MBA programs from US News below.

To rank these programs, US News rated the schools on the basis of five indicators, including Engagement, Student Excellence, Expert Opinion, Faculty Credentials and Training, and Student Services and Technology. Notably, the ranking does not take into account post-MBA salary statistics, as some other rankings do.

US News' Online MBA Ranking 2019

FIND MBA's coverage of previous Online MBA Rankings from US News:

• US News Publishes Online MBA Ranking for 2018
• US News Refreshes Online MBA Ranking for 2017
• US News Publishes Online MBA Ranking for 2016
• US News & World Report Publishes Online MBA Ranking (2014)
• US News and World Report Publishes New Online MBA Rankings (2013)

See FIND MBA's MBA Rankings page for more MBA ranking information.

Image: Indiana University press / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped, rotated)

The new "Global MBA" program will feature recorded video lectures and assignments, along with other components like live video sessions with instructors as well as collaborative group projects. In total, the MBA will include 24 courses, along with four projects in the capstone segment of the program.

The time commitment of MGSM's Global MBA will be flexible, so students can work the program into their busy schedules. All course components will take place online. Typically, the MBA will take between 12 and 18 months to complete.

The first cohort of the Global MBA will start in May 2019. The total cost of the program will be $33,000 AUD.

Applications are now open for the inaugural intake. The early admission deadline is February 1, 2019; the final deadline is April 8, 2019.

MGSM is accredited by AACSB International.

For more information, please see MGSM's news release announcing the launch of the Global MBA.

Image: Mw12310 / CC BY-SA 3.0 / (cropped)

The new program will be called Part-time MBA: Online, and will launch in the fall of 2019. The online components of the class will feature both self-guided study as well as live sessions with Ross professors.

Beyond the online learning components, the program will also include three in-person residency sessions, focusing on leadership, business transformation, and innovation. These residency sessions will take place over long weekends (Thursday through mid-day Sunday) on the Ross campus.

Ross' new Online MBA will be self-paced, but is designed to be completed in three years.

For more information, please see Michigan - Ross' Online MBA program page.

Image: Dwight Burdette / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)

In the new 'Flex MBA' program, some electives will be offered in a hybrid format, meaning that the online classes will be supplemented with virtual sessions. This  will help minimize travel time, and add more flexibility to the MBA program.

Additionally, some classes will also be offered on Saturdays. 

All the program is designed to be completed in three years, students can work to finish the program quickly—in 28 months—or in as many as five years.

Georgetown has offered an Evening MBA program, which, according to the school's website will "evolve into" the Flex MBA program in the fall of 2019.

For more information, please see the Georgetown news release announcing the launch of the Flex MBA.

The program will be offered in blended online and face-to-face formats. The in-person programs will be offered at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Other business schools, such as the UK's Cass Business School, also offer MBA programs in the same district.

The new MBA will be aimed at locally- and regionally-based professionals in a wide range of industries and company sizes. The core curriculum will focus on a number of topics, including Entrepreneurship and Opportunity and Global Connections Through Technology. Dubai-specific curriculum will address topics like Family Entrepreneurship and M&A for Entrepreneurs. Overall, the MBA will take 21 months to complete. 

Babson's new Dubai-base MBA will begin in January 2019. Applications for the program are now open.

To learn more or to apply, please see Babson's Dubai MBA program page.

The new MBA, which is offered in a hybrid online format, will prepare graduates to work towards their Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credentials.

The program will cover a number of topics, with courses like Principles of Accounting, Auditing, and Tax Research and Practice on offer, among others.

Seton Hill's new Online MBA will not require the GMAT or GRE to apply. The new program offers start dates six times per year.

For more information, please see the Seton Hill news release announcing the launch of the new Online MBA. 

The new MBA will be customizable: students will be able to pursue it either as their schedules permit, or real-time, in an interactive setting. 

Clemson, which is accredited by AACSB International, joins a handful of other business schools in South Carolina that offer Online MBA programs. Winthrop University, which is also AACSB accredited, offers a customizable Online MBA, and Francis Marion University offers an MBA in Healthcare Executive Management, among others.

Clemson's new Online MBA will launch in the fall of 2019.

For more information, please see Clemson's Online MBA program page.

Image: Tillman Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina by Ken Lund / CC BY-SA 2.0

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

For more information on MBA rankings, please see  FIND MBA's MBA Rankings page.

Image: Euclidthalis / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

The program, dubbed, "MBA@Rice" will take the school's highly-ranked MBA program and make it accessible to those living outside Houston, Texas, where Jones Graduate School of Business is located.

Students will be able to complete the program via distance learning in a minimum of two years. The program will be taught through weekly live class sessions online, a mobile app and coursework to do be completed in students' own time, plus two residential sessions where they will be able to network with classmates and faculty.

The first cohort will begin classes in July 2018, with the first application deadline already set for May 4.

For more information, please see the Rice - Jones news release announcing the launch of the Online MBA.

Image: Houston at night by Eflon CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

The school's Distance Learning MBA, ranked second in the world and first in the UK by the Financial Times, includes two "Warwick weeks" where students take classes on campus. From this June, students will have the option to take these in the heart of London.

This campus is located very close to the City of London, the financial hub and home of the Bank of England, as well as major international financial institutions, offering access to business and networking opportunities. 

This will also make it easier for international students to reach the in-class portion of the program, with more international flights available from London's airports.

For more information, see the program website.

Image: The Shard in London by Pixabay CC0 (cropped)

The publication US News and World Report has updated its Online MBA Ranking for 2018.

When the rankings were The Online MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management led the ranking. However, the publication later reported that since the school had mis-reported GMAT statistics, it would be moved to the 'unranked' category.  The online MBA programs from Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) and IU Kelley are tied for second place. The top five is rounded out by the Online MBAs from UNC - Kenan-Flagler and Arizona State University's Carey School of Business. See a list of the top 20 programs.

To determine the rankings, US News used five factors: student engagement, admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credential and training, and student services and technology. MBA accreditation is also factored into the ranking: if a school has AACSB accreditation, it influences the student engagement indicator; some credit is also given for ACBSP or IACBE accreditation. The publication only ranks US-based business schools.

Unlike other rankings of Online MBA programs, the US News ranking does not consider post-MBA salary as part of the ranking.

US News' Online MBA Ranking 2018

FIND MBA's coverage of previous Online MBA Rankings from US News:

• US News Refershes Online MBA Ranking for 2017
• US News Publishes Online MBA Ranking for 2016
• US News & World Report Publishes Online MBA Ranking (2014)
• US News and World Report Publishes New Online MBA Rankings (2013)

See FIND MBA's MBA Rankings page for more MBA ranking information.

Image: Mblumber / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped, rotated)

The program will be flexible, and allow students to complete it at their own pace. If students wish, they can complete the program in as few as two years.

In addition to online classes and other typical online MBA components, the program will also include two, three-day on-campus residencies on Santa Clara's campus in Silicon Valley.

The Leavey School of Business also offers an Evening MBA program, another flexible option for professionals in Silicon Valley and elsewhere.

For more information about the new program, please see Santa Clara's Online MBA webpage.

Image: SCUMATT at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

Tobin College of Business is offering students the opportunity to choose from one of three concentrations: Interdisciplinary Business, Risk Management and Insurance, or Taxation.

Students will be able to study remotely, meaning potential students from outside the university's immediate vicinity will still be able to participate.

The online MBA will include a capstone project, allowing students to undertake research on an issue of their choice.

It will be possible to complete the program in 18 months. The online MBA is AACSB accredited.

For more information, see the online MBA website.

Image: New York City Dusk by Premshree Pillai CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

The MBA@Denver curriculum will be the same as that of the on-campus MBA, but students will connect virtually for weekly classes. Between the weekly sessions, students will study using interactive content online.

In that way, students will be able to study for the MBA without having to relocate away from family and work commitments.

There will still be opportunities for students to meet face-to-face for more immersive study activities. These will include leadership training, as well as networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, corporate partners, peers and faculty.

The University of Denver will run the new program in partnership with education technology company 2U.

Image: Denver Skyline at City Park (Top Floor of Museum) by Ken Lane CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

The newly-named Durham Online MBA now has a minimum duration of two years, rather than three, that enables students to get back to their careers faster.

The program's curriculum has also been reorganized to provide more opportunity for personalization.

Students can choose to study along one of three structured pathways: Entrepreneurship, Consultancy or Technology, depending on the electives they choose.

The range of elective modules has also been extended and now covers subject including business analytics, technology innovation, new venture creation and international business in context, among others.

The program is available 100 percent online, but students can attend an optional Summer School at the Durham University campus if they wish to have the face-to-face experience.

Durham University Business School's existing online MBA was recently ranked second out of the UK schools placed in the 2017 Online MBA Ranking 2017 the Financial Times.

Image: Durham University by Alejandro Erickson CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

The new MBA will be flexible so that working professionals can fit it into their schedules. Those who pursue the program on a full-time basis will need at least four semesters to complete the MBA; part-time students can finish in three years.

Students can start in either the spring or fall semesters. The fall semester begins in August and the spring semester begins in January. The first semester of the program will include a mandatory, three-day, on-campus orientation.

The new Online MBA will offer concentrations in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and Compliance, Risk and Anti-Money Laundering. It will also include a practicum option where students will be able to explore business issues in a real-world environment.

USF's Mama College of Business is AACSB-accredited. 

With the new program, the school is jumping into a very competitive space: a number of other Florida-based business schools, such as the University of Florida, Florida International University, and Florida State University offer various Online MBA programs.

For more information, please see USF's Online MBA program webpage.

Image: "USF water tower with the Marshall Student Center behind it" by FightingRaven531 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

Accredited by AACSB, the school is launching an online program that will allow international students to stay in their home countries while completing the program.

This makes it easier to study for a MBA without disrupting work or family commitments. It also means that students who might struggle to obtain a visa for study in the US can still participate in a US-based, accredited MBA program.

The accelerated program will allow students to complete the program in as few as 12 months, and will offer two concentrations: international business and supply chain management.

For more information and to apply, visit the program website.

Image: Woman Typing CC0 License (cropped)

For the fourth year in a row, the ranking is led once again by IE Business School's Global MBA program, whose 2013 graduates were found to have salaries of $191,216, on average, the most among all schools in the ranking. 

Second place belongs to Warwick Business School's MBA by Distance Learning. This is the fourth year in a row that Warwick has taken the runner-up position. 

Taking spot number three is University of Massachusetts Amherst: Isenberg, whose Online MBA program jumped six spots from last year. The FT noted average salaries (just over $159,000) as a main reason for the jump.

Australia's AGSM, which broke into the top 10 last year, rises once again this year to take position number four. The Online MBA from University of Florida: Hough dropped two places this year to round out the top-five.

George Washington University's Online MBA, which is placed sixth this year, is the highest-ranked new entrant. Other new additions this year include the EuroMBA program, which ranks 12, and Colorado State University's Online Professional MBA (ranked 19).

This is the fourth year that the FT has ranked online MBA programs. A total of 22 programs took part in the ranking process; 20 made it to the ranking. To be included, a business school must have accreditation from AACSB and/or EQUIS and have run online programs for at least four years. Although flexible/hybrid MBA programs are included in the ranking, at least 70 percent of an MBA's curriculum must be delivered online to be considered. Participants on the courses must pass a selection process before enrolling and an examination process before graduating.

The data on which the ranking is based was collected through two surveys, one filled out by the schools and one by each MBA program's alumni. The alumni survey accounts for 65 percent of the ranking. The most important criteria include salary today, which accounts for 20 percent of a school's ranking, salary increase (10 percent), online interaction (10 percent), and FT research rank (10 percent), which is calculated according to the number of articles published by each school's full-time faculty.

Below is a table which shows the 15 schools ranked in the FT's Online MBA Ranking 2017.

The FT's Online MBA Ranking 2017

For more information on MBA rankings, please see  FIND MBA's MBA Rankings page.

See FIND MBA's previous coverage of the Online MBA Rankings from the FT:

• The Financial Times Releases 2016 Online MBA Ranking
• The Financial Times Publishes 2015 Online MBA Ranking
• The FT Releases Online MBA Program Ranking (2014)

Image: IE Business School

The program that was previously only available on campus will now be open to students from further afield, as well as those who want to fit study in around other commitments.

Newman University's department of business also offers a joint MBA and Masters of Social Work, and its was students from this program that suggested an online program would better suit their needs.

The first class will begin on March 13, and there are still places available.

From next year, there will be five intake dates, allowing students more flexibility for beginning their studies.

For more information, see the program website.

Image: Union Station, Wichita Kansas by BB and HH CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

The online MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management leads the ranking once again, and is followed by the MBA from Carnegie Mellon's Tepper Business School. IU Kelley has dropped one spot to take position number three, and UNC is ranked at position number four. ASU - Carey and Florida - Hough are tied for spot number five.

There were a few big leaps in this year's ranking. 

See below for the top 20 programs ranked in the new online MBA ranking. The Online MBA at Florida State University jumped 28 spots to land at position number 16. Tied for that same spot is Wisconsin - Whitewater, which rose 11 spots this year. It had jumped 76 spots in the previous year. 

To determine the rankings, US News used five separate categories, specific to each school's online MBA program. The categories are student engagement, admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology. The ranking only includes business schools based in the US.

Unlike other MBA rankings, the US News Online MBA ranking does not take into account post-MBA salary.

US News' Online MBA Ranking 2017

FIND MBA's coverage of previous Online MBA Rankings from US News:

• US News Publishes Online MBA Ranking for 2016
• US News & World Report Publishes Online MBA Ranking (2014)
• US News and World Report Publishes New Online MBA Rankings (2013)

See FIND MBA's MBA Rankings page for more MBA ranking information.

Image: Mblumber / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped, rotated)

The first set of students will begin the program in January.

Courses will each run for seven weeks, and if students are able to take two at a time, they will be able to complete the MBA program in just one year. 

Because of this format, the school is able to offer rolling start dates, so students can begin in the middle of the year, and finish the program in somewhere between one and two years.

Students from outside Colorado are welcome to apply, as coursework is completed online. But students already studying on campus are also welcome to supplement their studies with the online MBA.

More information is available on the school's website.

Image: The Pueblo Bank and Trust Company by Jasperdo CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

Students in the new program will be able to choose from four specializations: digital marketing, project management, marketing, or human resources management. Students can also choose to not specialize at all, and instead receive a general MBA.

Montclair State also offers a variety of other MBA programs, including a weeknight MBA, an Executive MBA, and a Saturday hybrid degree option. The school is accredited by AACSB International.

For more information, please see Montclair State's Online MBA program webpage.

Image: Montclair State / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

With the new accreditation, Birmingham joins a list of business schools that have their online MBAs accredited by AMBA. Aberdeen Business School, Aston Business School, Imperial College Business School, and the University of London's Royal Holloway all have their online MBAs accredited by AMBA, among other schools.

Birmingham Business School's Distance Learning MBA launched in September 2015. Birmingham's classroom-based MBA programs are also accredited by AMBA.

See a list of business schools offering AMBA-accredited MBA programs here.

Image: Public Domain