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2025 Annual Best Online MBA Programs
Only a few years ago, flashy headlines about Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs focused primarily on campus degrees. Not so these days. With technology making the online learning experience ever closer to the in-classroom experience, the number of online MBA programs is growing and so are applications.
The best online MBA programs have flexibility that a full-time campus program does not. No need to relocate, no commute time, and access to a curriculum focused on your needs—even if the faculty is on the other side of the country. In addition, almost all online MBA programs have a part-time option that lets you keep your paycheck while you earn your degree. It’s no wonder the online MBA is attractive.
But with the growth in the number of schools offering online MBAs comes the need to do research to figure out which school is right for you. This site is here to help with that research.
Click through our discussions and rankings on topics from tuition costs, to average GMAT score, to faculty strength. These and other topics covered here will help you to start thinking about what you want from an online MBA program. Once you have a handful of schools in mind, you can dig deep into the data to get to know more about those programs. This research will make sure you get the very most from your MBA experience.
State-by-State the Best Online MBA Programs
Find the best Online MBA program in each state for 2025. Our rankings for the best online MBA programs take into consideration student / faculty ratio, tuition costs, graduate ROI, total enrollment, breadth of concentrations, 3rd party rankings, average graduate salary, and AACSB Accreditation.
100 Best Online MBA Programs for 2025
25 Least and Most Expensive MBA Programs
If you plan on attending B-School, it’s best to start thinking about fiscal responsibility. A prospective online B-Student in needs to weigh their options with regard to tuition rates. A highly reputable online MBA program can pave the way for a great starting salary by way of recruitment from Fortune 500 companies. An online MBA program can provide the flexibility of completing a program while being employed in your respective career.
With that being said, the lowest in-state tuition for online MBA programs is $7,458.00 compared to the highest average online in-state tuition of $157,546.00.
There’s a significant tuition range for online in-state programs. The average online in-state tuition is $37,225.13 compared to an average online out-of-state tuition of $49,508.25 for traditional MBA programs.
If you have the option of attending a highly reputable online in-state program, it may be worthwhile to save close to $14,000 in tuition costs. If an in-state program isn’t available to you, then a well-respected online MBA program may be the best option for aspiring B-Students. The average online in-state online MBA program in is $37,225.13 compared to the average online out-of-state program of $49,508.25.
The least expensive online MBA is available from Indiana University Northwest. In-state tuition totals $7,458.00. Compare that bill to the $157,546.00. in tuition costs you wrack up if you attend Duke University‘s online MBA program. Both programs are accredited by the AACSB, which ensures they pursue excellence and continuous improvement in their degree programs. So why pay Duke University‘s higher price?
Duke University notes that its online program has the same rigorous curriculum that its full-time students complete. It’s taught by the same faculty and Access Weekends six times a year allow online MBA students to start classes with the professors who will teach you all semester. They also help students network with their classmates, other MBA students and alumni to build their personal network.
See our expanded report of the most affordable online MBA programs
25 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs
- Indiana University South Bend - $7,458.00
- Indiana University Northwest - $7,458.00
- McNeese State University - $8,879.00
- University of Central Oklahoma - $9,068.00
- Southern Utah University - $9,212.00
- Arkansas Tech University - $9,435.00
- Tennessee State University - $9,452.00
- Georgia Southwestern State University - $9,503.00
- North Carolina A&T State University - $9,790.00
- Georgia Southern University - $9,824.00
- University of North Georgia - $9,846.00
- Columbus State University - $9,855.00
- New Mexico State University - $10,314.00
- Augusta University - $10,590.00
- East Texas A&M University - $10,724.00
- University of Louisiana at Monroe - $10,800.00
- University of Houston-Victoria - $11,030.00
- University of Tennessee at Martin - $11,112.00
- University of Central Arkansas - $11,239.00
- Stephen F. Austin State University - $11,630.00
- Emporia State University - $11,876.00
- North Carolina Central University - $11,978.00
- Mississippi College - $12,000.00
- Angelo State University - $12,251.00
- Mississippi State University - $12,294.00
25 Most Expensive Online MBA Programs
- Duke University - $157,546.00
- University of Southern California - $154,339.00
- Carnegie Mellon University - $147,456.00
- Rice University - $139,081.00
- The University of Michigan - $137,056.00
- Miami University - $136,342.00
- Washington University in St. Louis - $134,020.00
- Johns Hopkins Carey Business School - $133,000.00
- Georgetown University - $124,814.00
- Boston University - $124,248.00
- Pace University - $116,744.00
- Tulane University - $116,040.00
- Texas Christian University - $115,380.00
- Rochester Institute of Technology - $108,352.00
- University of Rochester - $108,038.00
- The Ohio State University - $106,123.00
- Seaver College - $104,333.00
- Syracuse University - $104,130.00
- Northeastern University - $102,582.00
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - $100,218.00
- Fordham University - $99,497.00
- University of Maryland - $98,865.00
- American University - $98,282.00
- Southern Methodist University - $96,788.00
- University of Denver - $96,000.00
25 Highest and Lowest Graduate Starting Salaries
25 Programs with Highest Graduate Starting Salaries
- Stanford University - $182,272.00
- Harvard University - $175,000.00
- Northwestern University - $175,000.00
- University of Illinois at Chicago - $167,977.00
- University of Pennsylvania - $166,391.00
- The University of Chicago - $165,887.00
- Columbia University - $162,099.00
- New York University - $161,475.00
- Dartmouth College - $159,842.00
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - $159,391.00
- University of Virginia-McIntire - $157,090.00
- Cornell University - $155,048.00
- Texas State University - $155,000.00
- The University of Michigan - $153,465.00
- University of California, Berkeley - $152,831.00
- Yale University - $152,744.00
- Duke University - $152,297.00
- University of Washington - $151,322.00
- University of Washington Tacoma - $151,322.00
- University of Southern California - $150,314.00
- Emory University - $149,759.00
- Carnegie Mellon University - $148,067.00
- University of California, Los Angeles - $146,727.00
- The University of Texas at Austin - $144,564.00
- Rice University - $142,212.00
25 Programs with the Lowest Graduate Starting Salaries
- Grambling State University - $39,900.00
- Eastern Kentucky University - $42,450.00
- Francis Marion University - $42,600.00
- South Carolina State University - $43,200.00
- Western Carolina University - $44,100.00
- Arkansas Tech University - $44,250.00
- Louisiana State University Shreveport - $45,300.00
- The University of North Dakota - $46,200.00
- Delaware State University - $46,300.00
- Millsaps College - $46,750.00
- Louisiana Tech University - $46,771.00
- McNeese State University - $47,550.00
- University of South Dakota - $47,553.00
- Stockton University - $47,700.00
- Southeastern Louisiana University - $47,900.00
- Alabama A&M University - $48,200.00
- North Carolina Central University - $48,300.00
- University of South Alabama - $49,200.00
- Colorado State University-Pueblo - $49,500.00
- Ohio University - $49,598.00
- Eastern Washington University - $50,300.00
- Lander University - $50,700.00
- Southern University and A&M College - $51,000.00
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette - $51,200.00
- Missouri Western State University - $51,750.00
25 Programs with the Highest and Lowest Graduate ROI
25 Programs with the Highest and Graduate ROI
- Tennessee State University - 1,033.00%
- North Carolina A&T State University - 996.00%
- Indiana University Northwest - 906.00%
- Indiana University South Bend - 709.00%
- East Texas A&M University - 655.00%
- Columbus State University - 651.00%
- Mississippi State University - 645.00%
- Georgia Southern University - 615.00%
- New Mexico State University - 613.00%
- University of Central Oklahoma - 588.00%
- University of Houston-Victoria - 584.00%
- Angelo State University - 561.00%
- University of Massachusetts Boston - 537.00%
- University of Montana - 524.00%
- Georgia Southwestern State University - 516.00%
- Augusta University - 493.00%
- Tarleton State University - 491.00%
- Southern Utah University - 484.00%
- The University of Texas Permian Basin - 481.00%
- University of North Georgia - 474.00%
- Radford University - 473.00%
- Stephen F. Austin State University - 467.00%
- Mississippi College - 464.00%
- California State University, Bakersfield - 451.00%
- University of Nebraska at Kearney - 450.00%
25 Programs with the Lowest Graduate ROI
- The Ohio State University - 1.00%
- University of Denver - 2.00%
- Rice University - 2.00%
- Stevens Institute of Technology - 4.00%
- University of San Francisco - 4.00%
- Clark University - 4.00%
- American University - 8.00%
- Georgetown University - 11.00%
- The University of Michigan - 12.00%
- University of California, Davis - 14.00%
- University of Miami - 19.00%
- Clarkson University - 19.00%
- Hult International Business School - 21.00%
- Babson College - 21.00%
- St. John Fisher University - 22.00%
- University of Maryland - 22.00%
- Illinois Institute of Technology - 22.00%
- James Madison University - 22.00%
- Long Island University-Post Campus - 23.00%
- University of Rochester - 23.00%
- Tennessee Technological University - 24.00%
- Southern Methodist University - 27.00%
- Louisiana State University - 27.00%
- Fordham University - 28.00%
- Canisius University - 30.00%
25 Programs with Highest and Lowest GMAT Requirements
Everyone with MBA ambitions makes the purchase of a GMAT study program or guide with trepidation. The score on this one test can make a big difference in the schools you’ll be able to get into. But with more than 173 ranked online MBA programs available, you have a wide range of options. Whether you’ve already taken the test and want to see what schools have average scores in your range or you’ve got a dream school in mind and want to see if you’re likely to get in, the information below will help you research your options.
The range of average GMAT scores for online MBA programs is wide. On the low end of the scale, University of Wisconsin-River Falls‘s online MBA program has an average GMAT score of 265.00 .
On the high end, the University of Southern California has an average GMAT score of 265.00.
But remember, the GMAT score is not the only decision-making criteria for admissions officers. Undergraduate grades, work experience, references and essays are all important parts of the package schools look at when they consider applicants. If you’re not great at taking tests, work on boosting other parts of your application.
See our expanded report of the most selective online MBA Programs
25 MBA Programs with Lowest GMAT Requirements
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls - 265
- Auburn University at Montgomery - 370
- Southeastern Louisiana University - 375
- Metropolitan State University of Denver - 390
- University of New Haven - 399
- University of South Carolina Aiken - 405
- Stephen F. Austin State University - 420
- Southern Utah University - 420
- Iona University - 420
- The University of Texas at Tyler - 429
- The University of North Carolina at Pembroke - 435
- Duquesne University - 435
- Radford University - 438
- Tennessee Technological University - 440
- University of North Texas - 442
- Troy University - 445
- University of North Alabama - 447
- Florida International University - 448
- Nichols College - 450
- Lawrence Technological University - 450
- The University of Texas at San Antonio - 450
- University of Colorado Denver - 450
- University of Houston-Victoria - 450
- Slippery Rock University - 450
- Henderson State University - 450
25 MBA Programs with Highest GMAT Requirements
- University of Southern California - 732
- New Jersey Institute of Technology - 720
- The University of Michigan - 720
- Duke University - 718
- Rice University - 710
- University of Northern Colorado - 707
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - 706
- The University of Texas at El Paso - 705
- Carnegie Mellon University - 702
- St. John Fisher University - 698
- Georgetown University - 697
- Southern Methodist University - 694
- University of Florida - 690
- The University of Texas at Dallas - 689
- Indiana State University - 685
- Indiana University Bloomington/Indianapolis - 685
- Arizona State University - 684
- North Carolina A&T State University - 684
- Boston University - 683
- University of Massachusetts Boston - 683
- Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey-Newark/New Brunswick - 683
- University of Minnesota - 682
- Michigan State University - 680
- University of St. Thomas-Minnesota - 680
- University of Rochester - 678
25 Online MBA Programs with the Highest and Lowest Student / Faculty Ratios
The faculty/student ratio has become an increasingly important criteria for selective MBA candidates. This ratio is important because many schools use the case-discussion approach to business instruction. With this teaching method, students are asked to read a case write-up of a business experiencing a problem, do their own analysis and prepare a solution to the problem. In-class case discussions are often heated, as the solution to the problem is unclear. But students won’t get much time to participate in these discussions if class sizes are enormous.
More broadly, a higher faculty/student ratio indicates a university pays more faculty members to instruct students and to offer additional guidance. This can be seen as a direct reflection of an institution’s attitude towards their students’ success. For aspiring MBA students who want faculty mentorship, a higher faculty/student ratio is important.
Faculty/student ratios vary dramatically from one online MBA program to another. Western Kentucky University, for instance, has about one professor for every 285 students. The University of Arizona, on the other hand, has about one professor for every 2.9 students. It’s easy to see which program provides students with more faculty interaction.
See our expanded report Student / Faculty Ratios
25 Best Student / Faculty Ratios
- Louisiana State University Shreveport - 63:1
- San Diego State University - 47:1
- Southern Utah University - 37:1
- The University of Mississippi - 35:1
- The University of Texas Permian Basin - 35:1
- Arizona State University - 34:1
- Lamar University - 33:1
- The University of Arizona - 32:1
- University of Florida - 32:1
- San Jose State University - 31:1
- Florida State University - 31:1
- California State University, Sacramento - 30:1
- Baruch College-The City University of New York - 30:1
- Auburn University - 30:1
- University of Missouri - 30:1
- Florida Atlantic University - 29:1
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - 29:1
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University - 28:1
- University of North Texas - 28:1
- The University of Alabama - 27:1
- University of Massachusetts Amherst - 27:1
- Clemson University - 26:1
- West Chester University of PA - 26:1
- Youngstown State University - 26:1
- Georgia State University - 26:1
25 Lowest Student / Faculty Ratios
- Johns Hopkins Carey Business School - 1:2
- University of Rochester - 2:1
- Clark University - 3:1
- Illinois Institute of Technology - 3:1
- Carnegie Mellon University - 4:1
- University of Dallas - 5:1
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute - 6:1
- Wake Forest University - 6:1
- Stevens Institute of Technology - 6:1
- Seaver College - 6:1
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - 6:1
- College of William and Mary - 7:1
- Fordham University - 8:1
- Governors State University - 9:1
- University of New Haven - 9:1
- The University of Michigan - 9:1
- Georgetown University - 9:1
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - 9:1
- Washington University in St. Louis - 9:1
- University of Houston-Downtown - 9:1
- Oklahoma City University - 9:1
- Queens University of Charlotte - 9:1
- Dominican University - 10:1
- University of Denver - 10:1
- Jacksonville University - 10:1
Alumni and Student Enrollment for Online MBA Programs
The number of students enrolled in an online MBA program varies widely from one school to another. You may wonder why enrollment matters if you’ll be attending class online from the comfort of your own home, not sitting in the back of a huge auditorium. But it does matter.
Larger programs generally have the breadth of faculty and resources to offer more areas of focus. If you want to take classes specific a certain industry or functional area, you may need a larger program to meet your needs. Schools with a higher student enrollment also have a larger alumni base. When you’re looking for a new job after graduation or an introduction to a new company later in your career, that larger alumni base can help.
On the other hand, smaller online MBA programs can focus their resources and become the best option in their niche. They can be more personal, making sure that no student falls through the cracks. And while they have fewer alumni, students in small programs are often more tightly knit and their alumni more loyal. Both large and small online MBA programs have their benefits. Dig into the data here to find what’s right for you.
Research more about online MBA program Alumni Strength and see additional charts and graphs. Sort programs from highest to lowest student to faculty ratios.
Online MBA programs vary substantially between the percent of students who attend full-time versus part-time. Again, this issue may not seem important if you will not be sitting in a classroom together, but it can make a difference. MBA programs assign group project because anyone graduating with a business degree must be able to collaborate in the workplace.
If you are working full-time and taking MBA classes at night but are grouped with classmates studying full-time and who have more free time on their hands, friction may arise. Their preferred meeting times and the amount of time they spend on “camaraderie” rather than focused work may not meet your needs.
The smallest full-time online MBA program is Yeshiva University, with only 2 students in the program. (Longwood has a part-time MBA program too, but it’s small as well.)
The The University of Texas at Dallas has a much larger full-time online MBA program with 3,836 students. Between these numbers is a range of program sizes. One will be right for you.
See our expanded report on Alumni and Student Enrollment
25 Programs with the Most Student Enrollment
- The University of Texas at Dallas - 3,836
- University of Southern California - 2,201
- Duke University - 2,019
- Washington University in St. Louis - 1,770
- University of North Texas - 1,679
- Boston University - 1,590
- Louisiana State University Shreveport - 1,347
- Arizona State University - 1,328
- The University of Michigan - 1,303
- Baruch College-The City University of New York - 1,279
- University of New Haven - 1,192
- Indiana University Bloomington/Indianapolis - 1,191
- University of Florida - 1,174
- University of Utah - 1,162
- Johns Hopkins Carey Business School - 1,123
- University of Rochester - 1,111
- University of South Florida - 1,110
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - 1,000
- Central Michigan University - 999
- Georgia State University - 998
- Northeastern University - 864
- Rice University - 833
- Washington State University - 826
- The University of Texas at Arlington - 817
- Saint Joseph's University - 807
25 Programs with the Lowest Enrollment
- Henderson State University - 2
- Yeshiva University - 2
- Black Hills State University - 2
- DePaul University - 6
- Abilene Christian University - 8
- Southern Utah University - 8
- University of Nebraska at Kearney - 9
- Indiana University Northwest - 10
- Morehead State University - 10
- Ouachita Baptist University - 10
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls - 11
- Minnesota State University Moorhead - 11
- University of North Georgia - 13
- Indiana University South Bend - 17
- The Pennsylvania State University at Erie - 17
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - 17
- Northeastern Illinois University - 17
- York College of Pennsylvania - 19
- Sam Houston State University - 20
- Southern Arkansas University - 21
- University of Louisiana at Monroe - 21
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - 21
- Niagara University - 23
- Missouri Western State University - 25
- Colorado State University-Pueblo - 26
Faculty Strength for Online MBA Programs
An MBA program is only as strong as the background of its professors. Some of the best business professors have a nice balance of industry experience and teaching in an academic setting.
They have the ability to back their in-class lesson plans with real-world application. That is a powerful combination for someone entering the business field. Knowing that your professor is an industry influencer and has extensive teaching experience in the field of is a clear sign that a program delivers high-quality education.
Start your research into the faculty strength of the online MBA programs you’re considering by looking into the number of full-time faculty the program employs. Indiana University Bloomington/Indianapolis campus has the highest number of full-time faculty of any online MBA program – 449.
Henderson State University, on the other hand, has only 8 full-time professors.
But the number of full-time professors is not all you should consider. A program without a large full-time faculty may have several part-time professors to help with the teaching load. You should also consider qualifications of the faculty, such as the percentage of professors who have a doctorate degree.
See our expanded report on Best Faculty
25 Programs with the Most Full-Time Faculty
- Indiana University Bloomington/Indianapolis - 449
- Arizona State University - 294
- The University of Texas at Dallas - 240
- University of Southern California - 224
- Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey-Newark/New Brunswick - 209
- Baruch College-The City University of New York - 205
- The University of Georgia - 191
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville - 181
- The University of Alabama - 181
- Northeastern University - 179
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - 179
- University of Arkansas - 172
- The Pennsylvania State University - 172
- Boston University - 172
- Kennesaw State University - 169
- University of Miami - 168
- The Ohio State University - 168
- Purdue University - 168
- University of Wisconsin-Madison - 167
- Florida International University - 165
- Baylor University - 163
- University of Maryland - 161
- Miami University - 160
- University of North Texas - 156
- Georgia State University - 151
25 Programs with the Least Full-Time Faculty
- Fairfield University -
- Metropolitan State University of Denver -
- Henderson State University - 8
- Missouri Western State University - 10
- Lawrence Technological University - 10
- Union University - 12
- Minnesota State University Moorhead - 12
- Pacific Lutheran University - 12
- Millsaps College - 13
- St. Ambrose University - 14
- Missouri University of Science and Technology - 14
- Oklahoma City University - 14
- Barry University - 14
- Indiana University Kokomo - 14
- University of Detroit Mercy - 15
- Indiana University Northwest - 15
- The State University of New York Polytechnic Institute - 15
- Alfred University - 15
- University of Montevallo - 15
- University of South Carolina Aiken - 16
- Whitworth University - 16
- Black Hills State University - 16
- St. John Fisher University - 17
- Long Island University-Post Campus - 17
- Southern Arkansas University - 18
Discover These In-Depth Ranking Reports
Find Affordable Online MBA Programs Now Accepting Applicants
How We Rank the Best Online MBA Programs
MBAGuide.org employs a comprehensive ranking methodology that combines quantitative data (80% of the score) with qualitative assessments (20%) to evaluate MBA programs. The quantitative component considers factors such as student-faculty ratio, tuition, enrollment, and post-graduation salaries, while the qualitative aspect incorporates editorial ratings and school reputation, providing a well-rounded view of each program’s quality and value.
You’ve told us what matters to you most and we’ve provided rankings that take into account price, program reputation, student commitment, and graduation rate. By factoring in the program rankings from trusted publications, we’ve compiled a unique list of U.S.-based, online MBA program rankings you won’t find anywhere else.
After pulling together the rankings from the publications, we’ve added cost of tuition, alumni strength, faculty strength, student / teacher ratio and GMAT scores. The result? A robust list of affordable online MBA programs that prospective B-students can rely on as they seek to further their studies and careers in business.
- See our ranking methodology
- Contact us if you notice errors in our data
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