US military personnel and veterans often have more of a burden placed upon them when they want to find a good online MBA program. These deserving students often need an MBA program with no residencies or on campus requirements, and also a program with plenty of flexibility on time and finances for people with current military obligations.
Sponsored School(s)
But these days, for military members and veterans who want to earn their MBA online, there are many excellent options available. According to US News and World Report, below are the best five options to consider:
#1 Carnegie Mellon University
The online MBA program at Carnegie Mellon University is offered through the Tepper School of Business and is fully accredited by the AACSB. It prepares students both in and outside of the military to become the next generation of business leaders. The program has a data driven, agile and innovative curriculum that is focused upon experiential learning and real world problem solving.
This is a blended online and in person MBA program that is flexible and forgiving for professionals with current military obligations.
Tepper MBA graduates are taught vital analytical skills that are needed to grasp the many complexities of business and leadership that are needed today to improve the performance of organizations in all business sectors.
Available concentrations are:
- MBA Accounting
- MBA Finance
- MBA Business technologies
- MBA Marketing
- MBA Operations management
- MBA Operations research
- MBA Economics
- MBA Communications
- MBA Organizational behavior
- MBA Strategy
Required courses include:
- Management Presentations
- Probability and Statistics
- Corporate Strategy
- Managerial Economics
- Operations Management
- Statistical Decision Making
Below are critical statistics and ranking indicators for the Carnegie Mellon University online MBA program from the US News rankings:
- Student engagement rank (student satisfaction and professor responsiveness): #4
- Admissions selectivity rank: #3
- Admissions selectivity score: 98 out of 100 points
- Peer assessment score (how well rated the program is by other universities): 4.1 out of 5.0
- Total applicants most recent year: 153
- Accepted: 82
- Acceptance rate: 54%
- Average months of work experience: 74
Find more information from Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business.
#2 Indiana University
Indiana University and the Kelley School of Business offers an online MBA to active military and veterans that is in a flexible and rigorous format that allows you to earn your degree in two or three years. All aspects of this AACSB-accredited program has been designed with the busy professional in mind. The Kelley Direct MBA features a dedicated faculty, proven technology platform for distance learning, and many opportunities for global immersion.
Required courses include:
- Managing Accounting Information for Decision Making
- Information Technology
- Strategic Entrepreneurship
- Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Business Econometrics
- Economics for Managers
- Financial Analysis and Firm Valuation
Students in the online MBA program all work with a dedicated career coach that understands your needs as a student. They will assist you in implementing a career action plan, create your resume, ready for interviews and develop a comprehensive job search strategy.
Below are critical statistics and ranking indicators for the Indiana University online MBA program from the US News rankings:
- #2 ranked online MBA overall
- Student engagement rank: #15
- Admissions selectivity rank: #4
- Admissions selectivity score: 92 out of 100 points
- Peer assessment score: 4.2 out of 5.0
- Total applicants most recent year: 564
- Accepted: 424
- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Average months of work experience: 84
For more information about the Indiana University Kelley School of Business MBA visit them online.
#3 Arizona State University
Arizona State University and the W.P. Carey Business School offer a two year, AACSB-accredited MBA program. The online MBA is ideal for military members and veterans who need plenty of convenience and flexibility to earn their degree from anywhere, on their time.
Required courses for this online MBA program are:
- Operations and Supply Management
- Financial Performance Reporting
- Statistics for Managers
- Finance – The Art of Managing Resources
- Ethical Issues for Managers
- Managerial Accounting
- Decisions, Market Structure and Games
The Carey School also offers excellent career services resources, including one on one coaching sessions for each student both in person or online, depending upon your needs. There also are career workshops in your second year that allow you to dig deep into various professional develop topics.
All of the courses in this online program are recorded so you can take your classes whenever your schedule allows.
Below are critical statistics and ranking indicators for the Arizona State University online MBA program from the US News rankings:
- #5 ranked online MBA overall
- Faculty credentials and training: 85 out of 100
- Student engagement rank: #22
- Admissions selectivity rank: #5
- Admissions selectivity score: 84 out of 100 points
- Peer assessment score: 3.8 out of 5.0
- Total applicants most recent year: 435
- Accepted: 250
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Average months of work experience: 83
For more information about the Indiana University Kelley School of Business MBA visit them online.
#4 University of Maryland College Park
The online MBA from the University of Maryland College Park and the Robert H. Smith School of Business offers military members and veterans a highly engaging and high quality business management education. The program is accredited by the AACSB, and students learn about cutting-edge business topics with plenty of real world business applications.
Students are able to form strong bonds with the live sessions each week where the very small class sizes allow students to talk to each other and interact.
Students can earn their online MBA in as few as 24 months, and enjoy MBA concentrations in accounting, finance, information systems, business analytics, marketing, or supply chain management. The proximity of the university to Washington DC provides military members and veterans with the ability to find work and resources in the nation’s capital.
Required courses include:
- Corporate Finance
- Decision Modeling
- Data Analysis
- Financial Accounting
- Leadership and Teamwork
- Management Accounting
- Managerial Economics
- Marketing Management
- Supply Chain Management
Below are critical statistics and ranking indicators for the University of Maryland College Park online MBA program from the US News rankings:
- #9 ranked online MBA overall
- Faculty credentials and training: 86 out of 100
- Student engagement rank: #4
- Admissions selectivity rank: #32
- Admissions selectivity score: 69 out of 100 points
- Peer assessment score: 3.4 out of 5.0
- Total applicants most recent year: 410
- Accepted: 305
- Acceptance rate: 74%
- Average months of work experience: 102
For more information about the Indiana University Kelley School of Business MBA visit them online.
#5 Penn State World Campus
The Penn State Online MBA through the Smeal College of Business is designed to fit the needs of military veterans and members so you can fit your busy lifestyle into a two year program mostly online. It is an AACSB-accredited MBA with a focus on business strategies, collaborative teamwork, leadership and an interactive curriculum across all business areas.
The program features a five day residency in University Park PA at the beginning of the program. You will have an opportunity to meet your peers and professors, and to fully immerse yourself in a team performance session while receiving course credit.
A GRE and GMAT Online MBA waiver is available for professionals who have at least five years of relevant work experience. Also, if you have significant leadership experience in the armed forces, you may qualify for a waiver.
Concentrations offered are:
- MBA Accounting
- MBA Business analytics
- MBA HR
- MBA Marketing analytics
- MBA Project management
- MBA Supply chain management
- MBA Finance
- MBA Corporate innovation and entrepreneurship
Courses include:
- Financial Accounting
- Leadership Communications
- Marketing in a Global Environment
- Economics for Business Strategy
- Financial Management
- Global Strategic Management
- Managing and Leading People in Organizations
Below are critical statistics and ranking indicators for the Penn State World Campus online MBA program from the US News rankings:
- #10 ranked online MBA overall
- Faculty credentials and training: 99 out of 100
- Student engagement rank: #16
- Admissions selectivity rank: #35
- Admissions selectivity score: 68 out of 100 points
- Peer assessment score: 3.3 out of 5.0
- Total applicants most recent year: 150
- Accepted: 125
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Average months of work experience: 95
For more information about the Indiana University Kelley School of Business MBA visit them online.
References
- Editors’ Choice Online MBA Programs (2019). Retrieved from https://www.businessstudent.com/online-degrees/best-online-mba-programs/
- Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/mba/veteran-rankings
