The Best Online Executive MBA

Founded in 1884, Temple University has grown from a night school to a major research institution that hosts more than 40,000 students annually. Temple's primarily online executive MBA program requires in-person attendance in Philadelphia during one weekend a month for 16 months.

The unique, 48-credit curriculum is designed to mirror an actual workplace, with students working in teams to prepare assignments and presentations. Executive guest speakers and the integration of the latest case studies ensure students receive up-to-date insights on the business industry. Students can pursue an optional concentration in hospitality asset management.

Required courses cover concepts including valuation, business ethics, statistical analysis, and risk management. The program also incorporates a global immersion experience and a final capstone project. Graduates can pursue leadership positions in a variety of industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism.

Prospective students must hold a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and submit a current resume, GMAT scores, transcripts, a statement of goals, and contact information for references. Applicants with AACSB-accredited bachelor's degree, 7-10 years of work experience, or managerial experience may receive a GMAT waiver.

Howard University is a historically Black university that offers an online executive MBA taught by award-winning faculty. The 42-credit program offers small class sizes, flexible learning options, and completion times as brief as 18 months.

Students complete 14 courses in areas including organizational behavior and leadership, applied economics, entrepreneurship, and strategic communications. Students can optionally participate in a two-week trip to China, India, or South Africa to gain experience in an international business environment.

Prior to graduation, all degree candidates must complete a strategic management capstone, culminating in a presentation of their findings before a panel of faculty and top industry professionals.

Executive MBA applicants need at least seven years of work experience, including five in management or a senior leadership role. They must also submit a resume, a statement of interest, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. GMAT or GRE scores are recommended but not required.

Distance learners can choose from more than 80 certificates and degrees at Louisiana State University, including one of the nation's best executive MBA programs. The 36-credit program operates on a flexible, 20-month schedule. Students complete online coursework, on-campus residencies, and international immersion opportunities.

Most coursework takes place online in an asynchronous format, but students must meet on campus during one weekend per month. All students complete 15 credits of required core courses, including managerial economics, competitive strategy, and financial accounting. Students can customize the degree through one of three concentrations:

• Analytics
• Emerging technology
• Healthcare management

The program emphasizes real-world learning through partnerships with local mission-based organizations, startups, and small enterprises in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Site visits, individual coaching sessions, and team activities provide additional leadership and professional development opportunities.

The executive MBA program accepts applications on a rolling basis for a spring semester start date. Applicants need a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and three years of post-baccalaureate work experience. They must also submit a current resume, GMAT or GRE scores, a personal statement, and two letters of reference.

The University of Miami offers seven online graduate degrees, including an online executive MBA designed for senior executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. The 17-month program combines live online course sessions with nine on-campus residencies. The program features a learning-by-doing curriculum, allowing students to engage in simulations, roleplay, and case studies.

Eleven required courses cover themes like strategic decision-making, cross-cultural leadership, operations management, and innovation. Students also gain experience with real-world business challenges through three integrated consulting projects.

Applicants must supply a current resume, transcripts, and one letter of recommendation. Several rounds of admission occur for each new cohort, including a preferred deadline for scholarship consideration. Accepted students bring an average of 14 years of work experience to UM's executive MBA program.

More than 2,100 students enroll in Ohio University's online graduate programs each year. The school's online MBA offers eight concentrations, including executive management. The 12-course, 35-credit program prepares graduates for business leadership careers.

Core MBA courses cover concepts in managerial finance, operations management, and accounting for executives. The executive management concentration includes three required courses: prescriptive analytics, leadership and change management, and ethics in leadership.

Most courses are asynchronous, but the program requires occasional live lectures. All online MBA students also attend one, weekend-long professional development workshop on campus.

Applicants need a regionally accredited bachelor's degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and at least two years of professional experience. They must also submit a resume, three letters of recommendation, and a goals statement.

Washington State University offers 20 online undergraduate majors and 12 online graduate degrees, including an online executive MBA program. Online students gain access to career counseling, e-tutoring, archived webinars, and a reimbursement program.

The fully online executive MBA takes 18 months to complete. Each course lasts five weeks and allows students to choose between asynchronous and synchronous formats. Learners can also complete an optional, 10-day international business trip.

Courses cover topics like financial business tools, strategic leadership, global business, and management. Students craft a business plan as part of their final capstone. Graduates can work as chief executives, human resource managers, healthcare administrators, and financial managers.

Applicants need a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and at least five years of management experience. They must also submit a resume, three letters of recommendation, GMAT or GRE scores, a letter of organizational support, and a statement of purpose.

The state's first institution of higher education, the University of Nevada-Reno offers online degrees and certificates in more than a dozen disciplines, including business administration. The school's online executive MBA program features a cohort model.

The 36-credit program includes classes like statistics for decision-making, financial reporting and analysis, economics of the firm, and marketing management. During a personal branding course, students learn to build and market content through social media.

Courses feature a mostly asynchronous format, but students need reliable access to a webcam and microphone for occasional live sessions. Graduates are prepared to lead organizations and manage unpredictable business environments.

Applicants to the online executive MBA program need a bachelor's degree in any major with a minimum 2.75 GPA and at least five years of work experience. They must also submit transcripts and GMAT or GRE scores.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers a primarily online executive MBA that features a synchronous format, allowing students and faculty to interact in real time.

Over 22 months, students complete 48 credits of coursework designed to sharpen skills in business, strategy, and leadership. Core courses include micro- and macroeconomic foundations for managers, marketing management, and accounting for decision-making. The program also offers concentrations in healthcare management and travel industry management.

In addition to online coursework, students must complete an intensive five-day residency during the beginning of the program and 14 on-campus class sessions in Honolulu. Residents of neighboring islands receive a stipend to help cover roundtrip airfare.

Admission to UH Manoa's executive MBA program requires a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and at least five years of relevant work experience. Applicants must provide a resume; a statement of objectives; two letters of recommendation; and EA, GMAT, or GRE scores.

The University of North Carolina-Wilmington offers several online and hybrid degree options, including one of the best executive MBA programs in the nation. Students can complete the 42-credit program in as little as one year.

Core courses cover topics like policy and regulation, financial and managerial accounting, and information technology. Students can pursue a general track or one of four concentrations:

• Business analytics
• Finance
• Healthcare management
• International business

Students progress through the executive MBA program in small, interactive cohorts. The program requires two on-campus weekend residencies. Students must also participate in a one-week international residency at one of several locations in Europe or Asia.

UNCW considers applications on a rolling basis. Prospective students need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, at least two years of professional experience, and a GMAT score above 500. They must also submit a resume, a cover letter, and two letters of recommendation.

Sam Houston State University offers several dozen online programs, including a unique online executive MBA that prepares graduates for leadership positions in financial institutions and regulatory agencies.

The 36-credit program features mostly online coursework, but students must attend a two-week on-campus residency at the start of each fall semester. Courses include managerial communication; project management; and selected topics in money, capital, and security markets. Students culminate the degree with a comprehensive examination.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and submit transcripts and GMAT scores. Prospective students with a minimum 2.5 GPA may receive a GMAT waiver. Individuals with a bachelor's degree in a non-business field need at least three years of experience in a banking or regulatory position.

California Lutheran University offers an online executive MBA that takes 18 months to complete. The program prepares students to pursue leadership positions in public and private organizations.

The 48-credit program includes eight on-campus courses, seven online courses, and one travel-based course. Core courses cover five areas of expertise: leading operations, managing processes, leading people, leading strategy, and professional advancement and integration. Students can choose from two capstone projects: a comprehensive business plan for a new venture or a consulting project with a local or global organization.

New program cohorts begin each fall and spring. Applicants must submit transcripts, a current resume, GMAT scores, and one professional letter of recommendation. They must also complete an interview with the program director.

Jacksonville University offers more than a dozen online certificates and degrees, including an executive MBA in leadership development designed for mid- to senior-level managers with at least 10 years of work experience.

The 46-credit program includes 12 core courses and a leadership development specialization. The specialization builds knowledge and skills in business analytics, executive communication, and strategic change leadership. Students also complete a one-week international trip, the price of which is included in the program's tuition.

Classes meet at the Jacksonville campus one Friday and Saturday each month, but in-person attendance is not mandatory. Students unable to visit campus can access courses online, choosing from asynchronous and synchronous formats.

Applicants must submit GRE or GMAT scores, a current resume, a statement of interest, and official transcripts from prior colleges. Applicants with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and an AACSB-accredited business degree receive a GRE/GMAT waiver.