U.S. News & World Report has released its 2024 Best Online Programs rankings, including online MBA programs.
Emerging from a tie for first place last year, Indiana University’s Kelley Direct Online MBA program now stands alone as the #1 online MBA in this year’s ranking. Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper Online Hybrid MBA program jumped from fifth to second. There is a three-way tie for third among UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA@UNC Online MBA program, USC Marshall Online MBA program and the University of Washington Foster Hybrid MBA program.
“We see a lot of the usual suspects dominating the online MBA program ranking,” says Clear Admit Co-founder, Graham Richmond. “It’s also noteworthy that the top five programs on this list are offered by highly prestigious institutions with top-25 full-time MBAs in their portfolio: Indiana / Kelley, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, UNC / Kenan Flagler, USC / Marshall, and the University of Washington / Foster. In fact, it’s almost uncanny how all the leading traditional MBA programs that also offer an online option really rise to the top of this list.”
The top 28 schools in this year’s edition (with last year’s rankings included for reference) are as follows:
| School | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana University–Bloomington | 1 | 1 (tie) |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 2 | 5 (tie) |
| University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill | 3 (tie) | 1 (tie) |
| University of Southern California | 3 (tie) | 3 |
| University of Washington | 3 (tie) | 5 (tie) |
| University of Florida | 6 | 4 |
| Arizona State University | 7 (tie) | 7 (tie) |
| University of Arizona | 7 (tie) | 9 (tie) |
| University of Kansas | 9 (tie) | 7 (tie) |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 9 (tie) | 9 (tie) |
| University of Maryland–College Park | 11 | 12 (tie) |
| University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium | 12 (tie) | 9 (tie) |
| University of Massachusetts–Amherst | 12 (tie) | 12 (tie) |
| University of Utah | 12 (tie) | 12 (tie) |
| University of Texas–Dallas | 12 (tie) | 17 |
| University of Michigan–Ann Arbor | 16 (tie) | 18 |
| Oklahoma State University | 16 (tie) | 27 |
| Rice University | 18 (tie) | 12 (tie) |
| James Madison University | 18 (tie) | 19 (tie) |
| Kansas State University | 18 (tie) | 12 (tie) |
| Florida State University | 18 (tie) | 44 |
| Pennsylvania State University–World Campus | 22 (tie) | 19 (tie) |
| Texas Tech University | 22 (tie) | 33 (tie) |
| Ball State University | 22 (tie) | 19 (tie) |
| Auburn University | 22 (tie) | 19 (tie) |
| Washington State University | 22 (tie) | 27 (tie) |
| University of Pittsburgh | 22 (tie) | 27 (tie) |
| University of South Florida | 22 (tie) | 19 (tie) |
As with last year, U.S. News ranked online MBA programs using five categories:
- Engagement (30%): Promotion of participation in courses among students and instructors. Instructors lead an engaging atmosphere, are accessible and responsive.
- Peer Assessment (25%): High-ranking academic officials and employers weigh in through surveys to account for quality beyond statistics.
- Faculty Credentials and Training (15%): Instructors possess academic credentials that mirror those for campus-based programs.
- Student Excellence (15%): The students themselves are accomplished and ambitious. Judicious rewarding of degrees.
- Services and Technologies (15%): Diverse online learning technologies support flexibility for students to take classes from a distance. Learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources are offered outside of classes.
See here for more on the methodology behind the ranking.
Visit U.S. News for the full list of their ranking of online MBA programs.
