US News 2021 Online MBA Rankings
See which online MBA programs rank the highest in 2021.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business edges Indiana’s Kelley School of Business to take the top spot on the U.S. News & World Report‘s 2021 “Best Online MBA Programs” list of online MBA rankings.
This year, Carnegie Mellon ties with the University of North Carolina’s Keenan-Flagler for the best online MBA program. While Kelley School of Business came in third in the ranking, it remains the top program for veterans.
The top five universities have not changed in two years, but they have shifted positions. Since USC Marshall School of Business moved up one place, it bumped the University of Florida’s Hough Graduate School of Business to fifth. ASU Carey, one of five schools that tied for 10th last year, moved into sixth. Because of this, Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and the University of Texas at Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management were pushed to seventh.
None of the schools that have appeared in the top 10 ranking for the last two years have dropped off, but new schools are making a showing. Since there are more schools on the list this year, there was room for new arrivals.
Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University leaped from 123rd place to ninth this year. Lehigh University ranked 10th along with six other schools, moving up from 18th place last year.
The University of Mississippi dropped to 10th from sixth place last year. The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and University of Maryland College Park’s Smith School remained in the same relative positions. University of Washington’s Foster School and University of Wisconsin’s MBA Consortium also stayed in similar spots.
Top 10 Online MBA Programs
The school with the top 10 online MBA programs as ranked by the US News & World Report are as follows:
1. (Tied) Carnegie Mellon University
1. (Tied) University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill
3. Indiana University — Bloomington
4. University of Southern California (USC)
5. University of Florida
6. Arizona State University
7. (Tied) Pennsylvania State University — World Campus
7. (Tied) University of Dallas — Texas
9. Rice University
10. (Tied) Lehigh University
10. (Tied) University of Arizona
10. (Tied) University of Maryland — College Park
10. (Tied) University of Mississippi
10. (Tied) University of Washington
10. (Tied) University of Washington MBA Consortium
US News ranks online MBA programs by weighing five metrics. These metrics include engagement (30%), expert opinions (25%), faculty credentials and training (15%), student excellence (15%), and student services and technologies (15%). US News rankings combine statistical data and peer assessment surveys.
Transitioning to Online Courses
Even though there were slight changes to qualifications for US News rankings, this did not significantly affect the number of eligible schools.
This year, US News updated the definition of an online program because of changes that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. The new definition states, “the vast majority of required coursework for program completion is able to be completed by via distance education courses.” It uses the term “majority” instead of all.
Only programs founded before the 2019-2020 academic year were considered. This is because US News wanted assess recent graduates for the ranking.
According to data from the College Crisis Initiative at Davidson College, more than 60 percent of 1,442 US institutions held classes remotely instead of in-person because of COVID-19. All of the programs evaluated are designed to be taken online; so programs that are temporarily virtual or hybrid due to the pandemic are not considered in these rankings.
Michigan Ross and Michigan State Broad: Which MBA is Right for You?
As you search for the best fit in an MBA program, the country’s big metropolitan areas are likely on your list. It’s clear that New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Philly have no shortage of renowned business schools and robust job markets.
School v. School: Queen’s University Smith School of Business vs Toronto Rotman School of Management
Apples or oranges? Steak or chicken? Toronto or Kingston, Ontario? If you’re having a difficult time making a decision, you’re not alone. When it comes to choosing the best MBA program for your needs, there can be more than one choice that seems like the “perfect” fit, so how make a final decision? It’s not easy, but that’s what we’re here for.
Our School v. School series offers a point-by-point comparison of two highly respected MBA programs in Ontario: Queen’s University Smith School of Business and the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. Keep reading to see how each school stacks up. Continue reading…
School v. School: Ohio State Fisher vs. Minnesota Carlson
Narrowing down the options to pursue an MBA can be daunting, to say the least. Reputation, accessibility of alumni networks, rankings, and flexibility are just a few things to consider, not to mention location and cost. If you’ve already narrowed down a region in which you’d like to study and work, you’ve taken the first big step.
The Midwestern U.S. is rich with b-schools, and it is also home to a number of accounting, retail, utility, and agricultural firms that are always on the lookout for new talent. Following is a comparison of two schools in the region, Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, which may be helpful as you hone in on your destination schools.
Ohio State vs Minnesota: Location
As Midwestern cities go, both Columbus, Ohio, and Minneapolis, Minnesota have strong overall appeal. Both cities are just about an hour’s flight from Chicago, but both have strong reputations as cultural centers themselves. Here is a look at some of the other factors that may determine which city is best for you.
- Cost of Living: The cost of living in Minneapolis 28 percent higher than that in Columbus.
- Housing: Minneapolis’ median housing price is 61 percent higher that Columbus’.
- Median Age of Residents: Residents of both cities are an average age of 32-years old.
- Median Income: Minneapolis residents make $56,000 annually, while those in Columbus make $49,000.
- Jobs: Columbus’ rate of unemployment is 1.3 percent higher than Minneapolis’.
The cost of living in Minneapolis is higher than Columbus, but Carlson grads, on average, earn higher salaries.
Ohio State vs Minnesota: Rankings
University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management
• U.S. News & World Report: 35
• Bloomberg: 29
• Forbes: 27
• Financial Times: 42 in the U.S.; 81 Global
• The Economist: 25 in the U.S.; 32 Global
Ohio State Fisher College of Business
• U.S. News & World Report: 31, 11 among public universities
• Financial Times: 84, 37 in the U.S., 20 among public universities
• Forbes: 46 overall, 23 among public universities
• The Economist: 55 overall, 45 in the U.S., 18 among public universities
Ohio State vs Minnesota: Cost
At Fisher, tuition for in-state residents, inclusive of fees, is $31,139. For those out of state, it is $53,642. At Carlson, full-time tuition for Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Manitoba residents is even more affordable at $20,060 per year. For non-residents it is $33,280 per year. There is a student services fee of $1,000 per year and a technology fee $1,200 per year.
Ohio State vs Minnesota: Post-graduate Employment
Fisher MBAs make an average starting salary of $97,626 and an average signing bonus of $21,360. Ninety-six percent of U.S. citizens and 90 percent of international students have job offers three months after graduation. The top five industries for Fisher MBAs are consulting, consumer products, financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Upwards of 96 percent of U.S. citizens and 90 percent of international students have job offers three months after graduating from Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business.
The mean base salary for Carlson grads is $113,000 and a signing bonus of $25,192. About 80 percent of MBAs receive job offers three months after graduation, and 95 percent did so six months after graduation. The top five fields for Carlson MBA grads are marketing/sales, consulting, finance/accounting, general management, and operations/logistics.
Inside Ohio State Fisher
Fisher’s recently redesigned curriculum features skills assessments, personalized curriculum, and coaching based upon each student’s focus. The program incorporates immersive, cross-functional projects for top companies and organizations locally and globally. Unique program elements such as the Global Applied Projects, Business Lab Project and the Core Capstone Experience provide MBA students with numerous opportunities that will lead them into a successful career.
A total of 25.5 credit hours are integrated core coursework, 7.5 credit hours are comprised of experiential learning (Business Lab Project, Social Impact Challenge, Optional Global Applied Project), and 27 credit hours are elective coursework. The program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours to graduate.
Along with the full-time MBA, Fisher also offers a Working Professionals MBA and an Executive MBA.
Inside Minnesota Carlson
Carlson’s program is non-traditional in that it begins in the summer with online courses. In their first year, students take 25 of the 64 required credits in core courses, and they can then choose from over 70 electives. Experiential courses make up the second year, at which point students are offered global experience in one of three ways: a semester abroad; a two-week global “enrichment;” or a global course. The length of the commitment for the global experience can be counted for as little as four credits, or as much as 10.
Part-time, Online, and Executive MBAs are also available at Carlson along with the full-time MBA degree.
Merage Jumps in Rankings, UCLA Grows Greener, and More
Let’s take a peak at some of the biggest Los Angeles business school stories that have emerged this week.
UC Irvine’s Merage School Jumps Forward in The Economist‘s Rankings – UCI Merage School of Business News
University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business jumped forward in The Economist’s 2018 ‘Which MBA?’ rankings, with a move from 39th to 37th in the U.S., and 56th to 52nd in the global standings.
Assistant Dean Jon Kaplan of Merage’s MBA and specialty master’s programs says, “[What is unique about the program] is our focus on preparing students to be leaders in a digitally driven world. When you combine that with our continuous efforts to attract the best and brightest students and to provide them a one-of-a-kind experience, you start to see the rankings improve.”
Earlier this year, Merage’s Executive MBA program was ranked 20th in the U.S. and 30th globally. Dean Eric Spangenberg reiterates the program’s focus on digital transformation.
“Our team has done a great job of pivoting our curriculum to focus on how digital technologies are disrupting all aspects of the business world—not just in Silicon Valley, but across industries,” he says. “Students recognize that, and they choose to come here. This climb in the rankings is evidence not only of our teaching excellence and outstanding career services, but of the caliber of students we’re attracting.”
You can read more about Merage’s place in the rankings here.
How Green is Your Campus? – UCLA Anderson Blog
UCLA Anderson School of Management alum Nurit Katz (’08), the university’s Chief Sustainability Officer, recently gave a report on five major movements that the school has made to become a leader in green campus design.
For one, the business school’s Marian Anderson Courtyard is shaded from the California sun by ZON Powersol umbrellas that not only provide shade, but also utilize solar power for USB mobile devices.
In addition to the use of solar power, the school uses a 42-megawatt cogeneration plant that provides heat, cool air, and electricity for major facilities on campus such as the Regan Medical Center. The plant is partially powered by biomethane gas from a nearby landfill. The use of the gas drastically reduces the campus’ carbon footprint.
UCLA Anderson Chief Sustainability Officer Nurit Katz recently explained the major ways the LA school is moving forward with green energy innovation / Phot via blogs.anderson.ucla.edu
Green roof installation is another way the school is implementing sustainable technology, as shown in the Safdie Rabines Architects’ designed Court of Sciences Student Center food hall. Drought tolerant plants combine attractively with the surrounding landscape to provide natural cooling and water collection methods, while also providing attractive outdoor gathering space.
The Semel Healthy Campus initiative is another example of the school’s commitment to sustainability. With a garden at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, this initiative focuses upon healthy solutions for the campus and its neighbors by growing plants for food and medicinal purposes.
Finally, UCLA is working to reduce carbon emissions in the infamously congested city of Los Angeles through the use of the Bruin Bike Share system. This allows students to rent bikes for commuting around campus, making the standard non-automobile transit more visible. The project also allows inexperienced bikers to pair with those who are more seasoned to learn the rules of the road.
Graziadio Women in Leadership Series to Feature Intuit Exec – Pepperdine Graziadio Events
Mary Ann Somers, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Intuit, Inc., will be a featured speaker at Pepperdine Graziadio‘s Center for Women in Leadership (CWL) discussion series on November 8, 2018.
With a background at companies such as Coca-Cola, Hershey, Unilever, and Colgate-Palmolive, Somers has a wealth of experience in reviving struggling brands. She will speak about the increasingly relevant trends in FinTech, and the ways in which it has transformed production and profitability.
Since 2015, the Center for Women in Leadership has strengthened and empowered women in the Graziadio community, and connected them with leaders such as Somers as they move forward in their careers.
Somers’ discussion will take place at the West Los Angeles Campus from 4-6 p.m. on November 8. You can register here for the event.
Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg Top Economist 2018 Rankings
The newest Economist best MBA rankings for full-time programs is officially out, with two Chicago schools topping the list.
