Modern business students have a multitude of options when it comes to MBA programs, including: on-campus full-time or part-time programs; evening or weekend courses for working professionals and accelerated programs for those who want to earn their MBA in condensed amount of time. But for those who prioritize online flexibility and want to study in the nation’s capital, the question remains: what are the best Washington DC online MBA programs?
According to OnlineMBA.com, web-based MBA programs tend to;
“Offer a unique learning experience that can often be customized to meet personal preferences, schedules or goals. These types of programs can be a great choice for independent learners who prefer self-directed study in which they set the pace for course completion.”
David Soto, the Princeton Review’s director of content development, told Forbes that the number of schools offering online MBAs is growing globally and that as the programs becomes more accepted, more and more students are taking advantage of the ability to keep working and earning while keeping costs down.
“Students are reluctant to give up two years of salary to go to school,” Soto told Forbes, “and you can go to a great school, even a school across the world in Madrid. The online option is leveling the playing field for students who want flexibility.” Soto was referring to IE University in Spain, which earned the fourth overall spot on the Princeton Review’s list of Top Online MBAs for 2017. The program only costs $58,320 for an online degree while the average salary for an IE graduate is $113,800.
Washington DC Online MBA Programs
George Washington University School of Business
George Washington University’s School of Government was founded by University President Cloyd H. Marvin in 1928. Marvin established the school with a $1 million dollar endowment from the League of Masonic Clubs. The school initially offered degree programs that integrated business and politics on national and international levels.
In 1960, the School was renamed the School of Government, Business, and International Affairs and in 1966, its faculties were divided into a School of Government and Business Administration and the School of International Affairs. The school was then renamed the School of Business and Public Management in 1990, and finally in 2004, it became the School of Business (GWSB).
GWSB offers an Online MBA program that students may begin in the fall, spring or summer semesters. All coursework can be completed fully online, but in-person global and experiential opportunities are also offered to students. According to GWSB, the digital courses are organized into learning episodes and are comprised of videos, video cases, podcasts, animations and other pre-recorded content in addition to traditional reading assignments. Faculty members are also available to students during online office hours offered through the digital classroom.
Howard University School of Business
The present-day Howard University School of Business was founded in 1970, with Dr. Milton Wilson serving as Dean. The School of Business has gone on to become the second largest among schools and colleges within the university in terms of enrollment, typically enrolling more than 84 students from 65 countries. The School of Business offers a full-time, traditional MBA, in addition to the part-time MBA and Online Executive MBA.
The Howard Online Executive MBA is broken into a convenient 18-month program that is completely online, with the exception of the closing Capstone Residency Presentation and an optional study abroad opportunity. The AACSB accredited program also requires no GMAT score for admission. However, a minimum of seven years of professional work experience, five of which are in a management or senior level role, is required.
Kogod School of Business – American University
The Kogod School of Business at American University was established in 1955 as Washington, D.C.’s first university-level school of business. Named after Robert Kogod, a Washington real estate developer and the former co-chairman and co-president of the Charles E. Smith Companies, the school is recognized as a top school by prestigious business and academic organizations worldwide. Keeping that in mind, it’s no surprise the school diversified its degree options, offering one of the premiere Washington DC online MBA programs.
According to the School, Kogod’s online business programs blend live classes with immersive learning experiences. All classes are taught by Kogod faculty in a collaborative virtual classroom. However, students do have opportunities to interact with their peers in a real-world setting. These Business in Capitals immersions offer students the chance to expand on the relationships they develop in the online classroom by collaborating with their cohorts through group assignments. At at least one immersion takes place on American University’s campus each year, with other immersions offered in business capitals around the country and world.
Robert H. Smith School of Business – University of Maryland
While the Robert H Smith School of Business calls both the DC and Baltimore metros its home, it’s online offerings can be taken by MBA candidates worldwide. Students enrolled in the Online MBA in as few as 21 months with a flexible program that allows students to remain active in their current job. To provide the highest level of student engagement, the Smith Online Program utilizes audio and video messaging, integrated multimedia and collaborative online workspaces to bring the online classroom to life. According to the school, a small number of live online classes are presented via the state-of-the-art video conferencing tool, Adobe Connect, in order to provide the benefit of “attending” class and interacting with professors and peers in real time.