What's the best online school to get an MBA from?

Question

I want to get an MBA degree but can do that through the traditional method and would want to do it online. What is the best school online to do that?

Answer 1

An MBA, even more than most other degrees, is usually one that people get in order to advance their careers. The reputation of the program can matter a great deal. Consider your options carefully.

Good schools that I know for sure that offer distance MBAs include:

Duke University
Drexel
Carnegie Mellon
Penn State
Ball State
U Nebraska - Lincoln
Thunderbird (really intriguing program)
Babson
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute
UMass Amherst
U Maryland

Some of these do require some sort of on-campus component, be it a weekend or a week every year.

Of these, you should definately look at the ones at Duke and at Thunderbird. Those are the two with the strongest reps on this list.

If you can find an MBA program online from a school whose MBA is AACSB accredited, apply. AACSB accreditation is the gold standard for MBA programs.

I disagree with what another poster said. It's not necessarily true that, if you don't attend a top MBA program, your degree is worthless. I often hire MBAs from programs below the top 15, but these programs all have great reputations and are AACSB accredited.

Answer 2

Do not get an MBA from an on-line university. Most of them are For Profit corporations that accept nearly anyone and provide what the New York Times calls "MBA Light." The University of Phoenix recently paid a $9.8MM fine for sleazy recruiting practices. They are now under investigation for padding their placement numbers. They have local accreditation but are missing any prestigious national accreditation. Companies like Intel have recently announced that they will not pay for their employees to take classes there.

In fact -- I would not recommend anyone getting an MBA from a school that is not ranked. If you get an MBA from a top 15 school, you will be able to switch fields and increase your salary by 50%-100%. A ranked school will increase your salary & help you get a good job -- but not as much as a top 15 school. An MBA from an unranked school really won't help you get a job and may help you a little in the salary department if you stay in your current job. Otherwise, it does little for you.

There are some traditional Brick & Mortar universities that use distance learning. Duke University's Fuqua School of Business has a couple programs that combine classroom education with distance learning. Graduates get a real Duke MBA and have access to their placement office. It is expensive -- but it is a real MBA.

Answer 3

You are much better off looking for an MBA program which includes a few weeks or weekends of classroom work each year. I do not have specific information, but put the key terms into Google and see what comes up. These programs are usually called "Executive MBA programs" and are much better respected than online programs.

Answer 4

Business Week magazine has a list. Their list reflects major schools that will give the most impressive credentials. University of Phoenix is NOT on the list!

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/06/distance.htm

Answer 5

http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=814