How difficult is an online MBA program?

MBA programs are notoriously rigorous, and online programs are no different. Expect a challenging curriculum, demanding assignments, and a rich learning experience that will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the business world.

What are the disadvantages of an online MBA?

Some students struggle with the independent time management and study required to succeed in an online MBA program. Additionally, it may be more challenging to create meaningful relationships with faculty and other students remotely — but well-designed programs will have many ways to help you connect and build strong networks.

What is the hardest online MBA program to get into?

Ivy League institutions like Harvard and Yale, as well as other competitive universities like Stanford, have some of the lowest admission rates for their business programs.

Best Online MBA Programs of 2025

These top online MBA programs can help you save money, work while you study, and start a lucrative business career.

Edited by

Reviewed by

Updated March 13, 2025

Why Trust BestColleges

3,700+ Nonprofit, accredited colleges analyzed
6,000+ Users connected with programs every month
300+ College and university partners
40+ Expert reviewers

Learn more about our

If you’re a gambler, getting an MBA is consistently a safe bet if you want to make more money. In 2022, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that an MBA boosts salaries by 50% pretty much out the gate.

And employers love a shiny new MBA: According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, nearly 90% of business school students were employed upon graduation in 2023.

Getting your MBA doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal that upsets your whole life, either. We’ve rounded up some of the top fully online programs out there, which provide the training you need on a schedule that works for you.

Online MBA Programs for You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

In this Article

The Top 10 Online MBA Programs

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$6,885

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$19,882

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

63%

Acceptance Rate

39%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,443

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,637

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

76,633

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,885

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,882

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,885

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,882

Acceptance Rate

63%

Online Enrollment

39%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,443

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,637

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

76,633

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA4 yearCampus + Online

$10,905

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$29,352

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

33%

Acceptance Rate

14%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,252

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$42,053

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

9,762

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,905

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,352

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,905

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,352

Acceptance Rate

33%

Online Enrollment

14%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,252

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$42,053

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

9,762

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Clemson University

Clemson, SC4 yearCampus + Online

$11,220

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$23,372

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

38%

Acceptance Rate

40%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,118

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,982

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

28,747

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,220

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,372

Clemson University

Clemson, SC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,220

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,372

Acceptance Rate

38%

Online Enrollment

40%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,118

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,982

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

28,747

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Villanova University

Villanova, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$21,261

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$21,261

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

25%

Acceptance Rate

26%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$63,806

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$63,806

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

10,111

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$21,261

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,261

Villanova University

Villanova, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$21,261

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,261

Acceptance Rate

25%

Online Enrollment

26%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$63,806

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$63,806

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

10,111

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$4,979

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,155

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

74%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,443

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,111

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

17,987

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,979

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,155

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,979

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,155

Acceptance Rate

74%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,443

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,111

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

17,987

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$9,119

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$21,600

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

59%

Acceptance Rate

66%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,119

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,600

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,119

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,600

Acceptance Rate

59%

Online Enrollment

66%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD4 yearCampus + Online

$16,560

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$36,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

45%

Acceptance Rate

30%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,889

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$38,690

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

40,813

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,560

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,100

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,560

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,100

Acceptance Rate

45%

Online Enrollment

30%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,889

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$38,690

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

40,813

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Auburn University

Auburn, AL4 yearCampus + Online

$10,692

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$32,076

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

50%

Acceptance Rate

45%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,704

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,112

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

33,015

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,692

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,076

Auburn University

Auburn, AL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,692

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,076

Acceptance Rate

50%

Online Enrollment

45%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,704

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,112

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

33,015

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA4 yearCampus + Online

$25,873

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$25,873

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

44%

Acceptance Rate

11%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$58,587

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$58,587

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

9,326

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$25,873

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,873

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$25,873

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,873

Acceptance Rate

44%

Online Enrollment

11%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$58,587

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$58,587

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

9,326

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK4 yearCampus + Online

$8,903

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$25,163

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

77%

Acceptance Rate

51%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,070

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,140

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

29,166

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,903

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,163

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,903

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,163

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

51%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,070

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,140

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

29,166

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Why Should You Get Your MBA Online?

There are plenty of reasons to consider getting your degree online — flexibility chief among them. If you’re not sure whether an online or in-person MBA is the best choice for you, this guide might help:

If…	Then…
Accessibility is a concern	An online MBA can be completed from the comfort of your couch — no need to relocate.
Finances are a challenge	Many online MBA programs will save you money on tuition, commuting costs, and living expenses.
You need scheduling flexibility	Online MBA programs offer both synchronous and asynchronous course options to accommodate your life.
You’re looking to create a professional network	Both online and in-person MBA programs connect you to alumni, classmates, and future colleagues.
You want to customize your degree	Both traditional and online MBA programs offer professional specializations to support your goals.

What You Can Expect From Online MBA Programs

Generally, the curriculum for online MBA programs is identical to what you’d expect from a traditional program. Some online programs offer accelerated tracks, which cover the same ground in less time. But at the normal pace, you can expect an MBA to take 2-3 years to earn.

There are a few things you should look for in a top-notch online MBA program:

Accreditation from a recognized accrediting body.
An excellent virtual learning environment that is user-friendly, encourages participation, and enhances your experience.
Engaging course content that leverages multimedia resources like video lectures, readings, simulations, and interactive discussion opportunities.
Access to faculty through email and online office hours, as well as support resources like tutoring, advising, counseling, tech help, and career guidance.
Asynchronous learning options that allow you to learn on your own terms and at your own pace.
Strong student outcomes like high graduation and employment rates.
Specializations or concentrations that will help you develop the specific professional skills you need to advance your career.

Common Online MBA Concentrations

Here’s a quick look at popular MBA specializations, the roles they lead to, and average annual salaries based on Payscale data.

Finance

Prepare for roles in investment banking, corporate finance, or finance consulting.

Investment Banker Average Salary (2024): $117,690

Marketing

Prepare for roles in advertising, digital marketing, and brand management.

Senior Brand Manager Average Salary (2024): $109,984

Management Consulting

Prepare for roles in organizational management, consulting, or executive leadership.

Management Consultant Average Salary (2024): $95,544

Entrepreneurship

Prepare to manage your own business, launch a start-up, or drive new initiatives for an existing company.

Chief Executive Officer Average Salary (2024): $164,880

Healthcare Administration

Prepare for in-demand roles in hospital administration or healthcare consulting.

Hospital Administrator Average Salary (2024): $93,707

How to Pay for Your Online MBA?

The cost of earning an MBA is among students’ top admission considerations. Many factors, such as reputation and location, affect the price of tuition for MBA candidates. The National Center for Education Statistics calculated that the average graduate tuition was $12,600 at public institutions and $28,020 at private institutions during the 2021-2022 academic year. Explore these resources to learn more about paying for your online MBA.

How Much Does an MBA Cost? Full Statistics

How Can I Pay for My MBA?

Financial Aid Guide for Graduate Students

Common Questions About the Best Online MBAs

Yes. A degree from an accredited online MBA program holds just as much weight as an on-campus degree. No employer is going to ask you during a job interview whether you attended online or in person.