Online MBA programs are growing more popular, and their growth comes as no surprise. Online MBAs offer higher flexibility than in-person programs, the chance to hang on to your day job while studying, and often a way to skirt around the high MBA fees. But with so many programs now available to select from, how do you know which to choose, and which are the best online MBA degrees?
We’re here to help. In this article we’ll guide you through the best online MBA programs of 2024. We’ll take a look at learning structures and how they vary from school to school, at the level of flexibility each program can offer, and at
The Best Online MBA Programs
According to Financial Times, the best online MBA degrees for 2024 are:
1. IE Business School, Spain
2. Imperial College London, UK
3. Warwick Business School, UK
4. University of Southern California: Marshall, US
5. Carnegie Mellon: Tepper, US
A Closer Look at the Best Online MBAs
IE Business School
- Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2023: 1
- Duration: 18 or 24 months
- Years of work experience: IE requires 3 years, but the class average is 8
- Tuition: March: 60,000€, September: 62,000€
- Average GMAT: 680
- Nationalities represented: 37
- Gender split: 45% women
Diversity is front and center at IE Business School’s online MBA program. Ninety percent of students are international, representing 37 countries in total, and the school operates around core values of “innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and the humanities.”
The IE online MBA degree “mirrors a real-life classroom,” with collaboration prioritized as much as possible and learning made to be interactive and engaging at all stages. The program blends offline and online learning to create the optimum learning environment. The online element consists of live online sessions that take place on Saturdays (lasting 3.5 hours each time), as well as asynchronous learning between Monday and Thursday, where students login to forums and respond to professors’ questions about the case in discussion that week.
As for the offline component, this is made up of three, one-week-long residential sessions. These occur once per term, take place in Madrid and offer students the chance to connect in-person with peers and professors. Workshops, team-building exercises, live lectures and networking events are all built-in at these meet-ups, facilitating global networking and connection-building.
For students who may struggle with termly Madrid-based meet-ups, a fully online track is available. And that’s not the only opportunity to personalize the program—flexibility is woven into both program structure and curriculum. IE allows students to pick the duration of their course, facilitating easy integration into the lives of working professionals; while the curriculum focuses on a personalized, individualized approach, cultivating personal challenge and driven by a goal of creating the “next best you.”
Imperial College London
- Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2023: 3
- Duration: 21, 24 or 32 months
- Years of work experience: The minimum is 3, while the class average is 12
- Tuition: £50,500
- GMAT: Above 600 is recommended
- Nationalities represented: 50
- Gender split: 35% women (2022-24 cohort)
The Imperial College Global Online MBA is rigorous and thorough. It boasts a world class faculty, ties to in-depth knowledge of the industry, and a culture that tests existing student perspectives and challenges them to think big.
With this level of academic excellence comes a high workload, estimated by Imperial to be at around 20-25 hours a week. This may sound daunting when considered alongside the strain of a full-time job, but the school promises to offer excellent support through on-hand support from a dedicated program team.
Imperial’s MBA curriculum is delivered via “The Hub,” its custom-made online learning environment. All MBA modules are designed specifically for this platform, facilitating a seamless learning experience. Teaching comprises a mix of live and recorded lectures, projects and group assignments, reading and case studies.
Once again, flexibility plays a central role in making this one of the best online MBA degrees out there. Varied durations allow choice over learning pace, while electives and concentrations give the opportunity to personalize curriculums and dive into student interests.
Warwick Business School
- Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2023: 2
- Duration: 2 years
- Years of work experience: The minimum is 3, while the class average is 12
- Tuition: £39,450 (Jan 2025) and £41,500 (June 2025)
- GMAT: 670
- Nationalities represented: 65
- Gender split: 31% women
Warwick’s online MBA cultivates a culture that is firmly rooted in the belief that business is a power for good. The school gains its place amongst the best online MBA degrees by developing inquisitive and entrepreneurial minds in its students. It aims to challenge assumptions at every step of the way, blending theory and practical application as it does so.
Flexibility is at the heart of this MBA. Students can slow their studies if personal commitments or work needs to take center stage, and even pause their studies for up to two years. Depending on each student’s situation, up to five years may be given to complete the MBA program.
Learning is based around real-time lectures and peer-to-peer discussions. Students are able to develop international perspectives through global study groups, and benefit from direct interaction with their lecturers and program team. All learning is one through a centralized and bespoke platform, and modules are designed by Warwick’s experienced faculty.
Students participating in the program need not worry about missing out on in-person connections. The online MBA program includes a mandatory in-person elective, where students have the opportunity to meet lecturers and peers, and to join on-campus lectures and discussions.
University of Southern California: Marshall
- Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2023: Not ranked
- Duration: 2 years (21 months)
- Years of work experience: Students hold an average of 10
- Tuition: (split across five semesters): $125,771
- GMAT: NOT required for admission
Situated in the heart of LA, Marshall boasts an impressive connection to the industries that drive the city. Alumni, faculty and students lead, influence and participate in crucial industries of LA that range from marketing to entertainment, real-estate to accounting.
Teaching at Marshall is delivered via a mix of real-time sessions and self-paced coursework. Two live online classes take place weekly and are structured around student working days. All other learning is asynchronous, with the exception of a one-week long on-campus kick-off at the start of the program.
The program is flexible, allowing students to press pause for a semester if other responsibilities need to take priority. In this way, Marshall allows students to fit learning around their schedules without compromising on quality, maintaining academic rigor while making space for real-life responsibilities.
Marshall’s standout feature is its alumni network: The Marshall Trojan Network. Over 90,000 alumni participate in a “proactive pay-it-forward culture,” which boosts the career outcomes of all its members. There is, the school says, “simply no other alumni network quite like it.”
Carnegie Mellon: Tepper
- Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2023: 4
- Duration: 2 years
- Years of work experience: The class average is 6.7
- Tuition: $18,200 per semester flat rate
- GMAT: 679
- Nationalities represented: 8
- Gender split: 31% women
The quality of education at Tepper, which awards the school its rank amongst the best online MBA degrees of 2024, is rooted in its excellent faculty. Taught by the same faculty as the full-time MBA program, students can look forward to challenging, rigorous and enjoyable coursework.
Tepper’s online MBA program is STEM-designated and “laser-focused on the future of business.” The curriculum leans into analytics, data and emerging technologies, teaching students to harness all three and ensuring that learning is linked to cutting-edge industry developments.
Along the way, students receive guidance from a leadership coach. Coaches help them develop customized plans, articulate personal development goals and map out a path to reach their full potential. The program supports students to become the best leaders possible, promising to unlock excellent management and leadership capabilities.
Live classes at Tepper take place twice a week, in which small groups meet for 75 minutes. The program supplements live classes with self-paced online learning, including reading, recorded lectures or individual assignments.
As with some of the other top five best online MBA programs, Tepper bolsters connection and networking opportunities with in-person sessions. At Tepper, these take the form of Access Weekends, in which students are able to build relationships, take part in professional development, participate in team projects and join in-person classes. Access weekends take place both in-person and online.
Which Online MBA Program Is Best for You?
The five best online MBA programs listed above have been ranked by the Financial Times and selected from the 25 business schools that took part. The FT is comprehensive, considering value for money, school diversity, research rank and even carbon footprint when ranking the best online MBA degrees.
That said, there may be elements of an online MBA that suit you specifically, which are not considered by the FT. You may, for example, favor in-person opportunities over total flexibility, or may be dead-set on a particular concentration offered only by a handful of business schools. Alongside the crucial features of accreditation, employment rates and faculty experience, it’s therefore important to remember what matters to you when choosing your online MBA.
