Top MBAs Online 2024

There’s a few reasons why a master’s in business administration (MBA) is consistently among the most popular graduate degrees in the country. Earning an MBA degree online is an investment that can provide flexibility, speed up your career, and pave the way to a high salary.

Online MBA programs allow you to balance your education with other personal commitments, such as a full-time job or family obligations. They provide you with the same level of business expertise and marketable skills as a traditional MBA program, unlocking high-paying management and leadership positions across many business fields.

Below, explore the best online MBA programs, concentration areas, average tuition costs, career paths, and salary outcomes for MBA graduates.

An MBA is an advanced business degree that develops broad expertise in business. Courses cover topics like business strategy, ethical decision-making, and organizational management. Most MBA programs consist of 36-40 credits and take between 2-4 years to complete.

Online MBA students take courses in asynchronous and synchronous settings, either through lesson plans or live classes. In addition to taking online courses, many MBA programs require a capstone project and professional development activities to graduate.

Many online MBA programs require a bachelor’s degree for admission, preferably in a business-related major. Some require applicants to hold several years of professional experience. Others are open to all prospective students regardless of undergraduate major or prior career experience.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that online master’s in business or management costs $10,994 in average annual tuition and fees. For comparison, an in-person master’s in business or management costs $16,120.

But the cost of an online MBA can vary. Factors such as the school, program duration, and whether it is a public or private institution can change the price. Your access to reliable internet may also impact the cost, if you don’t have a strong web connection in your home.

Online MBA programs focus on business best practices, including leadership and management skills. Common courses in these degrees include:

Business is a broad topic, so most online MBA programs offer concentrations to help students focus their skills. Below are several common specializations for online MBAs.

An MBA in accounting focuses on financial leadership in corporate settings. This degree can help prepare you for work as a certified public accountant (CPA), management accountant, or financial consultant. An accounting concentration may require classes like advanced cost accounting, tax research and jurisprudence, and advanced auditing.

Economists research economic issues and recommend solutions to economic problems. These professionals can influence public policy and global economies. An MBA in economics can prepare learners for economic careers by blending courses in business leadership with classes in econometrics, economic theory, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

Entrepreneurs create their own business ventures. Enrollees in this concentration learn about the finance, marketing, human assets, and management strategy aspects of developing business plans. Classes also cover topics like venture capital, the finance of buyouts and acquisitions, and intellectual property strategy for innovation-driven enterprises.

MBA finance concentrations explore the tools used to improve company bottom lines. Students learn to make financial decisions and keep organizations profitable. Classes explore ideas like international financial markets, advanced corporate finance, venture capitalism, and behavioral finance.

Human resource management concentrations prepare learners for roles like training manager, compensation and benefits manager, or human resource manager. Courses cover human resource staffing, talent management and development, and leading strategic change initiatives. Programs may also examine negotiation and conflict resolution strategies.

Enrollees in international business concentrations study global markets, international trends, and the rules governing multinational corporations. This specialization covers traditional business topics — like human resource management and finance — through an international lens. Common courses include international business environments, international business law, and global operations for supply chain strategies.

MBA in management programs can offer specializations such as operations management, healthcare administration, or business analytics. Students take classes like organizational management, managerial economics, and supply chain management. Graduates can qualify for roles such as director of operations, procurement manager, or executive director.

Marketing concentrations teach students to lead marketing departments and make high-level decisions about brand strategy. Courses cover marketing analysis and development, global brand strategies, and how to use data analytics in marketing. Learners in this concentration can pursue jobs like brand and product marketing manager, public relations director, marketing data analyst, or marketing director.

Logisticians and supply chain managers help ensure the efficient delivery of goods and services. An MBA in supply chain management may include classes such as global logistics management, quantitative analysis for supply chains, and artificial intelligence for supply chain management.

Because many sectors seek professionals with leadership and business skills, MBA graduates can find jobs across many industries. Common roles for MBA graduates include management, executive-level positions, and consulting.

Online MBA students should ensure all schools on their list hold institutional accreditation. Institutional accreditation is a process through which a third-party organization verifies whether a school meets high standards for faculty qualifications, academic rigor, and student learning outcomes.

Additionally, some business schools may hold programmatic accreditation — an optional process that evaluates how well a particular department or program’s coursework prepares learners for careers in the field.

MBA programmatic accreditors include AACSB International, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.