Find the Best Online MBA & Master's in Business Programs

Online MBA degrees are respected when earned from an accredited program with a good reputation. Accreditation validates a program’s quality to hiring managers and other institutions. Although the number of online MBA programs has grown rapidly in the last few years, a 2021 survey of corporate recruiters by the Graduate Management Admission Council found that just one-third agreed with the statement: “My organization values graduates of online and in-person programs equally.”

Despite some recruiters' lack of support for this learning format, many schools award the same MBA degree to students in online and in-person programs without mentioning “online” in the degree title.

Employers want to know that you earned your online MBA from an accredited program. Yet, how a job candidate leverages their experience can be more important than how or where they earned their degree. In addition, hiring managers may be more interested in why you earned your MBA and how the degree fits with your career goals than whether you earned it online or in person.

Enrolling in an online MBA program is not an inherently easier option than traditional in-person programs. Any format of a graduate-level business program is rigorous for students to complete. While the flexibility of online school helps students who are balancing work and family stay on track, many online programs have the same study materials and time commitments as on-campus programs. In fact, online courses may require more self-discipline to complete assignments. According to U.S. News survey data, 67% of online MBA students who entered in the 2018-2019 academic year graduated by June 2022.

Earning your MBA can be worth the time and effort to attain a higher salary and earnings over time. Prospective students should weigh the cost of graduate student loans against the likely long-term payoff from an MBA degree. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, the median MBA salary in 2021 was $115,000, and the median bachelor’s degree salary was $65,000. Over 35 years, MBA graduates have the potential to earn $3 million more than their peers with bachelor’s degrees. In addition to earning higher salaries, MBA graduates hone their communication skills, become members of alumni networks, and may enjoy both more employment opportunities and improved job security.