Whether you are seeking a new career in business or are simply eager to climb the ladder in an already established career, earning an MBA may make good career and financial sense. According to a 2013 research survey by The Graduate Management Admission Council, the median base starting salary for an MBA graduate is $95, 000. Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) of 2016 MBA graduates had jobs immediately upon graduation, with hiring prospects expected to improve even more in coming years. Good news for those starting their online MBA programs in 2017.

Advantages of Online MBA Programs

If you choose to attend a traditional full-time MBA program, remember that the costs are greater than the sticker price of tuition. While you are working toward your degree, you lose at least two years of income, experience, visibility, and possible promotions in your industry ― not to mention the obvious compromises you might make in your personal and family life. Since it is such a costly commitment, more people are choosing to complete their MBAs online, and a number of accredited online MBA programs are now meeting a more diverse set of student needs.

The Variety of Online MBA Programs

The quality, status, and popularity of online MBAs continues to rise, with more highly-ranked business schools offering online business degrees every year. However, not all online business degrees are the same. Not only do online MBAs come in a variety of formats, but their quality and prestige vary widely as well. That is why it is important to make a thorough investigation of the different online MBA programs available before choosing one.

Online MBA Program Rankings

Our list of the best online MBAs for 2017 is the place to begin that investigation. While no ranking is able to substitute for personal judgment about what is best for an individual student, we offer a well researched and up-to-date listing of the best in online MBA offerings. We’ve analyzed and ranked programs according to their perceived prestige (awards, rankings, reputation), academic quality, and affordability. You can find out more about each program’s costs and specialized offerings by filling out the contact forms in the links below.

1. At Capella University, students can take part in an online MBA program that is specifically suited to professionals. Students may choose between pursuing a degree in any of 11 emphases in the traditional program, or enrolling in the FlexPath program, which is available with the following concentrations: general business administration, entrepreneurship, business intelligence or healthcare management. The FlexPath program allows students to work at their own pace, and they can complete their MBA in as little as 18 months. The Flexpath option requires students to complete specific assignments by the end of the academic quarter, while the traditional requires submission of work on a weekly basis. Both MBA programs require the completion of 39 credit hours, including 12 credit hours in one of the specific concentrations described above.
2. Xavier is committed to offering its award-winning educational offerings online with the same academic rigor, Jesuit values, and personal attention found on Xavier’s campus. The MBA program can be completed entirely online in the comfort and convenience of your home, and with six start dates each year, you can get started right away. So get started, get caught up, or get ahead. Your degree is just a click away.
3. Liberty offers a well-rounded, significantly more affordable online MBA program, which emphasizes ethical business practices and group work. Completing an online MBA program at Liberty typically takes 24 months, and the school offers two options: a general MBA program requiring 36 credit hours or a specialized program requiring 45 credit hours. Students can transfer in up to 12 credit hours in either the general MBA or the specialized programs. Specialization areas include, but are not limited to: accounting, criminal justice and healthcare management. The tuition for the general online MBA is around $17, 640, while tuition for specialized programs is around $22, 050.
4. CTU’s MBA degree program is designed to help you prepare for increased levels of responsibility in today’s global business environment. CTU’s ACBSP-accredited curriculum is structured to help you explore advanced managerial approaches across multiple disciplines essential to business. Aligned to the AACSB standards for Business Master’s Degree Programs, coursework is designed to help you navigate management theory, coaching and motivation, entrepreneurial strategy and planning, ethics and leadership, critical thinking, integrated marketing and research, value-proposition enhancement, financial reporting and more.
5. Walden University offers an online MBA program with 10 choices of specializations, as well as an option for creating a self-designed program. These concentrations include accounting, international business, and project management. Online students complete 36 semester credits to graduate, with 24 in the foundation and core courses, 9 in specialization courses, and 3 from Capstone courses. These courses are delivered in a sequence set by Walden so that everything learned can be built upon with each subsequent course, beginning with instruction in dynamic leadership and ending with a Capstone in sustainable business practices and strategies. Each course is eight weeks long, making the program about two to three years long, though an accelerated option is also available. Online students can take advantage of Walden’s CareerBoost to interact with the school’s career management office more closely, and take advantage of exclusive video guest lectures from professionals such as Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh and Xerox Corporation CEO Ursula Burns.

Source: www.thebestcolleges.org