Online MBA Ranking Includes Lehigh University, Zarb School
Lehigh University – College of Business and Economics and Hofstra University – Zarb School of Business landed spots in U.S. News & World Report’s new ranking of the Best Online MBA Programs.
Lehigh University came in at No. 8 on the list, and the Zarb School was No. 55.
The ranking’s methodology took five categories into consideration:
- Student engagement accounted for 28 percent of each school’s ranking. This includes the degree to which students can easily interact with their instructors and classmates.
- Admissions selectivity (25 percent) was included because “online degrees that schools award judiciously will have greater legitimacy in the job market,” U.S. News wrote in explaining the methodology.
- Also weighted at 25 percent was peer reputation, based on a survey of high-ranking academic officials at MBA programs.
- Faculty credentials and training accounted for 11 percent of a school’s ranking. U.S. News considered not only instructor’s academic credentials but also whether they were trained to teach distance learners.
- Student services and technology accounted for the final 11 percent of each ranking.”MBA programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance,” U.S. News wrote. The magazine also looked at the support students got in learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid.
In Lehigh University’s part-time MBA program, online courses are offered through Lehigh’s Office of Distance Education. The Zarb School has an informational webinar scheduled Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. EST about its online MBA.
The top five spots in the ranking went to 1. Temple University – Fox School of Business; 2. Indiana University – Kelley School of Business; 3. University of North Carolina – Kenan-Flagler Busines School; 4. University of Florida – Hough Graduate School of Business; and 5. Arizona State University – W.P. Carey School of Business.
To learn more about selecting the best online MBA program for you, check out our article “Online MBA vs. Traditional MBA.”
About the Author
Sarah Beckham
Sarah is a staff writer, covering London-area MBA news for MetroMBA.
