Kelley and Kenan-Flagler came in joint first for a second consecutive year. However, the University of Southern California’s (USC) Marshall School of Business, which also shared the top spot in 2022, came third in 2023.
The University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business came in fourth, while Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business and the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business shared fifth place.
The US News ranks the best business schools in the US annually based on metrics including graduate salaries and bonuses, employment rates, GMAT scores, and MBA acceptance rates.
So far, the US News Best Online MBA Programs Ranking is first major Online MBA ranking of 2023.
Best Online MBA programs in the US
In the wake of the Covid pandemic, there’s been a rise in the number of online programs provided by business schools.
The Graduation Management Admission Council (GMAC) Corporate Recruiters survey found that total enrollment in online MBA programs in the US exceeded that of full-time MBA enrollment for the first time in the 2020-2021 academic year.
While imposed lockdowns and quarantines are a thing of the past for much of the US, online programs remain prevalent in 2023, with elite US business schools starting to add online options.
Kelley School of Business and UNC Kenan-Flagler’s joint first place ranking can be explained by various indicators, including a student excellent score of 100 at Indiana Kelley and a student engagement score of 100 at Kenan-Flagler.
Kenan-Flagler also comes out on top in specific Online MBA rankings, scoring first place in the best Online Finance MBA, best Online General Management MBA, and the best Online MBA in Marketing.
US Best Online MBA Ranking | winners and losers
The biggest winners in 2023 are Kenan-Flagler and Indiana Kelley, who retained their 2022 title of the best US Online MBAs. Meanwhile, USC Marshall slipped to third place, having shared the top place in 2022.
In 2023, Warrington moved up by one to fourth place, while Carnegie Mellon fell by one to fifth place.
The University of Texas at Dallas dropped out of the top 10, falling by eight places into 17th place. Dallas was replaced by the University of Kansas School of Business, which rose from its spot at 16 to seventh place in 2023.
Is an Online MBA worth it?
Online MBA programs are usually significantly cheaper than traditional MBAs. For example, Kenan-Flagler costs $125,589 and USC Marshall costs $112,072, while the average cost of a full-time MBA in the US is $225,605.
Students can also benefit from the flexibility to continue working while studying for an Online MBA from the comfort of their own home.
With the rise in Online MBA programs, recruiters are becoming more and more accepting of hiring those with an online qualification. The GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey found that 60% of global corporate recruiters agree that they view online and in-person MBA grads the same.
The rise in the number of AACSB-accredited business schools offering fully online MBA programs over the years also shows that many online MBA programs provide high-quality education.
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