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.
The Top Online MBA Programs
Covid-19 has dramatically impacted MBA programs in 2020 especially the educational delivery for current students. If you are considering an MBA right now, it is important to know that many of the in-person programs have transitioned to either a fully virtual learning environment or a hybrid learning environment. As the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19’s impact on higher education continues, there is no guarantee that these programs will move back to their traditional in-person format. The 2020 Top 5 Online MBA Programs in the U.S. should be considered for applicants.
As you review your MBA options, it is clear that five U.S. online MBA programs stand out above the rest of the uber-competitive market. According to 2020 rankings published by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, those programs are Kelley Direct Online, MBA@UNC, the University of Florida Online MBA, the USC Marshall Online MBA, and the Tepper School of Business Online MBA.
Why Choose a 2020 Top 5 Online MBA Programs in the U.S.
- Online programs excel at delivering a high-quality virtual education: The top online programs are already accustomed to providing virtual learning, career services and resources. If you are considering an in-person program, keep in mind these programs may struggle with the new virtual format. You have to consider that you might not receive the same value from those programs that you would expect for the original online MBA programs.
- Ultimate Flexibility: Fully online programs offer the most flexibility for working individuals and families. Also, if you were to attend an in-person program or even a hybrid format, you may have to change your work/life balance if classes were to ultimately return to in-person classroom learning. Keeping COVID-19 in mind, you also eliminate traveling or being in a classroom setting which may increase your risk of contracting the disease.
- Better prepare for the virtual workplace: It won’t be a surprise if companies provide employees with greater workplace flexibility in the future due to COVID-19. Companies are finding that with the right tools in place, employees can function at the same capacity virtually. An online MBA can help develop your virtual communication, leadership, and team-building skills as you complete your program.
BREAKING: Temple Fox Awards Settlement After Rankings Fallout
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania state Attorney General Josh Shapiro officially announced a settlement with the Temple University Fox School of Business in Philadelphia regarding its previously reported false reporting with U.S. News & World Report. The new Temple lawsuit settlement awards Fox students at least $250,000 in new scholarships.
Continue reading…Inside the 2019 ‘U.S. News’ Best Online MBA Program Ranking
Where is the best online MBA program in the country? Who tops the charts when it comes to student engagement, student excellence, academic faculty, and more? The U.S. News & World Report just released its 2019 ranking for the “Best Online MBA Programs” in the US. The Online MBA programs at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School each came in tied at first place. Continue reading…
Lehigh’s Online MBA Earns Top Ranking Honors
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Lehigh moved into Poets&Quants‘ top 5 online MBA programs in 2019. Up one spot from 2018, Lehigh ranks No. 5 out of 35 programs in the country.
In the news website Poets&Quants‘ second annual ranking of online MBA programs, other graduate schools and recent graduates from the past two years were surveyed. Rankings are based on three key aspects: the quality of the incoming student, an assessment by graduates of their MBA experience, both the academic and the extracurricular activities, and the career outcomes of the programs’ graduates.
Graduates surveyed answered questions regarding consulting projects and international immersions and whether their career goals were met for entering the program.
The Lehigh FLEX MBA Program provides the flexibility to fit professional and personal needs in an academically rigorous environment, with an unparalleled peer group. Students can attend classes in person or live online, or bridge both modes.
For the Spring 2019 entering class, apply by Dec. 1 for admission.
To learn more about the synchronous Lehigh FLEX MBA online program, visit https://cbe.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/flex-mba or contact the college at business@lehigh.edu.
To learn more about the Lehigh University College of Business and Economics Online MBA, you can visit the official Lehigh University College of Business and Economics website.
BREAKING: Temple Fox Business Dean Moshe Porat Resigns
Months after U.S. News & World Report officially removed the Temple University Fox School of Business from its annual rankings, dean Moshe Porat has been officially asked to step down from his role.
