Do
you want to pursue an MBA but can't find the time? Maybe you don’t feel
like being out of a job for two years is worth the investment? Maybe
all the online MBA programs you know seem too generic? Do you want
a quality MBA without sacrificing your job, your family, or your
earnings? This is a quick summary of the top ten online MBA programs
based on rankings/reputation, structure, networking opportunities,
gained skills, and tuition investment. The rankings and tuition fees
published here are believed to be true for the academic year 2008-2009.
1) IE Business School
Location: Madrid, Spain
Program: Global MBA
Rankings: #4 by Forbes, #8 by Financial Times, #9 by The Economist (#2 for Distance Learning).
Description:
IE offers a 16-month Global MBA program for English and Spanish
speakers. The program allows students to connect to the virtual
classroom from anywhere in the world. In addition to virtual lectures
and video-conferences, students are required to participate in two short
residence sessions in Madrid. Each session lasts five days and take
place during different years.
Networking opportunities:
Students from 48 countries with background and expertise in a diverse
variety of fields including financial markets, banking, marketing, and
technology.
Gained skills: Strategy, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Information Systems, Intercultural Skills.
Tuition: € 36,100 (approx. $56,000 USD)
Location: Arizona, USA
Program: Global MBA
Rankings:
#1 in International Programs by U.S. News & World Report, # 1
in International Business by Financial Times, # 1 in International
Business by The Wall Street Journal.
Description:
Thunderbird offers a 19-month global MBA program where students
participate through virtual classrooms and on-site seminars in the USA,
China and Switzerland.
Networking opportunities:
Students have lived and worked in over 16 different countries with
backgrounds in a wide variety of companies ranging from Coca Cola to
Boeing to the US Department of Defense.
Gained skills:
Cross-Cultural Communications, Global Political Economy, Global
Finance, Global Operations, Global Marketing, Global Negotiations,
Global Leadership, Global Strategy.
Tuition: $61,650 USD (includes on-site costs for international study trips except airfare)
Location: Manchester, UK
Program: Distance Learning MBA
Rankings: # 15 by MBA Career Guide Survey, #22 by Financial Times.
Description:
This flexible two-year program combines self-study with face-to-face
workshops in one of six destinations worldwide – UK, Brazil, Singapore,
Hong Kong, Dubai, Malaysia and Jamaica.
Networking opportunities:
Students are located in over 90 countries worldwide and possess years
of work experience in industries such as construction, engineering, and
finance.
Gained skills: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Managerial Economics, Quantitative Methods, Corporate Strategy.
Tuition: £19,200 (approximately $37,914 USD)
Location: North Carolina, USA
Program: Cross-Continental MBA
Rankings: # 9 by BusinessWeek, #14 by U.S. News & World Report, # 28 by Financial Times.
Description:
The program lasts 20 months blending Internet-enabled distance
learning with 9 one-week residential sessions that take place in North
Carolina, Europe and Asia.
Networking opportunities:
Students from 23 countries average three to nine years of experience
and are currently employed full-time in a variety of industries.
Gained skills:
Finance, Accounting, Decision Models, Cross-Cultural Communications,
Marketing, Strategy, Global Financial Management, Global Economics.
Tuition: $101,900 USD
Location: Coventry, UK
Program: Warwick MBA Distance Learning
Rankings: #3 (Distance Learning) by The Economist, #29 by Financial Times.
Description:
The Warwick MBA consists of 3 parts that can be completed in 3 years
(one part/year) or extended up to eight years. The program uses a
variety of delivery methods including print materials, online
resources, virtual study groups and a compulsory September Seminar at
Warwick each year.
Networking opportunities:
Participants include students from more than 90 countries with an
average of 10 years of experience. Many students are in
middle-management and upper-management positions.
Gained skills:
Strategic Advantage, Finance, Accounting, Modeling and Analysis,
Economics, Market Analysis, Operations Management, Organizational
Behavior.
Tuition: Approximately £15,500 for three years. (approximately $30,259 USD)
Location: Gainesville, Florida - USA
Program: Internet MBA
Rankings: #1 (Distance Learning) by The Economist, #6 by The Wall Street Journal, #34 by U.S. News & World Report.
Description:
The Internet MBA program at the University of Florida provides
students with two options: The Two-Year MBA and the One-Year MBA
option. The Two-Year MBA program starts in February, offers a
27-month curriculum and requires 8 weekend campus visits at the end of
each term. The One-Year MBA option is provided for students with a
business degree and two to seven years of work experience. It starts in
January, offers a 16-month curriculum and requires 5 weekend campus
visits at the end of each term.
Networking opportunities:
Students in these program average 6 years of work experience in a
variety of industries such as telecommunications, banking, and
international trade.
Gained skills:
Personal Finance, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Marketing Management,
Professional Writing, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship,
E-Commerce, Brand Equity, Business Policy, Business Law.
Tuition: $36,000 USD for the One-Year MBA option; $41,000 USD for the two-year MBA option.
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana - USA
Program: Master of Business Administration (Kelley Direct)
Rankings: #18 by BusinessWeek, #23 by U.S. News & World Report, #61 by Financial Times.
Description:
This flexible program can be completed in two to five years. It
focuses on general administration, but can be tailored to meet the
needs of individual students. The program is offered almost
exclusively over the Web with two in-residence clinics that last one
week in Indiana.
Networking opportunities:
Students in the program come from almost every state in the USA as
well as over 20 countries from around the world. Almost all students
have several years of corporate or military experience.
Gained skills:
Accounting, Finance, Economics, Quantitative Analysis, Project
Management, Strategic Marketing, Human Resources, Global Business,
Business Law, Strategic Capabilities.
Tuition: $48,195 USD
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania - USA
Program: Penn State's Online MBA
Rankings: #40 by U.S. News & World Report, #58 by Financial Times, US Second Tier Program by BusinessWeek.
Description:
This 2-year program combines online courses with 2 residency
experiences – the first one at a US company (anywhere in the USA) and
the second one at Penn State’s University Park campus.
Networking opportunities: Penn State iMBA students represent employers from 37 states and 5 countries.
Gained skills:
Finance, Accounting, Organizational Behavior and Change, Data Analysis,
Decision Making, Marketing, Corporate Strategies, Global Operations,
Global Management.
Tuition: $49,000 USD
Location: Boston, Massachusetts - USA
Program: Fast Track MBA
Rankings:
#1 in Entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report, # 1 in
Entrepreneurship by Financial Times, #48 Overall MBA by U.S. News &
World Report, # 84 Overall MBA by Financial Times.
Description:
This 24-month program combines face-to-face learning, web-based
learning, and field-based projects. Face-to-face instruction is based
on two-day sessions that are held at Babson or in Portland, Oregon
approximately every six weeks - all day on Fridays and Saturdays.
Networking opportunities:
Students in this program average 10 years of work experience and come
from almost every state in the US and approximately 10 countries.
Gained skills: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Creativity, Human Behavior, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Ethics and Law.
Tuition: $50,766 USD
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts - USA
Program: Online MBA
Rankings: #2 Best Overall Academic Experience by Princeton Review, #4 Best Professors.
Description:
The entire 37-credit degree program can be completed online. No
campus residencies are required. The program can be completed in 2
years.
Networking opportunities: Students in the program are from the 50 US States and 15 countries and have experience in a variety of industries.
Gained skills: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Business Data Analysis, Independent Research.
Tuition: $24,790 USD.
