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50 Best Online Master of Science in Nursing Degree Programs

best online masters in nursing programs

The Registered Nurse (RN) is a noble, necessay professional. Much more than the person administering shots or putting band-aids on skinned knees, nurses are part of a fast growing field with high-earning potential, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The profession promises to grow at a much faster rate than the national average over the next decade, and the median wage is around the $70,000 mark. A pretty nice set-up already, the move to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is often prompted by a desire to move into administration, education, or a specialized field. For RN’s who want to be a family nurse practitioner (FNP), midwife, mental health/psychiatric nurse, etc., an MSN degree is a must. And it bears mentioning that although it is not always necessary to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing (many RN to MSN programs can attest to that), it is pretty much commonplace for any online MSN program to require applicants to be currently licensed nurses.

We get it–you’re a working nurse, with very little time to spare looking for your perfect online MSN program. Don’t worry, we here at Master’s Programs Guide have got you covered! Since the online Master of Science in Nursing is one of the most popular online master’s degrees, there are a veritable plethora of MSN programs offered online. We waded through many programs to find the ones that really stand out, looking in particular at schools that are accredited. There are currently two main accrediting agencies for nursing programs, the CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Educations) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which was originally called the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The “NLN” of the NLNAC is beginning accreditation services again as the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), so programs may soon be displaying their CNEA accreditation. We also looked for schools that have National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence (COE) in Nursing Education designation (less than 100 institutions of higher education in the United States currently hold the designation of NLN COE greatness). All of the information we gathered to rank the schools is publicly available, and in addition to using our Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology Criteria, we also assigned points based on these features significant to an exceptional online master of nursing program:

  • Program accreditation
  • NLN Center of Excellence designation
  • Coursework that prepares students to take certification exams such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), and the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) exams
  • Any unique and extraordinary features that helped the program stand apart

See Also: Best Online Master’s Programs for Physician’s Assistants

#1. Johns Hopkins University

Online Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems Management Track; Online Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems Management/Master of Business Administration Dual Degree Program

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Program Details: The Johns Hopkins CCNE-accredited School of Nursing (which is also a designated NLN Center of Excellence) provides an entirely online MSN in Health Systems Management degree program that is grounded “in evidence-based practice” and can be customized based on the student’s coursework choices and practicum experience. The 35-credit Johns Hopkins MSN in Health Systems Management degree requires 376 clinical hours and a twelve-hour core of classes like “Context of Healthcare for Advanced Practice Nursing” and “Biostatistics for Evidence-Based Practice.” For students who desire more business coursework with their MSN curriculum, there is a dual degree option provided through the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Carey Business School online MSN/MBA. This 65-credit hour program requires the same 376 clinical hours and MSN core and additional classes such as “Economics for Decision Making” and “Business Communication.” In addition to the rigorous and practical coursework provided by the “internationally recognized” Johns Hopkins faculty, students benefit from the new School of Nursing Academic Success Center (ASC). The ASC makes available all manner of academic support and resources at no cost.

Admissions website

Named for abolitionist Johns Hopkins, who left money in his will for the establishment of an institution of higher education, Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1873 in Baltimore, Maryland. Hopkins also bequeathed money for a health center, which is the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Johns Hopkins University opened to students in 1876, and the current enrollment now exceeds 24,000 students. Ten academic divisions comprise this coeducational private research university, and Johns Hopkins is one of the original founding members of the prestigious American Association of Universities. Regional accreditation is granted by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#2. Ohio State University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Located in The Ohio State University College of Nursing and provided through Ohio State Online, the online MSN degree program trains students to excel in a multitude of clinical settings through rigorous “coursework, clinical experience and evidence based practice.” Offering four CCNE-accredited tracks online, the MSN degree requires a core curriculum, a specialty core curriculum unique to each track, and clinical hours (distance students must find their own clinical site in their area). The Ohio State online MSN specializations include tracks in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PHMNP), and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). The core curriculum shared by all tracks include classes like “Quality Improvement and Informatics” and “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Life Span,” and the specialty coursework prepares each student to sit for their respective specialty certification exams. Ohio State Online’s “focus on faculty” translates into a winning situation for online students due to the level of expertise demonstrated by the Ohio State online MSN faculty, and all on-campus resources are available to online students as well through Ohio State Online Student Services and Benefits.

Admissions website

The Ohio State University (Ohio State), located in Columbus, Ohio, is a land-, sea-, and space-grant university that was established in 1870 and had its first graduating class in 1878. Additional regional campus locations are spread around the state, and eighteen academic schools and colleges make up this institution of higher education (known for having the third largest campus in the nation). The flagship university of Ohio, this public research institution serves nearly 60,000 students at the main campus in Columbus and over 66,000 students statewide. The Higher Learning Commission has regionally accredited Ohio State continuously since 1913.

#3. Saint Xavier University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of Saint Xavier University

Program Details: Saint Xavier University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program provides students with three CCNE-accredited tracks through the SXU School of Nursing and Health Sciences, which is one of only a small collection of schools in the nation to be designated as an NLN Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. Students can pursue the SXU online MSN in Clinical Leadership, Executive Leadership (Nursing Administration), or Saint Xavier’s online MSN Nurse Educator track. The Executive Leadership track requires 35-credit hours, and the other two tracks both require 38-credits—all three require some previous professional nursing experience. There is a practicum requirement for all three as well, and plenty of support is offered to help students successfully complete their hours. All coursework is taught by the SXU Online Master of Science Faculty, who are experts in the field with real-world, practical experience in both nursing and teaching, and successfully prepares students to take certification exams in their chosen area. The ample student resources include a dedicated Student Services Coordinator, and student testimonials attest to the program’s quality and accessibility.

Admissions website

Chicago’s first Catholic university, Saint Xavier University, was chartered in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy to originally educate women and the economically disadvantaged. Now, approximately 4,000 students are enrolled in the Chicago, Illinois campus, and nearly 100 academic degree programs are offered through the two schools and one college: College of Arts and Sciences, Graham School of Management, and School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Becoming coeducational in 1969, this private institution of higher education sits on over 100 acres in the southwest side of Chicago, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#4. University of Kansas

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of University of Kansas

Program Details: The KU School of Nursing, located at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), is one of the elite NLN COE in Nursing Education designated schools of nursing. The School offers an entirely online Master of Science degree program, and three of the focus area options can be completed online:  KU MS in Nursing Informatics, KU MS in Organizational Leadership, or KU MS in Public Health Nursing. The 37-39 credit hour (depending on which concentration is chosen), CCNE-accredited MS in Nursing degree program can be completed within two years on a full-time basis, or in three to four years if pursued part-time. Students engage in a curriculum including a common nursing core, a leadership core, a two-credit hour research project, and their chosen specialty core. The KU Center for Online and Distance Learning supports the impressive KU School of Nursing faculty as they “envision and implement online courses” for the benefit of online students. An online tutorial, the KUMC Student’s Guide to Online Learning, helps prospective students orient themselves to online learning and the KUMC.

Admissions website

In 1864, the University of Kansas (KU) was established in Lawrence, Kansas. Initially a coeducational preparatory school, the first college classes were held in 1869. The main campus in Lawrence is joined by branch campuses around the state. The School of Nursing is located in the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), which is in Kansas City and also houses the School of Health Professions and School of Medicine. KU is a public research university, and over 345 academic degree programs are offered through thirteen schools. Over 30,000 students are enrolled in this institution of higher education regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#5. University of Cincinnati

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of the University of Cincinnati Creative Services

Program Details: University of Cincinnati Online (UC Online) provides an entirely online MSN degree program with four Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialties from which students can choose to customize their academic and career path. The specialties (Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwifery, and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner) range from 44 to 57 credit hours and can all be completed within two years at an accelerated pace. All online program tracks strongly encourage applicants to have at least one year of RN experience, but some require specialized work experience. The MSN degree program is located in the CCNE-accredited UC College of Nursing, and the renowned faculty include “professors who are either practicing in the field or are accomplished researchers.” In addition to the CCNE accreditation, the UC Online Master’s in Midwifery program is certified by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and all programs prepare students to take their specific certification exams upon graduation. UC Online student support is provided from admission through graduation, and is evidenced by the student testimonials full of high praise.

Admissions website

Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio merged in 1870 to establish Cincinnati College, which would grow to university status and become the University of Cincinnati (UC)–one of the largest in the nation. Multiple campuses are located throughout Ohio, and the Cincinnati campus remains the main location. A public research institution with the Carnegie Foundation’s designation of Highest Research Activity, UC enrolls nearly 45,000 students in more than 350 academic degree programs. UC is a space-grant school and part of the University System of Ohio, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#6. University of Arizona

Online Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Systems Leadership

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Program Details: As a member of both the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Western Institute of Nursing, the UA College of Nursing provides respected and reputable nursing programs. The UA Online Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Systems Leadership degree is accredited by CCNE and provided as both an RN to MSN program (for students who hold an associate nursing degree—the ADN track) or an MSN program (for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing—the BSN track). Offered entirely online, the coursework is comprised of eleven classes for the AND track and eight for the BSN track, and students can complete the program in as little as fifteen months. Classes such as “Population Health,” “Healthcare Business Dynamics,” and “Healing Environments and Practices” are taught by the invested and caring UA College of Nursing faculty, who are “award-winning educators, motivated mentors, and accomplished scholars.” Student resources (from outreach counselors to enrollment advisors and more) enhance the online student experience, and interested RNs can read about AU MSN in Clinical Systems Leadership graduates and their positive experiences.

Admissions website

Tucson, Arizona was chosen in 1885 to become the location of the University of Arizona (UA or “Arizona”), and construction began on the school two years later. UA is the oldest university in Arizona, and 32 students enrolled in classes the first year the school opened in 1891. More than 44,000 students are now enrolled, and UA offers over 350 academic degree programs through 20 schools and colleges. Designated with Very High Research Activity, UA is a public land-grant institution of higher education, and the school’s regional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.

#7. University of North Carolina Charlotte

Online Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Administration

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Program Details: The UNC Charlotte School of Nursing, which has NLN Center of Education Excellence designation, provides the MSN in Nursing Administration degree program completely online through Distance Education (DE) at UNCC. A CCNE-accredited program, the 36-credit hour degree can be completed in just over two years on a part-time basis, and it prepares students to pursue ANCC certification in Nursing Administration or Nursing Administration Advanced. The UNCC MSN in Nursing Administration curriculum presents core coursework such as “Health Policy and Planning in the U.S” and system core coursework like “Health Disparities and Nursing,” which is followed by specialty courses that cover a number of topics, such as “Health Informatics and Financial Management for Nurses” and “Curriculum and Instruction in Nursing Education.” A final capstone course (“Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice”) completes the degree, and students are provided with UNCC Distance Education resources and services throughout the course of their education to help them succeed. Additionally, UNCC School of Nursing faculty are accomplished and connected, and an Advisory Board helps support the program.

Admissions website

Opening as the Charlotte Center to offer college education to returning veterans, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte or UNCC) began in 1946 and officially became UNCC in 1965 when it joined the statewide UNC System. Nearly 30,000 students are currently enrolled, and UNCC offers over 225 academic degree programs through nine colleges. Comprised of three campuses, UNC Charlotte’s main campus is located in University City on 1,000 acres. This public research university is classified as having Higher Research Activity, and regional accreditation is granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#8. University of North Carolina Greensboro

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of UNCG

Program Details: The CCNE-accredited UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, through UNCG Online, provides two entirely online concentrations for the MSN degree: Nursing Administration and Nursing Education. The UNCG Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration degree requires 37-credit hours and 504 clinical hours—all coursework is delivered online, and the clinical experience is “determined by student interest area and geographical location” and coordinated by the student “in collaboration with the faculty and Graduate Program Clinical Coordinator.” Similarly, the 38-credit hour UNCG Online Master of Science in Nursing Education degree also requires a clinical practicum (210 hours), which students can set up in their area of residence along with assistance. In addition to the support offered by the Graduate Program Clinical Coordinator and various online student services such as the Career Services Center, the UNCG School of Nursing faculty have a wealth of experience and are “involved in collaborative, interdisciplinary research in community and health care settings.” Another stamp of quality on the online MSN program: UNCG is one of the few NLN Centers of Excellence.

Admissions website

Known as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) since 1964, the school was established as a school for women in 1891 as the State Normal and Industrial School. The school was originally located on donated land in Greensboro, North Carolina, and when the institution opened for classes in 1892 nearly 200 students were enrolled. Having joined the University of North Carolina System in 1971, UNCG now has just under 20,000 coeducational students enrolled in the eight academic schools and colleges of this public university. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits UNCG.

#9. Ball State University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Ball State Online provides the online programs for Ball State University, including the fully online Ball State MS in Nursing program. The MS degree is located in the CCNE-accredited Ball State School of Nursing (which is also designated as an NLN COE) and offers three concentration options, two requiring 36-credit hours (Nurse Educator and Nurse Administration) and a 47-credit hour Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) focus. The curriculum for all three concentration options share a research core and a nursing core, and a specialized core unique to each. The Nurse Educator and Nurse Administration focus areas both finish with a 180-hour practicum experience, whereas the FNP concentration requires 690 supervised clinical hours (students are responsible for locating preceptors and clinical hours and supervision in their location). Additionally, students who complete the FNP program are prepared to sit for the FNP certification exam. All online courses are taught by the same Ball State School of Nursing faculty, who “are passionate about teaching and mentoring online students,” and online students are able to fully access all of Ball State’s student services to help them succeed.

Admissions website

When a school in Muncie, Indiana closed in the early 1900s, it was purchased by five brothers. The Ball brothers donated the school to the state of Indiana, and a new institution opened in 1918. The Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division was quickly renamed in the brothers’ honor and gained university status in 1965 to become Ball State University. Two campuses join the main campus in Muncie, and almost 350 academic degree programs are provided to the 22,000 currently enrolled students. Ball State is comprised of eight schools and colleges and has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.

#10. University of Texas at Arlington

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Several specialty areas are made available for the online MSN student at the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Students who are already licensed nurses can participate in one of three specific online MSN degree paths: a 36-credit hour MSN in Nursing Administration focus, a 39-credit hour MSN in Nursing Education focus, or an MSN Nurse Practitioner (NP) focus. The UTA College of Nursing MSN Nurse Practitioner Programs are presented as Accelerated Online opportunities, and five specialty areas are offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP), Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC), Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC), Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG PCNP), and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP). All programs are accredited by CCNE and provide rigorous, relevant, 100% online coursework that prepares students for certification exams. The caring and committed UTA College of Nursing graduate faculty members are award-winning and share a passion for nursing as well as for teaching, and the small online class sizes allow for lots of individual attention. UTA distance learner testimonials provide insight into the program.

Admissions website

Established as Arlington College in Arlington, Texas in 1895, the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) started out as a private institution of higher education. The school changed names multiple times prior to joining the University of Texas System in 1967, the point at which the name was restructured to UTA. A public research university, UTA has a High Research Activity designation and enrolls more than 40,000 students in over 180 academic degree programs housed with in the nine schools and colleges. Regional accreditation for UTA comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#11. Western Kentucky University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Designed for students who live in Kentucky or Tennessee, the WKU School of Nursing MSN with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration is available entirely online. The 43-credit hour online MSN PMHNP program is provided in a part-time cohort format, beginning every spring and summer. Already licensed RN’s will take courses such as “Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Concepts,” “Nursing, Politics and Health Policy,” and “Theoretical Foundations of Professional Nursing” and complete 600 clinical hours, and at the completion of the program will be fully prepared to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan) certification exam. All coursework is presented by the accomplished WKU School of Nursing faculty, who have experience in clinical practice, research, and teaching. Additionally, all faculty members have access to specific online resources, such as an “experienced staff of Instructional Designers and online media experts” to help them craft their online courses. The MSN program is offered through WKU Online, which also provides online student services and resources to help the online student successfully complete their program.

Admissions website

A complex and rich history of institutions of higher education moving locations, closing, merging, transitioning and changing names led to the foundation in 1906 of what is now Western Kentucky University (WKU). Sixty years later in 1966, the institution was definitively named WKU, and this public research university located on a hilltop in Bowling Green, Kentucky currently offers more than 300 academic degrees through its five colleges. More than 20,000 students (known as Hilltoppers) are enrolled, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission provides WKU with its regional accreditation.

#12. California University of Pennsylvania

Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration; Online MBA in Nursing Administration and Leadership

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Program Details: Through Global Online, Cal U offers two MSN degrees, a dual MSN-MBA degree, and an MBA degree with a Nursing Administration and Leadership concentration. The Cal U MSN in Nursing Education program (36-credit hours) and the Cal U MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership program (30-credit hours) are both CCNE-accredited and offered entirely online “for busy nurses who are looking to advance their careers.” Both specialty focus areas require 150 practicum hours and the relevant and rigorous curriculum, taught by the experienced and dedicated Cal U Department of Nursing faculty, leads students to successfully sit for their certification exams. Core courses for both cover topics such as “Health Policy in Nursing” and “Information Systems for Nurses in Health Care Organizations.” Students who want a stronger business focus can opt between the MSN-MBA Dual Degree or the MBA in Nursing Administration degree program. Both require 54-credit hours and are ideal for “nurse leaders who want to gain a competitive edge.” Regardless of program choice, graduate nursing students enrolled in Cal U Global Online programs receive full support throughout their education.

Admissions website

California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U) was established in 1852 as a community school by the local residents of California, Pennsylvania. The school would grow to offer college education, and the name changed several times before the school gained its current name in 1983. Almost 8,000 students are currently enrolled at this public university, and more than 160 academic degree programs are offered. Cal U joined the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and this institution of higher education is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#13. Monmouth University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies at Monmouth University offers its MSN program online “to accommodate the working nurse.” The CCNE-accredited MSN program ranges between 36 and 48-credit hours depending upon which focus specialty area is chosen; students can choose between Forensic Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, Nurse Practitioner (which also offers three additional tracks), and School Nurse. The 39-credit hour Monmouth School of Nursing and Health Studies MSN in Forensic Nursing is one of only a few programs of its kind offered in the United States. Provided entirely online, students engage in specialty coursework such as “Interpersonal Violence,” “Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology,” and “Advanced Health Assessment for Forensic Nurses” and are prepared to work in a myriad of settings—such as investigations, disaster response situations, and legal consultations. The faculty are caring and committed and have a wealth of creative research to share with their students. Monmouth University Graduate Studies Information Sessions are offered regularly throughout the year to provide insight into the online programs, and prospective online students can attend them virtually.

Admissions website

Monmouth University was originally founded as Monmouth Junior College in 1933. First becoming Monmouth College in 1956, the school became a university in 1995. Located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Monmouth is conveniently situated within an hour from both New York and Philadelphia and is close enough to walk to the beaches. A primarily residential, private liberal arts institution of higher education with a current enrollment of over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, eight academic departments and schools comprise Monmouth, offering over 50 programs and certificates. Regional accreditation for Monmouth comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#14. University of Colorado Denver

Online Master of Science in Nursing Leadership (i-LEAD); Online Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Health Care Informatics

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Program Details: The University of Colorado Denver CCNE-accredited College of Nursing offers two entirely online MS in nursing degree programs: the 30-credit hour i-LEAD Nursing Leadership and Health Systems MS program and the 34-credit hour online MS in Nursing degree program with a Health Care Informatics concentration at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Both specialized programs are supported through CU Online and taught by the award-winning CU College of Nursing faculty. The i-LEAD program prepares nurses to become “effective leaders and managers in a variety of health care settings,” and, in addition to the MS in Nursing core, coursework includes topics such as “Relational Communication,” “Systems & Leadership Theory,” and a three-credit hour administrative internship. The Health Care Informatics program is interdisciplinary and students participate in a curriculum made up of the MS in Nursing core, informatics core coursework, specialty courses, and a practicum in their home area. The program progresses the ideals held by the American Nurses Association’s Scope and Standards of Nursing Informatics to produce competent informatics specialists. Both programs offer flexibility and CU Online student resources.

Admissions website

The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) in the nearby town of Aurora are the two campuses of CU Denver. In 2011, the name of the school was officially designated as the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Denver/Anschutz). With a Carnegie Classification of Very High Research Activity, the Anschutz Medical Campus houses the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the School of Pharmacy, Colorado School of Public Health, and the Graduate School. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.

#15. University of Pittsburgh

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of University of Pittsburgh

Program Details: The University of Pittsburgh CCNE-accredited School of Nursing has made two concentration areas for the MSN degree program accessible entirely online through Pitt Online. Two distinct tracks are offered: the 42-credit hour Pitt Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL®) program and the 37.5-credit hour Pitt Nursing MSN with a Nursing Informatics concentration, and both tracks prepare students to successfully sit for their respective certification exams. The core MSN curriculum (which offers classes such as “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations” and “Ethics for Advance Practice Nursing”) is enhanced by both specialty courses and role development courses, and both specialty areas are taught by the same professors as the on-site program. The quality of the educational experience is evidenced by the impressive certification exam pass rates. All students are assigned an advisor to help them navigate the online MSN program and assistance is offered for distance students finding sites for their clinical hour requirement. For prospective students who desire to learn more, Pitt Online Virtual Open Houses (asynchronous online information sessions) are offered regularly.

Admissions website

The University of Pittsburgh was established as the Pittsburgh Academy by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Hugh Henry Brackenridge in 1787, and the school would grow and move locations to finally become University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) in 1908. A private institution of higher education until it joined Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth System of Higher Education in 1966, seventeen schools and colleges are housed within Pitt. Nearly 29,000 students are currently enrolled in this coeducational research university, and regional accreditation is provided to Pitt through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#16. Regis College

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The Regis Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing, an ACEN-accredited, NLN designated Center of Excellence, offers students with either a BSN or an associate degree a fully online MSN degree program with five Nurse Practitioner focus areas. Students can specialize in Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), or Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), and the five tracks prepare graduates to successfully sit for their specialty area certification exams. All programs can be completed in about two years (three years for RN’s who hold an associate degree as opposed to a bachelor’s), and range from 46 to 49-credit hours. Regis’ dedication to social justice, equity, and lifelong learning is threaded throughout the curriculum to prepare nurses who will “promote lasting change in the medical field by providing patients of any age the knowledge they need to lead healthy lives.” The MSN degree is provided online through Regis College Online, and students can look forward to multi-layered support system and a nursing faculty that are industry experts as well as caring professors.

Admissions website

Founded in 1927 by the Roman Catholic religious order known as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Regis College is located in Weston, Massachusetts. Named for the Reverend Mother Mary Regis Casserly, who founded the Boston contingent of the Order, the school was a women’s college until 2007. The first classes were held in the fall of 1927, and 55 students enrolled. A private university, Regis College enrolls over 3,000 students currently in the four schools that comprise the institution. A Military Friendly Institution, Regis is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

#17. Thomas Jefferson University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of Thomas Jefferson University

Program Details: Thomas Jefferson University’s Jefferson College of Nursing provides a CCNE-accredited online MSN degree program for current RN’s with eight relevant specialty tracks. In addition to the six Nurse Practitioner tracks offered (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Family-Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care NP, and Women’s Health – Gender-Related NP), students can pursue Nursing Informatics or the Jefferson online MSN with Community Systems Administration (CSA) specialty. The core curriculum for the Jefferson MSN is shared by all programs, which all require 36-credit hours to graduate, and the specialization coursework prepares students to successfully sit for their certification exams. Courses such as “Health Policy, Legal & Ethical Dimensions of Practice,” “Epidemiology for the Health Professions,” and “Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse” are taught by the Jefferson College of Nursing faculty members, who are “outstanding clinicians and exemplary teachers.” Thomas Jefferson University is designated as one of the elite NLN Centers of Excellence, so prospective students can be assured that the online MSN will be a program of high quality and rigorous academics.

Admissions website

With a history that dates back to 1824, the institutions of higher education known as Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University united in 2017 (maintaining the name “Thomas Jefferson University”). Located in Center City and East Falls, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the school is known simply as “Jefferson,” and this private university has a strong focus on “redefining humanly possible.” Sixteen academic schools, colleges, and institutes make up Jefferson, and almost 8,000 students are enrolled in the over 160 degree programs offered. Regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#18. Florida Atlantic University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of Florida Atlantic University

Program Details: Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing (accredited by CCNE) provides a Master of Science in Nursing program with many concentration options and online core coursework. With tracks ranging from Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner to Nursing Administration & Financial Leadership to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (plus four other concentrations: CNL, FNP, Advanced Holistic Nursing, and Nurse Educator), students have many avenues of study with FAU. The percentage numbers for passing certification exams (such as the Family Nurse Practitioner) are an impressive 100%, so prospective students can be certain they will engage in a rigorous and insightful program within FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. The faculty have an impressive array of awards and research areas of their own, and the philosophy of caring deeply permeates the entire atmosphere at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, so students are surrounded by support and infused with a caring spirit in their studies. Additionally, the program can be pursued on a flexible full-time or part-time basis to accommodate the schedules of students.

Admissions website

Established in 1961, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) offered senior-level and graduate classes on a former army base in Boca Raton, Florida in 1964 with an initial enrollment of nearly 900 students. In 1984, FAU welcomed underclassmen, and five satellite campuses across the state join the Boca Raton main campus. Now over 30,000 students are enrolled at this member of the State University System of Florida, and FAU has a High Research Activity designation, offering almost 200 academic degree programs through its ten colleges. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits this public research university.

#19. Lamar University

Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration

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Program Details: Two entirely online MSN concentration options are available through the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing at Lamar University, as well as an MSN-MBA dual degree in collaboration with the Business Department. The Nursing Education track (Lamar’s online MSNE degree program) and the Nursing Administration track (Lamar’s online MSNA degree program) are both 37-credit hours and share a common MSN core. Classes such as “Theoretical Foundations,” “Advance Nursing Issues,” and “Healthcare Policy and Finance” are taught by faculty who employ “innovative teaching strategies to assist students in gaining new knowledge and skills.” Graduates of Lamar’s MSN program “have high pass rates on national certification exams,” and a great deal of support is offered to current students through Lamar University Online. The Lamar MSN/MBA dual degree is 61-credit hours and can be completed in about three years. Information on the benefits of an LU Online degree are presented via a series of videos, and prospective students can explore topics such as “On-Campus Quality with Online Convenience,” “Why You Will Love Our Faculty,” and “Experience a Week in the Life of an Online Student.”

Admissions website

Established as the South Park Junior College in 1923, Lamar University (LU) first offered classes to 125 students. The school grew so successfully that a contest to rename it was held in 1932, and Republic of Texas President, Mirabeau B. Lamar became the namesake. Located in in Beaumont, Texas and a member of the Texas State University System since 1995, LU currently enrolls more than 15,000 students in over 150 academic degree programs. Seven colleges make up this doctoral research university, and the institution is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#20. University of South Carolina

Online Master of Science in Nursing Administration

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Program Details: Through USC Online, the University of South Carolina provides an entirely online MSN in Nursing Administration (NA) degree program for students who want to gain the skills to effectively “manage the delivery of nursing and health care services across the spectrum of health care.” Locate in the USC College of Nursing, the 30-credit hour MSN in NA program is completely online but is joined by three other USC MSN program tracks that provide 100% online coursework with some required on-campus clinical course “check-offs” (MSNs in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner). All coursework prepares students for certification exams and is taught by experienced University of South Carolina faculty who have real-world nursing experience and who genuinely care about their students. The MSN in NA curriculum is comprised of two leadership classes requiring field work hours, which can be completed at the student’s current place of employment. Other classes include topics such as “Theoretical & Conceptual Foundations for Nursing,” “Financing Health Care,” and “Introduction to Biostatistics,” and students can complete the program in twelve to eighteen months.

Admissions website

South Carolina College, the original name of the University of South Carolina (USC), was established in 1801. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, nine students and two professors were present when the first classes began in 1805. The Civil War caused the school to close for a time, but it reopened as USC in 1873. More than 34,000 students are now enrolled in the programs offered by the sixteen academic schools and colleges at this flagship of the University of South Carolina System. A sea-grant institution with High Research Activity designation, USC is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.

#21. Northern Kentucky University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The Department of Nursing within the NKU College of Health Professions offers an entirely online, CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing degree program, with no less than six concentration options from which students can choose for a customized degree experience. The NKU Online MSN degree provides a core set of coursework required for all of the concentrations, with classes such as “Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice” and “Healthcare Policy & Economic in Population Health.” The MSN in Nursing Education and MSN in Nurse Executive Leadership degrees both require 33-credit hours, while the other four concentrations (Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gero Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) range from 43 to 47-credit hours. Students participate in NKU’s Online MSN program on a part-time basis, and it can generally be completed in about two-years on a part-time basis, depending on the concentration. All coursework is taught by the experienced and accomplished NKU Nursing faculty “who are focused on student success,” and students will find themselves positioned to take their respective certification exams upon graduation.

Admissions website

Northern Kentucky State College was founded in 1968 after the University of Kentucky’s educational extension classes had been offered in the northern region of the state since 1946. The school’s current location is in Highland Heights, Kentucky, just a few miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio.  In 1976, the school became Northern Kentucky University (NKU), and now nearly 15,000 students are enrolled in almost 130 academic degree programs within the eight schools and colleges. NKU is a member of the state university system and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#22. Columbus State University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Students participating in the online MSN degree program at Columbus State University reap the benefit of not one but two prestigious institutions. The online MSN degree is offered in collaboration between Columbus State and Georgia Southwestern University as part of the Georgia Intercollegiate Consortium for Graduate Nursing Education (GICGNE). Offered through Columbus State’s School of Nursing within the College of Education and Health Professions, the online MSN degree program provides three 36-credit hour specialty tracks (Informatics, Leadership, or Nurse Educator), or students could pursue the 44-credit hour Columbus State MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree program. ALl MSN programs are accredited by CCNE, and the MSN core curriculum offers some shared coursework in classes such as  “Research for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice” and “Advanced Pathophysiology.The CSU Online graduate nursing students get to partake in both the online student resources offered by the university, as well as the specialized support provided through CSU ADVISE. Within the School of Nursing, distance learners have access to support and resources such as a Clinical Placement Coordinator to assist them with finding a suitable practicum location.

Admissions website

Columbus State University (CSU) in Columbus, Georgia began as a junior college in 1958. Columbus College welcomed almost 300 enrolled students in its first year, and the school became a four-year institution in 1965. It was in 1996 that the school became CSU when it joined the University System of Georgia, and now two campuses—the main Columbus campus and the RiverPark campus—serve the current student body of over 7,000 with nearly 100 academic degree programs housed in six colleges. CSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#23. William Carey University

Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration

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Program Details: Through William Carey Online Learning, the CCNE-accredited Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing at William Carey University provides students with two entirely online graduate nursing programs. The 41-credit hour MSN degree with a concentration in Nurse Educator is ideal for RN’s “who are seeking advanced preparation and leadership roles.” Made up of a core curriculum, clinical experiences, and specialty electives (with choices such as “Integrating Holistic Healthcare in Nursing Education” and “Gerontology Nursing and Caring for an Aging Population”), graduates of the MSN program will be prepared to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) certification exam. The William Carey dual online MSN-MBA degree requires 53-credit hours, and “prepare nurses for administrative roles that facilitate quality patient care in the increasingly complex health care industry.” Coursework includes business classes like “Accounting for the Healthcare Decisions” and “Business Ethics and Leadership”. All online students are assigned an academic advisor as soon as they are admitted to their program, and William Carey Online provides tutorials and guides to help online students find answers and guidance.

Admissions website

With roots that stretch back to 1892, William Carey University has a rich history. Multiple fires and a move led to the Mississippi Baptist Convention establishing the Mississippi Woman’s College in 1911 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. By 1953, the Convention wanted the school to become coeducational, and so the next year men were admitted and the college was renamed after the eighteenth century missionary. The institution gained university status and became William Carey University (WCU or William Carey) in 2006. Nearly 5,000 students are currently enrolled at this private Christian liberal arts school, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#24. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Online Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Administration

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Program Details: Only offered online, the UAH College of Nursing online MSN – Nursing Administration degree is a flexible, entirely online program that can be pursued either full or part-time. The College of Nursing is designated as an NLN Center of Excellence, and the CCNE-accredited MSN is aligned with the competencies promoted both by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Requiring 30-credit hours, the MSN in Nursing Administration is comprised of coursework and 225 hours of clinical experience (which can be completed locally at the student’s place of residence). The asynchronous curriculum is made up of classes such as “Foundational Concepts for Nurse Administrators,” “Scholarly Inquiry for Advanced Practice,” and “US Health Care System,” which are taught by the UAH College of Nursing faculty. The faculty, who bring their own “experience in leadership and administration, research, scholarship, and teaching,” are “dedicated to educating and inspiring individuals to become nurse leaders” who are competent and caring, and who become scholars and advocates who work for the best for their patients and fellow nurses.

Admissions website

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) started as an extension center for the University of Alabama in 1950. In the 1960s, the University of Alabama Huntsville Center was growing to the extent that a research institute was constructed. By 1969, UAH became an independent university, and now this public research university with a “high” designation from the Carnegie Foundation enrolls nearly 10,000 students. A member of the University of Alabama System and a space-grant institution, UAH is comprised of nine colleges that offer more than 100 academic degree programs, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits the school.

#25. Liberty University

Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Science in Healthcare Administration

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Program Details: Liberty University Online offers a fully online MSN degree program, as well as two additional dual MSN programs, also online. The Liberty University online Nursing and Healthcare Administration dual degree program (MSN/MSHA) and the Liberty MSN/MBA degree join the MSN degree, which is housed within the CCNE-accredited Liberty University School of Nursing (LUSON). The MSN degree offers five specializations—students can choose from Community Health, Health Policy, Nursing Administration, Nurse Educator, and Nursing Informatics. The core MSN curriculum requires fifteen credit hours, and students take classes such as “Health Policy & Ethics,” “Managing Population Health,” and “Nursing Issues, Informatics & Technology.” All specialization areas provide concentration coursework, and the Nursing Educator and Nursing Administration tracks have a curriculum aligned with the standards determined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and CCNE and both require 200 clinical hours via four practicum courses. Students can complete the degrees in one year at an accelerated pace or, more commonly, in two years. Cultivating a warm and inviting virtual atmosphere, Liberty University Online provides many resources for online students.

Admissions website

Founded as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971, evangelical Christian minister Jerry Falwell started what would become Liberty University. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty started its distance education offerings in 1985, which is now known as LU Online. Over 110,000 students are enrolled in online programming currently, and they join the 15,000 on-campus students to make Liberty the largest Christian institution of higher education in the world. Seventeen schools and colleges provide over 600 academic degree programs at this private university, and regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#26. Eastern Kentucky University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Located in the College of Health Sciences and provided online by EKU Online, two fully online MSN degree programs are offered by Eastern Kentucky University. EKU’s MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree is a 46-credit hour program, and the curriculum meets the “requirements of the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensing, Accreditation, Certification, and Education” and has a “high certification exam pass rate” for graduates. Classes such as “Advanced Nursing Practice Issues,” “Principles of Epidemiology,” and “Advanced Pharmacology” are shared with the 47-credit hour EKU MSN Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner program. Proud of the graduates’ “100% pass rate on national certifying exams,” Eastern offers not only rigorous coursework and extensive clinical hour requirements, but also “unparalleled staff and faculty access, rich engagement opportunities and every resource possible to succeed.” No on-campus visits are required at any point, and these CCNE-accredited programs are joined by three entirely online Post-MSN certificate options: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Admissions website

The Eastern Kentucky State Normal School was established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1906 to train teachers for the area. The school would be located in Richmond, Kentucky on the campus of the former Central University, which had been founded in 1874. Several name changes and expansion would lead to the definitive name change in 1966 to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU or “Eastern”). A public university, Eastern has multiple branch campuses and enrolls nearly 17,000 students in the academic degree programs of its six colleges. Regional accreditation is granted to EKU by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#27. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Provided entirely online through Distance Learning, the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing MSN degree provides working nurses the opportunity to advance their skills and knowledge in a CCNE-accredited program. Four specialty focus areas are offered entirely online—students can opt to focus in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP), Nursing Educator, Nursing Management Leadership, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (there are two additional options—Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and FNP, but these specialty areas require some on-campus visits during the practicum courses). All students receive academic advisors once admitted to help them chart out their plan of study, and the Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing faculty boast a “diversity in teaching experience, community service, clinical background and educational preparation” that they bring to the classroom. There are some shared courses between the specialty areas, such as “Analysis of Evidence-Based Practice” and “Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice,” and each specialty offers unique and specialized coursework as well. The programs are tailored to assure that students integrate the academic components in order to sit for certification exams.

Admissions website

The Saint Francis Medical Center is the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s teaching hospital. Located in Peoria, Illinois, the Saint Francis Medical Center is part of the OSF HealthCare System (Order of St. Francis). The hospital that led to the Center was originally established by the Franciscan Sisters in 1876. In 1905, the St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing was established for the nuns, and in 1918 women who were not members of the religious order could enroll. The Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, now coeducational, is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#28. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: All seven of the MSN tracks provided through the UTMB School of Nursing offer entirely online coursework coupled with a two-day on-campus online student orientation. Two of the CCNE-accredited tracks do not require any other on-campus residencies (the other five tracks have varying levels of on-campus requirements): Executive Nurse Leader (ENL) and Nurse Educator (NE). The 41-credit hour UTMB MSN Nurse Educator Program offers a specialized curriculum and shares a common core of MSN coursework with five of the other tracks, with classes required such as “Pathophysiology,” “Innovations in Community Health Practice,” and “The Learning Environment” and finishes with a capstone teaching practicum in the final semester. The UTMB MSN Executive Nurse Leader Program requires 39-credit hours and can be completed in two years on a part-time basis, and classes cover topics like “Public Health Principles in Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Leader as Communicator,” and “Health Care Economics.” The faculty are encouraged to practice, being provided support through the UTMB School of Nursing Faculty Practice Website. MSN graduates can stay connected through the UTMB School of Nursing Alumni Association.

Admissions website

Part of the University of Texas System, the University of Texas Medical Branch is located in Galveston, Texas. Founded as the University of Texas Medical Department in 1891 (an extension of the University of Texas, located in Austin), the school began with 23 students first in attendance and thirteen faculty members. Currently, over 3,000 students are enrolled and over 1,000 faculty work within UTMB’s seven schools and institutes, and there are four hospitals on campus as well as a comprehensive medical library. UTMB is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#29. Queens University of Charlotte

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Located in the Queens University of Charlotte Blair College of Health, the Presbyterian School of Nursing provides three entirely online MSN specializations. The CCNE-accredited degree program at Queens offers students a Nurse Educator MSN Specialization, Nurse Administrator MSN Specialization, and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) MSN Specialization. The Online MSN Nursing Curriculum at Queens requires for each specialization a set of core courses, which includes classes such as “Theoretical Foundations,” “Data Interpretations,” and “Health Policy,” and students can finish the program within two years. The three specialization options all feature specialized coursework that helps prepare students to successfully sit for their respective certification exams. All online classes are taught by the award-winning Queens Online MSN Faculty, who “act as mentors” in addition to providing rigorous coursework and who have an impressive array of collective experience. Current students and recent graduates provide MSN Program Testimonials to give prospective students a glimpse into the program, and the Queens Nursing Resource Center makes resources such as articles, student spotlights, and virtual open house information sessions available to assist students and those interested in the program.

Admissions website

Established as the Charlotte Female Institute in 1857, Queens University of Charlotte is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Men were first allowed to take classes in the 1940s, and the school became fully coeducational in 1987. The name changed several times through the years, and in 2002 when university status was granted, the school gained its current name. Nearly 50 academic degree programs are offered in the six schools and colleges that make up Queens, and over 2,500 students are enrolled at this private institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits Queens University.

#30. McKendree University

Online Master of Science in Nursing; Online Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration

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Program Details: The McKendree University Division of Nursing in the School of Nursing & Health Professions provides three MSN specialty focus areas as well as a Dual MSN/MBA degree program online through McKendree Worldwide for convenience and flexibility. Students can opt between a focus in Nursing Education, Nursing Management/Administration, or Population Health (Palliative Care) to specialize their degree. The 60-hour online dual MSN/MBA degree program at McKendree is ideal for the  nurse who “desires to achieve an administrative role in health care” and offers classes, in addition to the MSN core, such as “Customers and Competitive Advantage,” “Stakeholder Management and Ethics,” and “Electronic Commerce.” The MSN core offers relevant coursework such as “Health Policy and Advocacy,” “Cultural Diversity in Healthcare Populations,” and “Health Promotion/Disease Prevention,” and each specialty track provides specific classes to enhance the chosen focus area. The CCNE-accredited MSN program faculty has experience in the field of nursing and teaching, and the McKendree Worldwide Online Student Resources offers services and support to help all online students find success in their program.

Admissions website

Both the oldest college in Illinois and the oldest in America to be continuously affiliated with the United Methodist Church, McKendree University was founded as the Lebanon Seminary in 1828. The Lebanon, Illinois institution of higher education welcomed 72 students in its first year. The first U.S.-born Methodist Bishop, William McKendree, became the namesake in 1830 when the school was renamed McKendree College, and university status was granted in 2007. Now nearly 3,000 students are enrolled in the academic degree programs offered by McKendree’s four schools and colleges, and this private university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#31. Sacred Heart University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Offering RN’s who do not have a bachelor’s degree in nursing an avenue to directly enter the CCNE-accredited program, Sacred Heart University’s Online MSN degree program is accessible completely online. The program can be completed in just two years, and requires either 36 or 39-credits hours (depending on specialization chosen). Students engage in core courses like “Theory and Professional Roles for Contemporary Nursing Practice” and choose from four Advanced Nursing Specializations (CNL, Nursing Management & Executive Leadership, Nursing Education, or FNP). The required practicum can be performed in the student’s area of residence, and understanding the need for flexibility and online convenience, Sacred Heart gives online MSN students up to six years to complete the program. All courses are taught by the same on-campus faculty, who have practiced clinically for many years and have participated in scholarly pursuits as well in order to strengthen their experience as professors. The program prepares graduates to sit for their certification exams and has many accolades–prospective students can read the SHU MSN Student Testimonials to learn more about the benefits of the program.

Admissions website

Sacred Heart University was established in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis as an institution open to all students regardless of sex, race or religion. The progressive university had less than 200 students in its first year, but has grown to become the second-largest Roman Catholic university in New England. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, Sacred Heart offers more than 70 academic degree programs to 8,500 students through the seven schools and colleges that comprise the university. A private Catholic liberal arts school, Sacred Heart is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#32. Jacksonville University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The Jacksonville University Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences Keigwin School of Nursing presents a CCNE-accredited, fully online MSN degree program with three specialization options: Clinical Nurse Educator, Leadership in Healthcare Systems, or Informatics. The eighteen-credit hour MSN core includes classes such as “Organization, Delivery, and Policy in Healthcare,” “Nursing Leadership and Advanced Roles,” and “Information Systems & Technology for Improved Healthcare.” The 33-credit hour MSN in Clinical Nurse Educator specialization provides the skills for RN’s to train other nurses as part of staff development or teach at the higher education level. The other tracks are both 30-credit hours; the Leadership in Healthcare System specialization provides a focus on Nursing Leadership and Management, and the MSN with a Specialization in Informatics offers coursework in “Law, Ethics and Public Issues in Healthcare Informatics” and “Data Analytics and Impact on Patient Care.” Graduates of all three specialization options will be able to pursue certification upon completion of their program. The MSN degree program has not just an experienced Keigwin School of Nursing faculty, but also a full Leadership Team to assure the quality of the program.

 Admissions website

Originally chartered as the junior college William J. Porter University in 1934, Jacksonville University (JU) went through several significant changes before gaining its current name in 1956 and becoming a full four-year institution in 1961. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the private non-profit university offers nearly 100 academic degree programs to 4,000 currently enrolled students. A member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), JU is comprised of four colleges and two academic institutes. This institution of higher education has been continuously regionally accredited since 1950 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#33. University of Massachusetts Amherst

Online Master of Science in Nursing Education

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Program Details: The CCNE-accredited College of Nursing provides the online UMass Amherst Master of Science in Nursing Education concentration (MS-NE) for currently licensed nurses who desire to “be a leader in nursing education in academia and practice.” A 33-credit hour MS-NE program, all coursework is offered entirely online with an in-residence practicum required, and students gain the skills to both train nursing students and “provide patient education in healthcare settings.” The UMass Amherst online MS-NE curriculum is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for Master’s Education standards, and includes courses such as “Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning,” “Curriculum Development & Evaluation Process,” and “Advanced Pharmacology,” and students can be confident they will be equipped to pursue NLN Nursing Education certification. The College of Nursing faculty have an impressive list of both academic and practice-based achievements to provide students with both practical and educational excellence. Online MS-NE students benefit both from the UMass Nursing resources and UMass Amherst office for Online Education resources, which include services such as one-on-one academic advising and professional development.

Admissions website

Begun as a land-grant institution, the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) started as the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1863 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Classes welcomed 56 all-male students in 1867, and women began being admitted in 1892. The name became the University of Massachusetts in 1947, and UMass Amherst is the flagship campus in the University of Massachusetts System. Over 30,000 students are currently enrolled in nearly 150 academic degree programs offered in the nine schools and colleges of this public research university with Highest Research Activity designation, and regional accreditation comes from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#34. Samuel Merritt University

Online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner

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Program Details: The CCNE-accredited School of Nursing at Samuel Merritt University offers the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track entirely online. Available for RN’s residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia (although authorization for other states may be in process—interested prospective students are encouraged to check the website regularly for updates), the entirely online coursework is coupled with three semesters of clinical practice (totaling 630 hours—and SMU helps with placement). The program provides a “thorough, rigorous 49-credit curriculum,” and students can finish in under two years on a full-time basis. Classes such as “Family Centered Advanced Practice Nursing,” “Health Protection, Promotion & Screening,” and “Analysis of Health Policy Issues” are taught in such a way as to place “an emphasis on meeting the needs of multicultural and underserved populations.” The SMU School of Nursing faculty are “distinguished scholars . . . who conduct research to advance their scientific fields” and pass that experience on to their students. Webinars providing information on the SMU online MSN-FNP program are provided.

Admissions website

Both Samuel Merritt Hospital and the Samuel Merritt School of Nursing opened in 1909 and are named in honor of famed Dr. Samuel Merritt. This was the beginning of what would become first Samuel Merritt College in 1981 and then Samuel Merritt University (SMU) in 2009. This private, degree-granting, health sciences institution of higher education was founded in Oakland, California, but has additional California campuses in Sacramento and San Mateo. Nearly 2,500 students are currently enrolled in the health science degrees offered through two schools and three departments of SMU. Regional accreditation for SMU comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#35. University of West Georgia

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The University of West Georgia Tanner Health System School of Nursing provides the completely online MSN program through UWG Online. A 36-credit hour CCNE-accredited MSN program, tracks focusing on either Education or Health Systems Leadership are offered to customize the degree (within Health Systems Leadership students have additional opportunities to customize through either a focus on Leader/Manager or Clinical Nurse Leader). Students begin the program in the fall with an online orientation and finish in two to three years. Classes are varied, including topics like “Role of Caring Healthcare Professional,” “Curriculum Development in Nursing Education,” and “Epidemiology for Nursing Education and Practice,” and are taught by UWG Department of Nursing faculty, who are comprised of research and practice-based instructors. Additionally, both the Education and Health Systems Leadership focus area tracks are offered entirely online as CCNE-accredited, post-master’s certificate programs (the Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Systems Leadership offers both the Leader/Manager and the Clinical Nurse Leader tracks). Credit hour requirements range from thirteen to sixteen-credit hours, and students can transfer in up to six credit hours.

Admissions website

The University of West Georgia (UWG) was established as the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School in 1906 in Carrollton, Georgia. The school would transition into a junior college, a four year college (in 1957), and finally the university that it is today in 1996. Nearly 100 academic degree programs are offered through the seven colleges and schools of this public doctoral research university, and just under 14,000 students are currently enrolled. UWG is part of the University System of Georgia and regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#36. Old Dominion University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: ODU Online provides entirely online coursework for the CCNE-accredited MSN Nurse Administrator program. Housed in the Old Dominion University School of Nursing, the 36-credit hour MSN program can be completed in as few as five months on a full-time basis and can lead directly into ODU’s DNP program if students choose to continue their studies. Coursework is made up of relevant classes such as “Evidence-Based Research and Theories,” “Strategic Leadership,” and “Ethical Concepts and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing.” The program promises “faculty committed to delivering high quality nursing education through the use of innovative teaching methods,” and resources are available for online students both through ODU Online and the School of Nursing (a particular benefit is the ODU School of Nursing Student Clinical Services Coordinator who helps Program Directors and students find the best fit for the student’s clinical practicum experience). The ODU School of Nursing also offers three other online MSN program tracks (with several additional specializations) as online programs with some on-campus requirements: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Midwifery.

Admissions website

Norfolk, Virginia’s Old Dominion University (ODU) had humble beginnings in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary. The extension center programs proved popular, and ODU became its own degree-granting, independent institution of higher education in 1962 and then gained university status in 1969. Over 200 academic degree programs are provided by this public research university to more than 24,000 enrolled students, and ODU has a Higher Research Activity designation in addition to being a space- and sea-grant school. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits ODU.

#37. Ferris State University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The Ferris State University online MSN degree program, fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), is housed within the College of Health Professions School of Nursing and offered entirely online through Ferris Online. Two concentrations are provided with no on-campus requirements: Nursing Education and Nursing Administration (the Nursing Informatics concentration requires some on-campus courses offered by the College of Business). The 37-credit hour program starts with an orientation session (online students may access it virtually) and requires eighteen credit hours of core coursework, including classes such as “Introduction to Advanced Nursing Roles,” “Health Care Systems, Policy, & Advocacy,” and “Clinical Prevention & Population Health.” The remaining courses are determined by the student’s choice of concentration, and all students participate in two capstones: a practicum experience and final academic project. The Ferris MSN curriculum is aligned with the AACN Essentials of Master’s Education and includes the necessary competencies encouraged by the Institute of Medicine and QSEN. Students benefit from online resources, as well as from the highly skilled and caring Ferris School of Nursing faculty.

Admissions website

Ferris State University (Ferris) was established in 1884 in Big Rapids, Michigan by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris. Originally named the Big Rapids Industrial School, the institution would go through several name changes before becoming Ferris State College in 1963 and then gaining university status in 1987. Ferris became part of Michigan’s Higher Education System in 1950, and now this public university enrolls over 14,500 students, making it the ninth largest in the state. Eight colleges provide nearly 200 academic degree programs, and the Higher Learning Commission grants Ferris with regional accreditation.

#38. Herzing University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Herzing University provides their CCNE-accredited MSN degree program with entirely online coursework for RN’s who currently hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Students can choose from one of three specialty tracks: the Herzing Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program, Herzing’s MSN – Nursing Education program, or the Herzing MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration program. All three programs prepare students to sit for their certification exams, and the MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration curriculum is aligned with the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) core components. The MSN-FNP program requires 48-credit hours whereas the other two programs each require 36 hours. Another requirement of the MSN-FNP program is 675 clinical hours (for which practicum placement assistance is provided). A core curriculum is shared between all three, with courses such as “Health Policy and Management” and “Organizational Systems and Behaviors” taught by expert faculty members who provide individual attention and support. For nurses who already hold an MSN degree, additional online opportunities include Herzing’s post-master’s nursing certificate programs.

Admissions website

Initially a computer training institute, Herzing University was founded in 1965 by husband and wife team Henry and Suzanne Herzing. The original campus was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and now eleven campuses cover different parts of the U.S.—with corporate headquarters now located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (this is also where the online programs division is located). The school became Herzing College in 1996 and Herzing University in 2009, and gained non-profit status in 2015. Regional accreditation for Herzing is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.

#39. Nova Southeastern University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: NSU’s Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing offers a fully online, non-clinical MSN degree program (additionally offered is the MSN Advanced Practice Registered Nurse program, which is a hybrid online degree program requiring some on-campus residencies. Students of this program have several concentration choices).  The 36-credit hour MSN program offers students three non-clinical program tracks: Nursing Education, Executive Nurse Leadership, or Nursing Informatics. All three tracks begin with core courses such as “Health Promotion and Disease Prevention,” “Advanced Nurse Roles,” and “Evidence and Practice,” and they also require a practicum to complete the program. Ideal for nurses who want to advance in their career, “improve the practice of nursing, and support healthier communities,” NSU’s online MSN students will learn from the highly experienced and qualified faculty within the College of Nursing. Once prospective students enter the program the are surrounded by NSU Nursing resources and services.

Admissions website

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was established as the Nova University of Advanced Technology in in 1964. Thirty years later Nova merged with the Southeastern University of the Health Sciences to officially become NSU. An initial student enrollment of seventeen in 1964 has grown to a current enrollment of over 20,000 students, and more than 150 academic degree programs are provided through sixteen schools and colleges. Main campus is in Davie, Florida, and is joined by campuses across the state and in Puerto Rico. NSU has a High Research Activity designation, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#40. Chatham University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: An entirely online, CCNE-accredited MSN degree program is available through Chatham University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). The MSN program is housed within the School of Health Sciences, and the three specialization tracks offered to students are in Nursing Leadership, Nursing Educator, and Nursing Informatics. The 33-credit hour “contemporary nursing curriculum” for the online MSN presents classes such as “Introduction to Organizational Leadership in Nursing” and “Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Lifespan” as part of the eighteen-hour core, and each track provides fifteen specialty track credits. All students complete the program with a practicum and a capstone, and are provided guidance as well as academic excellence throughout the program by the Chatham Nursing Faculty. The fast-paced MSN program begins each fall and students progress together as a cohort either as full-time or part-time students. Advisors and orientations help students get acclimated to the rigorous nature of the program, and the Chatham University SCPS Support & Resources (such as the Student Success Center and the University’s PACE Center) provides additional support.

Admissions website

Chatham University was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1869 as the Pennsylvania Female College. The first enrollment numbered over 100, and now the school has grown to become coeducational and has a student body of over 2,200. The name changed several times, becoming Chatham College in 1955 (named for William Pitt, First Earl of Chatham, who was also the namesake of Pittsburgh) and then Chatham University in 2007 when the school was granted university status. Over 60 academic degree programs are offered at this private institution of higher education, and regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#41. University of St. Francis

Online Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Administration

Photo courtesy of the University of St. Francis

Program Details: The fully online MSN in Nursing Administration (NUAD) degree program at the St. Francis Leach College of Nursing, a CCNE-accredited school, is ideal for RN’s who want to “ethically manage nursing personnel and services in hospitals and other health care delivery agencies.” The St. Francis MSN NUAD curriculum ranges from 36 to 45-credit hours, depending upon a student’s educational history and current goals (students entering the program who have already earned a MS in Health Administration degree receive twelve credits towards the degree, and students can opt for an additional nine-credit hours of optional education courses). The coursework includes the graduate core of classes such as “Advanced Practice Nursing: Roles and Issues” and “Evidence-Based Healthcare” with an advanced core of administration classes such as “Health Care Law and Compliance” and “Management & Human Resources of Health Care Organizations.” There are no clinical hour requirements, but a final capstone completes the degree for all students. USF offers other MSN tracks online with some on-campus requirements: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or Nursing Educator.

Admissions website

The University of St. Francis was started by the congregants of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in Joliet, Illinois in 1920. Originally the Assisi Junior College, the school only admitted female members of the congregation. Within five years the school opened to all female students, and men were admitted when the school became coeducational in 1971. The name first changed to College of St. Francis in 1930, and again in 1998 when university status was granted. Nearly 4,000 students are currently enrolled in the four colleges of this Catholic, Franciscan university, and the Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.

#42. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Online Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in Advanced Population Health

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Program Details: Offering three “pathways” to enter into the online MS in Nursing degree program with a specialization focus in Advanced Population Health, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene provides many opportunities for “future leaders for population health nursing with a focus on Hawaii and the Pacific Region.” Students can begin the 30-39 credit hour program (the program is 30 credits but if students opt for a thesis it is an additional nine credits) as an RN with a bachelor’s or associate degree or as a non-nurse with a different undergraduate degree. Coursework is all offered online, and students complete their fieldwork and capstone within their own resident community. The UH Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene faculty have an impressive history of research and active practice (such as community disaster preparedness and response and global health initiatives), and the classes they teach (such as “Leadership, Role, Identity and Organizational/System Change,” “Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing,” and “Global Health”) provide a rigorous and relevant academic experience for students.

Admissions website

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa) was founded in 1907, making it the oldest of the ten UH campuses. Located in the Mānoa Valley, UH Mānoa is also the flagship campus of the UH System. A land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant institution, UH Mānoa is a public doctoral research university with Very High Research Activity (as determined by the Carnegie Foundation). Over 17,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 240 academic degree programs offered through seventeen schools and colleges, and regional accreditation is granted by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

#43. Kennesaw State University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of Kennesaw State University

Program Details: Part of the MSN in Leadership in Nursing program at Kennesaw State, the CCNE-accredited Online MSN Nursing Administration and Transformational Leadership track is a 40-credit hour program that can be completed in just fifteen months on a full-time basis. Located in the WellStar School of Nursing at KSU, the MSN in Nursing Administration degree program offers mostly asynchronous, entirely online coursework, in topics such as “Conflict Management & Ethics of Leadership for Advanced Practice Nursing” and “Global Initiatives in Healthcare, Changing World.” A 135-hour practicum is required within the student’s geographic location, but because the faculty and administrators are “committed to providing guidance and advisement through the academic process,” students feel fully supported. The faculty provide “innovative teaching and scholarship” to enhance the virtual learning atmosphere, and distance learning at KSU provides plenty of online student support and resources. Applying to the MSN program has become even more convenient—the WellStar School of Nursing recently did away with the GRE requirement, and up to nine credit hour may be transferred into the program.

Admissions website

Kennesaw State University (KSU) was founded as the Kennesaw Junior College in 1964 in Cobb County, Georgia with an initial enrollment of more than 1,000 students. Two campus locations in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia serve the more than 35,000 students currently enrolled. Over 150 academic degree programs are provided through the thirteen colleges, and KSU is classified as having Moderate Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation. A public research university and the third largest in the University System of Georgia, KSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#44. Indiana State University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Indiana State University’s College of Health and Human Services offers an entirely online MSN degree with a Nursing Education concertation through the ACEN-accredited Department of Advanced Practice Nursing within the School of Nursing. The Indiana State Online MSN in Nursing Education degree offers students three culminating experience options (an Evidence Based Practice Course, Culminating Project, or Master’s Thesis), which determines the credit hour requirements of 37 or 40-credit hours. Classes such as “Nursing Theory Development,” “Measurement and Assessment in Nursing,” and “Advanced Pathophysiology” prepare students to meet the NLN certification competencies and are taught by “faculty who are leaders in nursing education, research, and community engagement.” Graduates of the Indiana State MSN in Nursing Education program sing the praises of the program, the faculty, and the curriculum. Other resources include an online-accessible library, Career Center, Time Management Tools, and for prospective students who are considering the MSN program, an Online Education Readiness Quiz is made available.

Admissions website

The Indiana State Normal School was the first incarnation of Indiana State University. Established in 1865 as a teacher training school, the school in Terre Haute, Indiana opened for classes in 1870 to 23 students. Name changes occurred before the institution became Indiana State University in 1965 (Indiana State Teachers College in 1929, and then Indiana State College in 1961). A public doctoral research university, Indiana State offers almost 200 academic degree programs through seven colleges, and more than 13,500 students are currently enrolled. Regional accreditation for Indiana State is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.

#45. University of Arkansas

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas

Program Details: The U of A Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, which is housed within the College of Education and Health Professions, provides an entirely online, CCNE-accredited MSN degree program. Offered through U of A Online, the online MSN with a Nurse Educator Concentration offers students both a 42-credit hour thesis option and a 39-credit hour non-thesis option (this option includes a project and final comprehensive exam). The U of A Online MSN-Nurse Educator degree program curriculum is sectioned into a graduate nursing core, a graduate clinical core, the nurse educator concentration core, and the thesis of scholarly project. A practicum experience is required, and students can arrange for it to be within their local communities. The award-winning Eleanor Mann School of Nursing faculty provides the rigorous online coursework but also “recognizes the uniqueness of individual students as adult learners and strives to provide flexible opportunities for learning.” All online MSN students are considered part of the U of A community, and U of A Online provides a myriad of student resources, services and opportunities to succeed.

Admissions website

Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the University of Arkansas was established in 1871 as the Arkansas Industrial University. By 1899 the student body desired a name that better represented the expanded scope of the school, and the University of Arkansas (U of A) was chosen. Now over 27,000 students are enrolled in more than 200 academic degree programs offered through U of A’s eleven schools and colleges, and this land- and space-grant institution is also the flagship of the University of Arkansas System. This public doctoral research university is classified with Highest Research Activity, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#46. Lewis University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

Photo courtesy of Lewis University

Program Details: Providing two online specialization options, the Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Professions offers RN’s a CCNE-accredited MSN degree that will help them advance in their career to become an “expert practitioner and innovative leader who will transform practice in an increasingly complex healthcare system.” Students can choose the 40-credit hour MSN in Nursing Education degree program, which offers specialty classes such as “Educational Theory and the Scholarship of Teaching” and “Role Transition for the Nurse Educator.” The 36-credit hour MSN in Healthcare Systems Leadership program provides specialty track classes like “Leadership Strategies for Administration and Nursing Practice” and “Financial Management for Nurse Leaders.” Both programs start with the MSN core courses, covering topics like “Applied Biostatistics for Advanced Nursing Practice” and “Healthcare Organizations, Systems, and Policy,” and the Lewis College of Nursing faculty all “have real world experience” and work with students individually to help them succeed. Online student resources start as early as the first inquiry—prospective students have available to them dedicated Graduate Admission Advisors, and that attention and care continues through to graduation.

Admissions website

Established in Romeoville, Illinois in 1932, Lewis University was begun as the Holy Name Technical School. The Chicago Archdiocese and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil founded the school to train young men in aviation technology, and Frank J. Lewis (a Catholic philanthropist) donated funding to help the school thrive. Renamed in his honor as Lewis College in 1948, university status was gained in 1973, and Lewis University is a coeducational private Roman Catholic with 6,500 currently enrolled students. The 410-acre campus is in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville, and over 115 academic degree programs are provided either on-campus and/or online. Lewis’ regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#47. Drexel University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Drexel University Online presents an online MSN degree “designed to prepare nurses for leadership nursing positions in the rapidly growing and evolving healthcare landscape.” The Drexel Online MSN core curriculum offers fifteen-credit hours of coursework such as “Advanced Ethical Decision Making in Health Care,” “Confronting Issues in Contemporary Health Care Environments,” and “Research Methods and Biostatistics.” Located in the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions, the program provides six specialty CCNE-accredited MSN concentrations in Clinical Nurse Leader, Clinical Research, Leadership in Health Systems Management, Nursing Education, Nursing Innovation, and Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare. The Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions faculty boast impressive and extensive research and practical experience that they pass on to their students. Some of the concentrations require a clinical practicum experience, whereas some require a final capstone project—the concentrations range in required credit hours as well. Drexel Online support is extensive for online students—with tutorials, resources, and services provided. Additionally, online MSN students whose concentration requires clinical hours will get assistance in placement.

Admissions website

Philanthropic banker Anthony Drexel founded the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1891, although classes would not start for the coeducational student body until 1919. This school would go on to become Drexel University, and the main campus is located in the Philadelphia neighborhood of University City. Almost 25,000 students are currently enrolled in more than 200 academic degree programs offered through Drexel’s fifteen schools and colleges, and this private research university (classified with Very High Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation) is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#48. Appalachian State University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: Appalachian State University’s online MSN program provides a concentration focus in Nursing Education and can be completed entirely online on a part-time basis in just two years. Located in the App State Department of Nursing within the Beaver College of Health Sciences and provided through App State Online, the 39-credit hour program curriculum is aligned with the core competencies found in The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Currently seeking CCNE accreditation, the online MSN program offers classes such as “Contemporary Issues in Nursing,” “Education Tests and Measurements in Nursing,” and “Educational Theories for Nursing Academic and Practice Settings,” as well as a research project, a clinical practicum, and a thesis. Ideal for nurses who desire to move in to “leadership roles as educators in a variety of complex academic or clinical environments,” current students of the MSN program give praise to the caring and supportive App State Department of Nursing faculty, who have extensive experience both in clinical and educational settings.

Admissions website

Founded in 1899, Appalachian State University (Appalachian or App State) was started as the teacher training school Watauga Academy. Established by the Dougherty brothers in Watauga County (now Boone, North Carolina), the school quickly grew to become the Appalachian Training School in 1903. Three more name changes through the years led to Appalachian State University in 1967, and in the early 1970s the school became part of the UNC System. Over 19,000 students are enrolled in 150 academic degree programs within the nine schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#49. University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences at UCCS provides an entirely online MSN degree with three Nurse Practitioner (NP) specialty focus options (the online MSN degree is not available in all states—students should check to make sure their state of residence is accepted). Students can choose between the 47-credit hour Primary Care Family NP, the 47-credit hour Primary Care Adult/Gero NP, and the 48-credit hour Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to customize their education—all three are CCNE-accredited. Core courses such as “Philosophical Foundations in Nursing Practice” and “Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics” are offered through Canvas, the online delivery system, and all students are required to participate in 630 contact hours of a clinical practicum. Students have up to six years to complete the degree, and student resources are provided to assist students both academically and professionally. The UCCS Beth-El College of Nursing faculty has a wide variety of experience, both clinical and scholarly, and students benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the College.

Admissions website

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) had its earliest beginnings as the Cragmor Sanitarium, which opened in 1905 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Many changes through the years would lead to the facility being purchased by the University of Colorado (UC) in the mid-1960s (extension classes had been offered by UC since the 1920s). The Colorado Springs Center of the University of Colorado would gain independence in 1972, and in 1974 the name became UCCS when the University of Colorado System reorganized. Over 70 academic degree programs are offered in six colleges to over 12,000 students, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#50. Vanderbilt University

Online Master of Science in Nursing

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Program Details: The Vanderbilt MSN in Nursing and Health Care Leadership (NHCL) degree program is new and all coursework will be offered entirely online in a part-time format to accommodate working nurses. Known as the Vanderbilt Master of Science in Nursing degree in the Nursing and Health Care Leadership Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, the MSN NHCL degree joins several other specialty tracks, and online students will reap the benefits of the prestigious school’s faculty expertise. The 39-credit hour program is accredited by the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA), and begins with an on-campus orientation (there may be other on-campus requirements periodically). A clinical placement is an expected requirement, and students receive assistance in finding a practicum site within their local community from both the Vanderbilt School of Nursing faculty and the Clinical Placement staff. The faculty of the Vanderbilt School of Nursing (VUSN) are involved in cutting edge research and practice, and will prepare students to “manage and lead the delivery of nursing and health care services across multiple settings and specialty areas.”

Admissions website

In 1873, “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt, who resided in New York and had never been to the South, donated $1 million to endow a university in Nashville, Tennessee in order to try to heal some of the divisions amplified by the Civil War. Originally imagined as The Central University of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the school was named Vanderbilt University in honor of The Commodore. Ten schools and colleges comprise the university, and nearly 12,000 students are currently enrolled at this private research institution. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation with Very High Research Activity, Vanderbilt is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

Top 25 Online MPH Programs No GRE

masters in public health online no gre

Public health professionals make the world a healthier and safer place.

This is a profession focuses on minute details and global issues. People who work in Public Health examine the causes of diseases and accidents. They also research the failing health of communities. This can prevent diminished livelihood and improve quality of life.

You’ll need a Master’s degree in Public Health to work in this field. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is one of the most popular online master’s degree programs. Potential students have many solid online programs to choose from.

The GRE is a common part of the admissions process. But what if you don’t want to take an entrance exam like the GRE to get into online MPH programs? You’re in luck! This list provides excellent options for online MPH programs no GRE.

Quick Links to Our Top 10 Online MPH Programs

  1. Northern Illinois University
  2. University of New England
  3. A.T. Still University
  4. New York Medical College
  5. University of San Francisco
  6. California State University, Northridge
  7. University of Vermont
  8. Emory University
  9. National University
  10. Des Moines University

Master of Public Health Programs Without a GRE Requirement

Picture this. You are ready to fill out the application to the school of your choice. You realize you don’t have a standard piece of many Master-level programs—the GRE. No worries!

Many schools with online master’s programs no longer ask for GRE scores. Some offer waivers.  GRE scores are no longer a condition of admission. Schools look at a broader base of qualifications for admission into their online MPH programs. These include things like:

  • Undergraduate GPA
  • Other earned Master’s degrees
  • Professional work experience

Just to name a few!

Read on to examine our list of some of the best online MPH degree programs. These are programs that waive or do not require the GRE.

Already have GRE scores or desire a larger pool of exceptional online MPH programs (some of which ask for the GRE)? Check out this list of the Best Online Master of Public Health Degree Programs.

Suppose you pursue one of these degrees in public health. In that case, you might pursue careers in several areas, including:

  • Public health practice
  • Public health education
  • Community health
  • Certified health education specialist

You might design public health programs or drive public health policy. You could work to diminish public health disparities. You could even concentrate on occupational health.

See Also: 40 Fastest Online Master’s Degree Programs

Methodology for Ranking the Best Online MPB Programs No GRE

Our goal? To provide a clear list of the best online No-GRE MPH degree programs. We looked for programs that stated that GRE scores are needed for admission. We also looked at ones that had GRE waivers under certain admissions criteria.

In order to do this and to determine other important ranking factors, we examined school websites. We also looked at other available sources such as U.S. News and World Report and the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Here is the list of criteria that guided our rankings:

  • Recognition (25%): Ranking among national recognized sources such as U.S. News and World Report
  • Program Accreditation (25%): Accredited by CEPH, the leading accrediting body for MPH degree programs
  • Flexibility/Affordability (25%): Extent that the program is 100% online and average out-of-state tuition per credit hour
  • Application Simplicity (25%): Ease of GRE waiver and/or lack of requirement

See Also: Top 50 Highest Paying Masters Degrees

#1. Northern Illinois University Master of Public Health Degree Program

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois State Normal School opened as Northern Illinois University (NIU). The campus covers 755 acres. More than 19,000 students are enrolled in this public research university. More than 120 academic degree programs are available through the seven colleges and online programs. The Higher Learning Commission provides full regional accreditation.

Details About This Program

The online MPH degree program at NIU’s School of Health Studies in the College of Health and Human Sciences utilizes a “multidisciplinary, collaborative approach that employs the latest research” in order to provide a comprehensive and relevant degree. Health Promotion or Health Services Management are the two specialization options for this program. Both can lead to specific licensure or certification. The credit hours for graduation range between 43 and 52 depending upon specialization choice and following the thesis or non-thesis track. Eight core courses include classes such as:

  • Problems and Issues in Environmental Health
  • Biostatistics in Public Health
  • Community Health Planning

Students of the program praise it as a “an excellent, well-designed learning experience.”  Faculty mentors and program advisors offer both support and guidance to the online MPH student. The program takes two years. Students have up to six years if needed. The GRE is not needed for admission. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

See Also: 15 Best Affordable Master’s in Food Science and Technology

#2. University of New England Public Health Program

University of New England

Three independent institutions of higher education spanning over a century of educational history came together to form the University of New England (UNE). This private university serves over 13,500 students with more than 70 academic degree programs across five colleges. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education provides regional accreditation.

Details About This Program

UNE offers the only accredited online MPH degree program in the state. This is one of the best public health programs in the country. UNE Online provides a  online MPH that is “accessible anywhere there is a computer, and welcomes both adult learners and traditional students.” Twenty-five core credits combine with the student’s choice of twenty-one credits of electives to construct the 46-credit hour base. Classes cover topics such as :

  • Public Health Law, and Ethics
  • Principles of Public Health
  • Social and Behavioral Health

In addition, there is a four-credit “Integrated Public Health Practicum.” This allows students to gain practical, real-world experience. This is done through an internship in their own communities. MPH students are supported at UNE through every step. Enrollment Counselors are on hand to assist with the application. Student Support Specialists are assigned to each student to help with the logistics of online programs. The UNE’s Student Association for Public Health keeps students abreast of the latest Public Health news. No GRE is needed for the application. CEPH accredited


Admissions website

#3. A.T. Still University Master of Public Health Degree Program

ATSU

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still founded the American School of Osteopathy (ASO) in Kirksville, Missouri in 1892. Five women and sixteen men were his first students. Now, this private, graduate-level non-profit institution is known as A.T. Still University (ATSU). It serves over 5,000 students. There are thirty degrees throughout the six schools. ATSU has full regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.

Details About This Program

You’ll find another one of the best MPH programs at A.T. Still University. It is ideal for individuals who are “driven to make a difference and lead the future of healthcare,” ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies offers a comprehensive 64-credit hour online MPH degree program. Faculty in this healthy policy program are at the top of the field. All public health professors hold doctoral degrees provide rigorous classes on topics such as :

  • Leading Healthcare Organizations
  • Fundamentals of Research in Public Health
  • Death and Dying, Life and Living

There is a six-credit-hour practicum. In it, students perform 240 supervised contact hours in a public health field experience. ATSU offers student services for online students. It also provides assistance both to prospective students and alumni. Before you apply, you can participate in an online MPH demo course. This is done to assess their readiness for ATSU’s exceptional program. For graduates of the program, ATSU provides extensive alumni services. These range from job assistance to continuing education to an ambassador program. There is no GRE needed. CEPH accredited


Admissions website

#4. New York Medical College Public Health Program

New York Medical College

New York Medical College (NYMC)opened in 1860 as the Homeopathic Medical College of the State of New York. The original student body in 1860 had 59 students. Now 1,500 students study in 28 academic degree programs. In 2011, NYMC joined the Touro College and University System. It has regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Details About This Program

You will get a quality global public health education  if you choose to study in the MPH programs at New York Medical College. This program has start times in the fall, spring and summer. The MPH degree program through the NYMC School of Health Sciences and Practice provides convenience. It prepares students “to preserve, protect, and improve the health of individuals, families and communities.” This is through education, investigation, practice and service.” It offers three specializations online. These are:

  • Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion
  • Environmental Health Science
  • Health Policy and Management

Students have the opportunity to customize the 46-credit hour degree. They can take cutting-edge classes like:

  • Principles and Techniques of Behavior Change
  • Health Communication in the Age of Social Media
  • Stress and Health

You might also be able to explore topics related to:

  • Environmental and occupational health
  • Public health practice
  • Health policy
  • Environmental health sciences

Core courses cover topics like:

  • Health care in the U.S.
  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology
  • Social factors and environmental influences on public and human health

Electives along with a Culminating Experience follow these. There is also a Comprehensive Exam to complete the degree. GRE scores are not needed for admission. CEPH accredited


Admissions website

#5. University of San Francisco Master of Public Health Degree Program

University of San Francisco

This school first opened as the St. Ignatius Academy in the mid-1800s in California. The University of San Francisco had a strong Jesuit tradition from the start. The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Catholic university in the Jesuit tradition. It offers five schools and colleges to the 11,000  enrolled students. 

Details About This Program

This public health degree is located in USF’s School of Nursing and Health Professions. The online MPH degree is designed for students who desire to better the world. This can be done by advancing “public health, social justice, and well being.” The interprofessional, 45-credit hour degree program structures students together in a cohort. It takes two years. Core classes include:

  • Communicating for Healthy Behavior and Social Change
  • Social Justice, Health Policy, Ethics, and Public Health Law
  • Epidemiology

Elective choices cover topics ranging from

  • Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
  • Disaster Preparation and Response
  • Adolescent Health

Online students must complete two out of three residencies. These can be attended on campus or in a virtual format through webinars. A 300-hour Fieldwork Placement is needed. Fieldwork Coordinators help guide students to find the best organizational fit for their academic and professional goals. No GRE is needed for admission. You can use your education at USF to become a public health professional like a certified health education specialist.


Admissions website

#6. California State University, Northridge Public Health Program

California State University Northridge

The school opened in 1958. It became California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 1972. This public university is the largest in terms of enrollment of the 23-campus California State University system. It has a student body of over 41,000. There are more than 200 academic degree programs  in nine colleges. This is on the 350-plus suburban campus and in the online programs. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges grants CSUN with its regional accreditation.

Details About This Program

Looking for an MPH without GRE scores? The MPH programs at Cal State should be at the top of your list. The College of Health and Human Development and the Tseng College offer this degree. CSUN’s online MPH degree is a seven-term program that is ideal for both experienced and novice public health professionals. It requires 42-credit hours. This is average for a public health online program. The curriculum is guided by “professional preparation.” It is founded on the essential areas in public health:

  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental health
  • Community health
  • Epidemiology
  • Global public health
  • Occupational health
  • Health policy and management
  • Social and behavioral science

Students begin the online MPH programs as a cohort. They proceed through the coursework in a set course together to finish in two years. Classes are taught by the experienced and dedicated MPH faculty Classes cover subject areas such as:

  • Environmental Health
  • Cultural Issues in Health Care
  • Administration, Supervision and Consultation in Health Education

A supervised “Field Training” practicum experience requiring 300 contact hours and a final Comprehensive Exam are needed for graduation. The GRE is not needed if the undergraduate cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher. CEPH accredited


Admissions website

#7. University of Vermont Master of Public Health Degree Program

University of Vermont

The year 1791 was historic for Vermont. It became the 14th state in the union. Plus, the University of Vermont (UVM) opened. After the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, UVM became Vermont’s first land-grant school. It became a public university  renamed “The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.” About12,000 students now study in the ten schools and colleges on the 450-acre campus and in its online programs. Regional accreditation is provided by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Details About This Program

This program has a curriculum designed in relationship with the Larner College of Medicine. UVM’s online MPH degree program “helps students explore timely public health and policy issues while providing a strong foundation in population health sciences.” It is a Generalist degree. The 42-credit hour program has an accelerated fourteen months or two years. However, students are allowed up to five years as needed. Core coursework covers the most relevant MPH foundations of:

  • Behavioral Science/Health Education
  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  •  Health Services Administration

Electives can be chosen from a selection of subjects such as:

  • Health Economics
  • Public Health and Food Systems
  • Health Care Law & Ethics

A Culminating Capstone Project Experience can be local to the student. Dedicated MPH Advisors provide academic and professional guidance throughout the program. They ensure that online students are provided the support they need. Financial aid is available. GRE test scores are not needed for admission. Pursuing CEPH accreditation


Admissions website

#8. Emory University Public Health Program

Emory College

Emory College opened in Oxford, Georgia by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1836. Its name is in honor of Methodist Bishop John Emory. Eleven schools and colleges enroll more than 15,000 students. Emory has regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Details About This Program

This program is designed for Public Health professionals who have been working in the field for three or more years. The Executive MPH (EMPH) degree program through Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health is a “a truly interactive program.” It is a hybrid program requiring two three-day on-campus residencies a semester. There is one at the beginning and one at the end. Students get to form close professional ties with both their fellow students and the Rollins faculty. The 42-hour curriculum is made up of core classes such as:

  • Social Behavior in Public Health
  • Fundamentals of Epidemiology
  • Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System

Three concentration tracks are available:

  • Applied Epidemiology
  • Applied Public Health Informatics
  • Prevention Science

All students engage in a 200-400 contact-hour practicum experience. EMPH students are only admitted in the fall. The program takes about two years. GRE test scores are needed for the Applied Epidemiology track (online masters in epidemiology no GRE).  CEPH accredited


Admissions website

#9. National University Master of Public Health Degree Program

National University

National University (NU) opened in 1972 to 27 students. It had night and weekend classes leading to relevant and applicable degrees. With 25,000 students, NU is now a private not-for-profit institution of higher education. It has headquarters located in La Jolla, California. There are multiple campus sites across California and Nevada. It also has a strong online presence. National University has had continuous regional accreditation since 1977 (just five years after classes began). This is granted by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Details About This Program

National’s online MPH degree program is in the School of Health and Human Services department of Community Health. This is one of the best MPH without GRE requirements. It involves “multidisciplinary and collaborative strategies for solving health-related problems and promoting social justice.” The program is comprised of 72 quarter units. It  includes core courses such as:

  • Theories of Health Behavior
  • U.S. Healthcare System

Students choose between one of three specializations:

  • Health Promotion
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Mental Health

They can also choose between a Global Health Experience or an internship and capstone. The Global option allows students to “experience a host country’s healthcare, economic, political, legal, and cultural environment.” The Public Health Internship has at least 120 supervised contact hours over two months. The Public Health Capstone entails a two-month experience. This is a “project focused on a relevant problem in public health theory or practice.” Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of less than 2.50 may be asked to submit GRE scores. CEPH accredited


Admissions website

#10. Des Moines University Public Health Program

Des Moines University

Des Moines University began as the Dr. S.S. Still College of Osteopathy in 1898. Dr. Summerfield Saunders Still and his wife, Dr. Ella Still, established it. Women were treated as equal students at the school. The school grew and moved several times before being renamed Des Moines University (DMU) in 1999. There are nine academic graduate-level or doctoral degree programs and 2,000 enrolled students. It is the second oldest osteopathic medical college in the nation. There are just over 14,000 alumni. The Higher Learning Commission regionally accredits DMU. Financial aid is available for eligible students.

Details About This Program

The College of Health Sciences at DMU offers an online MPH degree program. This is another one of the best MPH programs that don’t require GRE scores. It has a goal to “provide an excellent, competency-based, interdisciplinary education that prepares public health leaders who preserve and promote health in our global community.” The 46-credit hour program provides three concentration areas in:

  • General Public Health
  • Health Service Management
  • Health Promotion

Courses include:

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Public Health Administration and Management

Electives are varied (which is typical of a public health online program) and cover areas like:

  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals
  • Maternal and Child Health

Students participate in an internship requiring 180 contact hours. They finish the degree with a culminating Capstone project. Online students are supported. This starts with an admission staff team to assist prospective students. It continues with faculty members who offer the benefit of their professional experience. Applicants who have already earned an advanced degree are exempt from the GRE. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#11. Creighton University Master of Public Health Degree Program

Creighton University

This school opened as Creighton College by the Society of Jesus. This was done with a bequeathed gift from Mary Lucretia Creighton. Creighton University had its beginnings in Omaha, Nebraska in the late 1800s. The name came from Mrs. Creighton’s husband Edward. Her brother-in-law John ran the school before the Jesuits and opened to 120 students in 1878. This private coeducational Jesuit Roman Catholic university is one of the 28 members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Details About This Program

Creighton University’s MPH online no GRE is aligned with the school’s “Catholic, Jesuit values of social justice and service to others.” It is a 44-credit-hour program. It provides two “service-oriented concentrations” in Health Policy & Ethics or Healthcare Management. Students take core classes in subjects like:

  • Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health
  • Public Health Ethics

Students engage in both a Pre-Practicum Preparation course and a Practice Experience.  This is done to get real-world contact hours and application. A final Capstone project combines everything the student has learned and experienced into an academic assignment. This is to be presented to the student’s peers and the MPH faculty. In addition, resources, academic articles, and research studies are provided to online MPH students. This is to help enrich their academic experience. It can also better prepare them for a career in the field. The GRE is not needed for admission. Pursuing CEPH accreditation

Faculty mentors

#12. University of Nevada, Reno Public Health Program

The University of Nevada, Reno

This school opened as part of the Morrill Act of 1862. The University of Nevada, Reno began as the State University of Nevada. It opened in Elko, Nevada in 1874. Most of the state’s population lived in and around Reno and Carson City. The Nevada legislature moved the school to Reno in 1885. This public coeducational university has high research activity (as recognized by the Carnegie Foundation). It has had regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1938.

Details About This Program

This online MPH no GRE program has a goal of teaching “public health practitioners how to look beyond just physical health and consider environmental, economic and sociological factors”. This is done to assess the full impact on the health and happiness of various populations. The online MPH program through Nevada’s School of Community Health Sciences is comprehensive. The online MPH in Public Health Practice concentration has multiple start dates a year. It takes two years. The 45-credit hour program provides foundational core courses. It also has specialized courses in topics like:

  • Public Health Law
  • Epidemiological Surveillance
  • Health Services Finance

An MPH Capstone and a Practicum field study experience are also needed for graduation. An emphasis on the values of excellence, inclusiveness, integrity and collaboration inform the program. A collection of resources and webinars is available to assist online MPH students. GRE scores may be needed for applicants who have not worked for three or more years in a health care setting. CEPH accredited

#13. Walden University Master of Public Health Degree Program

Walden University

Walden has an enrollment of 57,000 online students and representation from over 150 countries. It has five colleges offering online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. It is a for-profit Public Benefit Corporation. Walden has a mission of providing students “with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change.” Regional accreditation has been awarded by the Higher Learning Commission since 1990.

Details About This Program

Walden’s online MPH degree program seeks to create “healthy communities through positive social change.” It includes 64 quarter credits. Students can transfer in up to 32 credits towards the master’s in public health degree. The sequential coursework consists of:

  • One foundation course (“Perspectives of Health and the Developing Scholar-Practitioner”)
  • Core courses (such as “Biological Foundations of Public Health” and “Socioecological Perspectives on Health”)
  • A practicum and Capstone
  • An ePortfolio

It is guided by a set of core values. These include “quality, professional integrity, student-centeredness, respectful engagement, cultural sensitivity, effective leadership, collaboration, social justice, and responsibility for positive social change.” Walden utilizes its emphasis on the Scholar-Practitioner model that is threaded throughout the entire school. For Walden, the intent is to graduate professionals who can “bridge the gap between academia and the real world, blending academic research with practical application to solve complex problems in their profession.” The GRE is not listed for admission. Pursuing CEPH accreditation

Admissions website

#14. Medical College of Wisconsin Public Health Program

Medical College of Wisconsin

The Medical College of Wisconsin merged from two independent medical schools. Both schools, Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Milwaukee Medical College, began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Several new campuses opened in the 2000s. The school boasts an alumni network of more than 16,000. The Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation, and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education also accredits MCW.

Details About This Program

This program is online through MCW’s Institute for Health and Equity. The online MPH program has embraced methodologies central “to the learning styles of active, self-motivated adult learners, making formal graduate education a reality for practicing professionals.” It includes 42-credit hours. One concentration is in Public Health Practice. This instructs students to:

  • Excel at assessing the health of different communities and cultures
  • Work towards creating plans that will improve society’s quality of life
  • Perform the pertinent evaluations to gauge the difference they made

Core courses cover topics like:

  • Principles of Epidemiology
  • Introduction to Biostatistics
  • Ethical Issues in Public Health
  • Community Health Assessment and Improvement

Students choose from a variety of electives. All students must participate in both a Field Placement and Capstone Project to complete the degree. Applicants who already possess a terminal degree may submit a waiver request to exempt them from the GRE component. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#15. University of Montana Master of Public Health Degree Program

University of Montana

Just four years after Montana gained statehood in 1889, the University of Montana chartered for the city of Missoula. It sits at the foot of Mount Sentinel. The main campus of the University of Montana (UM) encompasses over 230 total acres along with the South Campus. It is the second largest university in the Montana University System. UM serves as the flagship campus of the four-school system. There are eleven colleges and schools. These provide academic programs to the 13,000 enrolled students. Financial aid is available. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities offers regional accreditation to this public coeducational research university.

Details About This Program

The online MPH is housed within the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences’ School of Public and Community Health Sciences. This master’s in public health degree takes two to three and a half years. It has 42-credit hours. The mission of the master’s in public health degree program is to provide quality distance education to “prepare public health practitioners who will use global insight to improve the health of the people of Montana and other rural areas.” The MPH curriculum comprises core coursework, electives, and nine culminating credit hours in the form of a Capstone. The Capstone has a practicum of 160 contact hours. There is a professional paper and a comprehensive portfolio.

A Master in Public Health degree with a concentration in Community Health and Prevention Sciences (MPH-CHPS) is also available as a hybrid degree program. Some courses are only available on-campus. GRE scores are waived for applicants with a previous terminal degree. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#16. University of South Florida Public Health Program

The University of South Florida

This school is the first independent state university that was devised, designed, and constructed in the 1900s. The University of South Florida (USF) originated with the 1955 passage of a Florida House Bill. This created a state university in the Hillsborough County area. The campus is located on the former Henderson Air Field airstrip just north of Tampa. It now encompasses 2,000 acres. More than 50,000 students are enrolled across all three campuses. Fourteen colleges offer over 100 academic degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides USF with regional accreditation.

Details About This Program

The MPH degree program at the USF College of Public Health provides a multitude of online concentration options. It is all online. Students can choose to customize their MPH degree in:

  • Social Marketing
  • Nutrition and Dietetics (only available for applicants who have practiced as a registered dietician for two years or who are participating in an ACEND accredited dietetic internship)
  • Health, Safety, & Environment
  • Epidemiology
  • Global Disaster Management
  • Humanitarian Relief & Homeland Security
  • Infection Control
  • Public Health Practice

You’ll complete 42 credit hours but some concentrations require more. Core courses for all concentrations cover topics like “History & Systems of Public Health.” You’ll also complete an Integrated Learning Experience and a final Comprehensive Exam. There are thirteen online MPH graduate certificates. These are for prospective students who don’t desire a full graduate degree. Applicants with terminal or advanced professional degrees and who also have obtained individual licensure may request a GRE Waiver. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#17. University at Albany SUNY Master of Public Health Degree Program

Albany

This is a comprehensive public research university. The University at Albany-SUNY offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors. There are also 125 masters, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs. The curriculum is enhanced by 600 study-abroad opportunities. UAlbany launches great careers. Regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Details About This Program

UAlbany’s online MPH degree is a part-time program. It is presented through the School of Public Health. The 51-credit-hour online program provides a concentration in Public Health Practice. Online MPH students acquire the “skills and attributes associated with effective public health leadership.” Coursework covers core MPH disciplines. Plus you’ll cover topics like:

  • Public Health Leadership
  • Program Evaluation
  • Program Development in Health Promotion

Courses are on Blackboard. The program takes three years, on average. All students are supplied with a faculty advisor who can help them navigate the MPH program. Nine credits of practice-based internships are an integral component of the master’s in public health degree. These are for students to gain practical application of course concepts.  Students who enter the program with previous public health work experience may be eligible to waive up to 6 internship credits.  Applicants who completed an advanced degree (master’s or doctoral level) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher may request a GRE waiver. Students who complete UAlbany’s online Certificate in Public Health Fundamentals and Principles program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 can also waive the GRE.  MCAT, GMAT. PCAT, DAT and LSAT scores are also accepted in lieu of the GRE.  CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#18. Benedictine University Public Health Program

Benedictine University

This school was first named St. Procopius College. It opened to educate young men who were or were descended from Czech or Slovakian parentage. Benedictine University was chartered by Benedictine monks in 1887. The monks were part of the St. Procopius Abbey of Chicago, Illinois. They opened the school in the suburb of Lisle. In 1971 the name changed to Illinois Benedictine College in honor of St. Benedict. It then changed again in 1996 to Benedictine University (BenU). There are over 80 academic degree programs. There are 10,000 students enrolled. It is a private Roman Catholic university. The Higher Learning Commission regionally accredits benU.

Details About This Program

The online MPH program at BenU is a 58-credit-hour program that takes two years. Students can participate in additional certificate options to provide further specialization in:

  • Health Management and Policy
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Health Education and Promotion
  • Epidemiology

Foundational courses comprise 46 credits. They cover topics like:

  • Health Policy
  • Biological Aspects of Public Health
  • Environmental Health

An internship/capstone course satisfies six-credit hours. It must provide at least 240 supervised contact hours in a public health agency. The MPH faculty are practitioners and experts in the field. They “will pass on their knowledge of public health” and cultivate the student’s expertise. Resources are abundant for the online MPH student. They provide guidance in, among other topics:

  • Public Health theory
  • Practice
  • Careers
  • Online learning

Applicants can request a GRE waiver if they possess an advanced master’s in public health degree. They may also be able to request a waiver if their undergraduate GPA is satisfactory. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#19. University of Arizona Master of Public Health Degree Program

University of Arizona

The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 enabled the Arizona Territory to establish a university for the area. The federal act provided the funding for schools through the selling of federal lands. The Arizona legislature chartered the University of Arizona in 1885. The first classes welcomed 32 students. Now over 42,000 students study more than 350 academic degree programs. This is in the nineteen colleges and schools of Arizona. The Higher Learning Commission regionally accredits the University of Arizona.

Details About This Program

The MPH degree through the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at AU provides students with three 100%-online concentrations:

  • Applied Epidemiology
  • Health Services Administration
  • Health Promotion

The concentration coursework comprises 50% of the 42-credit hour curriculum. The master’s in public health degree degree takes two years. Classes include:

  • “Basic Principles of Epidemiology”
  • “Biostatistics in Public Health”

This allows students to acquire the foundations before pursuing their concentration area courses. You’ll complete a Master’s Report internship over the last three semesters. This can be in your home location. In addition, AU provides online MPH students the same benefits as on-campus students by providing support and resources throughout the program. The GRE is waived for all applicants to the Health Services Administration concentration. It is also waived for applicants to the Health Promotion concentration who possess five-plus years of public health professional experience. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#20. University of North Dakota Public Health Program

UND

When North Dakota was still a territory, there was a desire for a university with a distinct and unique (for that time) focus on liberal arts. The University of North Dakota (UND) opened by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in Grand Forks in 1883. This was six years before it joined the union. The school thrived. Now almost 15,000 students engage in 224 fields of study. It is the oldest university in the state. UND has regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Details About This Program

The MPH degree program is in the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. It trains students to become “public health professionals who can transform data into information for decision-making.” All classes in the 42-credit hour program are presented in the evening on-campus. They are available to distance learners through a live broadcast. Students take core courses in topics like:

  • Leading and Managing Public Health Systems
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health

They choose between a specialization in Population Health Analytics or Health Management & Policy. A field placement practicum and a culminating project complete the master’s in public health degree. This can be finished in just eighteen months. Students have up to seven years if needed. Applicants with an advanced degree from an accredited university in the United States or Canada do not need to take the GRE. Nor do applicants with five years of professional, relevant public health experience. CEPH accredited

Admissions website

#21. Azusa Pacific University Master of Public Health Degree Program

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University opened in 1899 as the Training School for Christian Workers. It was the very first Bible College of the West. It is located in Whittier, California. Classes began in a local home for twelve students. This school combined with others. It moved locations several times before becoming a full degree-granting institution in 1939. It set up a permanent campus in Azusa, California. This was in 1946. Regional accreditation for APU comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Program Details

The 42-credit-hour MPH degree program is 100% online. This is through APU’s University College. Core courses include:

  • Health Care Policy, Law, and Society
  • Environmental Health
  • Sexuality, Gender, and Public Health

Students choose one of three emphasis areas:

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Education/Behavioral Science
  • Health Services Administration

A final Public Health Practicum allows students to practice and apply the theory and concepts they’ve learned in their coursework. There are “success coaches” to support students through their academic journey. There are also many other resources. For instance, there is a Career and Vocation Center. This highlights the spiritual fulfillment aspect of educational pursuits. APU’s University College helps online learners achieve success. The GRE is not listed as part of the application. Aligned with the competencies set forth by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)

Admissions website

#22. Liberty University Public Health Program

Liberty University

Liberty University began as Lynchburg Baptist College. This was in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1971. It is the largest Christian institution of higher education. Liberty enrolls over 15,000 residential students and 110,000 students online. It is a non-profit, Christian University. Liberty has seventeen schools and colleges. These offer more than 600 academic degree programs. Liberty’s regional accreditation is from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This has been since 1980.

Details About This Program

The online MPH is part of Liberty Online through the School of Health Sciences. This online MPH degree program equips students to understand “the leading health problems.” It also helps them to create strategies to address those issues. It has 42-credit hours. Students may be eligible to transfer in up to 21 credit hours towards the master’s in public health degree degree. Core coursework includes:

  • Biostatistics
  • Principles in Epidemiology

There are also specializations in:

  • Global Health
  • Health Promotion
  • Nutrition

These offer curricular focus on topics like:

  • Cultural Aspects of Health Behavior
  • Health Agency Management
  • Nutrition and Chronic Disease

You’ll complete a Practicum course. All students must complete a minimum of 120 contact hours with a public health organization or agency. Students can begin the program at eight different start dates each year. Classes are presented in an asynchronous format. The GRE is not listed as part of the admission process.

Admissions website

#23. Southern New Hampshire University Master of Public Health Degree Program

Southern New Hampshire University

Married couple Harry A.B. Shapiro and Gertrude Crockett Shapiro established the predecessor of Southern New Hampshire University in 1932. It is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. The New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science was a for-profit business school. It expanded in size and programmatic offerings. It became a not-for-profit in 1968. This was also when it moved to its current campus location. It has 300 acres on the border of the towns of Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire. It is now known as Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The school offers six schools and colleges. It has a strong online education presence. On-campus students make up about 5,000 of the total enrollment of 80,000 students enrolled. More than 75,000 students engage in SNHU’s distance education programs. SNHU is a private, coeducational nonsectarian university. Its regional accreditation comes from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Details About This Program

SNHU’s online Master of Science in Public Health degree is a “purpose-built program.” It helps students address “the root instead of the branches of some of the keynote health challenges” of today. The program has:

  • Eight core courses
  • A Public Health Capstone practicum
  • Three elective classes chosen from catalogue offerings in Healthcare Management, Integrated Health Management, or Public Health

There’s also an optional concentration in Global Health. Students choosing to pursue the concentration take global-focused courses such as:

  • Population-Based Epidemiology
  • Global Health Policy, Practice, and Partnerships
  • Principles of Global Health

Students can complete the master’s in public health degree in just fifteen months. This can be done by enrolling in two classes during each ten-week term. Online programming at SNHU is integral to the school. The level of support for online students is exceptional. GRE scores are not needed. Core coursework aligns with competencies defined by ASPPH and the CEPH

Admissions website

#24.The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Public Health Program

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP or “The Chicago School”) opened in 1979 by a collection of psychologists. They had the idea to offer professional training in a not-for-profit institution. TCSPP has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission since 2011.

Details About This Program

The MPH degree program is all online. It is also at the L.A. campus location of The Chicago School. The 42-credit hour curriculum provides a solid base of 27 core credits. Class topics include:

  • Healthcare Access and U.S. Payment Systems
  • Public Health Law, Regulation, and Ethics
  • Principles and Methods of Biostatistics

Students take three elective courses to customize the master’s in public health degree. There are two concentrations in the online MPH no GRE:

Two Fieldwork Seminars are included. Students work in a public health internship setting to get real-world experience. A Capstone research paper culminates the degree. This is a full-time program that takes 27 months. The Chicago School’s “online Global Student Dashboard” provides students with all the pieces to have a successful online academic experience. The GRE is not part of admission. Pursuing CEPH accreditation

Admissions website

#25. Salus University Master Of Public Health (MPH) In Health Promotion And Behavioral Science

Salus University

Salus University started as the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) in 1919. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher education focusing on optometry. The school opened during the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Optical Society in 1918. The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools provides Salus with regional accreditation.

Details About This Program

Last but not least on our list of MPH programs that don’t require GRE scores is Salus. This program is a collaboration between the Salus University and Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences partnership (called the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of the Master of Public Health). The online MPH degree program is ideal for “for deeply motivated and intellectually curious individuals who seek the strategic skills necessary to advance the health and well-being of the public worldwide.” It has 42-credit hours. Students complete the program on a part-time basis. They are allowed up to five years to finish. The curriculum covers core subjects such as:

  • Cost Effective Analysis in Health Care
  • Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
  • Introduction to Bioterrorism

Electives include:

  • Health and Human Rights
  • Epidemiologic Study Design and Grant Writing
  • Improve Quality and Manage Costs

Two certificate options are also available: Health Policy and Humanitarian Healthcare. An Applied Practice Experience and an Integrative Learning Experience culminate the degree. The GRE is not needed for acceptance into the MPH programs.

Admissions website

Online MPH Programs No GRE FAQ

How to choose an online MPH – no GRE required?

When you’re looking for a master’s in public health online no GRE, there are a few things to consider for the best possible public health education.

First, what are the qualifications of the faculty? Do they hold advanced degrees in their respective fields?

Will you be able to work one-on-one with these instructors? How big are the class sizes? Will you have opportunities for hands-on learning?

Whether you’re looking at MPH online programs no GRE or on-campus programs, make sure you take a close look at the program quality. Factors like the student-to-faculty ratio and accreditation can give you a good idea of this.

What are the best MPH programs no GRE needed?

Searching for the best MPH programs that don’t require GRE scores? The list of schools above is a great place to start. Other top master’s in public health programs can be found at schools such as:

  • George Washington University
  • Florida International University

While online learning is the right choice for many public health students – and online community health education often does not require GRE scores – don’t be afraid of an on campus program either. An on campus program may offer you the health education credentialing you need and allow you to network in-person with health professionals.

How to apply to MPH programs that don’t require GRE scores

When you’re looking for an MPH without GRE scores, you might assume that you can put less overall effort into the application process. That’s not the case. In fact, most MPH programs without GRE requirements have even more stringent application procedures.

Admissions officials will look carefully at your transcripts. If you’re applying for an MPH no GRE, you may need higher grades to qualify. You might also need work experience and fantastic letters of recommendation to be eligible.

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Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

45 Best Online Public Relations Master’s

Public Relations professionals know how to make their mark. After all, the whole point of PR is to sway public opinion.

Public Relations is a broad field. It includes other topics. These include Strategic Communications, Integrated Marketing, and more. It is one of the most popular online master’s degree programs on the market.

So what should you look for when trying to find the best public relations programs?

Look for a degree with regional accreditation. Common organizations that offer regional accreditation for master’s in public relations degrees include:

  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

Most programs have 30-36 credit hours. The coursework covers theory and research, as well as communication and content building.

You’ll often find specializations in:

  • integrated communications
  •  social media
  • and other communication-driven areas

And other fields. You’ll take courses in the following topics:

  • Public relations basics
  • Reputation management
  • Communications strategies
  • Media relations
  • Crisis management
  • Market research
  • Finance basics for fundraising managers
  • Mass communication for public relations specialists
  • Social media marketing
  • Capstone experience in public relations or related field

Aspiring public relations graduates students often need to have a bachelor’s degree. This should be in a related field. Samples include:

  • a bachelor’s degree in mass communication
  • a bachelor’s degree in media relations
  • an online public relations degree at the undergraduate level

Many graduate programs offer financial aid. Others offer minimal technology fees. Earning an online public relations degree is more affordable than you think!

Public relations professionals, after completing graduate programs in public relations, are prepared to work in all kinds of fields. A master’s in public relations can prepare you for work in:

  • reputation management
  • public relations managers
  • media relations
  • crisis management
  • market research
  • mass communication
  • public relations professionals
  • fundraising managers
  • social media marketing

Careers are exhilarating and fast-paced. The salary that comes with all that is pretty impressive.

Here’s a fun fact according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The public relations professional can expect a salary starting at $60,000 (with just a bachelor’s degree). After earning a master’s degree, that salary goes all the way up to $115,000. Again, that’s according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The job outlook for a public relations master is good, too. Again, that’s according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Get a master’s in public relations. It’s a smart choice. You can double your salary.

With all the great online masters in public relations, there’s no reason not to pursue one.

To help you find a stellar online Master of Public Relations, we’ve done all the research. We present to you a list of the 45 best graduate degrees. These are in public relations, strategic communications, and similar programs.

All are offered online for your convenience.

Ready to find a public relations masters online? Let’s take a closer look!

#1. Georgetown University

Online Master’s in Public Relations Degree

Georgetown UniversityThe Georgetown Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations & Corporate Communications (MPS PRCC) degree is one of the best. It is an award-winning online public relations program.

This master in public relations online is through the School of Continuing Studies. Georgetown’s MPS PRCC degree presents a strategic 30-credit hour curriculum. Students finish in two to five years.

This online master in public relations has three focus areas online. A fourth is on-campus only. Students choose five elective courses. These graduate programs focus on:

  • Corporate Communications
  • Digital Communications
  • Public Relations.

Admissions website

#2. Northeastern University

Master of Science in Corporate and Organizational Communication

The MS in Corporate & Organizational Communication degree program is another top master’s degree. It is in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. This online masters public relations degree is 100% online.

There are eight concentrations are provided. Four are relevant to public relations:

  • Public and Media Relations
  • Social Media and Online Communities
  • Cross-Cultural Communication
  • Leading Communication Strategy and Talent Development

All students take the same core courses. Concentration classes include a wide range of relevant topics such as:

  • Digital Era Skills: Platforms, Tools, and Techniques
  • Public Relations Content Development
  • Social Media and Brand Strategy Implementation

Public relations professionals who have the Accreditation in Public Relations credential have access to perks. These include program acceleration and tuition discounts.

Admissions website

#3. Quinnipiac University

Online Master’s in Public Relations Degree

Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications has an online MS in Public Relations degree program. It is one of only six master’s level programs awarded by the Public Relation Society of America’s (PRSA) Certification in Education for Public Relations.

The 36-credit hour program provides a curriculum with rigorous core classes.  These include:

  • Strategic Public Relations and Reputation Management
  • Law and Ethics in Public Relations
  • Global Strategy

There is an optional Social Media Track. This has classes like:

  • Social Media Practice and Techniques
  • Strategic Planning in Public Relations

Admissions website

#4. University of Arkansas at Little Rock

MA in Mass Communication

The online Master of Arts in Mass Communication (MCOM) degree program at UA Little Rock has a professional mass media option. It includes a Strategic Communication/Public Relations concentration track.

The 33-credit hour program is through UA Little Rock Online. It allows students to choose their capstone experience. This is either a final master’s thesis or a professional project.

It is in the UA Little Rock School of Mass Communication. The online MCOM Professional Mass Media option in Strategic Communication/Public Relations boasts caring faculty members. They have “considerable professional experience.”

Students learn:

  • Public Relations Cases
  • PR for 21st Century Non-Profits
  • Internet Policy and Regulation
  • Ethnic and Alternative Media in America

Admissions website

#5. University of Iowa

MA in Strategic Communication

University of iowaThe University of Iowa’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication has an online MA in Strategic Communication. This online masters public relations degree is in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It is for both “current and aspiring communication professionals.” It is one of the best graduate programs for the aspiring public relations specialist.

This is a 30-credit hour program. Students learn:

  • Digital Strategic Communication
  • Strategic Communications Research
  • Capstone Project in Strategic Communication
  • Risk Communication
  • Public Relations Writing
  • Media Management for Strategic Communication
  • Financial and Budget Fundamentals for Communicators

Admissions website

#6. Ashland University

MA in Corporate and Strategic Communication

Ashland UniversityYou’ll find another one of the best online public relations masters at Ashland University. It takes as little as eighteen months. Both public relations professionals and those from a related field can apply.

The curriculum for the Corporate and Strategic Communication program has 30-credit hours of classes.

Students choose between the Health & Risk Concentration Track and the Public Relations Concentration Track.

The concentration in public relations offers classes like:

  • Seminar in Social Media Platforming
  • Public Relations Campaigns

All students in the MACSC program complete their degree with a Capstone in Communication Studies. The experienced Ashland faculty lead the way. Many of them teach at the bachelor’s degree level, too.

Students have access to a Public Relations Student Society of America chapter through Ashland. There is also a MACSC degree for high school teachers. This is to prepare students who already have their master’s degree.

Admissions website

#7. Liberty University

Online MBA in Public Relations; Online MA in Strategic Communication; Online Master of Science in Marketing – Public Relations

Liberty UniversityLiberty University Online provides three online graduate Public Relations degrees. In addition to a master of science in public relations/marketing, there is an MBA and a MA. The business administration focus is truly unique.

Two of these online public relations masters degrees are in the Liberty School of Business. These are the 45-credit online MBA in Public Relations program and the 36-credit hour Liberty online MS in Marketing – Public Relations degree.

There is some shared core coursework between both degrees. This is coupled with the Public Relations Cognate courses in:

  • Media Technologies & Communication Strategies
  • Communication & Conflict
  • Strategic Communication Campaigns for the Digital Age

The programs both take about two years. Prospective students can transfer in up to 50% of the credit hour requirement. It is an excellent program for aspiring fundraising managers in particular.

The third degree is in Liberty’s School of Communication and Digital Content. It is a 33-credit hour program. The Liberty online MA in Strategic Communication degree engages students in classes such as:

  • Strategic Storytelling
  • Video, Social & Mobile Promotion
  • Strategic Organizational Communication

Admissions website

#8. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

MA in Mass Communications 

UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications provides the MA in Journalism & Mass Communications degree. This online masters degree public relations option is in conjunction with the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

This master of science is a 36-credit hour program. Students have up to ten years to complete the degree. There is financial aid as part of this master of science degree as well.

Required core courses cover:

  • Advertising & PR Research
  • Brands & Branding
  • Integrated Media Communications Capstone

There are also a wide range of electives. These allow for a great deal of customization.

Don’t want to get a full graduate degree or who want to test the waters before committing? There is also an online UNL graduate certificate in Public Relations and Social Media.

Admissions website

#9. University of Maryland University College

Online Master’s in Public Relations

University of MarylandThis masters degree in public relations online is in the Online Learning at UMUC. This online MS in Management degree has a specialization in Public Relations. It builds students expertise and helps prepare them for PR certification.

The 36-credit hour program is “designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars.” It presents courses such as:

  • Statistics for Managerial Decision Making
  • Public Relations Theory and Practice
  • Public Relations Campaigns

The Strategic Management Capstone Course allows students to develop a public relations campaign proposal. This is for a client organization. It teaches them to form a detailed plan to respond to a fact-based public relations crisis. It also teaches them to provide actual materials for organizations.

Admissions website

#10. Spring Arbor University

MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership

Spring ArborThere are many distinctive perks in this masters public relations online  degree.

The online MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership (MCOM) is an online eighteen-month graduate degree program. It is in SAU’s Department of Communication and Media. These public relations programs are in the School of Arts and Sciences.

The unique program provides mentorship. It is unique from other public relations programs for this reason. Students will have access to financial aid. They can also conduct research of all kinds.

The curriculum for the 38-credit hour program includes classes such as:

  • Communication as Vocation and Calling
  • Digital Media Strategies
  • Communication Theory and Worldview

All coursework is presented with “both theoretical and Christian perspectives.” The faculty “are practicing professionals who routinely publish, present, and produce original work.”  There are extensive online student services and support offered by SAU Online.

Admissions website

#11. Queens University of Charlotte

MA in Communication

You’ll find another one of the best masters in public relations online at Queens University of Charlotte. Queens University of Charlotte has an online MA in Communication through the James L. Knight School Communication.

The Queens University online MA in Communication degree program is 36-credit hours. There is an optional concentration in Integrated Digital Strategy. It adds an additional three-credit hours.

Coursework includes:

  • Communication Fluency
  • Strategic Communication for Global Audiences
  • Organizational Identity and Brand

All courses in this masters of public relations online are taught by the Queens University Knight School of Communication Graduate Program faculty.

The Integrated Digital Strategy concentration is ideal for professionals who want to “develop advanced and in-depth expertise in digital and emerging media.”

There is a broad selection of specific graduate communication resources. For example, there is an Online MA in Communication Virtual Open House. There is also a detailed explanation of the various career paths that are possible with the MA degree.

Admissions website

#12. Gonzaga University

Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership Studies

GonzagaThe 30-credit hour Online MA in Communication and Leadership program at Gonzaga is one of the best masters public relations online degree you’ll find.

There are five optional concentrations. The “dynamic” curriculum is amazing. It provides a great deal of customization. This is through elective choices and two capstones. There is one on-campus Gonzaga three-day immersion residency experience.

Students are required to attend just one domestic immersion. But they are offered five times a year. Students can attend as many as they like.

The expert Gonzaga Communications Graduate faculty teach both on-campus and online coursework. They teach classes such as:

  • International and Intercultural Communication
  • Digital Storytelling
  • Social Media Engagement and Analysis

There is plentiful student support through Gonzaga Online. There is a Student Services Team to answer any questions a distance learner may have. Other online resources include a Career Center and access to the Foley Library.

Admissions website

#13. George Washington University

Online Master’s in Public Relations

Are you a prospective student who is interested in GW’s online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Strategic Public Relations? 

Here, graduates of this public relations online masters share their insight as well as how the GW program helped them achieve their goals.

The 30-credit hour program is in the GW Graduate School of Political Management. Students learn from an esteemed faculty. They possess a diversity of professional experience. They are experienced in online instruction.

The curriculum is “designed to provide students a rigorous, contemporary and transformational learning experience.” It includes classes such as:

  • Political Socialization and Public Opinion
  • Fundamentals of Business & Finance for PR Professionals
  • Sustainable Communications
  • Public Relations & Public Affairs Capstone Research Project

This last capstone project happens with a current employer (or other organization) and GW faculty. It culminates in apublishable quality research paper.” Student support is specific and dedicated.

Admissions website

#14. American University

Master of Arts in Strategic Communication

American University has one of the best online master’s in public relations programs.  The online master’s in Strategic Communication degree has a rich curriculum that imparts “conceptual tools and strategic-thinking skills.”

The online American Master’s in Strategic Communication degree is a 30-credit hour program. It takes as little as 20 month. There is corporate communications coursework in topics such as:

  • Communication Theory
  • Social Marketing for Social Impact
  • Strategic Communication Management

There is an optional concentration in Advocacy and Social Impact. This is for students who want to work in “social movements, election campaigns, public-policy debates, and legislation to achieve social change”).

There are Program Resources and Industry Updates supplied to help online students learn via the AU Online MA in Communication website. Plus, all aspiring PR professionals online have access to the same resources as the on-campus students. The quality of the support offered does not differ depending on the format from which the student earns a degree.

Admissions website

#15. Syracuse University

Online Master’s in Public Relations

The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University has some of the best public relations degree programs. The online MS in Communications degree program has a Public Relations specialization, This online master’s in the public relations field combines the reputation of a renowned institution with the convenience of 100% online coursework.

The 33-credit hour MS in Communications program requires five core courses. Examples include:

  • Multimedia Storytelling
  • Digital Communications Systems

Four courses are dedicated to the Public Relations specialization. These cover theory, management, planning and design elements.

The online Master of Science experience assures a robust curriculum and well-supported atmosphere for the online student. There are two weekend immersion experiences for all students.

Admissions website

#16. Troy University

Master’s in Public Relations & Strategic Communication

TROY Online has an online master’s in Strategic Communication degree that takes just a year. The 30-credit hour online master’s in public relations is through the Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts. It is delivered online through the eTROY campus.

Online MS in Strategic Communication students are guided by the TROY Online faculty. These part time and full time instructors are “seasoned instructors with real-world experience.”

Admissions website

#17. Missouri State University

 MA in Communication

Missouri State UniversityMissouri State Online provides the online master’s in the public relations industry and communications.

A student has his choice of electives. In this online master’s in public relations, there are several areas of concentration are available. Core classes include:

  • Public Relations Campaigns
  • Concepts and Analysis of Public Relations
  • Communication Technology and Politics
  • Presidential Rhetoric

These core classes lead students to an emphasis in Public Relations that will help eligible students find work in all kinds of digital and social media realms.

The 32-credit hour program is in the School of Communication Studies. It takes two years to complete the courses required for the strategic public relations field.

The Missouri State faculty in the Department of Communication provides direct interaction. They have “a reputation of excellence through their teaching, research and publication accomplishments.” Missouri State Online Student Support Services and other academic resources are available to all online MA in Communication students.

Core courses cover topics like:

  • Theory and Research in Communication
  • Rhetorical Analysis in Communication Research
  • Creative Media Strategies
  • Public Relations for Public Opinion
  • Content Creation in the Digital Age
  • Strategic Public Relations
  • Applied Communication Research Methods
  • Social Media Management

These provide a solid communications foundation for both for-profit and nonprofit work. A final Masters Thesis completes the degree.

Admissions website

#18. Bellevue University

 MA in Business and Professional Communication

Bellevue UniversityThe Bellevue University MA in Business and Professional Communication degree program is online for ease and convenience. This is one of the best online master’s in public relations programs for those with professional and organizational communication career aspirations.

The 36-credit hour degree program allows students to conduct research and take courses in a variety of public relations industry areas. The online master’s in public relations is great for online students. It “focuses on professional communication skills applicable to public relations and strategic communication.”

It also focuses on other other valuable professional communication skills. These are skills necessary to work in the public relations industry.

Students choose from one of several predetermined concentration options:

  • Business
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Executive Coaching
  • Human Resource Management
  • Project Management
  • Transnational and Cross-cultural Communication

They can also construct their own Interdisciplinary Studies Concentration (IDC). This is from several disciplines.

All online classes at Bellevue University are capped at 24 students.

Admissions website

#19. Washington State University

MA in Strategic Communication

WSU’s online MA in Strategic Communication degree program is a 30-credit hour program. This online master’s in the public relations field appeals to both seasoned professionals and those wishing to enter the public relations field. It is available through the WSU Global Campus.

This online master’s in public relations is a multidisciplinary program. Students participate in professional core courses such as:

  • Marketing Strategy
  • Social Media Management
  • Professional Multimedia Content Creation
  • Crisis Communication in Global Contexts
  • Consumer Behavior and Brand Development
  • Professional Marketing Communication Management and Campaigns
  • Creative Media Strategies & Techniques

The final Capstone Project culminates the program. The full-time WSU Murrow College faculty teach all the online courses.

Admissions website

#20. University of Florida

Master’s in Public Relations

UFThe University of Florida online master degree in communications has a concentration in public relations. It is perfect for the digital age. The online master’s brings real-world, innovative techniques. It also brings best practices to its Public Relations students.

This online master’s is through the UF College of Journalism and Communications (CJC). It has 33-credit hours. There are core courses such as:

  • Measurement & Evaluation
  • Strategy & Messaging

Full-time students finish in just eighteen months. The online aspect of the program allows students flexibility. They can complete the degree at their own pace. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.

Admissions website

#21. Ball State University

Master’s in Public Relations

Ball StateBall State University has an outstanding public relations management degree. It is perfect for working professionals. It’s ideal for those who are interested in conducting research in public relations management, content creation, and other areas.

It is a well-rounded online MA in Public Relations degree. It takes just five semesters. The online Master of Arts in Public Relations degree program is in Ball State’s Department of Journalism.

Students can choose between two concentration options in public relations management. It is a 33-39 credit hour program. There are two twelve-credit hour concentrations in either Public Relations Leadership or Media Analytics. Classes include:

  • Case Studies of Global, Digital and Ethical PR Practice
  • Public Relations Campaigns
  • Media Audiences & Content Strategy
  • Data Visualization
  • Studies in Journalism and Communication Theory
  • Business Fundamentals and Entrepreneurship in PR

Students gain valuable connections through the experienced faculty. The program is entirely online through Ball State Online.

Admissions website

#22. Austin Peay State University

MA in Communication Arts: Concentration Marketing Communication

The APSU Department of Communication prepares students to become talented marketing managers. This is with its online MA in Communication Arts degree. This online master’s in public relations has a Marketing Communication Concentration. There is also a Media Management Concentration.

The 34-credit hour online master’s in public relations has a fast-track.

The curriculum has courses like:

  • Communication Law
  • Applied Communication Theory
  • Marketing Communication Strategies
  • Consumer and Audience Behavior
  • Ethics in a Changing Environment
  • Communication and Public Opinion

The APSU Department of Communication faculty teach all coursework. They have a range of experience.

Admissions website

#23. Montana State University Billings

Master’s in Public Relations

Montana State University BozemanIf you want to be a public relations specialist, you’ll like the public relations degree programs offered at Montana State University.

The MSUB Master of Science in Public Relations (MSPR) online master’s program is  perfect for students of all kinds. It’s ideal for those who have varying levels of public relations and communications experiences.

These public relations programs are in the College of Arts and Sciences. You’ll complete 30-credit hours. There are four different emphasis areas:

  • Public Relations Theory & Practice
  • Health Communication
  • Political and Public Communication
  • Media and Society

Some courses are shared between all four emphasis areas:

  • Media Criticism
  • Public Relations Ethics
  • Issues in Organizational Communication

Some are unique to each area:

  • Healthcare Marketing and Strategy
  • Public Influence
  • Multicultural Mass Communication

All students finish the degree program by taking a Comprehensive Exam.

Admissions website

#24. Purdue University

Master’s in Public Relations

If you want to learn things like:

  • critical thinking
  • corporate social responsibility
  • public perception tailored to specific audiences

Then you may want to consider Purdue University!

Students of Purdue University’s online MS in Communications with the Strategic Communication/Public Relations concentration are well prepared for careers as marketing managers at major organizations. They can also work at various nonprofit organizations.

Start date choices include the fall, spring and summer. The 30-credit hour program requires no on-campus commitments. The online master’s takes less than two years.

Core and concentration classes include:

  • Seminar in Global Strategic Communication
  • Persuasive Communication
  • Focus Groups and Interviewing for Strategic Communication

Purdue MS in Communication degree resources are plentiful and varied. Distance learners are given additional online learning support services.

Admissions website

#25. Walden University

Master of Science in Communication

Walden UniversityWant to hone your critical thinking skills? Then you’ll find that the online master’s degree at Walden will prepare you to find employment in marketing opportunities around the world.

Walden’s online MS in Communication degree program offers a built-in Graduate Certificate in Communication. This is for aspiring marketing managers. It is for those who want both a degree and a certificate in communication.

The 30-credit hour online Walden MS in Communication degree allows up to fifteen of transfer credit hours.

This credit transferability allows students to complete the degree in an even shorter period of time than the 20 months that is advertised. It is a level of credit transferability that will allow you to find employment in all kinds of marketing opportunities even faster than you thought possible.

The degree programs are comprised of core courses and a Communication Capstone. The Walden MA in Communication degree has classes such as:

  • Public Relations Concepts and Strategy
  • Marketing Communications, Storytelling, and Persuasion
  • Crisis Communication

Walden is known for their student-centered, distance learning approach. As such it makes available many online student services. Walden online MS in Communication students are encircled with:

  • real-world experiences
  • support services
  • student resources
  • connections with fellow students and professors.

Admissions website

#26. Marist College

Marist CollegeMA in Integrated Marketing Communication

Marist College has some more of the best public relations programs. These programs prepare students to work at a global level. They can pursue careers of their own design.

The public relations programs are through the Marist College School of Communication and the Arts. The MA in in Integrated Marketing Communication degree (MA in IMC) is all online.

The Marist online IMC Degree program has 30-credit hours. All coursework is asynchronous for convenience.

The program takes just three semesters. Part-time students can take up to three years. The curriculum is made up of relevant classes such as:

  • Global Consumer Insights
  • Social Media Strategies & Tactics
  • Analytical Tools for Decision Making

A final Integrated Marketing Communication Capstone course finishes the program.

Admissions website

#27. Full Sail University

 MA in Public Relations

Full SailPublic relations students will love the ability to create a program of their own design  at Full Sail University. This school offers unique online programs for students interested in:

  • brand management
  • advertising
  • and public relations

Full Sail University has an accelerated twelve-month online MA in Public Relations. 

The 36-credit hour program emphasizes hands-on learning. It has courses such as:

  • Innovative Public Relations Tools and Resources
  • Reputation Management Strategies
  • The Online Media Room

The culmination of the degree is the Full Sail Public Relations Final Project and Thesis course. This is a comprehensive capstone project.

Admissions website

#28. The Pennsylvania State University

MPS in Strategic Communications

Penn StatePenn State’s online MPS in Strategic Communications degree program is online. These public relations programs offer a unique educational experience. This is through the Penn State World Campus. The degree is in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.

It is intended for advertising and public relations workers (such as one who might hold the title of “marketing manager”). But it does not require background educational experience in marketing.

No undergraduate degree in communications is needed. The relevant core Penn State coursework includes classes that will prepare you for a wide variety of work. A few key features of this master’s in public relations:

  • You’ll learn how to address corporate social responsibility and influence public perception.
  • You will learn how to craft advertising and public relations campaigns that target specific audiences at the local and global level.
  • You will be prepared to identify marketing opportunities and communication strategies at for-profit and nonprofit organizations alike.

You will take courses covering:

  • brand management
  • ethics courses
  • leadership skills

This is a far-reaching master’s in public relations that is perfect for the aspiring marketing manager.

Key course titles in this online master’s in public relations include:

  • Digital Media Analytics
  • Multimedia Content Development and Delivery
  • Ethics and Decision Making in Strategic Communications
  • Reaching Multicultural Populations with Strategic Communications
  • Strategic Communications Law

Admissions website

#29. West Virginia University

MS in Integrated Marketing Communications

You’ll find another one of the best master’s in public relations at West Virginia University.

The online MS in Integrated Marketing Communications degree program is exclusively online. The 33-credit hour program is in the WVU Reed College of Media. It takes just two years to complete.

It can help communications professionals move on to advanced positions such as Public Relations Specialists or Public Relations and Fundraising Managers.

Four core courses are offered each term. Students choose two specialty courses along with five electives.

Elective choices cover a wide variety of public relations and communications strategies. Examples of topics covered include:

  • Crisis Communication
  • Applied Public Relations
  • Direct Marketing
  • Brand Management
  • How to Generate Interest in an Advertising Campaign
  • How to Identify Marketing Opportunities
  • Reputation Management
  • Crisis Management
  • Mass Communication
  • Advertising Ethics Courses
  • Communication Strategies
  • Leadership Skills

Many courses also offer a well-rounded educational experience. Students interested in developing their public relations research or public relations writing skills will benefit from this school.

This is yet another school offering a well-rounded capstone experience, too.

Admissions website

#30. Drexel University

Public Relations Degree

Drexel University’s online MS in Communication has a concentration in Public Communication. It is one of the best public relations programs you’ll find. There is ample financial aid for this public relations master degree.

There are two other non-public relation concentrations also available. These are in Science and Health Communication and Technical Communication.

The 30-credit hour program is divided into core Communication courses. These include:

  • Theories of Communication and Persuasion
  • Brand Management
  • Creating and Managing Communication Professional Identities
  • Strategic Social Media Communication
  • Foundations of Public Relations
  • Investigative Journalism

Admissions website

#31. University of Southern California

Master of Communication Management

University of Southern CaliforniaWant to hone your leadership skills to generate interest in marketing campaigns and media relations? The public relations programs at USC should be at the top of your list.

The Master of Communication Management Online  is renowned for its rigor and quality.

The 32-credit hour program is excellent. It imparts a “full toolbox of advanced skills.” You’ll gain skills in public relations research and public relations writing.

Other public relations programs just can’t match it. Public relations graduates will gain skills through courses covering topics such as:

  • Communication, Attitudes, Values and Behavior,
  • Foundations of Effective Public Relations Writing
  • Online Marketing Communication Development & Analysis
  • Reputation Management for Public Relations Specialists
  • Communications Strategies for Mass Communication
  • Reputation Management
  • Crisis Management
  • Media Relations
  • Market Research for Public Relations
  • Social Media Management

These master’s in public relations programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission. These online programs are some of the best for you to consider regardless of your career path. It’s perfect for:

  • aspiring public relations managers
  • public relations specialists
  • fundraising managers

Admissions website

#32. Texas Tech University

MA in Strategic Communication & Innovation

The Texas Tech College of Media & Communication has an Online MA in Strategic Communication and Innovation. It provides a superior preparation for work in public relations.

The 30-credit hour public relations program has courses such as:

  • Strategic Communication in a Global Environment
  • Media Management, Entrepreneurship & Consulting
  • Multimedia Story Telling
  • Audience/Data Analysis & Reporting
  • Advanced Social Media Practice

 Admissions website

#33. California Baptist University

Public Relations Degree

The CBU Online MA in Public Relations degree program (MAPR) is one of the best master of science in public relations degrees.

It utilizes a faith-based and biblical context. The MAPR curriculum has 33-credit hours of courses. These are designed for aspiring public relations managers.

This master’s in public relations is similar to other online programs. It offers courses in mass communication and public relations.

Your professional studies will allow you to conduct market research and gain a keen understanding of corporate communications.

Prospective students take classes in:

  • Legal, Ethical and Social Foundations of Public Relations
  • Critical Thinking and Crisis Management
  • New Media Strategies
  • Public Relations Campaigns: Social and Physical

Admissions website

#34. Lasell College

Master’s in Public Relations Degree

Lasell UniversityThe Lasell College MS in Communication degree program provides a concentration in Public Relations. The curriculum in this master’s in public relations is 100% online. There is generous financial aid.

The 36-credit hour online programs are housed within the Lasell School of Graduate & Professional Studies. All classes are capped at 23 students. This allows a close-knit community of faculty and peers.

The MS in Communication core curriculum offers classes such as:

  • Persuasion & Public Opinion
  • Negotiations & Conflict Resolution
  • Communication, Ethics & Society

The Public Relations concentration focuses on coursework in:

  • Writing for Public Relations
  • Principles of Public Relations
  • Crisis Communication

Admissions website

#35. Southern New Hampshire University

MA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations

The graduate programs in public relations at SNHU are designed for both seasoned pros and newbies. The SNHU online MA in Communication with a Public Relations concentration is one of the best master of arts in public relations programs out there.

This public relations master degree has 36-credit hours for graduation. The curriculum is all online. Master of Arts in Communication students engage in classes such as:

  • Law & Ethics: A Line in the Sand
  • More than Words: Communication by Design
  • Second Self: Identity & Personal Brands

The Public Relations concentration is constructed of four courses in topics like:

  • Integrated Public Relations Campaigns & Measurement
  • Crisis Communication in a 24/7 World

#36. University of Denver

Online Public Relations Degree

University of DenverThe online MA in Communication Management degree program at University of Denver University College is one of the best public relations master graduate programs you will find. The public relations program helps students learn everything they need to become keen public relations specialists.

There are six concentration options. That includes one in Public Relations. The online public relations master degree takes as little as eighteen months. There is financial aid for qualifying students.

All students participate in the same twelve credits of core courses, such as:

  • Research, Measurement, and Storytelling
  • Business Fundamentals for Communicators
  • Communication and Society: Theories and Applications
  • Dimensions of Reputation Management

Admissions website

#37. Rowan University

MA in Strategic Communication

Rowan UniversityAspiring public relations specialists will love the master’s in public relations at Rowan. This master’s in public relations is a partial online program. It is through Rowan Global Learning & Partnerships. The master of arts in communication was first known as the Master of Arts in Public Relations.

Rowan University’s MA in Strategic Communication degree program allows students more freedom. That is especially in focusing on an area within their professional interests.

Prospective students can choose to focus on:

  • media relations
  • strategic writing
  • event planning and management
  • visual communication
  • online public relations
  • school public relations

Classes in the master’s in public relations degree are relevant and accessible. Public relations professionals take classes in a hybrid format. There are evening face-to-face classes. In this master’s degree, there are also some online classes. The public relations master degree has a 33-credit hour curriculum.

It is made up of required courses like:

  • Graduate Strategic Case Studies and Public Relations Planning
  • Graduate Strategic Visual Communication

Admissions website

#38. Maryville University

MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership

Maryville UniversityHere, you’ll find another excellent master’s in public relations. This master’s degree builds upon the core concepts of a bachelor’s degree. It is an online public relations degree that is broad. It is meant to help students learn everything from mass communication to social media.

The online MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership program has unique public relations research opportunities.

This makes it possible for students to “graduate with at least three in-demand professional certifications.” These professional studies certifications are from Google AdWords, Salesforce, and HubSpot.

Ample financial aid is available for this public relations program. The online coursework in the 36-credit hour program includes:

  • a Strategic Leadership core
  • a Strategic Communication core
  • public relations electives
  • an optional Emerging and Digital Media Concentration

Classes are rigorous but student-centered. They cover topics like:

  • Strategic Communication Best Practices
  • Public Relations Research & Strategy
  • Professional & Organizational Ethics
  • Social Network and Search Engine Optimization
  • Digital Media Campaigns
  • Digital Market Metrics & Analytics

Admissions website

#39. Western New England University

Public Relations Degree

The WNE College of Arts & Sciences has another one of the best master’s in public relations. There are ample financial aid opportunities. These financial aid opportunities include savings on technology fees. The online Master of Arts in Communications degree program has a Public Relations concentration.

Students can begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer. Finish the program in as little as fifteen months.

Coursework has core courses such as:

  • Crisis Management and Public Relations
  • Manufacturing and Managing Public Opinion
  • Strategic Approaches to Public Relations
  • Strategies for Social Media and Digital Media

Admissions website

#40. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

MS in Strategic Brand Communication

The Illinois Master of Science in Strategic Brand Communication (MS SBC) degree program is online. There is financial aid and a flexible curriculum. This is all to cater towards the needs of busy professionals.

The interdisciplinary 32-credit hour curriculum is split between two departments. The master’s in public relations takes just fifteen months. Class topics include:

  • Strategic Branding: Global Perspectives
  • Consumer Insights
  • Managing Projects and Teams

Admissions website

#41. Fordham University

Master of Science in Strategic Marketing Communications

Three start dates a year. The ability to complete the program in as little as twelve months. What more could you want in a master’s in public relations?

The online Master of Science in Strategic Marketing Communications degree at Fordham is a top choice. It is appealing to fast-paced PR professionals. It is in the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business.

The 33-credit hour online MS in Strategic Marketing Communications degree offers coursework that is second to none. Plus, there’s financial aid in this master’s degree, too.

The Fordham MS in Strategic Marketing Communications curriculum provides foundational and relevant online coursework. This is in both media and communication classes and marketing classes.

Examples include:

  • Crisis Communication and Leadership Strategies
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Social and Digital Media

Admissions website

#42. Concordia University, St. Paul

Master of Arts in Strategic Communication Management

Concordia University—​St. PaulCSP Online has an online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication Management degree program. These public relations programs provide students with well-rounded training. There is ample financial aid in this master’s degree, too.

The 36-credit hour master of arts in communication degree program is in Concordia’s College of Business and Technology.

The curriculum covers relevant topics. Examples include:

  • Communication Inquiry & Measurement
  • Strategic Customer Experience
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Reflection and Capstone

Admissions website

#43. Stephen F. Austin State University

MA in Mass Communication

The SFA online Master of Arts in Mass Communication degree programs are some of the best. These degree programs allow students to construct the bulk of the program from electives.

This public relations program has ample financial aid.  For students interested in becoming public relations managers, it is a school offering ample opportunities for hands-on work.

Courses for this 36-credit hour public relations program are diverse. They include classes like:

  • Media & Society
  • Media Law & Ethics
  • Seminar in Public Relations
  • Management Problems in Media
  • Broadcast Sales

Admissions website

#44. Mississippi College

Online Public Relations Degree

This master’s in public relations is in the Department of Communication. This public relations program is in the School of Christian Studies and the Arts.

The 31-credit hour Mississippi College MSC degree program has a focus on Public Relations and Corporate Communication. This public relations program has ample financial aid.

There are other focus areas in Journalism and Theater. There are two additional degrees in Professional Communication in Health Services and Professional Communication in Sports.

Students engage in classes like:

  • Practices in Public Relations
  • Media Sales
  • Managing in a Global Environment
  • Consumer Behavior

Some coursework exists through the AACSB-accredited MC School of Business.

This is a master’s in public relations from an affordable and established institution. Mississippi College promises online students the convenience of online coursework. Yet they also get the prestige of a renowned school.

Admissions website

#45. Webster University

Online Public Relations Degree

Looking for another great master’s degree with financial aid? Try Webster University’s online Master of Arts in Public Relations degree program.

It is in the School of Communication. It has 36-credit hours.

It has 27-credits of core coursework. Examples include:

  • Media and Culture
  • Media Organization and Regulations
  • Strategic Communication Applications

Admissions website

Related Rankings

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

30 Best Online International Relations Masters

Never before have we lived in such a small world.

Communication around the world is at our fingertips. It’s not hard to understand that being fluent in negotiating international relations is key for today’s professional.

The online master’s in international relations is one of the most popular online master’s degree programs.

Study in areas such as diplomacy, conflict resolution, or global health. Whatever you choose, a graduate degree in International Relations prepares professionals to work in almost any sector. That includes government, non-profits and NGOs, and major corporations, just to name a few.

From security to education. Business to development. You’ll be able to access all kinds of career opportunities.

But a graduate level degree is a necessity in the field. Let’s take a look at how an international relations degree can open countless doors for you.

Related: Popular Online Master’s Degree

So how did we choose the best schools international relations programs? To start, we used our Master’s Programs Guide Program Core Methodology. We also looked for programs that offered a “wow” factor. That includes things such as:

  • membership in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA)
  • unique program concentrations or academics
  • immersion experiences that enhance the degree program

We have searched the world wide web to find the best of the best. Partake of the fruits of our labor!

If you’re ready to find the best degrees in international relations, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn more!

See Also: Best Online History Master’s Degree Programs

30 Best Masters in International Relations

#1. Northeastern University

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You’ll find an excellent international relation degree here. It’s at the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. This MS in Global Studies and International Relations degree program is online.

It is ideal for students who are looking for a part-time or full-time program in one and a half to two years.

The MS degree offers five cutting-edge concentration options in:

  • Global Health and Development
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Diplomacy
  • International Economics and Consulting
  • Global Student Mobility

The curriculum provides a solid foundation with classes such as:

  • Global Literacy, Culture, and Community
  • Peace and Conflict

Students also participate in regional studies courses of their choice. You will take electives in areas like:

  • Public Policy
  • Human Rights
  • Research Methods in International Affairs
  • Economic Development
  • International Law and International Relations
  • Working with Nongovernmental Organizations

There is also a final capstone in areas like :

  • a Case Study in Global Studies
  • a Thesis
  • the International Field Study Experience

See Also: Top 50 Highest Paying Masters Degrees

#2. American University

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American University’s School of International Service (SIS) is a member of APSIA. It has two online degrees available as part of their International Relations Online program.

The AU School of International Service offers the online Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR). There is also the online Executive Master of International Service (MIS).

The 39-credit hour AU Online MAIR degree is ideal for students new to the field of international relations. The 30-credit hour AU Online MIS degree asks that students have seven or more years in the field.

Both degrees offer five AU International Relations Online concentration options in:

  • Global Security
  • United States Foreign Policy and National Security
  • International Development
  • International Negation and Conflict Resolution
  • Social Enterprise

There are even AU International Relations Online weekend immersion experience options. These allow distance students to attend face-to-face seminars. They can meet with their professors and potential employers, and network with their peers.

See Also: 40 Fastest Online Master’s Degree Programs

#3. Troy University

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The Graduate School at Troy University is one of the best. It provides an online Master of Science in International Relations (MSIR) degree program. It is through TROY Online.

The 36-credit hour Troy MSIR degree program offers core courses such as:

  • International Political Economy
  • Theory & Ideology of International Relations

You’ll cover a range of topics in this master’s degree. It will give you the essential skills you need to make a positive impact in global governance. Classes help you develop critical thinking skills through exploring topics such as:

  • Research methods in international relations
  • International law and global governance
  • Economic development and foreign affairs
  • Foreign policy
  • Arms control and armed conflict
  • International security

Students can choose from three concentration emphasis areas:

  • Global Studies
  • National Security Affairs
  • Regional Affairs

The MSIR program is offered online through TROY Online. It can be accessed on the Troy main campus. There are several military locations in the U.S. and in Asia.

Online Troy students will find their distance education experience enhanced by the “toolbox of resources” provided for their support. This international affairs master’s degree caters to the military community. TROY for Troops is one of many resources available to help online students succeed and gain the essential skills they need to make a positive impact.

#4. Arizona State University

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The School for the Future of Innovation in Society at ASU offers students a “transdisciplinary” approach to education. You’ll gain essential skills and be able to access ongoing development opportunities with the online MS in Global Technology & Development degree program.

The 30-credit hour program provides cutting-edge coursework. Core international relations courses include:

  • Technology and the International Political System
  • Development in Zones of Conflict
  • Urban and Environment Planning
  • Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology

These international relations courses are all online through ASU Online. The MS in Global Technology & Development degree (GTD) mirrors the on-campus program. There is added flexibility.

The same ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society faculty teach the classes. The level of research and work they share in their collective experience is beyond compare.

An optional concentration is available online for the degree. Students can choose to focus their MS in GTD with a Concentration in Applied International Development (AID). Those who opt to specialize are able to access specific GTD-AID online student resources as well.

#5. Arizona State University

 

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The College of Health Solutions at ASU provides a 100% online Master of International Health Management (MIHM) degree program. The ASU online MIHM degree is ideal for professionals who want to “develop solutions to global challenges and generate social impact in health and health care.”

This international relations master’s degree is a 30-credit hour program. Students engage in two required core classes in international affairs:

  • Health Care Management and Finance
  • Comparative Heath Care Systems

They can choose one of four tracks in:

  • Health Informatics
  • Quality Improvement in Health Care
  • Health Economics
  • Hospital Management

Each track requires four specific courses. All coursework is taught in virtual classrooms. This is by either the esteemed, research-based ASU College of Health Solutions faculty or the faculty of the University of New South Wales.

Distance education doesn’t mean a solitary experience, however. All online students have access to ASU Online Student Support & Services. You’ll be able to access extensive opportunities for ongoing development in international affairs. With this support, you can meet any career goals you have. Whether you want to work as an intelligence analyst, a foreign service officer, or even in international security, this program is a great choice.

#6. Johns Hopkins University

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You will find another great masters of international relations at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Here, professionals can pursue an online Master of Applied Science in Global Health Planning and Management.

The Johns Hopkins online MAS degree is a part-time, 50-credit hour program. In this masters international relations degree, students will gain an “overview of the basic components of global or international health.” They’ll also develop the ability to “develop sustainable solutions to advance health initiatives throughout the world.”

Core international affairs courses include:

  • Ethics in Global Health Practice
  • Pharmaceutical Policy and Management in Low and Middle-Income Countries
  • Non-Government Organizations and the Administration of Global Health Programs

These are followed by the final Integrative Activity in international relations. This allows students to showcase the knowledge they have learned through a real-world project addressing global health issues.

All courses are taught online in this interdisciplinary, part-time program. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health faculty members are all “renowned experts in the field.”

#7. Harvard University

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The graduate International Relations Degree program offered through Harvard Extension School is offered by one of the best schools in international relations. It allows distance students the opportunity to pursue an online degree from one of the most recognizable and renowned institutions in the nation.

The Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies: International Relations degree at Harvard has twelve required classes. At least three courses must be engaged in on the Harvard campus.

Students can choose between a thesis option or the capstone option. The curriculum offers unique and interesting class topics such as:

  • Chocolate, Culture, and the Politics of Food
  • Introduction to African Languages and Cultures through Social Engagement
  • Human Migration and the US-Mexico Borderlands: Moral Dilemmas and Sacred Bundles in Comparative Perspective

There are four advanced international relations certificates through Harvard Extension School:

Each certificate requires four courses and is online.

#8. George Washington University

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A self-styled specialization awaits students of the Master of International Policy and Practice Online advanced degree (MIPP Online) at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs.

Classes are presented via live sessions for this international relationship degree. Students can work together as peers.

The GW MIPP Online degree program curriculum is rigorous and cutting edge. It is taught by faculty members who are current practitioners and experts in the international affairs industry.

The 27-credit hour curriculum for this master of international relations has three core courses in:

  • Strategic Leadership Seminar
  • Leadership Capstone
  • Economic Tools for Global Policy

The remaining six classes are chosen by the student. This lets them construct aself-designed specialization” from a selection of “course offerings in security, development, and peace.”

Students can choose from classes such as:

  • Terrorism Today
  • Ethics in Security
  • Civil-Military Relations

#9. Tufts University

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The Fletcher School at Tufts University offers an online Master of Global Business Administration (GBA) degree program.

Students work through the 36-credit hour GBA program as a cohort. They can choose to complete the degree in just sixteen months on a full-time basis. Or they can take two years to complete the degree part-time.

Two immersion residency experiences serve to enhance the academics. There is one on-campus (in which students work on a real-world “lab” project together). There is also one international location chosen for each cohort.

The curriculum is divided into sections focused in:

  • Business Foundations
  • Global Context
  • International Law
  • Analytical Tools

The online coursework includes classes like:

  • International Strategy and Innovation
  • The Politics of the Global Economy
  • The Art of Business Communication

All courses are taught by the accomplished Fletcher School faculty. Distance students are supported not just by the “professors are invested in your professional future.” They also access the extensive, additional resources and services available to the Tufts Online GBA student.

#10. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

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You’ll find another one of the international relations best schools at the UNCG Bryan School of Business and Economics. These are provided by UNCG Online.

The 30-credit hour UNCG MS in International Business (MSIB) degree program is a 100% online, “cross-cultural” and “hands-on” educational experience.

Students are from all different backgrounds. So are the esteemed faculty members. Students learn “a wide variety of viewpoints and experiences to help better develop . . . intercultural skills.”

Students work together on Global Project courses that integrate what has been learned in class with real-world experiences. The 42-credit hour online UNCG Online MBA Program offers core coursework such as:

  • Economic Policies and Impact on Global Outcomes
  • Global Business in Practice
  • Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage

#11. Johns Hopkins University

 

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The online Master of Arts in Global Security Studies at the Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts & Sciences is outstanding. This top master in international relations is built upon the “three pillars” of international security: military, economic, and energy and environmental.

It is a multi-faceted degree program. The 36-credit hour Johns Hopkins online MA in Global Security Studies includes classes such as:

  • Global Political Economy
  • Energy, Security, and Defense
  • Climate Change and National Security

Students can choose to pursue one of two concentration options in either:

  • Strategic Studies
  • Energy and Environmental Security

This international relations master is part of the Advanced Academic Programs at Johns Hopkins (within the Krieger School). The Global Security Studies program benefits from an extensive collection of Johns Hopkins faculty members. There are specific program resources for students in the program.

#12. American Public University

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APU’s online Master of Arts in International Relations and Conflict Resolution degree program offers monthly start dates for exceptional flexibility.

The 36-credit hour international relations masters program is housed within APU’s School of Security & Global Studies.

It takes about two years to complete. Students can transfer in up to fifteen credit hours to further shorten the program.

There are four concentrations in:

  • Comparative and Security Issues
  • Conflict Resolution
  • International and Transnational Security Issues
  • Peacekeeping

The APU MA in International Relations and Conflict Resolution degree curriculum promises a focus on “industry trends to help ensure relevancy to today’s marketplace.”

Core classes in international affairs include topics like:

  • Introduction to Global Security
  • International Organizations
  • Conflict Analysis and Resolution: Theory and Practice

All coursework is taught by the American Public University System faculty. They are scholars and practitioners in their respective fields. They are often called upon as experts of the industry. Online resources are plenty through APU Learning Online. Distance students have the support they need.

#13.  Colorado State University-Global Campus

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CSU-Global’s online Master of International Management degree is a 36-credit hour online program.

This degree is designed for professionals who desire to take on “leadership roles in multinational corporations and non-governmental organizations.”

The core coursework covers topics such as:

  • Business Strategy in the Global Economy
  • International Trade
  • Global Financial Management

Students can choose from a multitude of concentration options. The most relevant specialization emphasis area is Global Management.

The CSU-Global faculty have experience in the industry, as well as doctoral degrees. Students can be assured they are learning from experienced, engaged professors.

#14. University of Nebraska Omaha

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The next program on our list of the best international relations degrees is located in the Department of Political Science in the UNO College of Arts and Sciences. The University of Nebraska at Omaha online Master of Science in Political Science degree with an International Affairs concentration takes two years to complete. The interdisciplinary 30-credit hour MS degree program provides students with a wide array of concentration electives.

Choices include:

  • International Relations of East Asia
  • Gender and Global Politics
  • Government and Politics of Great Britain
  • International Development & Sustainability

There is both a thesis and a non-thesis option. The same on-campus, award-winning UNO faculty teach all online coursework.

Two optional Graduate Certificates are offered as add-ons for the MS program (or as individual advanced certificates for those not desiring a full MS degree):  

  • the fifteen-credit hour Intelligence and National Security certificate
  • the twelve-credit hour Global Information Operations certificate

#15. Benedictine University

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Benedictine University’s online MBA in International Business is a comprehensive, 16-course, 64-credit hour program. It takes 22 months or as few as 16 months to complete. The Benedictine University MBA “Managerial Process” core courses consist of 52-credit hours. These are in topics such as:

  • Ethics and Leadership in a Global Environment
  • Strategic Management

There are three core business courses. They cover:

  • International Economics and Finance
  • International Marketing
  • Multi-Cultural Management

The Benedictine Online MBA faculty have a wide range of experiences. Dedicated MBA resources are provided. There are also individualized services such as the “customized Curriculum Planner.” For these, each online MBA in International Business student is paired.

#16. University of Houston, Victoria

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The UHV Global MBA is a 36-39 credit hour program for professionals who want to master “the business competencies, cultural skills, and global mindset” needed to thrive in the international relations industry.

Students can pursue the degree on a part-time or full-time basis. The program takes just 12 months to complete. Most part-time students finish in eighteen months to two years.

The coursework is comprehensive, and for a great deal of customization.

Students can choose a general track or from one of six concentrations in:

  • finance
  • management
  • marketing
  • entrepreneurship
  • economic development
  • human resources management

#17. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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This international affairs master’s degrees provides the same online degree as the on-campus program. University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s online MBA is all online through University of Nebraska Online.

The 48-credit hour MBA has a specialization in International Business. It offers required coursework in:

  • Leadership in a Global Context
  • International Finance
  • Marketing and Globalization

Electives are relevant as well. They include options such as:

  • Multinational Financial Analysis
  • Managing Rapid Growth and Change in Organizations

This international relations master’s degree is in the UNL College of Business. The online MBA (called the MBA@Nebraska) takes eighteen months. The “world-class” and expert faculty members provide an engaging online environment. They are “extraordinarily responsive to student needs.” Distance education students need never feel solitary in their online learning academic experience.

University of Nebraska Online is made up of the four UN campuses in Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha and the Medical Center. It provides lots of online student resources and services to help students succeed.

#18. University of Arizona

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Arizona Online provides the University of Arizona’s MA in International Security (ISS) degree program. It is 100% online. The 36-credit hour program is housed within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ School of Government and Public Policy.

The UA Online MA in ISS degree program only has one course (the final Professional Colloquium capstone project course). All other courses are determined by the chosen focus area track. Choosing one or several of the tracks leads to a customized degree.

Track options include:

  • Violent and Non-Violent Conflict
  • U.S. Foreign Policy
  • Technology & Security
  • Non-Traditional Security Threats, Latin America, Eurasia, and Global

The course selections are vast. They include classes such as:

  • How Terrorism Ends
  • Dynamics of Civil Wars
  • Gender as a Component of International Security
  • The Politics of Energy Security

#19. Virginia International University

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VIU Online has an online Master of Science in International Relations (called M of International Relations, or “MIR”) degree program. It is in the VIU School of Public & International Affairs. The online MIR degree has 36-credit hours of core coursework, concentration courses, and electives.

Core courses cover topics like:

  • International Economics & Trade
  • Globalization

Students have their choice of a concentration in International Economic Development or Business. Didn’t study political science or international affairs as an undergraduate? The MIR program requires prerequisite classes in:

  • Comparative Government
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • English Composition and Rhetoric
  • Academic Writing

The MIR degree takes two years. All students culminate the program with an Advanced Research Project.

#20. Norwich University

The online Master of Arts in Diplomacy program at Norwich is a social science-driven degree. It is made up of 36-credit hours. Most students finish the program in 18 to 24 months. The program is completed with a week-long required on-campus residency.

There are four concentrations options in:

  • Cyber Diplomacy (with an additional choice of either the Policy track or the Technical track)
  • International Commerce
  • International Conflict Management
  • International Terrorism

Students take core courses in topics such as:

  • Diplomacy in Communication
  • Economics and the International System

All students culminate the degree with their choice of either the thesis option or a final comprehensive exam. The expert Norwich faculty members serve both as professors and mentors. Since all online classes are capped at fifteen students. Each student receives the personal attention they need to find success.

The Norwich Online MA in Diplomacy is the first program that was ever offered online at Norwich (since 1997). Students have found jobs in a variety of international settings and organizations.

#21. Norwich University

 

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The Norwich University Online Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) degree program provides a unique approach for students to “explore the political, economic, and cultural issues impacting today’s global stage.” This is in preparation for a promising career in the “ever-changing international arena.”

The 33-credit hour MAIR program allows students to become immersed in their choice of one of five relevant concentration areas:

  • Cyber Diplomacy
  • International Development
  • International Security
  • National Security
  • Regions of the World

All coursework is online. It is determined by the concentration.

Courses range from topics like:

  • World Politics—International Relations
  • Economics and the International System
  • Cyber Policy
  • Regions of the World

The experienced, expert Norwich faculty are accessible. All online classes are capped at fifteen students. They provide rigorous coursework and mentorship to all online students.

The MAIR program finishes with the week-long Culminating Campus Experience. A series of Norwich Infographics on International Relations presents cutting edge research and examinations of current issues in the field.

#22. Nova Southeastern University

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There are five start dates in the NSU online MBA in International Business. It is located in the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship. The online MBA is a 40-49 credit hour program.

The classes cover topics like:

  • Globalization and Emerging Markets
  • Import/Export Principles and Practices
  • Foundations of Global Business

The NSU curriculum is taught by the expert faculty. They have a wealth of industry experience.

There is an optional Nova Southeastern International Field Seminar is available for students who would like to experience firsthand global business practices in an immersive environment.

The destinations are picked from global partnership universities for a unique and intimate trip. Past destinations have included:

  • the Czech Republic
  • China
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Brazil
  • India

Prospective MBA online students can attend NSU Huizenga College of Business Virtual Open House events to learn more about the program.

#23. Texas A&M International University

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The online MBA in International Business at the TAMIU A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business is a rigorous, 30-credit hour program. It takes fifteen months. Six start dates are offered each year.

Courses include topics in:

  • Global Environments of Business
  • International Logistics
  • International Management

The program is offered through TAMIU Online. Students have the benefit of online coursework provided by the recognized, expert, “multicultural faculty.” Other online international relations programs are also available:

Both of these degrees are also 30-credit hours. They take a little more than a year at an accelerated pace. All three programs share an MBA core curriculum. For students who do not have an undergraduate degree in business, TAMIU offers “prep-module courses.” These help them be better prepared for the MBA academics.

#24. St. Mary’s University

St. Mary's

The 36-credit hour Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) degree is an interdisciplinary program. It pulls from “the disciplines of political science, history, anthropology, international law, sociology, and geography.”

This is a non-thesis program offered all online. The St. Mary’s Online MAIR degree provides a multi-faceted curriculum. Core courses include:

  • Ethical Issues in International Relations
  • International Political Economy
  • World Religions and International Affairs

Two concentration options are also offered online. Students can choose from:

  • Security Policy
  • Sustainable Development and Conflict Transformation

The International Relations (IR) Graduate Program consists of both the MAIR program and the twelve-credit hour St. Mary’s Academic Certificate Program in Conflict Transformation. This is also offered online.

#25. University at Albany

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Students of UAlbany’s MA in International Education Management and Leadership will learn both from the rigorous curriculum and their professors’ expertise.

The 30-credit hour MA degree is located in the UAlbany School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy & Leadership.

Students take classes like:

  • Cross Border Higher Education
  • Seminar on Global Politics of Educational Quality
  • Leadership for Cradle to Career Education Systems

The practical, relevant UAlbany Online MA in International Education Management and Leadership degree curriculum is presented in an asynchronous format. Each student can access the coursework when it is most convenient for them.

This flexibility does not equate a solitary experience, however. Students benefit from a community of student peers and robust relationships with their professors. Distance education students will find a “a wealth of resources” to help them be successful.

#26. Liberty University

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Liberty University’s Helms School of Government provides the online Master of Science in International Relations. It is for students who want a graduate degree in international relations with a Liberty University Christian perspective.

The 36-credit hour degree claims a “solid biblical foundation, advancing global diplomacy in the name of Jesus Christ.” Core courses cover topics like:

  • Introduction to Geopolitics & International Diplomacy
  • U.S. Foreign Policy & Sovereignty Issues
  • Global Governance

Three electives and a thesis culminate the degree. Students can finish in just eighteen months.

There is a 24-credit hour, year-long Liberty School of Law online Master of Laws in International Legal Studies. There’s also the 45-credit hour, two-year Liberty School of Business online MBA in International Legal Studies. These provide students with a more legal-focused academic experience.

All programs are online through Liberty University Online. This has a level of student support that is almost unparalleled. Resources and services such as the Liberty University Online Student Advocate Office. These are on hand to make sure that distance education students have the support they need to finish their online program.

#27. University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

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The UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics Online MBA degree has an emphasis in International Business. This is a program that builds in its students a “cultural business intelligence and leadership” savvy. It helps the graduates enjoy a 100% placement rate. The UW-Whitewater MBA degree program has 36-credit hours.

Students dedicate nine credit hours towards the emphasis area. Class choices include:

  • International Marketing
  • Global Operations Management
  • Multinational Business Finance

All courses are taught by the same on-campus faculty member. The MBA program offers a good foundation in essential (“Common Body of Knowledge”) coursework. 

Additional “Required Breadth” classes round out the degree. Topics include:

  • Persuasion and Negotiation Strategies
  • Social Responsibility of Business Ethics in the Marketplace
  • Strategic Technology and Innovation Management

#28. Northcentral University

Northcentral University

Students who want a master’s degree in just fifteen months will love the online Master of Education (MEd). It has a specialization in International Education at Northcentral University.

This is a 30-credit hour program in the School of Education at NCU. The program boasts that all online professors come from “around the globe . . . with all faculty holding a doctoral degree.” Doctoral faculty members offer expertise along with “personalized mentoring” and a great deal of individualized attention to each student. This is under the Northcentral One-to-One Learning Model.

Students are allowed five years to complete the degree. The NCU Online MEd in International Education degree program offers classes such as:

  • International Organizations in Global Education
  • Conflict Resolution in an International Context
  • Globalization and Educational Change

All students participate in the final MEd Capstone. This is a real-world culmination. All the material the student has learned will be utilized to produce a specialized issue.

#29. University of Georgia

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Here’s a master’s degree in international relations to consider! It’s ideal for the health and medical-oriented professionals who are interested in careers on a global scale.

UGA’s College of Pharmacy has an online Master of Science for Regulatory Sciences program. The 39-credit hour MS in International Biomedical Regulatory Sciences program has both a thesis and a non-thesis option.

Students take classes such as:

  • Intro to Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology & Device Industries
  • Process Control & Validation
  • Developing Leadership Skills

Students can access the new UGA Institute for International Biomedical Regulatory Sciences. This is the only program of its kind that provides a focus on both medical and veterinary regulatory issues. The degree program is in response to the “rapid expansion of pharmaceutical and biomedical products.” It prepares “skilled regulatory science professionals to oversee the approval for new product lines and manage compliance with complex regulatory policies and procedures” on a global scale.

The UGA Regulatory Sciences faculty have a diversity of research interests and experiences.  UGA Online Learning provides all the support they need to be successful.

#30. Florida Atlantic University

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Florida Atlantic University’s has an Online MBA degree program with an International Business Specialization. Students can complete the program in less than two years. An “intensive” program, the Online MBA is located in the FAU College of Business.

It has 40-46 credit hours. There are two foundation classes:

  • Financial Accounting
  • Managerial Finance

It can be waived if taken in the previous five years. The curriculum provides students with coursework such as:

  • International Business Operations
  • Cross-Cultural Management and Human Resources
  • Managing Effectively in Emerging Market Economies

The program uses a “balanced blend of case-studies, real-world examples and strong academic theories.” The “esteemed and experienced” FAU College of Business faculty provides students with engaging and relevant coursework.

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Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

40 Best Online Master of Religious Studies Degree Programs

masters in religious studies online

You may have been told never to talk politics or religion in polite company, but we here at Master’s Programs Guide have never shied away from the tough conversations. Not only should you talk religion, but also, we believe (pun intended), you should pursue an advanced degree in it!

Whether your goals are faith and ministry based, spiritual, or more comparative and cultural, a Religious Studies graduate degree can be an interesting and fulfilling pursuit. Just as there are many different faith traditions, there are many options within a religious studies degree. If ministry or direct service are your desire, you could seek a Master of Divinity (MDiv) or an MA in Theology or Master of Theological Studies (MTS). Practice-based and usually requiring Field Education (Field Ed) and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in addition to coursework, these degrees can lead to work as a pastor, chaplain, youth minister, or faith-based counselor. Master of Arts in Comparative Religions or Religious Studies would be broader degrees that could serve to advance you academically or globally with possible professional careers in non-profit management, advocacy and activism, or education.

Particularly appealing, there are a wealth of reputable institutions offering their Religious Studies and similar degree online (and we’ve made note of the institutions and programs that are accredited through the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, which is the gold standard of theological accreditation), so there’s no need to uproot yourself and your family to earn your degree. And to help you on your journey, we’ve compiled our list of top-notch schools by utilizing our Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology Criteria. So read on!

See Also: Best Online History Master’s Degree Programs

#1. Columbia International University

Online Master of Arts in Theological Studies

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Program Details: Providing a path both for the Biblically and/or theologically-educated student and the student with no previous academic experience in Bible studies, theology, or Church history, the Columbia International University MA in Theological Studies is achievable for either seasoned or nascent theologians. Housed in the Columbia Biblical Seminary (CBS) and provided entirely online through CIU Online, the 48-credit hour MA in Theological Studies degree offers an interdisciplinary curriculum with courses such as “Foundations of Spiritual Formation,” “Systematic Theology in Global Christianity,” and “Understanding Cultures and Worldviews.” Five concentration options allow students to focus on their chosen emphasis area—students choose from Bible Studies, Greek, Hebrew, Church History, or Theology. The online courses offered by CIU Online have won awards for their innovation, and students benefit not just from the artfully crafted virtual classes, but also from the CBS faculty members “who are practitioners of the subjects they teach and who can provide expert academic advising.”

When a local Sunday school teacher posed the dream to her prayer circle of a school to offer Bible classes for the resident mill workers in Columbia, South Carolina in 1918, that dream would grow to become Columbia International University. Opening in 1922 and officially established as Columbia Bible School in 1923, the institution changed to Columbia Bible College in 1929. Columbia International University since 1994, CIU is a Christian university currently enrolling over 1,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs and is regionally accredited Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

See Also: Top 10 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Secondary Education

#2. Iliff School of Theology

Online Master of Theological Studies

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Program Details: The interdisciplinary, two-year online MTS degree program at Iliff is crafted to provide students in pursuit of their doctoral degree with a solid theological and academic foundation, but the degree is also ideal for those who simply “would like to increase their personal understanding.” The flexible 72-credit hour program offers original and interesting class topics such as “Ethics of Neoliberalism and Globalization,” “Comparative Mysticism,” “Theological Anthropology,” and “Methods and Theories for Interpreting Biblical Texts,” and all students finish the MTS program with professional article-length thesis. All coursework is taught by the esteemed Iliff faculty, a group of professors who are diverse in religious backgrounds, country of origin, gender and race. The faculty’s wide-range of experiences and extraordinary commitment to teaching and scholarship” shows through their dedication to nurturing and caring relationships with their students and the way they challenge “each student in ways textbooks and lectures cannot.” Individuals who are interested in an inclusive religious and rigorous academic experience, and who realize those two elements need not be exclusive, can read Iliff Stories for more information.

Admissions website

Established as part of Colorado Seminary (which would later become the University of Denver), Iliff School of Theology was founded in 1892. The Denver, Colorado seminary became incorporated as an independent theological institution in 1903 but has remained located next door to the University of Denver. One of thirteen United Methodist seminaries in the nation, Iliff has a current enrollment of over 300 students with many denominational backgrounds. A private graduate theological school, Iliff is accredited by American Association of Theological Schools and has regional accreditation from North Central Association of Colleges.

#3. Claremont Lincoln University

Online Master of Arts in Peace and Social Justice with a Concentration in Interfaith Action

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Program Details: The MA in Peace and Social Justice degree program at Claremont Lincoln University provides the trademarked Claremont Core® as well as a comprehensive Interfaith Action concentration. The 30-credit hour MA degree can be completed entirely online in just fifteen months, and in addition to the four core curriculum courses (Mindfulness, Dialogue, Collaboration, and Change), students participate in Interfaith classes such as “Power and Privilege in Self and Society,” “Interfaith Leadership in a Global Context,” and “Religion in the Public Sphere: Faith, Politics, & Rhetoric.” Boasting an incredibly diverse and accomplished faculty, with impressive credentials such as one faculty member serving as Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the European Union and NATO and another being the “highest-ranking Muslim Chaplain in the United States Army,” CLU promises that students will be equipped with “the social, religious and political perspectives, collaborative engagement, and self-reflection skills . . . to become an interfaith ambassador.” Going beyond the degree, graduates of the program detail the success they have found professionally, as well as the continued support through the “long-lasting relationships” with CLU.

Admissions website

Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) is an online graduate school located in Claremont, California. Begun in 2008 when the Board of Claremont School of Theology envisioned a school in which members of diverse faiths could come together to study religion and its impact, and classes began three years later at the newly established institution. Offering multiple online master’s degrees in three disciplines (Organizational Leadership, Peace & Social Justice, and Social Impact), CLU is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

#4. Chicago Theological Seminary

Online Master of Divinity

 

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Program Details: The fully online MDiv degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary offers students a convenient, accessible program to meet their needs. By taking all classes online and completing Field Education and CPE requirements in the student’s home location, students can gain a degree taught by CTS’ “world-class faculty.” Mirroring the 75-credit hour on-campus MDiv program, the online MDiv is just as rigorous, with required classes like “Religion in North America,” “Systematic Theology,” and “Living into Our Commitments and Effecting Social Change.” Students can choose between four concentrations to customize their experience, with cutting edge focus area options in Chaplaincy Studies, LGBTQ Studies, Interreligious Engagement, and the Study of Black Faith & Life. The program is designed to be completed in three years, and equips students with the skills to provide “transformative religious leadership in the church and society.” In addition to the guidance of dedicated advisors, myCTS is an online resource that provides information and services to the CTS community, including all online students.

Admissions website

Holding an impressive array of institutional “firsts,” Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1855. The first theological school to require field education as part of its curriculum, to award a seminary degree to a woman, and to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a DDiv degree, among other notable firsts, CTS has long been at the forefront of social justice and theological education. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, CTS joins ten other seminaries as a member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools as well as the North Central Association.

#5. Fuller Theological Seminary

Online Master of Arts in Global Leadership

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Program Details: Through the Fuller School of Intercultural Studies, students can earn a Master or Global Leadership (MAGL) degree entirely or mostly online. Offered in the cohort format, students who begin the program in the spring can obtain the MAGL online with no residency requirements; fall cohort students are required to participate in two week-long, on-campus residencies. The 72-unit Fuller MAGL degree offers classes such as “Missional Engagement with Contemporary Culture,” “Lifelong Development,” and “Character, Community, & Leadership” to broaden their perspective and equip them with sound theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The MAGL degree is highly customizable—up to half of the degree units are comprised of the student’s choice of electives. Promising that students will be “stretched through theological teaching that is both scholastically rigorous and biblically grounded,” Fuller provides a cultivated, safe online environment that is a learning community replete with “honest dialogue and mutual care,” and the cohorts are guided by Fuller Theological Seminary Mentors who have both academic and international real-world experience.

Admissions website

Founded by radio evangelist Charles R. Fuller (and named after his father), Fuller Theological Seminary welcomed students in the fall of 1947 in Pasadena, California. In just over five years the enrollment grew from 39 seminarians to 250, and now three academic schools and a Center for Advanced Theological Studies serve 3,500 students. Marrying evangelism and intellectualism in its early years and through today, Fuller offers an unapologetically Christian and scholarly viewpoint. With accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), Fuller is also regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#6. Fuller Theological Seminary

Online Master of Arts in Theology

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Program Details: Fuller’s online MA in Theology presents a convenient, flexible, entirely online theology degree program provided by “some of the world’s most influential scholar practitioners.” The “diverse learning community” is organized into cohorts and guided by the “world-class faculty.” The 80-unit MA in Theology degree (equivalent to 56-credit hours) requires coursework from three sections: “Integrative,” “Interpreting,” and “Theologizing.” Each student then chooses 28 units of electives to follow their own individualized academic interests or available cohorts constructed around fifteen possible focus areas, with dedicated emphasis choices like Biblical Justice, Islamic Studies, Global Arts and World Religions, or Youth, Family and Culture. The MAT degree at Fuller is developed to “nurture students’ spiritual, personal, and vocational formation,” as well as promoting “unmatched cultural, racial, and denominational diversity.” With digital library resources that number in the tens of thousands, students have access to the resources and research they need to pursue a doctoral degree if they so desire, and upon completion of the MAT degree will have built a strong “systematic theological framework while developing an understanding of the origin and growth of the Christian tradition.”

Admissions website

Enrolling 3,500 students from 90 different countries and over 100 denominations, Fuller Theological Seminary offers an evangelical and multidenominational approach to religious academia. Comprised of the Schools of Theology, Psychology, and Intercultural Studies, Fuller offers eighteen academic degree programs. Located in Pasadena, California and with additional campuses in California’s Orange County and the Bay area as well as Arizona, Texas, and Washington, Fuller has an alumni network of over 43,000. Fuller was established in 1947 and is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as ATS.

#7. Saint Leo University

Online Master of Arts in Theology

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Program Details: Offered online by Saint Leo WorldWide, the Master of Arts in Theology degree program at Saint Leo University provides an ecumenical landscape from the perspective of the Catholic religious tradition. A degree program that caters to students at any point in their career, the 36-credit hour Saint Leo MAT is presented through coursework and different virtual methods by the diverse, expert Saint Leo Department of Philosophy, Theology, and Religion faculty. Core classes are joined by the student’s choice of electives, with relevant topics such as “History of Catholic-Jewish Relations,” “Management/Human Resources for Ministry,” and “Spiritual Direction,” and all Saint Leo WorldWide online MAT students receive guidance and support from a dedicated Graduate Student Advisor for Theology. A collection of graduate testimonies provide prospective students with a glimpse of life after an online degree, and Saint Leo’s promise of providing “excellence in teaching and scholarly rigor in a student-centered manner” is evident in the many opportunities both during the pursuit of the degree and after graduation.

Admissions website

Saint Leo University, founded in 1889 as St. Leo’s College, is the oldest Roman Catholic institution of higher education in Florida. Just seven students enrolled at first, but now more than 16,000 students are enrolled at this private, coeducational liberal arts university. Main campus is in St. Leo, Florida, and over 50 academic degree programs are provided through three colleges. Saint Leo is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#8. George Fox University

Online Master of Arts in Theological Studies

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Program Details: George Fox University’s Portland Seminary provides an online MA in Theological Studies for students who know they will go on for further doctoral work. The 56-credit hour hybrid online George Fox MATS degree program starts with the new student orientation on-campus: WaterFront is a three-day immersive event that introduces students to one another and to the faculty who will serve as their educational guides. The learned and experienced Portland Seminary faculty are impressive, and offer courses ranging from “Interpreting the New Testament: Use and Abuse of the Bible” to “World Religions and Christian Thought” to “Knowing Self, Knowing God.” Four concentration tracks are offered: Biblical Studies, Christian History and Theology, Creation Care, and Intercultural Studies. Students will come to campus for intensive experiences each semester called BridgeWeek—on-campus residencies serve to build the bond among students and enrich the academic experience for online students. These relationships translate into success: prospective students can read of the journeys of past Portland Seminary students after graduation.

Admissions website

George Fox University was started by pioneering evangelical Quakers in the Chehalem Valley of Oregon in 1885. Originally the Friends Pacific Academy, the school transitioned to Pacific College in 1891. Renamed George Fox College in 1949 (after the founder of the Quaker movement), the institution became a university in 1996 when it merged with Western Evangelical Seminary, and this private Christian university located in Newberg, Oregon currently enrolls over 4,000 students. George Fox is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and the Portland Seminary is accredited by the ATS.

#9. University of Dallas

Online Master of Theological Studies

Program Details: Through the Ann & Joe O. Neuhoff School of Ministry at the University of Dallas, students can earn an MTS degree entirely online. The 37-credit hour program includes classes such as “Church History” and “Theological Reflection,” and students can opt for a concentration in Biblical Theology (electives are predetermined if this option is followed). Electives are either chosen from the Neuhoff School of Ministry’s selection of courses, or, with permission from the Dean, students can seek out courses offered by the College of Business of the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts. The UD Neuhoff School of Ministry faculty have a long list of accomplishments and recognition in which they “have distinguished themselves through their ministerial practice and academic careers.” In addition to the support and guidance offered by the faculty, online graduate ministry students are assigned a personal faculty advisor to help them with “course and career development planning,” and past student testimonials attest that the faculty are both caring and engaged in each student’s personal and academic journey.

Admissions website

University of Dallas is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts institution located ten miles from downtown Dallas in Irving, Texas. Established in 1956 with an earlier charter, UD is comprised of four academic schools and colleges and currently enrolls over 3,000 coeducational students. With a dedication to “the pursuit of wisdom, of truth, and of virtue as the proper and primary ends of education,” University of Dallas has regional accreditation provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#10. Hartford Seminary

Online Master of Arts in Religious Studies (with optional Islamic Chaplaincy Program)

Program Details: The MA in Religious Studies degree program at Hartford Seminary is a fully online, open, ecumenical offering for students “of all backgrounds to deepen and broaden their faith understandings” in a way that allows them to be applied to their professional and daily lives. Once admitted to the 48-credit hour program, all students are assigned a Hartford Seminary faculty advisor to help them devise their personalized Program of Study. In addition to the seven core areas of coursework, which cover Scripture, Theology, Ethics, Religion and Society, History, Arts of Ministry, and Spirituality, Liturgy, Worship, students choose from one of five focused areas of study in Biblical Studies, Islamic Studies/Christian-Muslim Relations, Spirituality, Theology and Ethics, or Religious Studies. Additionally, students can opt for the 72-credit hour Islamic Chaplaincy Program at Hartford Seminary, which builds on the Religious Studies degree to further the focused study in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations and is “recognized as a Master of Divinity equivalent by the Association of Theological Schools.”

Admissions website

Begun by ministers of the Congregational denominations in 1833, the Theological Institute of Connecticut would move from its original location to Hartford, Connecticut in 1865 and become Hartford Theological Seminary in 1885. In a bold move for the time, the school voted to allow women to enroll in 1889—thus making Hartford the first seminary in the nation to do so. Offering a non-denominational and multifaith environment, Hartford Seminary (the name of the institution since 1981) is a member of the Boston Theological Institute and dually accredited by the ATS and the New England Associations of Schools & Colleges.

#11. Chicago Theological Seminary

Online Master of Arts in Religious Studies

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Program Details: The two-year, thesis track MA in Religious Studies degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary is a fully online scholarly program that prepares students for theological or ministerial service or further doctoral study. With a keen focus on “religious traditions, theology and ethics,” the 48-credit hour degree program requires courses such as “History of Christian Thought,” “Interpreting the Gospels,” and “Global Sensitivity in Ministry.” Students have up to five years to complete the degree, and a final Master’s Thesis culminates the program. The distinguished CTS faculty are diverse in their faith traditions as well as their experience, and provide thorough and relevant coursework to the MA students. Also ideal for those who “simply wish to study theology and religion without the aim of entering professional ministry,” the MA in Religious Studies degree enables students to choose ten electives in order to focus on their greatest theological interests. For prospective students who are searching for their particular path, a series of CTS Leaders For The Next Stories allows insight into the life work and journeys of current and past students.

Admissions website

A seminary of the United Church of Christ (but also offering specific coursework for students seeking ordination within the United Methodist or Metropolitan Community Churches), Chicago Theological Seminary is an inclusive, ecumenical Christian institution. Founded in 1855, CTS is the oldest institution of higher education in Chicago, Illinois and one of the eleven schools in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools. CTS students can participate in classes at any of the other seminaries, as well as at the University of Chicago and its Divinity School. A private institution, CTS holds both institutional and regional accreditation.

#12. Messianic Jewish Theological Institute

Online Master of Jewish Studies

Program Details: The Messianic Jewish Theological Institute provides a 54-credit hour Master of Jewish Studies degree program for students of any background who desire “a broad exposure to Jewish Studies in a Messianic Jewish context.” Offered entirely online and very affordable, the MJS program can be completed in two years. The MJTI faculty bring impressive credentials and “decades of combined ministry and educational experience” to the virtual classroom with required core classes such as “Tanakh: The Beginnings of Judaism and the Jewish People,” “Toward a Messianic Jewish Communal Ethic,” and “Jewish-Christian Relations in Historical Context.” Students choose eighteen-credit hours of electives under the guidance of an advisor, and all electives fall within one of four categories: Scripture, Rabbinic Writings, Theology, and General electives. Two online MJTI Certificate Tracks allow for customization along with the MJS degree or individually—students can choose an Introduction to Messianic Jewish Studies Certificate or a Certificate in Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Both certificates tracks are comprised of three classes and can be completed in one year.

Admissions website

Established in 2002 by the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute (MJTI) is located in San Diego, California. Offering online and distance education, MJTI seeks to serve several purposes and visions. Founded as a Messianic Jewish School, MJTI offers a Prophetic Sign as a center of both Vision and Dialogue and as an International Learning Community. Open to students of any faith, MJTI is “not accredited at this time but . . . exploring that process.”

#13. Graceland University

Online Master of Arts in Religion

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Program Details: Graceland University’s Community of Christ Seminary offers an online MA in Religion degree program that prepares students for either ministry within the Christian faith tradition or further doctoral work. The 30-credit hour program requires a one-week face-to-face component on-campus each semester, with the remainder of courses entirely online. An inclusive, ecumenical community, students participate together in classes such as “Community of Christ History and Scripture,” “Contemporary Culture and Theologies,” and “History of Christian Thought.” Faculty are practitioners, scholars, and theologians, and are passionate about “guiding students into informed, open-ended encounters with texts from prophets, theologians, and mystics.” Creating scholars out of students, Community of Christ Seminary allows space for students to produce and display their scholarly work. Called Graceland’s Restoration Studies, the goal of the scholarly work promotes “universal and interfaith dialogue for the sake of greater understanding, restoration and healing of the world.”

Admissions website

Graceland College was the original name of Graceland University, and it was established in 1895 by the Community of Christ church. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, the school was coeducational from the beginning, and eighteen men and women enrolled initially. An additional campus in Independence, Missouri was added in 1910, and other satellite campuses have sprung up in both states. This private liberal arts institution gained university status in 2000, and now nearly 2,500 students are enrolled in more than 50 academic degree programs. The Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation to Graceland University.

#14. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Online Master of Theological Studies

Program Details: Offering a compact yet rigorous online degree experience, Southwestern’s fully online MTS program requires just 36-credit hours. Providing a foundational education in theology, Bible studies and church history, students participate in a “summative evaluation” to finish the program. One unique element of the Southwestern online MTS program is the opportunity to complete it entirely in Spanish, and for students who desire an additional focus in their studies, the Southwestern MTS with a concentration in Cross-cultural Missions (MTS + Missions). Students of the MTS + Missions program add an additional nine-credit hours to the MTS degree and take classes covering “world religions and cross-cultural ethics.” The MTS degree is housed within the School of Theology and offered online through Southwestern Online, and prospective students can examine resources provided by the school to determine their abilities to thrive as an online student. All coursework is taught by the “world-class faculty” in the Southwestern School of Theology, and students can learn from their expertise.

Admissions website

Founded on the campus of Baylor University in 1908 as a department of theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary found its permanent campus site in Fort Worth, Texas in 1910. Southwestern has eight academic schools that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees either on-campus or online, and to date Southwestern Seminary has graduated just under 45,000 students and currently serves over 3,000 enrolled students. In 1925 the Southern Baptist Convention took over leadership, and accreditation comes from both the Association of Theological Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#15. Athens State University

Online Master of Arts in Religious Studies

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Program Details: Located in the College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and provided online through Athens State Online, Athens State’s online MA in Religious Studies program is “designed to promote learning, critical thinking, and research in an open and honest environment.” Students can guide the course of their education by choosing between a Thesis and a Non-Thesis track. The 36-credit hour degree program provides an academic study of major world religions in a nondenominational setting and is ideal for students who want to either pursue a doctoral degree (thesis track) or professional leadership in a faith-based organization or non-profit (non-thesis). For non-thesis students, the curriculum includes a Religion Project, twelve-credit hours towards a focus area, and three additional required courses (“Leading Change in Faith Communities and Other Non-Profits,” “Social Change and Transformational Leadership,” “Seminar in Leadership and Community Service”). Religious studies core courses cover topics like “Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha” and “Interpreting the Text,” and the three focus areas allow for degree customization (students can choose from Biblical Studies, History of Religions, and Theology).

Admissions website

Athens State University has gone through many name changes, becoming a university in 1998. Begun as Athens Female Academy in 1822 and located in Athens, Alabama, Athens State became a public institution in 1974. Transitioning to coeducational status in 1931, Athens State houses three academic colleges and offers 33 advanced degrees. Over 3,500 students are currently enrolled in this senior college, and Athens State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#16. University of Northwestern St. Paul

Online Master of Divinity

Program Details: Students of theology who want to either pastor a church or further their education with a doctoral degree have an online MDiv option through the Northwestern University College of Graduate, Online & Adult Learning. The 76-credit hour MDiv provides a solid academic foundation of Biblical Studies, Hermeneutics, and Theological Studies coupled with Practical Ministry coursework and a Field Experience. Students can round out their MDiv degree with electives or one of six emphasis areas: Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Clinical Pastoral Education, Organizational Leadership, Human Services, or Educational Studies. Classes are comprehensive, and cover topics ranging from “Original Languages for Biblical Study” to “Ethics” to “Ministering Culturally and Globally.” The program is taught by professors who are “theologians and ministry practitioners themselves,” and many of whom have been called upon internationally as biblical experts. Online students can access a plethora of Northwestern Online Resources, such as Career Development Videos, and support continues when students graduate and become alums.

Admissions website

Established as the Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School in 1902, the University of Northwestern (UNW) first held classes at the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota. After growth and renovation, Northwestern moved to Roseville, Minnesota (located in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul) in 1972. A private, Christian liberal arts university, Northwestern houses four colleges and four schools, and nearly 3,500 students are currently enrolled. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, UNW is a charter member of the Association of Christian Schools International.

#17. Bethany Theological Seminary

Online Master of Arts

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Program Details: Providing a mostly online experience, Bethany Seminary’s Master of Arts degree can be ideal for students who are “feeling the call to prepare for ministry or further study but are unable to relocate.” The 54-credit hour MA degree program requires six of the eighteen classes to be on-campus, but through Bethany’s online Bethany’s online MA Connections track students can plan how they incorporate their on-campus time within their online program. The MA degree curriculum prepares students either for further doctoral work or employment with faith-based organizations, and offers five areas of concentration to customize the program: students choose from a specialization in Biblical Studies, Brethren Studies, Historical Studies, Peace Studies, or Theological Studies. Based on the student’s choice of concentration, a final thesis or portfolio culminates the degree. As a peace church tradition seminary, the course offerings are diverse in their offerings: students have choices ranging from “Quaker Process” to “Anger, Shame, and Guilt” and “History of Friends Peace Witness” to “Images of God.” Taking care of the “entire Bethany student body,” Bethany provides a Student Services portal to address the needs of all students.

Admissions website

Founded as a Church of the Brethren institution of higher education, Bethany Theological Seminary started in 1905 as Bethany Bible School. The first classes were attended by twelve students in the home of one of the founders on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Gaining accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in 1940, the school moved first to Oak Brook, Illinois in 1957 and then Richmond, Indiana in 1992. The move to Indiana created a stronger partnership with the Earlham School of Religion, a Quaker school. In addition to being ATS accredited, Bethany has been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1971.

#18. Gonzaga University

Online Master of Arts in Theology & Leadership

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Program Details: Offering a Jesuit education, with it’s whole-person focus, the Gonzaga MA in Theology and Leadership degree curriculum provides a well-rounded program with a “strong theology core” as well as a focus on Ignatian spirituality. Eleven courses are accessible entirely online (with core coursework and electives such as “Leadership and Diversity” and “Listen, Discern, Decide” available), and two summer on-campus immersions serve to enhance the Gonzaga experience. All coursework is provided by the renowned Gonzaga faculty members, and personal stories from current and past students reinforce the passion and dedication that the program exudes. The program is “ecumenical and inclusive” and not just for students professing a Catholic Christian faith—formatted as a cohort program, students work together in groups of 20 to 24 and provide support to one another.  Gonzaga MA in Theology & Leadership Info Session Webinars are offered periodically to provide information and guidance for prospective students, and admitted students can expect continued guidance and assistance through specific online student services.

Admissions website

Joseph Cataldo, a Jesuit priest, established Gonzaga University (originally Gonzaga College) in Spokane, Washington in 1881. The institution was founded to train men to become priests and named for Jesuit saint Aloysius de Gonzaga. The first classes would begin in 1887 with eighteen students, and by 1912 university status was achieved. Gonzaga currently enrolls more than 7,500 coeducational students in seven schools and colleges, offering more than 100 academic degrees. One of the 28 Jesuit institutions of higher education in the US, Gonzaga is a private Catholic university regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

#19. Iliff School of Theology

Online Master of Divinity

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Program Details: The Online MDiv at Iliff School of Theology is provided in a hybrid online format through JOURNEY at Iliff. Students are part of a cohort together—coursework is mostly online, with occasion on-campus Gathering Days to provide connection and in-person classes. The Iliff MDiv is a three-year program that can lead students to careers in ministry, non-profit leadership and advocacy, or academia. A diverse 52-credit hour curriculum offers six core areas (Comparative Religious Traditions, Sacred Texts, Social/Contextual Analysis, Historical Development/Exploration of Religious Traditions, Constructive Theology, and Theology and Religious Practices) from which to choose the majority of the coursework, and classes such as “Media, Religion, and Culture,” “Feminist Theology,” and “Ancient and Emerging Practices.” Students can enroll full or part-time, and the JOURNEY program has accreditation through the Association of Theological Schools. Prospective students can read through JOURNEY student success stories to hear the diversity or their journeys, as well as the common benefits they all found in the MDiv program at Iliff.

 Admissions website

Founded in 1892 with a donation from Elizabeth Iliff Warren in honor of her late husband, the Iliff School of Theology was established as a theological school in association with the University of Denver. The School was located in Denver, Colorado just adjacent to the University, and even though Iliff gained institutional independence in 1903, it has remained at the original site. Guided by core values that align with the strong relationship Iliff shares with the United Methodist Church, Iliff is an inclusive and diverse institution dedicated to peace and equality. Iliff is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges.

#20. Fordham University

Online Master of Arts Christian Spirituality

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Program Details: Located in the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education (GRE), the Fordham University online MA in Christian Spirituality degree program is available entirely online. A foundational degree that can lead to a career in ministry or teaching, the online MA in Christian Spirituality offers three degree concentrations to help customize the student’s experience. Students can choose to focus in Spiritual Direction, Research, or pursue a Generalist degree. For students who desire a life of ministry, the Spiritual Direction track offers coursework such as “Methods in Christian Spirituality” and “Discernment in Christian Tradition” to help prepare them to serve in a church or faith-based setting. The Research track requires classes focusing on Christology and Languages, as well as the completion of a final Master’s thesis. The Generalist track allows a broader approach and requires a final comprehensive exam (as does the Spiritual Direction track). Fordham GRE student resources, as well as the expert faculty members, provide support and services to help students thrive.

Admissions website

Established as St. John’s College in 1841, Fordham University is located in New York, New York. Considered a “daring and dangerous undertaking,” the school was founded by John Hughes, the future Archbishop of New York. Five years after it was founded, the school was sold to the Jesuits and is now known as “The Jesuit University of New York.” With nine academic schools and a student enrollment of more than 16,000 across five campuses and online, Fordham is a private Jesuit research university with regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#21. Bayan Claremont Graduate School

Online Master of Arts in Islamic Studies and Leadership

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Program Details: The two-year, 48-unit MA in Islamic Studies and Leadership program at Bayan Claremont provides a unique and comprehensive degree in a mostly-online format. Students participate in on-campus residencies each semester and engage in a rigorous program that will equip them “with a firm grounding in Islamic thought.” Classes cover topics such as “Abrahamic Faiths in Conversation,” “The Quran: Composition, Collection, and Teachings,” and “Muslim Spirituality Among the Religions of the World,” and all students finish the program with a final thesis or culminating project. The impressive Bayan Claremont faculty come from a variety of backgrounds and have extensive experience both studying and practicing Islam and impart to their students the knowledge and skills to become professional religious leaders, governmental consultants, and grassroots organizers. For students who are not sure if they desire a master’s degree, there are Bayan Certificates in either Islamic Education or Islamic Studies and Leadership. Both certificates are twelve-units, and depending upon the choices in courses, can be completed entirely online.

Admissions website

A graduate school at the Claremont School of Theology, Bayan Claremont opened in 2011 in Claremont, California. Offering “graduate masters and doctorate level degrees in various fields of Islamic religious sciences,” Bayan enjoys a healthy relationship with other theological schools nearby—particularly the Claremont School of Theology, the University of the West (a Buddhist school), and the Academy for Jewish Religion, California. Institutionally part of the Claremont School of Theology, Bayan is fully accredited by both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.

#22. Bayan Claremont Graduate School

Online Master of Divinity in Islamic Chaplaincy

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Program Details: For students who want to become chaplains within the context of their Islamic faith, Bayan Claremont offers a new online MDIv in Islamic Chaplaincy in partnership with Chicago Theological Seminary. Graduates of the program will be guided to cultivate “practical skills in spiritual care, cultural sensitivity, religious leadership, and chaplaincy” and can go on to work in a variety of chaplaincy settings.  The 75-unit MDiv program can be completed in three years—students engage in classes mostly online, with one two-week residency required each semester. As with most MDiv program, Bayan students must complete Clinical Pastoral Education and a Field Education placement, and classes range from “Interreligious Dialogue & Leadership” to “History of Islam” and “Facilitating Life Cycle Rituals” and “Race, Culture and Identity Among Muslim Americans.” In addition to the partnership with Chicago Theological Seminary, students can also take classes from the Academy for Jewish Religion California, University of the West, and Claremont Graduate University. Since Bayan Claremont is the Islamic graduate school within the Claremont School of Theology, all students have access to the extensive Career Services offered.

Admissions website

Bayan Claremont is an Islamic graduate school offering three master’s level degrees as well as certificate programs. “Bayan” is an Arabic word that means “to elucidate,” and the institution of higher education strives to instill clarity of speech and eloquence in the students who attend. Jihad Turk established the school as a division of Claremont School of Theology in 2011, and he currently serves as Bayan’s president. Providing higher education to men and women who serve within and as part of the Muslim faith tradition, Bayan envisions a “world that understands Islamic values in a modern context.”

#23. Liberty University

Online Master of Arts in Global Studies

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Program Details: Liberty University provides an entirely online MA in Global Studies degree program that equips students with the skills to “communicate effectively across cultures and cultivate healthy intercultural relationships” in order to successfully navigate a professional life in a multi-cultural or international setting. The 36-credit hour program can be completed in just a year and a half, and though it is fully online, students can participate in optional on-campus intensives. Located in Liberty’s Rawlings School of Divinity, the online MA in Global Studies degree offers students coursework in topics like “Intercultural Communication,” “History & Theory of Global Engagement,” and “World Religions Survey” to provide “a biblical and theological basis for worldwide involvement.” Possible job titles for someone who earns this degree from Liberty include Faith-Based International Development and Aid Worker, Church Based Global Mobilizer & Leader, and Cross-Cultural Worker, and past Liberty Online MA in Global Studies student testimonials give high praise to the “ specific training online in areas that my church lacked resources.”

Admissions website

Originally founded as Lynchburg Baptist College, Liberty University was started by religious-right magnate Jerry Falwell in the early 1970s. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty fulfilled Falwell’s desire to shape “the moral and ethical course of America” and is today the largest Christian University worldwide. A university since 1985, Liberty houses seventeen academic schools and colleges and offers a thriving online presence with over 110,000 online students enrolled. An additional 15,000 residential students are enrolled, and the school provides more than 600 academic programs. Regional accreditation is through Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#24. University of Northwestern St. Paul

Online Master of Arts in Theological Studies

Program Details: The fully online Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) degree program offered by Northwestern is provided online by the College of Graduate, Online & Adult Learning and can be completed in less than two years. Ideal for students who want to go on to teach, the program is led by the “internationally recognized” Northwestern Department of Biblical & Theological Studies faculty members. The dual academic and professional 36-credit hour MATS degree offers both a biblical and theological education, and students participate in required courses such as “Spiritual Foundation for Leadership,” “Contemporary Issues in Theology,” and “Bible in Its World.” Small online classes (with a ratio of fourteen to one) allow students to be both educated and theologically nurtured by their professors and classmate peers. For students who want less than a graduate degree, the Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies is available, and for students who want to further their education beyond the MATS, Northwestern allows the 36-credit hour degree to count towards the Theological Studies portion of the 76-credit hour MDiv program.

Admissions website

Founded by pastor and evangelist William Bell Riley, UNW started out with only seven students when it opened in 1902. After a brief period of closure, the school reopened in 1972 on the current St. Paul, Minnesota campus (official address is Roseville, Minneapolis). With a mission “to provide Christ-centered higher education,” Northwestern is comprised of eight schools and colleges and serves almost 3,500 students currently with more than 70 academic areas of study. Northwestern is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals and has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.

#25. Bethel University

Online Master of Arts in Theological Studies

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Program Details: Bethel’s MA in Theological Studies can be pursued in several formats, one of which is entirely online. Three start dates a year are presented for the online option, and the 51-credit hour program can be completed in just three years. Offering a “holistic approach,” the Theological Studies degree program focuses on the Bible “in its original context and what it implies for the 21st century.” Located in Bethel Seminary, the degree is taught by the Bethel Seminary Faculty, who serve as both “mentors and role models” for their students. The classes are both scholarly and practice-based, covering wide-range topics such as “Faith and Public Life,” “History of Christian Thought: The Early Church to Scholasticism,” “World Religions,” and “Eschatology and Hope.” Additionally, Bethel recognizes the unique needs of adult students and provides Bethel Student Success resources and services to help make the academic journey a successful one. With academic and support services, a dedicated Student Advisory Council, and other resources, Bethel helps make sure the student graduates withthe confidence of one who handles God’s Word with care and applies its truth to contemporary life with relevance.”

Admissions website

Founded as Baptist Union Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois in order to train clergy to minster to the Swedish Baptist immigrants who had come to the States to escape religious intolerance and persecution, Bethel University was begun by Pastor John Edgren in 1871. When the Baptist General Conference took over in 1914, the school was moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Becoming Bethel University in 2004, the institution is comprised of four academic schools and colleges, including Bethel Seminary, and currently enrolls over 6,000 students. A private Christian university, Bethel is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and by ATS.

#26. Columbia International University

Online Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies

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Program Details: For students who want to develop a better “intercultural understanding in an ever-changing, diverse world,” CIU Online offers an entirely online MA in Intercultural Studies. The 45-credit hour program is provided by a faculty who are multilingual, have multicultural experience, and have “lived internationally, doing the very work they’re teaching.” Possible careers with this degree are diverse—students can go into governmental work, military, mission or church service, academia, or non-profit work. Courses include topics in “Hermeneutics: Interpreting and Applying the Bible,” “Doing Theology in Context,” and “Systematic Theology.” Housed within the College of Intercultural Studies at CIU, the MA in Intercultural Studies degree program makes sure all students have the support they need both academically and spiritually. CIU promises an online learning environment in which students grow in knowledge as well as character due to “conversation and study, through reflection and hard work.” All CIU students, whether on-campus or online, also have access to a selection of student resources, such as an Academic Success Center, to help them as the earn their degree.

Admissions website

Started as an idea for a local Bible school in 1918, classes for Columbia International University (originally Columbia Bible School) began in rented space at the Colonia Hotel and at the YMCA in 1922. Officially founded in 1923 in Columbia, South Carolina, CIU quickly began offering graduate courses. Moving to the current location in 1960, CIU now serves over 1,000 men and women. An evangelical, nondenominational Christian institution of higher education, CIU is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#27. Earlham School Of Religion

Online Master of Arts: Theopoetics and Writing

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Program Details: Along with fellow Peace Church tradition (Church of the Brethren) seminary Bethany, the Quaker seminary ESR provides an entirely online Master of Arts: Theopoetics and Writing (MATW) degree program. With a curriculum made up of ESR’s Ministry of Writing Program and Bethany’s Theopoetics and Theological Imagination Certificate, the 36-credit hour MATW program is crafted to equip students with the abilities to “write and think at the intersection of creativity, faith, and meaning.” Available online through Access, ESR’s online delivery method, students participate in classes such as “Hebrew Bible Theopoetics,” “Writing for God and God’s People,” “Preaching, Poetry, and Prophetic Imagination,” and “Peace of the City and Quest for Public Theology.” A final Integration Course and MA Summative Exercise culminates the degree program, and graduates will be able to artfully “bring spirituality into public conversation with the whole of life.” Once an alumni of the MATW program,  students can engage in any of the offered ESR Events to enrich their ministry and/or professional life.

Admissions website

Earlham School of Religion is a Quaker seminary that began as a program of Earlham College in 1960. Located in Richmond, Indiana, ESR is the oldest graduate-level institution of higher education within the Quaker faith tradition. Approximately 100 students currently engage in study at ESR, and this private seminary has been accredited since 1969 by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and is regionally accredited (through Earlham College) by the Higher Learning Commission.

#28. Earlham School Of Religion

Online Master of Arts in Religion

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Program Details: Earlham School of Religion offers the scholarly, terminal MA in Religion degree online through ESR Access. The 48-credit hour degree program requires two-week residency intensives on-campus with the majority of coursework provided online. Offering four concentration options in Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Quaker Studies, and Peace and Justice Studies, the MA in Religion program at ESR allows students to customize the degree to meet their academic and career goals. A final thesis culminates the degree, and students prepare by taking classes in languages, advanced theology, historical studies, and advanced biblical studies. Course topics vary and allow for student preferences, with options such as “Bible, Violence, and Non-Violence,” “Quaker History and Literature,” and “Spiritual Formation & Personal Practice.” Guided by the ESR faculty, who are accomplished writers, theologians, and practitioners, the ESR MA in Religion equips students as “skilled researchers and effective scholarly writers” in order to go on for careers as teachers or to further their studies through doctoral pursuits.

Admissions website

Quaker graduate school Earlham School of Religion is an ecumenical community offering on-campus and distance education programs in theology, ministry, and leadership. With a mission of being rooted in the “Christian Quaker tradition of contemplation,” ESR “unites spiritual formation, academic study, social engagement, and vital ministry.” Founded in 1960 and located in conjunction with Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, ESR is fully accredited by both the ATS and the Higher Learning Commission.

#29. Santa Clara University

Online Master of Theological Studies

Program Details: The Jesuit School of Theology (JST) at Santa Clara University provides an MTS degree program entirely online. The Jesuit School Online MTS degree requires a total of 48-credit hours culminating in a final master paper, and students engage in 39-credits of general theology and nine-credits of electives. Focusing on Biblical Studies, Historical and Systematic Theology, Spirituality and Pastoral Theology, and Ethics, Religion and Society, the degree program imparts to students a “broad theological foundation.” Students can pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time basis, potentially completing the program in two years. Jesuit School student services, as well as JST Student Testimonials, serve to help current and prospective students navigate their theological journey at SCU, and the distinguished, expert faculty provide guidance and mentorship as well. Jesuit School of Theology admission events are offered periodically, and for those who are interested in what life after the JST MST degree program looks like, a collection of Alumni in the News reports are showcased on the school’s website.

Admissions website

Owning the distinction of being California’s oldest currently-operating institution of higher education, Santa Clara University began as Santa Clara College in 1851. Located in Santa Clara, which historically was land that belonged to the native Ohlone people, the school quickly grew from a male preparatory school to a university in 1912. Another distinction, Santa Clara began admitting women in 1961, making it the first Catholic coeducational university in the state. Now over 9,000 students attend this private Jesuit institution, and Santa Clara University (renamed such in 1985) is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as ATS.

#30. Harvard University

Online Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies: Religion

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Program Details: The prestige of a scholarly master’s degree in religion from Harvard is possible online through the Harvard Extension School. The Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, field: Religion degree is a twelve-course, mostly online program in which students can choose a thesis or capstone track. At least three courses (twelve credits) must be taken on-campus to provide students with a “Harvard campus experience,” but students need not be deterred—they can engage in several on-campus options that meet their scheduling needs (such as three-week sessions in the winter or summer, courses that are online with a weekend intensive component, etc.). Students have up to five years to complete the degree and can choose to construct their course selections to add on a graduate certificate in Religions of the World, Religious Studies and Education, or Social Justice. Each certificate requires specific coursework, with topics ranging from “Bodies and Sexualities in the Medieval Middle East: Medical, Cultural, and Religious Views” toReligion, Education, and Democracy” to “Readings in Black Radicalism.”

Admissions website

 Ivy League Harvard University was established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The oldest institution of higher education in the nation, Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and offers distance education through the Harvard Extension School. More than 36,000 students are enrolled on-campus and online, and this prestigious, private university has regional accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

#31. Trevecca University

Online Master of Arts in Religion

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Program Details: Provided entirely online through Trevecca Online, the online MA in Religion degree program at Trevecca Nazarene University is an affordable, flexible program that can be completed in as few as eighteen months. A 33-credit hour program, students can choose from two concentrations: Biblical and Theological Studies or Pastoral Counseling. Shared core coursework includes classes such as “Biblical Methods & Contextualization” and “Christian Doctrine and the 21st Century Church,” and all students complete a Capstone Core Course as well. Each concentration provides four specialization classes that are unique to the focus area, with topics like “The Theology of John Wesley and His Theological Forbearers” and “Church, Society, and Christian Ethics” forming part of the coursework for the Biblical and Theological Studies concentration and “Pastoral Intervention in Crisis” and “Human Sexuality and Pastoral Counseling” making up the curriculum for the Pastoral Counseling concentration. Offered in the cohort model, the online MA in Religion at Trevecca is “committed to fostering an environment of Christian fellowship and community,” and students are supported by their peers, professors, and caring staff.

Admissions website

In 1901 the Literary and Bible Training School for Christian Workers was founded in Nashville, Tennessee. Begun as a school to train Christian workers, the scope broadened and the name was changed to Trevecca College. Over the next decade the school officially became a Church of the Nazarene institution. Moving in 1935 to its present location, the school made its final name change in 1995 to Trevecca Nazarene University. Now more than 3,000 students are enrolled in over 120 academic degree programs. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#32. Saint Joseph’s College

Online Master of Arts in Theology

Program Details: Students who desire a “solid theological foundation, grounded in solid Catholic doctrine” will find the online MA in Theology at Saint Joseph’s College an enriching program. Ideal for Catholic Christians as well as students from other faith traditions, the SJC Online Theology program presents the historic Catholic doctrine without a liberal or conservative bent for an educationally unbiased experience. Three specializations are offered: Pastoral Theology and Sacred Theology both require 36-credit hours, and the Advanced Diaconal Studies specialization requires 30-credit hours. All three specializations share some common core courses, such as “Catholic Moral Theology” and “Ecclesiology,” and all allow for students to choose two electives from a wide selection of subjects (some options include “Catholic Bioethics,” “Church Management and Leadership,” “Ministry with the Aging, Sick, and Dying,” and “Ministry in the Intercultural Church of America”). Online student resources at Saint Joseph’s College are plentiful, with dedicated academic advisors, online tutoring, IT services, and Student Support Specialists available to make the “challenges that adult learners face” manageable and easy to overcome.

Admissions website

Saint Joseph’s College (SJC or “Saint Joseph’s”) was founded by the Portland Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in 1912 in Portland, Maine. In 1915 the Maine Legislature established the school’s charter, and it operated as a women’s college. In 1956 the school moved to its current campus location in Standish, Maine, and in 1970 this private, Catholic institution became coeducational. Having offered distance learning programs since 1976, SJU is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#33. Colorado Christian University

Online Master of Arts in Theological Studies

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Program Details: Through CCU’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies a completely online MA in Theological Studies degree program is offered in order to provide to students an exploration “through Biblical, systematic, historical, and dogmatic theological lenses.” The 39-credit hour CCU Theological Studies degree presents a curriculum that can be completed in two to four years, with classes such as “Major Approaches to Theology,” “Christian History,” and “Theological Aesthetics.” Provided with a Biblical and evangelical approach, the MA in Theological Studies degree can help graduates to “minister effectively in the church, parachurch organizations, workplace, or an academic setting.” The College of Adult and Graduate Studies also offers the online 39-credit hour CCU MA in Biblical Studies “for those who have diverse callings and are interested in an integrative biblical studies education grounded in the truth of the Scriptures.” As with the Theological Studies degree, students can transfer in up to nine-credit hour and complete the program in as little as seventeen months.

Admissions website

Colorado Christian University (CCU) was founded originally as Denver Bible Institute in 1914. The institution has moved locations and changed names as it has grown, settling into a permanent campus location in 1967 in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. In 1989 the school officially became CCU and this interdenominational school houses two academic colleges and provides more than 100 academic degree programs to over 7,000 students. Regional accreditation is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.

#34. Gateway Seminary

Online Master of Theological Studies

Program Details: Through Gateway Online, students can pursue Gateway Seminary’s 49-credit hour MTS degree program. A two-year program, the online MTS at Gateway is “designed to meet basic theological needs for effective service,” and students are given the opportunity to choose up to ten hours of electives to customize the degree for their particular interests and goals. The curriculum is comprised of courses in Leadership Discernment, Biblical Foundations, Theological Foundations, and Leadership Skill Formation, and in addition students are provided with academic, spiritual, financial, and emotional support. Claiming student success as “one the highest priorities at Gateway Seminary,” students can be assured that they will be provided with a whole array of resources and services to help support them in their journey. Gateway’s Theological Field Education (TFE) ministry practicum is offered to MTS students as an elective option rather than as a requirement, and through the course of the experience students will “develop the core competencies needed for ministry, growth in their understanding of self, and increased spiritual vitality.”

Admissions website

With a history rooted in the 1859 founding of the short-lived San Rafael Baptist Institute, Gateway Seminary began as the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 1944 in San Francisco, California. Moving to a larger campus in Mill Valley, California 1959, there are now five campus locations in the western part of the United States. Renamed Gateway Seminary and moving to a new main campus in Ontario, California in 2016, the institution has been affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention since 1950. Accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and ATS.

#35. Regent University

Online Master of Arts in Practical Theology

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Program Details: Regent University offers a MA in Practical Theology degree entirely online through their ATS-accredited (Association of Theological Schools) School of Divinity. Five concentration options in Church & Ministry, Worship & Media, Interdisciplinary Studies, Marketplace Ministry, and Missiology allow for customization within the 48-credit hour program. Students can begin the eight-week terms at eight different start dates a year for convenience, and required core classes are common between all concentration options, including topics such as “Leadership in Church & Ministry,” “Christian Theology,” and “Foundations for Biblical Mission.” Twelve credit hours are devoted to the chosen concentration, and vary based on the focus area. Regent’s MA in Practical Theology – Worship & Media degree offers specialization classes like “Technology & Media in Ministry,” “Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs,” and “Models of Worship,” whereas the MA in Practical Theology – Marketplace Ministry degree provides an exploration of topics like “Managing Not-for-Profit & Faith-Based Organizations, “Organizational Communication, Conflict Resolution & Negotiation,” and “Innovation & Technological Success.”

Admissions website

Evangelist Pat Robertson founded the Christian Broadcasting Network University in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1977, and this institution would be renamed Regent University in 1990. Over 50 students were in attendance when classes began in 1978, and now nearly 9,000 students are enrolled in this private Christian university. Offering over 125 academic degree programs through eight schools, Regent’s regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#36. Regent University

Online Master of Theological Studies

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Program Details: Regent’s MTS degree program is available completely online and accredited by The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. A 48-credit hour program, the Regent MTS degree provides five focus areas from which students can choose to concentrate: Biblical Languages, Biblical Studies, Christian Theology, Church History, and Cosmogony. The diverse concentration offerings give students the chance to pursue their particular professional goals with twelve hours devoted to the specialization. The Regent online MTS in Cosmogony degree, for instance, is designed to give students the skills to speak with authority on both matters of science and matters of theology and offers elective choices like “Origins of the Cosmos” and “Science Leadership & Communication,” as well as required courses like “Philosophy of Science” and “Foundations of Scientific Inquiry.” Provided by the Regent University School of Divinity “distinguished faculty and talented staff,” the online MTS degree program assures the success of the online student because of the care and guidance of the professors who are scholar-practitioners and who are geared to preparing students to lead a “multi-ethnic, multicultural and multigenerational ministry.”

Admissions website

Conservative spokesperson Pat Robertson’s Regent University, originally called Christian Broadcasting Network University, was founded in order to produce “capable men and women for the challenge of representing Christ in their professions.” The Virginia Beach campus was not fully constructed the first year, so classes were held nearby in rented classrooms. The name became Regent in 1990 to acknowledge the university status and to reflect that the students serve as regents in this world to their professed Christ. Comprised of eight schools. regional accreditation is granted through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#37. Dallas Theological Seminary

Online Master of Biblical and Theological Studies

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Program Details: The 36-credit hour Master of Biblical and Theological Studies (MBTS) degree program offered at Dallas Theological Seminary provides students an entirely online degree with a great deal of customization options. Required courses such as “Theological Method and Bibliology” and “The Story of Scripture: Genesis to Revelation” and a Summative Research Project are enhanced by the student’s choice of thirteen hours of electives. Options include classes such as “Ministry to Children at Risk”, “A Christian View of Art, God and Evil,” and “Theology & World Religions,” which touch on the school’s view of the inerrancy of the Christian Bible. The online MBTS degree at DTS is ideal for students who want to “enhance their biblical and theological foundation for lay ministry in professional contexts,” and the program allows up to twelve credit hours of coursework to be transferred in. In addition to offering the program entirely in Chinese as well, DTS also makes available free online classes to enrich the theological lives of pastors, lay leaders, and interested students.

Admissions website

Founded in 1924, Dallas Theological Seminary began with thirteen students. Originally named the Evangelical Theological College, the Dallas, Texas seminary currently enrolls nearly 2,500 students at various on-campus locations and online. Known for being a leader in promoting a modern Dispensational interpretation of the Christian Bible, DTS has more than 15,000 alumni the world over. A nondenominational, evangelical institution, DTS is regionally accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and also accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.

#38. Abilene Christian University

Online Master of Arts in Theology

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Program Details: Through the ACU College of Biblical Studies, an entirely online MA in Theology is housed within the Graduate School of Theology. The 36-credit hour program is ideal for students “who wish to deepen their theological foundation and gain greater competence” in the arena of the Christian religion. The program requires a final thesis and can be completed in just two years, and students participate in classes such as “Philosophy of Religion,” “Biblical Exegesis,” and “History of Christianity: Early to Medieval.” Along with an advisor, students choose a focus based on their interests and the electives offered by the Graduate School of Theology (or, with program director approval, any class offered by ACU Online). Through the University, many Centers and services are provided not just to students, but to churches and other institutions, and online students reap the benefits of these as well. As a resource for prospective students, ACU Online Open House Webinars provide a connection to the online MA in Theology program advisors, professors and current students.

Admissions website

Abilene Christian University is a private Christian institution of higher education located in Abilene, Texas. Twenty-five students enrolled when the school was established in 1906 as the Childers Classical Institute, and now ACU currently enrolls over 5,000 students in more than 100 academic degree programs offered in ten schools and colleges. With Churches of Christ affiliation, ACU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and is accredited both by ATS and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#39. Campbellsville University

Online Master of Theology

Program Details: Campbellsville University’s online Master of Theology degree program gives students three concentration options to customize the degree. The 30-credit hour program allows students to choose from an emphasis in Biblical Studies, Pastoral Leadership, or Theological Studies, and rather than a core set of classes that are shared by all the concentrations, students participate in their chosen focus area courses and choose two from each of the other concentrations. The courses are therefore specific to the concentration, and range from “Pastoral Letters, Pastoral Leadership,” “Innovations in the Contemporary Church,” and “Ethics of the Christian Faith.” Students can finish the degree within two years, and students who choose the Theological Studies focus area will come away with a firm foundation of a “combination of church history and contemporary theological discussion.” Recognizing that not all students who pursue the Campbellsville online Master of Theology want to necessarily become ministers, a resource collection of other potential careers is made available through the Program Resources page.

Admissions website

Campbellsville University is a private Christian institution in Campbellsville, Kentucky that was founded as Russell Creek Academy in 1906. Originally a school for boys, Campbellsville gained university status in 1996 and now has additional campus locations. The school currently educates over 4,300 coeducational students, and even though official ties with the Kentucky Baptist Convention were severed in 2014, Campbellsville still upholds the Baptist ideals. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College.

#40. Liberty University

Online Master of Arts in Theological Studies

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Program Details: Liberty University’s fully online Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) degree program is housed within the Rawlings School of Divinity and presented for students who want to strengthen their knowledge to use in their local church or begin on a religious studies career course. Students take courses such as “Introduction to Apologetics,” “Intercultural Communication,” and “Survey of the History of Christianity,” and this 36-credit hour program can be completed online in less than two years. For students who decide to pursue further education, the online MATS program can be used as a foundational degree that can provide access to the Liberty Online MA in Religion degree or the MDiv degree. All online students at Liberty are provided with services and resources, but for online students who want to feel more of a community connection with their student peers and professors, the Instructional Media Team at Liberty has created “helpful instructional media tools and opportunities for scholastic interactions.” These webinars are held throughout the year and offer “interactive web-based seminars” to enrich each student’s Liberty experience.

Admissions website

Founded by Jerry Falwell and his congregation in 1971, Liberty University has grown to be one of the leaders in online education. With over 600 academic degree programs and more than 100,000 students enrolled through Liberty Online, the institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia has a reach that spans the globe. University status was granted to the mountainous school in 1985—that was also the year distance education was first offered. Now over 125,000 students are enrolled in the 600-plus academic degree programs, and regional accreditation has been provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

10 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs in Accounting

mba accounting online

As with any graduate degree program, getting accepted is half the battle. Although most universities seem to have very similar admissions requirements, don’t be fooled by appearances. No two institutions have the same internal processes for who they let in.

COMMON ACCOUNTING DEGREE APPLICATION AND ADMISSION QUESTIONS

Meeting objective, measurable criteria, such as a grade point average is one thing; meeting departments’ subjective criteria is quite another. For this reason, it pays to review closely each program’s specific requirements related to any subjective papers you must write, such as a statement of purpose or even a resume.

In a way, it’s a lot like applying for a job. You’ve got to know what they’re looking for, then word your essays to explain how you meet those criteria. For example, let’s say a program requests a statement expressing your desired career goals.

How do you know what will compel an admissions officer to accept you over another applicant, based on your personal goals alone? One way to do this is by reading the department’s goals. Almost every university and college cites its own unique mission, vision, and values somewhere on its website. Find these, see what motivates the department’s members, and learn what they emphasize. Can you find a way to express your own goals in a way that synchronizes with theirs? If so, do it and you’ll be better able to persuade the admissions staff that you’re a solid match for the program. 

Now let’s get back to those objective requirements for a moment. How do things look? If you don’t meet all the listed criteria, does the school’s website say anything about ways to make it up? Sometimes, relevant work experience can suffice in lieu of holding a specific GPA. Other times, a program will allow conditional acceptance, letting you get a foot in the door so you can show them what you’re capable of once admitted. We suggest spending the bulk of your time tailoring your applications to those programs for which you’re fully qualified. This will help maximize your efforts and increase your odds of being accepted into a program that is a good fit for you. 

Schools with the toughest entry requirements set the bar high for several reasons, and you should certainly apply to all those for which you are qualified. Just understand that one reason why admission can be so difficult is because the curriculum itself may be equally challenging. You want the best education you can receive, taught at a pace you can succeed at.

That’s one of the nice things about online programs: many are self-paced, allowing you to attend when you want and to complete requirements when you have the time between your hectic work commitments. However, pay attention to which programs do not offer such flexibility. Several still require all students to keep up with and, in some cases, attend in-person classes on campus. Make sure you know the complete details regarding the delivery format for all universities you apply to. Just because it a degree is described as being “online” doesn’t always mean it is “100% online.” 

One final note – for international applicants, keep an eye on those English proficiency requirements, and on any other mentioned criteria regarding how to submit transcripts or any country-specific restrictions. Again, bear in mind that some programs do require limited in-person attendance. After all, you don’t want to apply for a program featuring hybrid classes if you aren’t planning to live in the area!

WHAT ABOUT FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS?

One shock many prospective online students receive is the cost of tuition. Not all degrees offered online are less expensive than on-campus degrees. In fact, we’ve seen some online classes that cost more than the same course held on-campus. 

We’ve taken tuition rates into consideration as part of our methodology for building our list of the 10 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs in Accounting. Still, no degree is free, so it’s important to understand your financial aid and scholarship options.

Holding a master’s degree will lead to significantly increased earnings over your lifetime, but for now, the main thing is paying for that master’s degree! The quickest route is for students to apply for loans, but remember – it may be faster now, but it’ll take years to pay off the debt. That’s why we strongly encourage would-be grad students to dive into Federal Student Aid applications. 

We know, there’s nothing fun about applying for financial aid, and it seems to take forever to hear back, but it’s free money and, as any good accountant should realize, that’s better than amassing debt through borrowing funds. 

Grants and scholarships are typically based on financial need and scholastic merit, respectively. So, what type of grants and scholarship aid are out there for grad students? Lots! To apply, you’ll need to establish an account on the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website and then fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You’ll also want to browse the Financial Aid for Graduate or Professional Students page and read over the eligibility requirements

One factor that can ruin an otherwise qualified student’s chances of receiving aid is missing an application deadline. Your friends at the Federal Student Aid office know this, which is why they’ve created a handy Graduate School Preparation Checklist to keep you on track so you don’t blow those cutoffs. 

Once Student Aid receives your FAFSA, you’ll get back a Student Aid Report. The SAR shows how much, if anything, your Expected Family Contribution is going to be. This is a critical element related to your aid eligibility, so make sure everything looks good because it’s also going to be sent to the schools you’re applying to. They, in turn, will determine your actual cost of attendance, subtract the family contribution, and then, based on the results, build aid packages on your behalf. 

You should reach out to your chosen schools’ financial aid offices to ensure that everything is done correctly and on time. After all, schools receive thousands of applications each year, so don’t take anything for granted. Confirm that they received your materials by calling or emailing. Schools also administer a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants program, which may feature some free funds for you to tap into. When you contact those financial aid offices, inquire about this as well. 

Typical grad students may not qualify for Pell Grants, but there are also Fulbright Grants, TEACH Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, and numerous college-based financial awards. State and local associations and alumni organizations also give away millions a year in scholarship gift awards. And, as any military member knows, there are GI Bill benefits available to veterans and their qualified dependents. Veterans Affairs and/or on-campus VA representatives are glad to explain how to use these awesome benefits. 

Once you’ve exhausted all of the above options, if you still need funding, be sure to check out the federal student loans, which go up to $20,500 per school year (for unsubsidized loans). The repayment estimator will tell you what to expect in terms of future payments. 

HOW MUCH CAN I MAKE WITH A MASTER’S IN ACCOUNTING? 

Graduates holding a general Master’s in Business Administration are not uncommon, but having one with a specialized focus in accounting gives you a very competitive edge in the job market. Virtually all companies and governmental agencies need highly trained MBA grads who also possess a deep understanding of complex accounting principles. 

According to the University of Scranton, career options for holders of this degree are broken into two types, business management careers and accounting careers. 

Business-oriented roles include: 

Accounting-oriented jobs include: 

Because of the incredibly broad scope of career paths open to MBA in Accounting graduates, the salary range is equally broad, but we’ll try to offer some average annual base salary comparisons, based on Glassdoor’s reported salaries for a few of the above-listed jobs. 

  • Auditing Manager (median pay $98,959, up to $123,000)
  • Business Consultant (median pay $75,993, up to $115,000)
  • Certified Public Accountant (median pay $67,221, up to $105,000)
  • Chief Executive Officer (median pay $140,786, up to $306,000)
  • Chief Financial Officer (median pay $147,060, up to $260,000)
  • Chief Operating Officer (median pay $135,742, up to $245,000)
  • Financial Analyst (median pay $65,817, up to $89,000)
  • Financial Manager (median pay $100,535, up to $132,000)
  • International Accountant (median pay $56,201, up to $68,000)
  • Management Analyst (median pay $66,637, up to $132,000 for high earners)
  • Revenue Manager (median pay $69,948, up to $95,000)
  • Tax Consultant (median pay $62,150, up to $76,000)

The above salaries are based on reported figures and do not represent specific degrees attained. They also don’t reflect individuals’ geographic locations, years of experience, levels of expertise and responsibility, or the actual employing agency or business. 

All of these factors will, naturally, impact earnings; however, we can get a general idea of income levels new grads could be qualified for with an MBA in Accounting. If we add up the average wages of all jobs listed, the average comes out to over $90,000 per year. 

The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics features detailed statistics and employment information for most of the above roles via its online Occupational Outlook Handbook. Keep in mind, though, the BLS also does not break down pay scales according to degree level. 

There isn’t space to examine them all here, but we can select one – Financial Analyst – and use the handbook to examine a few specifics. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for financial analysts is $85,660. The lowest 10% made under $52,540, but the top 10% raked in over $167,000! Clearly, there is a lot of earnings potential in this field for those with the right experience and training. 

PayScale shows that popular employers of financial analysts include JP Morgan Chase, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing Company, Amazon, IBM, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs. 

NOTABLE STATISTICS

A recent search on Indeed.com for “MBA Accounting” jobs yielded 9,519 results; among these, 1,871 listed annual salaries of $115,000 or more. The lowest salary listed was $65,000.

Among all the jobs posted for “MBA Accounting” on Indeed.com, 1,135 required entry-level experience, and 3,990 requested mid-level experience. Amazon.com accounts for 280 of these postings. The top locations listed were New York (555 jobs posted), Chicago (365), Seattle (327), San Francisco (259), and Atlanta (193). 

According to the BLS, the employment of professionals in positions that “consult, advise and analyze business operations and efficiencies” is expected to rise 14% through 2024. Meanwhile, the employment of accountants and auditors should grow by 11% until 2024. Both of these projected numbers are far higher than the averages for most career fields. One reason for this stellar growth could be the connections among accountants, auditors, and the general health of the national economy. 

PayScale features a breakout page for “Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting & Finance Degree,” which notes that most of those who hold this degree are highly satisfied with their jobs. It also shows a gender breakdown based on 1,913 survey responses: 56.3% of employees were male and earned $59,000 to $178,000 per year, while 43.6% were female and made $51,000 to $136,000 annually. The website doesn’t specify the reasons for this gender pay gap; however, its Gender Pay Gap Statistics Executive Summary states that, in uncontrolled gender pay gap studies (comparing all median salaries of men to women), women make $0.79 for each dollar their male counterparts earn in 2019. By contrast, in controlled gender pay gap studies (with variables such as job title, years of experience, industry, location, etc. being the same) the disparity decreases greatly. Data indicates that, for 2019, women earn $0.98 compared to each dollar earned by a male worker, where all other factors are equal. The summary offers several insightful points for curious business and accounting students interested in the current state of the gender pay gap. 

Most workers who hold an MBA in Accounting are listed as experienced (33.3%) or late-career (26.6%), followed by mid-career workers (22.3%) and early career workers (16.7%). Only 1.1% of respondents reported that they were entry level, which makes sense considering that most graduate degree programs like to accept applicants with at least some work experience under their belts. 

There is no clear consensus about which is better – an MBA or a CPA credential. By completing an MBA that prepares you to pass the CPA exam, you won’t have to settle for just one or the other. You’ll get the best of both worlds, doubling your marketability! By choosing an online program, chances are you won’t have to quit your day job in order to attend classes. The key is to know your long-term goals, so you can select the right program for your future. 

With these points in mind, let’s dive into our list of the 10 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs in Accounting and see what’s out there waiting for you!

#1. THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A FOCUS IN ACCOUNTING

According to the University of West Florida, the sun-drenched institution is “Creating the next generation of big thinkers.” With a graduate student body of 3,129 in Fall 2018, the emphasis is on quality over quantity here. While the bulk of students come from within the state, UWF is home to students from around the country who are attracted to everything the school has to offer. 

Now, with online offerings, attendance just got easier! UWF’s 36-semester hour online MBA program, accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, is made for working professionals who are ready to hone their management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills to perfection. The curriculum also covers topics such as formal organizations and their economic environment. 

Designed for those who can commit to two classes per semester, this online MBA uses a cohort system, allowing students to progress together through the course sequence and build strong learning relationships. Students must submit a final portfolio for review by the program director before graduation. 

Students may elect to add an emphasis area such as Accounting to the UWF MBA, which will develop their understanding of issues within the profession and build their research and communication skills. The Academic Learning Plan of study for the Accounting emphasis is: 

MBA Core (27 semester hours)

  • GEB 5878 – Business Process Integration
  • GEB 5930 – Information Resources and Industry Analysis
  • ACG 6308 – Advanced Managerial Accounting
  • MAN 6156 – Management and Organizational Behavior
  • QMB 6305 – Quantitative Methods for Business
  • ISM 6137 – Business Analytics
  • ECP 6705 – Advanced Managerial Economics
  • FIN 6406 – Financial Management
  • MAR 6815 – Marketing Management
  • MAN 6721- Strategic Management and Policy Formulation

Accounting emphasis (9 semester hours)

  • ACG 6805 – Seminar in Financial Accounting
  • ACG 6856 – Advanced Auditing
  • TAX 5105 – Corporate Tax, or BUL 5831 – Commercial Law

Note, this emphasis requires sufficient prerequisite undergraduate work in accounting. Students who don’t already have a business degree can combine the MBA Program with Accelerated MBA Foundations in order to finish in under two years. Applicants’ transcripts are reviewed closely to ensure that foundational proficiencies are also sufficient for entry into the program. The prior coursework (and grades) of interest to admissions officials include Business Calculus, Corporate Finance, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Management Information Systems/e-Business, Management, Marketing, Micro- and Macro-Economics, and Statistics. 

Admission requirements for the University of West Florida’s online MBA program include 

    • Submission of official transcripts 
    • A score of 450 or better on the GMAT or equivalent GRE score. (See waiver criteria on the program’s Admission Test Score Waivers page.)
    • A current resume
    • A statement of educational objectives
    • Two letters of recommendation 
    • Documentation for immunization requirements through Med+Proctor
    • A meeting with an advisor prior to beginning the program
    • Answering essay prompts such as: 
  • “Describe personal and professional achievements within the last five years which indicate your potential for a successful business career.”
  • “What career are you considering?”

Most graduates taking the Accounting emphasis have numerous job opportunities, with many going into public accounting careers such as auditors, consultants, and tax practitioners, or industry jobs such as financial and operational managers. There are also governmental agency careers to pursue. The 80,000-member UWF Alumni network offers resources to help with job-seeking. 

Online students may not be interested in all that the campus itself has to offer in terms of organizations, clubs, and athletics, but it’s certainly worth noting that U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of West Florida at a commendable No. 34 among Regional Universities South, No. 52 for Best Value Schools, and No. 19 Best Colleges for Veterans, all for 2020!

#2. TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING

The Texas Woman’s University is working on becoming the country’s top public university for those seeking woman-focused leadership development and education, but don’t let the name fool you, because men have been admitted since 1972

Students of all types will appreciate how efficient TWU’s 36-credit hour, hybrid format MBA with a concentration in Accounting is. Designed to be completed in as few as 15 months, the program prepares students with everything they need to succeed in all areas of accounting, including audits, taxes, management, financial, and forensic accounting. 

Compressed courses are only seven weeks long, with most delivered entirely online and a select few completed using a hybrid online/face-to-face method. In-person sessions are held on Saturdays at the Denton, Dallas, or Houston campuses to allow for maximum flexibility. With small class sizes, TWU’s student-to-faculty ratio allows for increased individualized attention from highly supportive faculty and instructors who are experts in the field of accounting. 

The program is made for those interested in pursuing careers as a Certified Public Accountant or who want to work in personal accounting or auditing, government, or non-profit areas. The MBA also prepares students for the CPA and Certified Management Accountant exams

The 36-semester credit hour program includes the following coursework:

  • BUS 5133 – Marketing Management
  • BUS 5243 – Managerial Finance
  • BUS 5263 – Organizational Behavior in Business Administration
  • BUS 5483 – Accounting for Management Control
  • BUS 5663 – Decision Analysis for Managers
  • BUS 5893 – Business Strategy and Policy
  • BUS 5563 – Accounting Ethics
  • BUS 5923 – Global Business
  • BUS 5423 – Advanced Auditing
  • BUS 5473 – Financial Statement Analysis
  • BUS 5493 – Accounting Theory 
  • BUS 5733 – Accounting Research or BUS 5773 – Forensic Accounting

The course catalog offers detailed information on each required course. 

Interested candidates who don’t already hold a bachelor’s in accounting may still be eligible to apply, if certain prerequisites are met. Admission to the graduate school and the College of Business MBA program also include the following requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate study (see notes on provisional admittance)
  • International and permanent resident applicants have numerous criteria to meet, including English proficiency tests. Please review all requirements carefully.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office
  • Submission of a resume to mba@twu.edu 
  • No GRE or GMAT required

Although the program is delivered predominantly online, students who attend hybrid classes on campus will enjoy the active student life at TWU. As a Pioneer, grad students can participate in organizations, take advantage of fun fitness and recreational facilities and activities, check out some sporting events, and get involved with the Graduate Student Council or even civic engagement volunteer opportunities

For those ready to get serious about research, TWU is home to many institutes and centers, such as the Center for Women in Business, Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy, and the Center for Student Leadership, among many others. 

TWU is lauded across the spectrum for the high quality of its academic and lifestyle programs. It has earned one of the highest diversity index ratings among U.S. universities by U.S. News & World Report and was ranked at No. 13 for Best MBA for Student Parents by Petersons.com because of its childcare options and after-school program for young children.

#3. BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH AN ACCOUNTING CONCENTRATION

Since 1966, Nebraska’s Bellevue University has prided itself on being an innovative non-profit, open-access institution focused on students and transformational education. Its goal is to prepare students for successful careers at an affordable cost. 

The MBA program offered by Bellevue can be taken online or on campus. No matter which option you select, you’ll be engaged with diverse peers studying a range of real-world case studies and simulations taught by renowned faculty leaders in the field. Crafted with an eye on building upon existing knowledge and skills, the MBA with an Accounting concentration integrates practical, hands-on experience with academic theory through formats designed to allow for maximum scheduling flexibility. 

Graduates become masters of communication and critical thinking, able to adeptly analyze and solve a variety of complex issues related to business strategies, ethical decision-making, and problem-solving. The MBA also prepares students for certification from the Project Management Institute or the Society for Human Resource Management. 

The 36-credit hour MBA is offered with several concentration choices, but we’ll focus on the Accounting area. Core requirements are: 

  •   MBA 500 Business Performance Management 
  •   MBA 520 Financial Reporting & Analysis 
  •   MBA 615 Human Capital & Organizational Performance
  •   MBA 624 Business Analysis for Decision Making
  •   MBA 635 Marketing & New Media Strategy 

In some cases, a core class may be waived. A student counselor can discuss these options. 

The Accounting concentration requires the selection of at least nine credit hours, from a list that includes courses such as Advanced Accounting Problems, Accounting Theory, International Accounting, Taxation of Business Entities, Financial Auditing, Accounting for Governmental and Nonprofit Entities, and Accounting Internship, among others. 

Unlike some programs on our list, the Bellevue MBA with Accounting concentration doesn’t qualify graduates to sit for the CPA exam, but an advisor can assist, if desired, to help outline which electives are necessary for the applicable state board of accountancy.

Admission requirements for the Bellevue MBA program are:

  • Possession of a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution
  • A GPA of 2.5 or higher in the last 60 credits of undergrad coursework, or a 3.0 GPA on graduate coursework
  • Bellevue’s site does not specifically state that letters of recommendation or essays are required, but does say they may be requested “in certain circumstances” 

Bellevue University’s MBA program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. Students opting to complete the degree online will enjoy the interactive peer forums and small class sizes, as well as the accessibility of highly qualified faculty who are on hand to ensure students’ success. Technical support and library services are always handy, and students have access to online tutoring and writing assistance, as needed. 

Traditional in-person students have the freedom to attend classes at the main campus or at one of nine satellite locations, and even via local community college agreements, in some cases. To make attendance as accessible as possible, many courses are offered during the evenings. 

Bellevue is military-friendly and has a dedicated Military Veteran Services Center to provide assistance to applicable students and the community. The BRUIN Support Services offices are home to a plethora of student assistance resources, all in one convenient location. Meanwhile, sports fans – they didn’t forget about you! The Bellevue Bruins participate in a host of men’s and women’s sports, including baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Head over to Bellevue’s Athletics site to see what’s cooking!

#4. MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A FOCUS IN ACCOUNTING 

Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, is home to a comprehensive, 33-hour MBA with an Accounting concentration that prepares students for a wide range of opportunities for careers and career advancement. The program is available on campus or online (and, for some courses, in a hybrid format) and gives graduates the 150 hours of prep needed for the intensive CPA exam. 

Offered through the Dillard College of Business Administration, the degree is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. The stated objectives of the curriculum are to ensure that each student graduates with the ability to conduct themselves professionally in a global environment, communicate professionally, display leadership characteristics, and be capable of responding to business situations through their deep understanding of business disciplines. 

MSU’s MBA degree does not require a thesis and can be completed in one to two years. The curriculum includes courses in Applied Statistics, Cost Analysis, Finance, IT Management, Managerial Economics, Marketing, and Organizational Behavior. There’s also a business strategy capstone course. 

Students without a bachelor’s degree in business can easily catch up through a “leveling course” that compresses the core concept essentials into just six hours. The degree plan features common body of knowledge classes that may all be waived if enough previous coursework or work experience can be demonstrated. These classes include: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Macroeconomic Principles, Microeconomics Principles, Business Finance, and Business and Economic Statistics.  

The degree plan includes the following courses: 

  • ACCT 5213 – Cost Analysis and Control
  • BUAD 5603 – Advanced Applied Business Statistics 
  • ECON 5113 – Managerial Economics OR ECON 5143 Macroeconomics 
  • FINC 5713 – Financial Administration 
  • MIS 5113 – Information Technology Management
  • MGMT 5443 – Current Issues in Organizational Behavior
  • MKTG 5513 – Seminar in Marketing
  • MGMT 6883 – Seminar in Business Policy 
  • Three electives 

MSU’s application process isn’t quite as clear-cut as many programs; however, the school does advise applicants to talk to a graduate coordinator for details on program-specific requirements. The basic requirements include submitting official transcripts from prior-attended colleges and GMAT or GRE scores. There’s also a full checklist for international students, including an English language proficiency requirement, fulfilled via the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the International English Language Testing System, or other tests. TOEFL scores should be at least 79, and IELTS scores should be at least 6.0.

Graduates of the MSU MBA program often take jobs as CPAs with public accounting firms, performing audits, preparing tax returns and financial statements, or doing consultations. They also work in private industry, as corporate accountants working with management to inform critical decision-making. Many start careers with federal, state, and local agencies or non-profits. There’s virtually no end to the possibilities one can pursue with an MBA and an Accounting concentration! 

MSU’s Accounting Society lets students network with peers through a variety of activities such as field trips and presentation meetings. Membership is perfect for those wanting to maintain contact with the school after graduation.

According to the Dillard College, the program’s hosting department, its CPA candidates have a very high rate of success, coming in at No. 21 out of 81 schools whose students took the CPA exam in Texas. 

#5. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON – VICTORIA

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH AN EMPHASIS IN ACCOUNTING

Like many schools, the University of Houston – Victoria had humble beginnings. Launching in 1973 with just 356 students and 24 faculty, the institution’s numbers have skyrocketed in the decades since, leading to the expansion of UHV’s programs and delivery methods. 

Its School of Business Administration hosts a 36 to 39-credit hour Strategic MBA program with emphasis areas including Accounting, built for tomorrow’s business leaders. The program’s experienced faculty closely guide students through real-world business scenarios, simulations, case studies, and projects, allowing for practical training experience. Classes are offered via a hybrid method of face-to-face and online learning, with in-person classes held just once per week. 

Online students can access lecture notes, engage with peers and faculty via Blackboard, submit assignments, take exams, and see all grades online. There is full online course support dedicated to helping students experiencing IT-related issues. 

The Strategic MBA program runs for four semesters for full-time students, but part-time students who are still working are also welcome! Students enrolled in the Accounting emphasis will be prepared for the CPA exam, as outlined in detail on the CPA requirements page. 

Graduates are prepared to tackle senior management roles and responsibilities within a wide range of organizations. In fact, UHV’s alumni have gone on to work with JP Morgan Chase, BP, Shell, General Electric, Wells Fargo, Halliburton, and more! The MBA is accredited by AACSB International and is touted as the third-largest MBA program in Houston.

The Strategic MBA curriculum includes the following 3-credit hour courses:

  • QMSC 6351 – Statistics & Research Methods
  • ACCT 6351 – Financial Reporting & Analysis
  • ECON 6351 – Economics for Managers
  • MGMT 6352 – Management Information Systems and Data Analytics
  • MGMT 6354 – Organizational Leadership and Ethics
  • MKTG 6352 – Strategic Marketing Management
  • FINC 6352 – Financial Management
  • MGMT 6356 – Human Resources Management
  • MGMT 6355 – Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • MGMT 6359 – Seminar in Strategic Management
  • ACCT 6371 – Advanced Auditing
  • Two concentration accounting courses, from a list of options including Strategic Cost Accounting, Corporate Taxation, Seminar in Accounting Ethics, Oil & Gas Accounting, and others

Applicants can view the minimum course load standards to get an idea for what’s in store each semester. Transfer students can apply to have up to six hours of grad-level business courses transferred, if they were taken at an AACSB-accredited program. 

Admission requirements for the University of Houston – Victoria are: 

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
  • An undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • An official GMAT score of 450 or higher, or a GRE score of 292 (for Verbal and Quantitative combined)
    • Note, applicants with a master’s degree, or students with a GPA over 2.5, can apply for a GMAT waiver
  • International students must show proof of English proficiency. The Office of International Programs can provide assistance and information on additional requirements. 

The university ranks well among its peers, coming in at No. 56 among the Top Performers on Social Mobility, per U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 list. The school strives to keep costs low and attention to students high, with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio. With 4,381 students enrolled as of Fall 2018, UHV is a dynamic and diverse destination for graduates ready to excel in their MBA studies. 

#6. AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ACCOUNTING

Originally founded in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1970, American InterContinental University has campuses in Houston and Atlanta, but it’s also widely known for its commitment to numerous high quality online learning programs. AIU’s online MBA programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, ensuring they’ve met some of the toughest national standards for teaching excellence. 

The online MBA in Accounting, designed to be completed in just one year, teaches graduates about difficult concepts and topics such as ever-changing regulations, audits, tax codes, advanced business and management strategy, and legal and ethical frameworks, and accounting theory. 

By studying quantitative and qualitative research methods combined with these concepts, students become well-prepared to meet the challenges of solving complicated modern business problems. Thanks to the convenient 100% online format, all coursework is available to students for completion when they want and where they want. Using the school’s unique Intellipath adaptive learning platform, students can quickly demonstrate their proficiency in areas they are familiar with, so that they can advance through the material as efficiently as possible. The software customizes each learning experience to the individual learner.

AIU also speeds up degree attainment by allowing for prior applicable job experience to be counted toward students’ credit lists. It also has a generous transfer credit policy, allowing up to 12 credits from other universities, making it the perfect solution for students who may have recently moved. 

The 48-credit hour MBA Accounting program is straightforward, to save time and streamline the entire program of study. The eight classes are: 

  • Business Core
    • FIN630 – Global Financial Management
    • MGT600 – Business Research for Decision Making
    • MKT640 – A Managerial Approach to Marketing
    • MGT680 – Strategic Management
  • Accounting
    • ACG610 – Accounting for Managers
    • ACG630 – Accounting Information Systems
    • ACG675 – Public and Not-for-Profit Accounting
    • MGT615 – Leadership and Ethics for Managers

Complete descriptions for each course are listed on the program page. 

With decades of experience in the field of online learning, AIU truly excels at helping students achieve their educational goals quickly while maintaining a rigorous, top-quality curriculum. The AIU Online Library features all the articles, books, and web resources needed to help students acquire the information they need without having to drive to a physical library. It even saves them time by offering guidance on how to format and cite papers. 

The following criteria apply for interested graduate students:

  • Submission of official undergraduate transcripts showing a baccalaureate degree 
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • No GMAT is required
  • International students should send transcripts translated in English

Though the school has not been without some early criticism regarding its admissions criteria, AIU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is committed to its mission of student learning and effective teaching. Through innovative continuous improvement and development, it has demonstrated a high commitment to service, diversity, and accessibility to higher ed for all students. Per U.S. News & World Report, AIU’s 2019 MBA Online program featured 1,899 enrollees. It also ranked well in Military Times Best Colleges 2018 rankings for military members who move around a lot.

#7. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH AN ACCOUNTING CONCENTRATION

The University of North Alabama is on the rise! Ranked No. 19 among Public Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, the school’s stellar reputation keeps getting better and better. 

Its MBA with a specialty in Accounting attracts students from around the country who are ready to step up to the challenge of a Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-accredited program. 

The Accounting MBA program’s curriculum includes a lengthy core of practical coursework, including:

  • AC 630 – Research in Accounting   
  • AC 674 – Advanced Accounting Theory
  • AC 675 – Advanced Tax Accounting 
  • AC 697 – Advanced Auditing
  • CIS 622 – Information Systems Design and Project Management
  • EMB 612 – Business Ethics and Responsibility in a Global Economy
  • FI 632 – Corporate Financial Strategy
  • MBA 600 – Foundations of Business and MBA 601 Foundations of Business
  • MBA 603 – MBA Essentials
  • MG 602 – Leadership  
  • MG 630 – Strategic Management and Competitive Analysis  
  • MK 672 – Strategic Marketing Analysis

To round out the Accounting concentration, students take two electives from a list that includes Financial Statement Analysis, Special Topics, Fraud Examination, Controllership, Business Combinations, and CPA Review Topics. 

UNA’s blog on the Four Reasons an Online MBA Makes Sense features salient selling points for interested grad students who can’t decide whether to attend on-campus or not. At the end of the day, the keyword is flexibility! 

Requirements for UNA’s 34-credit hour MBA with a specialization option include holding at least three years’ worth of professional work or entrepreneurial experience, an acceptable GMAT score of at least 400, or Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society membership.

Admission to the MBA program is outlined for conditional and unconditional entry. Successful candidates should send official transcripts showing a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA in their undergraduate work (or a 3.0 in the last 30 credit hours). The school accepts up to six semester hours of transfer credits in classes with a grade of “B” or better. Unconditional entry requirements are similar but a bit more stringent. These entail four years of demonstrated responsibility in professional or entrepreneurial positions, a GMAT score of 450, or, again, membership in the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. 

UNA’s MBA program has garnered several awards and recognitions, such as the No. 1 spot for an Executive MBA Program by College Consensus, No. 41 Online MBA Program (Globally) from CEO magazine, No. 7 for Best Online MBA Degrees for 2019 by Best College Reviews, and No. 3 for Best Online Executive MBA Programs by TheBestSchools.com. 

With a student body of over 147,000, 275 full-time faculty, and 140 student organizations, the University of North Alabama is “Roaring With Excellence,” and the experience at UNA doesn’t stop with graduation. There are several Alumni Clubs and events hosted in cities around the South whose members reap the benefits of career services counseling and alumni mentoring. Once a Lion, always a Lion! And speaking of which, the campus actually does care for two living lion mascots, Una and Leo III.

#8. JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

MASTER’S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION – ACCOUNTING CONCENTRATION

Alabama’s own Jacksonville State University proclaims itself the “friendliest campus in the South.” It’s also home to one of the top business schools in America, according to The Princeton Review.

Through the School of Business and Industry, JSU offers a 33-credit hour MBA program with an Accounting concentration. It’s accredited by AACSB International and designed for busy working students who want to advance in their careers by earning a graduate degree. Able to be taken online, on campus, or via a hybrid format, classes cover business fundamentals, international business, and changing technologies. 

It is important to note that, due to the rigorous nature of the material, students who didn’t major in business as an undergraduate could be required to take up to 24 hours of supplementary courses in business and economics to establish the foundational knowledge they need to advance in the degree program. Each such student’s transcripts are reviewed closely by the MBA Director to ensure they take everything needed, but nothing they don’t need. Students must earn at least a “B” in these prerequisite courses. Below are the required foundational courses:

  • MGT 504 – Business Organization and Administration 
  • BA 500 – Statistics and Quantitative Methods 
  • ACC 200 – Principles of Financial Accounting
  • EC 222 – Principles of Macroeconomics 
  • FIN 301 – Business Finance 
  • FIN 292 – Legal and Social Environment 
  • CBA 390 – Operations Management 
  • MKT 301 – Principles of Marketing 

The program page features several notes related to how students may meet the above prerequisites. Once those are satisfied, the MBA – Accounting concentration’s plan of study includes 24 credit hours of required courses and nine credit hours of electives, for a total of 33 credit hours: 

  • ACC 512 – Accounting Information Analysis 
  • BA 545 – Quantitative Methods for Business Decisions 
  • BA 587 – Business Policy & Strategy 
  • BA  590 – International Business 
  • EC 515 – Managerial Economics 
  • FIN 515 – Financial Management 
  • MGT 537 – Business Leadership 
  • MKT 513 – Marketing Administration 
  • Electives 

The course descriptions page explains what topics are covered in each class, so students know what to expect. 

Admission materials should be submitted to the Graduate Studies office and must include: 

  • A letter outlining the applicant’s career goals
  • A resume listing education, employment, and community involvement
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended 
  • Three Graduate Reference Forms from persons able to assess the applicant’s potential for success in the program and their leadership ability
  • Official GMAT test results showing a minimum score of 400 

Note, the program’s site lists the criteria for both unconditional and conditional admittance, based on a combination of applicants’ GMAT scores and GPA.  

JSU is home to a diverse student body, and its MBA program has been rated as the second in the nation for opportunities for women. In the Fall 2019 semester, graduate enrollment was listed as 66% female and 34% male, with 301 full-time grad students and 971 part-time ones. 

The school’s blog on Reasons For Choosing the JSU MBA Online Program lays out many compelling reasons to apply, such as low tuition; flexibility; ample electives; and a caring, competent faculty. The university was ranked No. 29 among Top Public Schools by U.S. News & World Report for 2020, and received all five-star reviews from enrolled students.

#9. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA

MBA WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING ONLINE

The University of Southern Indiana ranks right after JSU, coming in at No. 30 on the U.S. News & World Report list for Top Public Schools. Founded in 1965, the school’s modern focus is on “Shaping the future through learning and innovation,” and USI walks the talk with its incredibly accessible host of online MBA programs

The online Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting makes it easier than ever to learn the managerial and leadership skills needed to succeed in a high-paying accounting career. Delivered 100% online, the program teaches students to analyze complex business problems using global insights while learning about management accounting concepts, financial statements, regulations, and compliance issues. Graduates leave ready to tackle high-level leadership roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Financial Controller, Senior Accountant, and more.

Unlike much of the competition, USI consolidates all of its relevant degree information on one user-friendly page, making it a breeze to learn everything you’ll need to know before applying. The MBA plan of study is simple to follow, with core courses in: 

  • ACCT 601 – Accounting for Decision Making and Control
  • CIS 601 – Information Systems and Technology
  • ECON 601 – Managerial Economics
  • FIN 601 – Financial Management and Financial Markets
  • MKTG 601 – Marketing Strategies
  • MNGT 611 – Leadership Skills and Innovation
  • MNGT 681- Strategic and International Management

Accounting courses are: 

  • ACCT 602 – Financial Statement Analysis
  • ACCT 605 – Seminar in Auditing
  • ACCT/BLAW 628 – Accounting Regulation & Compliance

It doesn’t get any more straightforward than USI’s practical, no-nonsense program. The school streamlines everything for students to learn the real-world skills they’ll need before they start applying their new accounting expertise to their careers.

Application requirements for USI’s online MBA degree program are also clear-cut. Applicants must submit: 

  • Official transcripts showing an accredited bachelor degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • A GMAT score of at least 500, or a GRE score of at least 300
    • Waivers are available if the applicant: a) has a graduate degree, b) has a GPA of 3.0 or better plus two years of work experience, or c) has a GPA of 2.5 or better plus three years of work experience
  • A resume
  • The names and contact information for three references
  • International applicants: For those whose native language is not English, scores for the TOEFL or IELTS exams are required

Online USI students can take advantage of many of the university’s services, including those offered by the Career Services and Internships section, which aids those transitioning from college and into exciting new careers. Two unique tools they use are Career Launch, which helps students find work, internships, and co-ops, and CareerShift, which hunts for job opportunities in hidden markets.

The USI Alumni Online network is an incredible resource for current and past students alike. Its Career Mentor Program matches students with alumni working in the same field of study, allowing students to learn from mentors about invaluable career topics, get help with resumes, participate in mock interviews, and, when possible, job shadow and attend network-expanding meetings.

USI’s commitment to its students extends beyond the campus and online platforms and into the surrounding community. As a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University, the school provides many continuing education offerings each year through a range of outreach programs. 

#10. EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY

MBA WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN ACCOUNTING

Emporia State University believes in accessible education opportunities for everyone and understands the importance of making its online programs efficient so that they can be completed expediently. With that laudable goal in mind, its 33-credit hour, AACSB-accredited MBA with Accounting Concentration can be finished in as little as 12 months!

Like all MBAs, this program spends significant time building student mastery of leadership and business management practices before moving on to specialized accounting coursework. Accounting classes are designed to be directly applicable to actual situations encountered by modern professionals working in the field. Covering financial management and reporting, advanced accounting theory and issues, corporate taxation implications, tax planning, auditing, and other critical topics, the challenging program of study can be used toward the 150-hour CPA exam. 

ESU’s online MBA program contains 11 courses, of which 21 credit hours are core and nine are accounting-related. There is also one elective required. 

The core MBA classes are:

  • BC 807 – Managerial Economics
  • BU 820 – Quantitative Analysis of Business Decisions
  • IS 873 – Information Systems for Managerial Decisions
  • FI 850 – Advanced Financial Management
  • MG 853 – Behavioral Aspect of Management
  • MG 899 – Business Policy & Strategic Management
  • MK 864 – Marketing Management

Accounting classes include:

  • AC 820 – Federal Income Tax or Corps. & Shareholders
  • AC 840 – Advanced Management Accounting
  • AC 853 – Accounting Theory
  • One elective (offerings vary by term)

Taught by supportive, experienced faculty and using innovative online collaboration tools, each course is just seven weeks long and offered during ESU’s six annual class sessions. Coursework is case study-driven, meaning students don’t just learn theory, they also study relevant real-world examples to gain the most practical knowledge possible for the jobs they intend to pursue. Graduates will be ready to succeed in roles like Budget Analyst, Revenue Manager, Financial Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Tax Manager, CPA, and several other vital positions within business and government.

Emporia State University’s School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The department promises an intellectually stimulating curriculum designed to prepare students for “professional growth and development beyond the typical graduate school experience.” 

Due to the advanced nature of the program’s subjects, applicants should hold either a bachelor’s degree in accounting or one in business but with significant accounting coursework. To apply, prospective students should submit: 

  • Transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree in accounting, or in business but with classes taken in Intermediate Accounting I and II, Cost Accounting, Income Taxation, and Auditing
  • A minimum 2.65 for either the cumulative GPA or for the last 60 semester hours
  • An ID verification form
  • GMAT scores, (waiverable for those with at least three years of leadership/management experience, for those with a bachelor’s degree in business and 3.5 GPA, or those with a graduate degree)

Emporia State University was founded in 1863 and has been a pioneer in building and promoting distance learning opportunities ever since. Its 212-acre main campus is in Kansas City, KS, but it has also partnered with community colleges to expand its accessibility. ESU ranks at No. 95 in Regional Universities Midwest, No. 68 among Top Performers on Social Mobility, and an outstanding No. 24 in Top Public Schools by U.S. News & World Report. With so many indicators of excellence at the regional and national levels, ESU must be doing something right!

OTHER NOTABLE PROGRAMS

#11. Wilmington University

Location: New Castle, Delaware

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with a focus on Accounting

Net Price: $13,814

Website          

#12. Wayne State University

Location: Detroit, Michigan

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with an Accounting Systems concentration

Net Price: $14,366

Website

#13. University of Nebraska at Kearney

Location: Kearney, Nebraska

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with a track in Accounting

Net Price: $15,975

Website

#14. Regent University

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with a focus in Accounting

Net Price: $16,779

Website

#15. University of Maryland, College Park

Location: College Park, Maryland

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with an Accounting concentration 

Net Price: $16,790

Website

#16. Tennessee Technological University

Location: Cookeville, Tennessee

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting

Net Price: $16,891

Website   

#17. University of the Cumberlands

Location: Florence, Kentucky

Degree: MBA with a specialization in Accounting

Net Price: $17,588

Website

#18. Campbellsville University

Location: Campbellsville, Kentucky

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting

Net Price: $17,843

Website      

#19. University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Location: Lowell, Massachusetts

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with an Accounting emphasis

Net Price: $18,257

Website

#20. Friends University

Location: Wichita, Kansas

Degree: Master’s of Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting

Net Price: $18,780

Website

IF YOU ENJOYED THAT THEN CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON THE ACCOUNTING DEGREE JOBS OUTLOOK & THE HONEST TRUTH ABOUT ONLINE MASTER OF ACCOUNTING DEGREE PROGRAMS–WHAT DO EMPLOYERS THINK?

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

10 Best Master’s in Material Science and Engineering

We’re a culture of “things”—we are always trying to find the next best product to satisfy our needs and desires and to help us meet our goals. Because of this, our world is constantly on the hunt for new materials that can help bridge the divide between science and industry. 

As a material scientist or engineer, you’ll be called upon to discover new ways to use and create products. You may specialize in a certain type of material, like steel, ceramics, or plastics, but ultimately, you’ll need to have excellent creative skills and the ability to think outside of the box in order to succeed.

Of course, having the right kind of education never hurt anyone, either. Although a bachelor’s degree in this discipline is an excellent start, only a master’s degree in material science and engineering will provide you with the knowledge and professional network that you need to be successful.

In one of these degrees, you’ll learn about the processing, synthesis, and commercialization of various types of materials. You’ll also dive deep into concepts such as thermodynamics, kinetics, and atomic structure. It’s an applied science that also requires you to explore related topics such as how economics, the environment, and various social factors influence the ways in which we apply and use materials. 

This highly interdisciplinary field isn’t just one to consider if you want to work in science and engineering. It’s also a fantastic pathway for candidates looking to work in ancillary disciplines like medicine, technology, and environmental science. 

When you’re looking for a master’s in material science and engineering, you’ll have a lot of factors to consider. What are the admissions requirements—and how will I stack up? Do I have to take the GRE? Will I be able to conduct research? 

Choosing to study online versus on-campus is another major decision to make. Many of the schools profiled in this ranking offer both options, making it easier than ever to find a degree that meets your specific needs. 

While an online degree will offer unparalleled flexibility, enabling you to study from whichever location makes the most sense to you, a campus-based program may provide you with closer access to your faculty, peers, and campus facilities. 

Whichever you choose, take advantage of all the opportunities available to you outside of the classroom. This is a discipline that’s easiest to learn by “doing,” so be sure to get your hands dirty. Investigate what kinds of research centers and facilities are available at your school and take advantage of them!

From internships to cooperative learning experiences, study abroad to student organizations, take the time to truly invest yourself in your studies. Fully immersing yourself in your degree is the best way to ensure that you are successful in the classroom—and beyond.

See Also:10 Best Online Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering

What Are the Best Material Science and Engineering Degrees?

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following five aspects:

25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there

20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni

20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who actually get accepted

10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.

See Also: 10 Affordable Online Master’s in Material Science & Engineering

#1. Georgia Institute of Technology

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Georgia Tech

The Georgia Institute of Technology, frequently referred to simply as Georgia Tech, is a public research university located in Atlanta, GA. It’s a member of the university system of Georgia and has campuses all around the world. Originally developed as part of Reconstruction plans to build a more industrial economy, this school offers programs in more than 31 different science and technology-focused fields, including computer science and engineering. 

Georgia Tech’s engineering school is ranked as one of the best in the country. It offers majors in chemical engineering, computer engineering, nuclear engineering, and of course, materials science and engineering, too. 

In this best MS in Materials Science and Engineering program, you’ll enjoy a small student-to-faculty ratio of just 4:1. You can choose from a master’s or doctoral degree, with many graduate students choosing to pursue dual programs with universities abroad. The university has partnerships with a variety of institutions in places like France, Germany, Korea, China, Italy, and more. 

Back on campus, you can participate in cooperative learning experiences or research projects. There are also plenty of opportunities for volunteer work in Atlanta and the nearby community. You can get involved on campus with the Materials Umbrella Society, the Student Advisory Council, and other career-focused extracurriculars, too. 

Even without leaving campus, you’ll find that you have plenty of opportunities to build your skills. The College of Engineering is home to a variety of research centers and facilities, including:

  • Renewable Bioproducts Institute
  • Strategic Energy Institute
  • Georgia Tech Polymer Network
  • Soft Matter Incubator

These research areas will allow you to build on what you learn in your courses by focusing on research into materials like ceramics, biomaterials, fibers, composites, metals, and more. A contemporary program, the curriculum of this degree is ornately being revised to make sure that it is as relevant as can be. 

You’ll be able to choose from a thesis, non-thesis, or industrial internship track. All students are expected to complete a teaching practicum. Courses meet several times a week but you can choose to pursue your degree on a part-time basis, too. Either way, you’ll take classes in things like Transmission Electron Microscopy, Advanced X-Ray Diffraction, and more. 

See Also: 40 Fastest Online Master’s Degree Programs

#2.  Texas A&M University-College Station

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Texas A&M

A public land-grant research university, Texas A&M University is located in College Station, TX. With a student body that is the second largest in the United States, it would be easy to assume that at this school, you’ll be just another face in the crowd. That is certainly not the case, especially in this top Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering program.

This degree is jointly housed within the College of Engineering and the College of Engineering. An interdisciplinary program, combines a creative curriculum with hands-on research in the field. You can choose between thesis and non-thesis options and will complete anywhere between 30 and 36 credit hours of study. 

Regardless of the pathway you select, you’ll take classes in subjects like Quantum Mechanics for Materials Scientists and Fundamental Materials Science and Engineering. You’ll be able to take a variety of free electives, too, including unique choices like Thin Film Science And Technology that you won’t find anywhere else. 

While you’re enrolled, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty. You can engage in research assistantships, which involve professor-supervisor research in an area of interest, or you can complete an internship. The university maintains a number of relationships with research laboratories and facilities throughout the campus as well as other places around the world, such as:

  • High Bay Structural and Materials Testing Laboratory
  • Polymer Technology Consortium
  • Materials Characterization Facility

This program is an excellent starting point for individuals who want to enter directly into the workforce as well as those who are interested in conducting further research of their own by completing a Ph.D. program. You will be able to specialize your studies by pursuing advanced coursework in things like adaptive functional materials, electrochemistry and corrosion science engineering, and more. 

See Also: Top 50 Highest Paying Masters Degrees

#3.  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

U of I Urbana- Champaign

The flagship university of the University of Illinois system, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was founded in 1867. This large school has been listed as a “Public Ivy,” held in high esteem for its quality programs and affordable tuition. With more than 250 programs of study to choose from, this school offers one of the very best master’s in materials science.

The Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is offered by the Grainger College of Engineering. The program is housed within the second-largest materials department in the United States and serves a population of roughly 200 students. 

Class sizes here are small, with an average student-to-faculty ratio of less than 5:1. The program is highly regarded among industry experts, with the engineering school ranked as the tenth best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.  

You’ll take 32 to 36 credit hours of study, depending on whether you select a thesis or non-thesis track. As a student here, you will also be able to work alongside award-winning faculty as they conduct research in areas like ceramics, biomaterials, polymers, metals, electronics, composites, and more. You can specialize in fields like cancer nanotechnology, biomechanics, or computational science and engineering to add an extra boost to your resume if you choose, too. 

Most students find that they are able to complete their degrees in just a year and a half to two years of study. You’ll have access to all of this school’s research facilities, including the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory. 

#4.  North Carolina State University at Raleigh 

Master of MS&E (MMSE)

Another one of the top materials science graduate school programs can be found at North Carolina State University at Raleigh. This school was founded in 1887 and forms one corner of the famed Research Triangle, joining Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to offer some of the most prestigious and hands-on research opportunities to its students. 

This thesis-based degree requires 30 credit hours of study. You’ll be able to complete your studies in just one year of full-time work as you study and work in facilities such as the Nanofabrication Facility, the Precision Instrument Machine Shop, and the Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics. 

The school offers state-of-the-art facilities with advanced computer resources, integrating research and education for the best opportunities for real-world problem-solving. You’ll explore six different areas of research in your studies, including:

  • energy materials
  • materials characterization
  • soft and biomaterials
  • structural materials

As a student here, you can study abroad with Engineers Without Borders, get hands-on job experience through the Cooperative Education Program, and network with other students via the many College of Engineering student organizations. Your opportunities are endless!

#5. University of California-Los Angeles

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

UCLA

Originally founded as the California State Normal School, the University of California-Los Angeles is now one of the most popular schools in the University of California System. Founded in 1882 solely for the purpose of educating aspiring teachers, the school now is home to six undergraduate colleges, four professional health science schools, and seven professional schools, including the famed Samueli School of Engineering.

It is in this school where you will find the dynamic Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering. Upon enrollment, you’ll be paired with a personal graduate advisor who will walk you through scheduling and all of your other course-related needs. 

You can choose from three main areas of study:

  • electronic and optical materials
  • structural materials
  • ceramics and ceramic processing

You’ll be able to select courses that meet your interests and career goals. 

Although teaching and field experience are not requirements of this degree, you will be expected to complete an approved thesis before graduation. Most students of this top materials science master’s school complete their studies in just a year and a half to two years of study. 

#6.  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

M.S. and M. Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private research university located in Troy, NY, with other campuses in Groton and Hartford, CT. First founded in 1824, the school specializes in programs that help students understand how science can be applied to all areas of life. It is home to a prominent on-campus business incubator and a massive Rensselaer Technology Park.

Because of this, you won’t find many better opportunities to gain hands-on experience in materials science than here at Rensselaer. You’ll complete 30 credit hours of study, including a written thesis and an oral presentation. You’ll take core courses like:

  • Advanced Thermodynamics
  • Advanced Structure and Bonding
  • Advanced Kinetics

A capstone independent study course is also a core component of the curriculum. In this project, you’ll work in industry or government setting to gain real-world experience. Back on campus, you will have the opportunity to work in materials engineering laboratories like the Mechanical Testing Laboratory, the Electron Microscopy Laboratory, and the Metallographic Laboratory, just to name a few. 

#7.  University of California-Riverside

M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering

University of California-Riverside

Another one of the best materials engineering schools can be found in the University of California system, but this time, at the Riverside campus. This school is a pioneer in research of all kinds, with some of the most important research collections in unique areas like citrus diversity and entomology existing here.

Of course, if your interests lie in materials science and engineering, you’ll find a suitable home here, too. The school is classified as one of the top public universities by the U.S. News & World Report, with the Bourns College of Engineering receiving top marks from this publication as well as others like Washington Monthly. 

The M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering includes 36 credit hours of study beyond the undergraduate level. You’ll be able to choose from a thesis or comprehensive exam track, with the letter a great option for students who are interested in entering directly into the workforce. Potential research areas you might explore include:

  • targeted drug delivery
  • photophysics
  • solar energy conversion

#8.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

MIT

Massachusett Institute of Technology is a private institution located in Cambridge, MA. One of the most prestigious universities in the world, it was founded as a response to the increasing industrialization of the United States. Its urban campus is home to a number of major research facilities and centers.

Because of this, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is one of the most popular destinations for students who are interested in careers in science, engineering, or technology disciplines. There are nearly 20 research centers on campus that are known for their exploration and innovation in topics like ocean engineering, soldier nanotechnologies, cancer research, and more. MIT is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the number one engineering school in the country. 

The master’s in material science and engineering is an interdisciplinary program that will allow you to explore areas of research like:

  • biomedical materials
  • archaeological materials
  • materials economics

This school does an outstanding job when it comes to providing opportunities for its students. If you have an idea for a new product or business of your own, you can apply for the university’s $100K Entrepreneurship Competition for an opportunity to win start-up money. 

If you’re already working in one engineering field but want to switch to another, the school offers a part-time Career Reengineering Program that includes one course, internship and research projects, and professional development workshops. 

#9.  Ohio State University-Main Campus

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University is a Public Ivy that has been highly ranked by major ranking publications as one of the top public universities in the country. A land-grant institution, it was originally founded as an agricultural and mechanical college but now offers dozens of interdisciplinary, hands-on degrees.

Ohio State University places a strong emphasis on the importance of university and industry research collaborations. It has more National Science Foundation Industry-University Collaborative Research Centers than any other school in the country and also has longstanding scholarship and research partnerships with companies like Honda of America Manufacturing.

Outside of the classroom and laboratory, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved in all kinds of student organizations, like the Ohio House of Science and Engineering, Women in Engineering, and more. You can conduct research on campus, study in research facilities like the Center for Performance and Design of Nuclear Waste Forms and Containers and the Fontana Corrosion Center, or you can study abroad. 

About 85% of all students participate in co-op, research, internship, or other part-time-related work experience before they graduate. You’ll find that your instructors and the industry partners you work with have extensive experience in the entire span of the materials spectrum, from ceramics to polymers, biomaterials to semiconductors.

Whichever you choose, you’ll study within a close-knit department that offers a small school feel paired with all the advantages of studying at a large research institution. More than 90% of all students here receive full payment of tuition and research costs along with a monthly stipend for the duration of their degrees. The program has close ties to industry partners with starting salaries for graduates approaching $70,000 on average! 

#10.  Carnegie Mellon University 

Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University St Located in Pittsburgh, PA, offers another one of the best masters degrees in material science engineering. Although it is last on our list, it’s certainly not the least. This school was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie himself and continues to uphold its entrepreneurial and innovative roots to this day.

As a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon, you’ll have countless opportunities to make your degree more robust and applicable to your career goals. You can choose from nearly a dozen interdisciplinary majors, taking classes from other departments at Carnegie Mellon (such as those offered by the Tepper School of Business). 

You can choose to pursue a more coursework-based or research-based master’s degree depending on your preferences. This program is also an excellent stepping stone to eventual Ph.D. work, too. Not only that, but Carnegie Mellon is a wonderful choice if you are interested in getting a more globalized perspective. The school has study and research programs in places like Japan, Portugal, Chile, and more. 

If you choose to stay on campus for the duration of your studies, you’ll find that there are plenty of ways to expand your horizons. Most faculty and staff are actively engaged in research projects with about 30 research centers on campus. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, the school also has campuses and facilities in Silicon Valley, meaning you can take your studies to one of the most influential places in the world when it comes to materials sciences and engineering.

You’ll complete a core plan of study that includes courses such as:

  • Materials for Nuclear Energy Systems
  • Mechanics of Fracture and Fatigue
  • Polymer Physics and Morphology
  • Energy Demand and Utilization

Most students can complete their studies in just two semesters of full-time work. 

There’s even an accelerated master’s degree in Engineering and Technology Innovation Management that takes most candidates about one year to complete. If you haven’t yet completed your undergraduate degree, consider applying for the accelerated program—this 4+1 option will allow you to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s in just five years of study.

Other Best Materials Science Schools

#11. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Location: Knoxville, TN

Degree: Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Net Price: $13,120

Website

#12. Michigan State University

Location: East Lansing, MI

Degree: Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Net Price: $18,132

Website

#13. Stony Brook University

Location: Stony Brook, NY

Degree: Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Net Price: $13,007

Website

#14. Rutgers University

Location: New Brunswick, NJ

Degree: Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Net Price: $19,401

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#15. University of California-Irvine

Location: Irvine, CA

Degree: Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Net Price: $13,344

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FAQ

What is an MS in material science?

With more than 300,000 different materials in the world, from metals to composites and everything in between, there’s also an exceptional demand for professionals who can understand the properties of these types as well as their behavior patterns—as well as how to create new ones. 

In a material science degree, chemistry, engineering, and physics all blend together so that new solutions can be developed for real-world problems. This kind of program will teach you how to design and develop new materials and optimize their structures so that they are the very best they can be. 

You might explore new ways to make materials like polymers lighter, stronger, more eco-friendly, or more affordable. You will learn how to address the property, process, and performance of materials. Because materials science is a discipline that touches every area of life, you’ll have plenty of job opportunities upon graduation.

You might work in the biomedical field or in the environmental field. You could find yourself working for the defense sector, in an office or design studio, or even in a lab. 

What are the average materials science graduate school acceptance rates?

Earning a master’s in materials science is no easy feat, so it goes without saying that getting into one of these programs might not be the easiest, either. To apply for one of these degrees, you’ll need to have a lot of academic discipline as well as lots of curiosity, patience, focus, attention to detail, and a hardworking nature.

Getting into graduate school, especially for a challenging field like materials science, can be difficult. However, the degree of difficulty will vary depending on what kind of programs you’re considering. Competitive programs such as those offered by Ivy League institutions will of course be far more difficult to get accepted to than those offered by less rigorous public institutions. 

As with undergraduate schools, acceptance rates vary. Extremely selective schools generally have acceptance rates lower than 5% while those that are more lenient may have rates closer to 70 or 80%. 

To get in, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree in the field or a related discipline. Major requirements might vary but most programs are best suited for candidates who have a background in an engineering discipline or physical science field. You’ll likely need to meet a minimum GPA requirement, which is usually at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

Take a close look at the admissions requirements of your chosen university before you start working on your application. Often, you’ll need to submit standard application materials like undergraduate transcripts and Graduate Record Examination scores (though more and more schools are becoming test-optional). 

Of course, you’ll also need to provide supplemental materials like a written statement, three letters of recommendation, a resume, and perhaps an interview. 

What will I learn in a master’s in materials science online? 

Every master’s in materials science is a bit different, but in most cases, online degrees don’t differ too much from their on-campus counterparts. You’ll be able to discover new and emerging technologies, work with computer modeling and simulation, and spend plenty of time in the laboratory to help you build your skills. 

Many schools will allow you to customize your own curriculum so that you can take the classes that interest you most. You’ll be able to learn from experts in fields like ceramics and polymers, computational materials, microelectronic processing, and more. The primary difference between a graduate degree in materials science and engineering and a bachelor’s is that, with a master’s, you’ll be able to fine-tune your focus and research areas that are of particular interest to you and your career.

In many cases, you’ll be able to articulate in study abroad and internship opportunities that will strengthen your understanding of the discipline and help you gain real-world experience. Just about every program includes extensive opportunities for work in a research laboratory, while many require the completion of a thesis. Most of the time, you’ll complete around 30 to 50 credit hours of study. 

What kinds of jobs can I get after earning an MS in materials science and engineering?

There are several types of jobs you might pursue after earning a master of science in materials science and engineering. The most obvious (and most common) is as a material engineer. In this kind of job, you’ll work to develop, process, and test new materials that can be used to create a variety of products, from aircraft wings to biomedical devices. 

You’ll study the properties and structures of plastics, ceramics, metals, composites, and more to develop new materials that meet or exceed various electrical, chemical, and mechanical requirements.

You could also work as an industrial engineer. This kind of job is similar to a materials engineer but focuses more acutely on how wastefulness can be reduced or eliminated in the manufacturing process  

Working as a manufacturing engineer is one more option. You’ll design, establish, and monitor the manufacturing process, often bridging the gap between materials engineers and other professionals (including industrial engineers). You can work in a variety of sectors, including oil, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and more. 

Is a masters in material engineering worth it?

You might be intimidated by the prospect of earning a master’s in material science and engineering, and we don’t blame you! This isn’t the easiest program of study and of course, it will cost you some money and time to earn a degree. But believe us when we say—it’s definitely worth the effort.

Only a master’s in material engineering will provide you with the hands-on skills you need to be successful. While a bachelor’s degree will provide you with the basic knowledge you need for an entry-level position, a graduate degree will let you focus more closely on areas of interest so that you can pursue research or dive right into a leadership role. 

You’ll also build your professional network, meeting a bevy of alumni, industry partners, and faculty members who can help you land a job and get ahead in your career.

Let’s not forget the potential payout for this degree, either. A material science and engineering degree can help you earn a significantly higher salary over the life of your career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for materials scientists in 2020 was $99,460. New jobs are expected to be created at a rate of 5% (faster than average) by 2029, too. 

As a materials engineer, you’ll earn an equally impressive salary of around $95,640, and as an industrial engineer, another common job title, you’ll bring in about $88,950. All other factors aside, the potential to earn a high salary is one of the best reasons to consider a degree in this field. 

IF YOU ENJOYED THAT THEN CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON THE 15 BEST AFFORDABLE MASTER’S IN HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION & 10 BEST AFFORDABLE MASTER’S IN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING!

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

9 Best Affordable Master’s in International Business

Master's in International Business

Are you looking for the top masters in international business programs? You’re in the right place!

The Master of International Business often referred to as the MIB or M.I.B., is a graduate degree meant to provide learners with the skills, capabilities, and resources they need to become managers in the global economy. 

Whether you’re new to the world of business or have been working in this field for a while, it’s a smart degree to consider if you want to build your skills in specialized areas like organizational leadership, finance, marketing, and human resource management—all with a global perspective. 

It is similar to an MBA (master of business administration) program in that you’ll complete the degree as a two-year course of study when completed on a full-time schedule. You’ll take classes that build your competencies in the areas listed above while also participating in hands-on activities like:

  • internships
  • cooperative work experiences
  • group projects
  • capstone experiences
  • research

Many master’s in international business include innovative and engaging study-abroad experiences, too. These are meant to expose you to new career paths and cultures, with students frequently studying in global business hubs like Boston, Dubai, New York, Shanghai, London, and more.

Of course, the best masters in international business will also provide you with extensive opportunities for networking and professional development. Almost all Fortune 500 companies have operations around the world, but did you know that nearly 60% of all American-based small businesses also have international customers?

Going global is something that’s on the mind of just about every single business owner, but language and cultural barriers can pose significant challenges. Earning a graduate degree in international business will introduce you to the right people and provide you with the skills you need to be confident in helping to make companies of all kinds (including your own business, if you choose!) make the leap to a global market.

International business is a booming industry. The world has become an even smaller, more globalized place, so it’s no surprise that there are more international work and business opportunities than ever before. But with so many schools to choose from, how do you know which one offers the best international business masters?

There’s no question about it—making the decision to pursue a master’s degree isn’t for the faint of heart. Your courses will likely be challenging, but trust us when we say, it’s worth it. It’s only through a master’s degree that you’ll learn the skills you need to succeed and forge the business and industry connections necessary to become a leader in the field.

Because of this, it’s important that you consider the many options that are out there for earning an affordable graduate degree. Financial aid is everywhere—you just need to know where to look. 

Looking for an affordable MBA in international business management? Look no further. In this article, we will tell you all about affordable master’s in international business management, many of which can be completed online or on a part-time basis for maximum convenience. 

What Are the Best International Business Degrees?

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following five aspects:

25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there

20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni

20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who actually get accepted

10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.

#1. Lynn University

Lynn UniversityMasters in Business Administration with International Business Management 

Lynn University offers one of the best international business programs around. This school, located in scenic Boca Raton, FL, is known for its many study abroad programs, most of which are also offered as part of the MBA here.

The international business concentration is one of nearly a dozen different specializations that will help you develop the skills you need to stand out in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. As a student in this program, you’ll be able to travel to major business hubs such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Aspen, CO, and more. 

A defining feature of the MBA is the J-Term, a four-week immersive program in January that will allow you to embark on unique experiences such as interning with the ESPN X Games in Aspen, learning how to start a business on a limited budget, and more. Even better? When taking classes online, you’ll still have access to cutting-edge research and top instructors with decades’ worth of experience. 

Available fully online, this program will prepare you for a wide variety of career opportunities—without breaking the bank. Tuition starts at just $740 per credit hour with many scholarships, grants, and loan opportunities available. 

You can complete your studies on a full- or part-time basis, with an accelerated curriculum available that will let you finish your degree in less than a year. You don’t need to take the GMAT or GRE and can start the program at one of three different start dates. You’ll even be provided with an iPad to use after paying just a $100 instructional materials fee. 

#2. Kettering University

Kettering UniversityMBA in International Business Online

Kettering University offers one of the top master’s in international business programs in the world. Although the school’s main campus is in Flint, MI, you don’t have to live anywhere near the Midwest in order to take classes. This program is available entirely online and features multiple concentrations–so many, in fact, that it is often referred to as the “gold standard in business education.”

In this program, you will build the confidence you need to make managerial decisions. You’ll acquire an in-depth knowledge of marketing, finance, accounting, and more in this degree, which is ranked third among the best value colleges in Michigan by Niche and the top online MBA program in Michigan by MBA Central

The program has a unique STEM focus that makes it perfect for professionals from scientific or engineering backgrounds. In fact, nearly half of all students who ultimately enroll in this program are engineers who work at companies like Ford, General Motors, and Whirlpool. The degree has enough flexibility for you to add a second concentration or even to add a second degree in something like Operations Management if you choose. 

You’ll take classes such as:

  • Marketing Management
  • Financial management
  • International Business

There’s no GMAT or GRE requirement for this affordable program. You’ll save money by taking classes online, plus you can start right away. Most students are able to complete the entire 14-course sequence in as little as two years of study.  

#3. Marist College

Marist CollegeMBA in International Business Master’s Degree Program

One of the best master’s in international business in the USA can be found at Marist College. The Master of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and is available entirely online. It’s ranked as one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report and will teach you not only the skills you need but will also acquaint you with the networking opportunities necessary to make a major impact. 

In addition to the concentration in international business, the MBA at Marist also features concentrations in things like:

  • ethical leadership
  • financial management
  • healthcare administration

Because of this, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a diverse body of peers and fellow professionals as you work to advance your career. 

A highly convenient program, the degree has five start dates per year. You can combine online studies with those on campus or choose to study fully in a remote setting. Whichever you choose, you’ll find success upon graduation. Graduates of this program are employed at some of the world’s most prestigious organizations, including Pepsi, Canon, Aetna, Adobe, Cisco, Fidelity, IBM, and more. 

You will learn from faculty who are industry experts, many of whom still continue to operate in today’s business world. It’s an affordable program that costs just $870 per credit hour with lots of graduate scholarships available. Marist even offers corporate and organizational tuition benefits in many cases. 

#4. University of Scranton

University of ScrantonMaster’s in International Business Online

The University of Scranton offers a master’s in international business online that is perfect for busy working adults.  It is offered by the Kania School of Management. This school has a unique focus on Triple Bottom Line Theory, in which you’ll emphasize sustainable development as related to fiscal, social, and environmental factors. 

A two-year program, it consists of 36 credit hours at a low tuition rate of just $965 each. You’ll be able to build the expert skills that you need to navigate global business as well as to understand the intricacies of international politics, supply chain management, global finance, and more.

You’ll take classes in things like global marketing, global health management, international accounting, and supply chain management. The program requires no GMAT or GRE for admission, making it a feasible option for just about any student. Accredited by the Association for Accreditation of Collegiate Schools of Business, this degree will help you apply advanced business foundations on the global stage, taking both a macro-and micro-economic perspective. 

Not sure that international business is right for you? Don’t worry! The MBA at the University of Scranton has plenty of other specializations you can choose from, including those in:

  • business analytics
  • accounting
  • enterprise resource planning
  • finance
  • healthcare management
  • human resources management

#5. Florida Institute of Technology

MBA in International Business

Housed in the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, the MBA in International Business at Florida Tech is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.  It will allow you to explore a wide array of management topics including:

  • risk and conflict management
  • multinational business policy
  • legal responsibility
  • e-commerce 

The MBA at Florida Institute of Technology also has an additional specialization in management that is perfect for students interested in pursuing a career in leadership. You’ll be able to take classes entirely online, with courses blending real-world applications and academic principles alike.

As a student in the international business program, you’ll take courses such as:

  • Managerial Economics
  • Financial Management
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Marketing Management

There’s also room for you to take all the electives you’d like. An affordable program, it features tuition starting at just $896 per credit hour, with a total of 36 credit hours required. Financial assistance is available in the form of loans, scholarships, grants, and employer tuition assistance, too. 

Listed as a top 50 online MBA program by the Princeton Review, this program is also highly ranked as a private university and as a top MBA program for veterans by U.S. News & World Report. This is also one of the best online MBA in industrial business with no GMAT requirement. The accolades should speak for themselves.

#6. Liberty University

LUMasters in Business Administration-International Business

When it comes to online programs, Liberty University is considered a leader among its peers. It is a private evangelical Christian university located in Lynchburg, VA, first founded in 1971. Despite being a young university, it has grown quickly to accommodate the educational needs of more than 79,000 students. Most of these students choose to complete their degrees online.

The master’s in business administration will allow you to explore new opportunities abroad with its international business concentration. It has a unique Christian worldview that also emphasizes ethical decision-making, faculty mentorship, and best business practices. Not only that, but it is one of the few degrees that will prepare you to sit for the Certified Global Business Professional certificate, something that can be incredibly valuable if you are looking to get involved in international trade.

You will take core classes in things like:

  • International Business
  • Global Economic Environment
  • Developing Global Markets
  • Environment of International Business

The school is ranked as one of the best in regard to its affordability, quality, and accessibility. You can complete the degree in as little as two years, and to sweeten the deal even more, you should know that tuition here has not increased in a whopping six years!

You will pay low tuition rates that are often offset by generous financial aid. Veterans, in particular, will benefit from Liberty University’s financial aid opportunities. You’ll pay just $275 per credit hour as a graduate student! Plus, Liberty offers maximum convenience to all students in that each course lasts only eight weeks with no set log-in times and eight separate start dates per year. 

#7. Dallas Baptist University

DBUMBA with an international business concentration

A Christian liberal arts university, Dallas Baptist University is located, as you might expect, in Dallas, Tx. It has additional campuses in Plano and Hurst as well as many programs that are offered fully online. 

The MBA with an international business concentration at Dallas Baptist University recognizes that success in modern business requires an in-depth knowledge of the global business environment, as well as the cultural practices therein. 

You’ll acquire the global worldview you need to compete in the modern business world, while also building leadership skills that will help you manage a multinational organization. Offered entirely online, this program consists of 36 credit hours. You can take on a dual concentration, if you choose, for just another 12. 

You’ll take core classes such as:

  • Business Ethics
  • Corporate Finance
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Leadership in Management
  • Creative Problem Solving Marketing Decisions

Concentration courses include studies in international finance, economics, legal issues, marketing, and global initiatives in management. It’s an affordable program with generous financial aid options such as grants, loans, and assistantships.

#8. Stratford University

Stratford UniversityInternational Master Business Administration Online

Located in Falls Church, VA, Stratford University is a private school that offers online, in-person, and blended programs to students in Virginia as well as in Maryland and New Delhi, India. Founded with the goal of offering education to nontraditional students, this school is one of the best options for students who are trying to earn their degrees while working full-time.

In the International Master of Business Administration, you’ll benefit from a broad-based curriculum that is both technical and practical, founded on a variety of current management theories and practices. You’ll engage in in-depth case analyses, industry studies, business games, and other experiential learning methods meant to help you build your skills and practice in a real-world way. 

You will be able to take specialization courses in key areas of focus such as goal-setting, development and implementation strategy, finance, accounts payable, leadership, data analysis, and more. Each course lasts only five to ten weeks and can be completed on your own schedule.

This affordable program includes options for specialization such as:

  • global leadership
  • marketing
  • finance
  • information technology and e-commerce
  • entrepreneurship

It will take you just 15 months to earn a degree, helping to save you both time and money. 

#9. Walden University

Walden UniversityMBA with an International Business Concentration

Walden University can be found on just about any top master’s in international business rankings! This school, located in Minneapolis, MN, is a private for-profit school that offers programs primarily online. The Master of Business Administration has multiple start dates per year and has a unique competency-based learning model. 

With this program, you can complete your degree in as little as twelve months with the fast-track MBA option. You’ll gain the skills you need to succeed in a business environment as you participate in practical, hands-on projects. You can design your own program to tailor it to your professional objectives and you’ll learn the new tools and techniques you need to advance your career immediately.

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. In addition to a specialization in international business, it also has options for healthcare management, human resource management, project management, and more. You’ll be able to tailor every single course to help you meet your personal and professional objectives. 

As a student at Walden, you’ll benefit from all kinds of resources that are put in place to help you succeed. From the Writing Center to the MBA Success Planner, you’ll be supported every step of the way. Applying to this program is easy, too, since there’s no GMAT or GRE requirement. All you have to do is submit an application—it’s as easy as that!

OTHER NOTABLE PROGRAMS 

Tiffin#10. Tiffin University

Location: Tiffin, OH

Degree: MBA with a concentration in International Business

Net Price: $13,000

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University of Alabama T#11. The University of Alabama

Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Degree: MA in Management With a Concentration in Global Business Management

Net Price: $10,780

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IWU#12. Indiana Wesleyan University Marion

Location: Marion, IN

Degree: MBA with an International Business

Net Price: $13,104

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Oklahoma Baptist#13. Oklahoma Baptist University

Location: Shawnee, OK

Degree: MBA with International Business Online

Net Price: $9,900

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University of St. Thomas#14. St. Thomas University

Location: Miami, FL

Degree: Master’s of International Business

Net Price: $10,596

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Gardiner Webb#15. Gardner-Webb University

Location: Boiling Springs, NC

Degree: Master of International Business Administration

Net Price: $9,050

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University of Maryland#16. University of Maryland University College

Location: Largo, MD

Degree: Master’s Degree in International Management Online

Net Price: $16,456

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UND#17. University of North Dakota

Location: Grand Forks, ND

Degree: MBA Concentration in International Business

Net Price: $9,697

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University of Phoenix-Arizona#18. University of Phoenix-Arizona

Location: Tempe, AZ

Degree: Master of Business Administration With a Concentration in Global Management

Net Price: $16,752

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CMU#19. Central Michigan University

Location: Mt. Pleasant, MI

Degree: MBA in International Business Online

Net Price: $13,804

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Frequently Asked Questions

What will you learn with an international business degree?

Each of the many international business graduate degrees has varying course requirements and curriculum options. In most global business master’s programs, you’ll be required to complete a set of core courses along with electives and a final capstone project.

At Florida International University, a school that is ranked as offering an international business program that is among the best in the nation by the Journal of International Business Studies and U.S. News & World Report, you’ll embark on a hands-on curriculum to prepare you for the real world. The Professional MBA has multiple global initiatives that will help you fine-tune your teambuilding skills through study abroad, inbound and outbound programs, and international research opportunities.

Finding a program that offers experiences abroad is crucial when you are considering a career in international business. Other courses you might take include:

  • global supply chain management and logistics
  • principles of marketing
  • information systems for management
  • international trade policies and practices

These might be classes that you are familiar with at the undergraduate level but don’t be fooled—you will go above and beyond in your graduate degree to take your learning to a more advanced state. You’ll build skills in cross-cultural communication, collaboration, adaptive thinking, networking, emotional intelligence, and more. 

What requirements do you need to meet in order to apply to an international business degree program?

Also known as an MBA in global business, an international business degree can have some pretty strict admissions requirements. These vary depending on the school to which you are applying.

Let’s take a look at the University of Colorado-Denver as an example. In this program, you will need to submit GMAT or GRE scores along with an online application, official transcripts, a resume, and essay responses. You don’t have to have work experience to apply, although this is a common requirement of many other students. 

Once you’ve enrolled, you will need to meet certain requirements in order to earn your degree, too. You may be tasked with completing a set number of credit hours or completing a thesis or capstone project.

Your learning and course requirements often won’t be restricted to just inside the classroom walls, either. For example, at the Hult International Business School in Boston, you’ll be able to pursue other options as part of your degree in addition to the core course requirements. You can network with other career partners and study in places like London, New York, San Francisco, and Dubai.

What can you do with a master’s in international business? 

We are living in an increasingly globalized world with one-third of the world’s population now living outside their home country. It is no wonder that there has been a rise in international business careers and degree programs to meet this need.

For graduates of Tufts University, for example, the options are endless. There’s no typical career path, with students going on to careers at large multinational corporations like Amazon and Procter and Gamble, financial services companies, consulting groups, international organizations like the World Bank, NGOs, and marketing organizations.

Your career options might vary and become more or less specialized depending on the exact degree you decide to pursue. 

If you pursue an executive MBA in international business, for example, you’ll be able to gain more specialized leadership and analytical skills that will help you pursue a career such as:

  • cash manager
  • marketing manager
  • production manager
  • VP of sales
  • chief operating officer

You’ll be able to climb the corporate ladder quickly and easily! 

Is financial aid available for international business degrees?

Just as you can receive financial aid as part of any other master’s degree, so, too, is assistance available for international business majors. The type and amount of aid you receive will vary depending on your financial position, where you choose to go to school, and your academic standing. 

The best way to figure out what kind of financial aid you might qualify for? Start by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as you can. 

Then, reach out to the institutions to which you have submitted an application for admission. Financial aid policies vary widely.

The University of South Carolina, for example, offers both fellowships and graduate assistantships. These aid programs are some of the best for graduate students since they will allow you to gain significant hands-on experience while also receiving a stipend to cover the cost of tuition.

Other schools may offer financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, student loans, and other assistance. 

What kind of salary will you earn with an international business degree? 

Money certainly isn’t everything—but when it comes to earning an international business degree, it’s a nice complement to an already beneficial degree! Financial Ties, in 2017, reported that graduates from business programs were paid an average salary of more than $142,000. 

To sweeten the deal even more, graduates of international business master’s degree programs tend to earn a pay increase of 50% or more! Without even factoring in additional benefits like paid travel, insurance, and bonuses, the average salary for a professional in this field is quite lucrative.

As a promotions manager, one of the most common careers pursued by individuals who receive master’s degrees in international business, you can expect to earn an average salary of $141,490 per year. Become a distributions manager, another top choice, and you’ll earn around $96,390. 

Of course, as a top executive, a career you might aspire to after you’ve climbed to the very top of the corporate ladder, you could bring in around $185,950 on average!

Is a master’s in international business better than an MBA?

Some schools, such as the University of Florida, offer both a master’s in international business and an MBA. Which one is better? There’s no right answer, as both degrees can help you meet your career goals. 

The major difference between the two degrees is that a MIB tends to be more academic in nature, often requiring less work experience than an MBA. OF course, this is not always the case, so it’s important to look into both kinds of programs if you aren’t sure which is right for you. 

What country is best for a master’s in international business?

You can earn a master’s in international business just about anywhere, including in the United States. In fact, the United States has long been considered a leading investment destination and regularly ranks among the best for its innovation, competitiveness, and ease of doing business.

However, even if you choose to study in the United States, you may want to consider going abroad for at least a portion of your studies. Consider studying in places like the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, China, Germany, or Spain if you want to add a new level of experience to your degree. 

Is a master’s in international business worth it? 

Absolutely. When you decide to earn a master’s in international business, you will gain the skills you need to become a leader in any global business setting. You’ll also be able to access a professional network that will be instrumental in helping you to find a job and boost your career prospects.

Don’t forget about your likelihood of landing a job, either. At the University of Delaware, 94% of international business studies graduates were employed, earning an average starting salary of $51,703, or pursuing further study within just six months of graduation! 

Related:

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

10 Best Online MBA in International Business

MPG Best MBA International BusinessAs our world becomes increasingly connected, there is a similar increased demand for professionals who can help businesses connect with customers and clients around the globe. Technology is advancing as the world grows smaller and businesses everywhere are understanding the need to participate in the global marketplace.

Do you have what it takes to help them succeed?

Earn one of the best online MBAs in international business and you’ll have the skills you (and they!) need for success.

An MBA in international business will help you develop the leadership skills you need to be successful anywhere but especially in a foreign market. You’ll gain the communication skills you need to effectively communicate across cultural and language barriers while also developing the technological aptitudes you need to thrive in the modern setting.

This kind of degree is similar to a stand-alone, regular MBA program but with an extra flair that will help you succeed. An MBA, or master of business administration, degree is one of the best to consider if you’re looking for a program with a serious return on investment.

Your salary could easily top six figures—and with an additional specialization in international business, you’re sure to have no problem finding a job.

Graduates of these kinds of programs typically go on to work in careers like import and export agent, customs manager, translator, international marketing director, management consultant, foreign policy advisor, and many others. There are countless opportunities awaiting! 

“That all sounds great,” you might be thinking, “but I already have a full-time job and other personal obligations, like a family, to attend to. How am I going to find time to earn an MBA?”

It’s true that earning an MBA can be challenging and time-consuming. However, there are plenty of workarounds that will help you earn your credentials without losing your mind!

One of the best ways to pursue an MBA in international business is to consider doing so online. In today’s day and age, almost every school that offers an MBA in international business also offers one virtually, allowing you to take all or most of your classes from afar. You may never even have to step foot on campus!

The quality of education in an online program is just as good as—if not better than—what you would find on campus. Tuition tends to be lower and even if it’s not, you’ll often find that earning a degree online tends to be more affordable because you don’t have to worry about extraneous expenses like transportation, room, and board. 

So what do you have to lose? 

That’s a trick question, of course—you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain when you choose to pursue one of the best online MBA in international business degrees. Keep reading to learn more about this next step forward in your promising career. 

What Are the Best Online MBA in International Business Degrees?

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following five aspects:

25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there

20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni

20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who actually get accepted

10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.

University of Nebraska Lincoln#1. University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in International Business

A public land-grant research university located in Lincoln, NE, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the state’s oldest university as well as the flagship university of the state system. Although the school initially specialized only in agricultural and research-oriented programs, today it offers dozens of degrees that are known throughout the world as being some of the best in their respective fields. 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has one of the most prestigious online MBA programs. This transformative degree combines a solid foundation in core business concepts with international study. Not only will you learn about the business practices of other countries but you’ll also learn about how culture and management methods differ around the world. 

Coursework covers everything from international trade law to accounting, enabling you to gain a solid understanding of every aspect of the discipline. You will take international business courses along with core business courses in six different areas. Your degree will also include a global immersion, a language study, and either an internship or a practicum to help you gain more hands-on experience.

Still not sure that this is the right program for you? Don’t take our word for it—let the accolades speak for themselves. The degree was ranked as the #1 Best Value Online MBA in the United States by Financial Times and for offering some of the best online MBA career services in the world by the same publication. Not only that, but the Princeton Review has ranked these degrees among the top MBAs among public institutions, too. 

California Lutheran University#2. California Lutheran University

MBA in International Business

California Lutheran University is located in Thousand Oaks, CA. a private liberal arts university, it was founded only in 1959 and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. However, it is nonsectarian, offering dozens of degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. 

The online master’s in international business at California Lutheran is ideal for students who are interested in a degree that offers training in the core business skills that will make them adaptable to all settings while also being able to pursue an area of interest. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and features a rigorous curriculum that is easy to customize with a professional track.

You will take core courses such as Enterprise Management, ORganization, and Strategy, Organizational Behavior, Innovative Business Models, and International Business. Of course, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of capstone options too. You can embark on an international travel trip, participate in an executive roundtable, come up with a business plan or consulting project, or even complete an internship. 

It’s available fully online, on-campus, or as a hybrid of the two formats. You’ll take 15 courses or 45 credit hours of study, with classes broken down into five eight-week terms. Although not all classes are offered asynchronously, you can choose to take classes during the evening and weekend hours to make things more convenient. As a result, most students take just one to two years to complete their degrees. 

Southern New Hampshire University#3. Southern New Hampshire University

Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in International Business

A private university, Southern New Hampshire University was founded in 1932 and is located halfway between Hooksett and Manchester, NH. Originally developed as an accounting and secretarial science school, SNHU is now regarded as one of the fastest-growing institutions in the United States, especially in regards to its in-demand online programs. 

The MBA in international business is extremely affordable, coming in at just $19,000 for the entire program cost. You can complete it in just a year and choose a tailor-made concentration in international business (or one of the many other career-focused concentrations—there are 15 others to choose from!). You’ll be able to earn industry-recognized credentials as you study, helping you gain a competitive advantage each and every term. 

In addition to the international business concentration, you can choose to pursue specializations in things like business intelligence, finance, human resources, leadership, information technology management, accounting, and more. The international business concentration includes courses such as International Market Strategy, Multinational Corporate Environment, and Managing International Trade and Finance.

Kettering University#4. Kettering University

MBA in International Business

Once known as General Motors Institute of Technology, Kettering University is a private university located in Flint, MI that now offers degrees in a variety of STEM-oriented disciplines and of course, business. It has a unique emphasis on hands-on learning that requires students to complete cooperative learning experiences prior to graduation. The school has partnerships with more than 550 different corporations!

Kettering has a top online MBA in international business that pairs hands-on learning with quality training in international business. It is ranked third among the best value colleges in Michigan by Niche as well as for having one of the best returns on investment by PayScale. You can customize your degree with a concentration in international business or with additional certificates such as operations management, healthcare management, global leadership, supply chain levels 1 and 2, or modern business practices. 

All courses are offered exclusively online and with no GRE/GMAT requirement, you can get started immediately. You can earn your degree in as little as two years and choose to earn an additional Master of Science in Operations Management or Engineering Management by taking just four extra courses. Because of this, Kettering makes it easy for you to add value to your resume in an affordable, convenient way.

Florida International University#5. Florida International University

Master of International Business

Located in sunny University Park, FL, Florida International University is part of the State University System of Florida and was founded only in 1965. Despite its young age, the school has rapidly grown to become the largest school in South Florida—as well as one of the most prominent. The College of Business here is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and its international business programs are ranked as some of the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

The online Master of International Business at Florida International University is offered by Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Graduate School of BUsiness. A 12-month program, it features an innovative, multidisciplinary curriculum with 30 credit hours of coursework broken down into attainable eight-week courses. You’ll only be required to take two courses per session.

The curriculum is undergoing constant revision to ensure that it matches the reality of the global economy. You’ll be equipped with skills that are most sought-after by employers with your coursework covering things like international entrepreneurship, geopolitics, and cross-cultural skills. You’ll be able to complete an experiential consulting project and even embark on an international trip to observe business in a foreign location. 

Florida Atlantic University#6. Florida Atlantic University

MBA in International Business

A public research university located in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University has additional satellite campuses in places like Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Dania Beach, Fort Pierce, and Jupiter. It’s a large school with an enrollment of more than 30,000 students. Despite its size, though, you’ll never feel like just another face in the crowd–even when studying online. 

The online MBA at Florida Atlantic will take you just 16 to 23 months to complete, helping you gain the credentials you need to be successful without having to put the rest of your life on hold. It is ranked as one of the best programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report and by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. The degree is also ranked as having one of the best returns on investment and salary-to-debt ratios, too.

You’ll take classes completely asynchronously, meaning you can access your courses at any time and from any location, as long as you have a reliable internet connection. All courses are taught by the same credentialed, world-class instructors who teach on campus and there are zero residency requirements. Courses start in May, August, and January and last only eight weeks each. 

The international business concentration isn’t your only option, either. You can choose from other concentrations in things like finance, hospitality and tourism management, marketing, accounting, and more. 

Liberty University#7. Liberty University

MBA in International Business

Liberty University is a private evangelical Christian university with a main campus in Lynchburg, VA. Although its suburban campus sprawls to include more than 7,000 acres, if you’re a student here, there’s a good chance that you’ll never even step foot on campus. That’s because the vast majority of its 110,000 students are enrolled online—more than 94,000 students at Liberty choose to take their classes from the comfort of their own homes, in fact.

Liberty’s online MBA in international business will allow you to explore new business opportunities both at home and abroad. You’ll take classes in a flexible online format so that you can remain in your current position while also improving your resume and skills. It is one of the few degrees that also prepares students to sit for the Certified Global Business Professional certificate examination. 

Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the degree is well respected among industry leaders. You will complete a highly individualized program of study that can be enhanced through the Policy and STrategy in GLobal competition capstone, which can be completed on-campus or online. 

Other courses you might take include Environment of International Business, Developing Global Markets, Global Financial Markets, Global Economic Environment, and more. Tuition is offered at one of the lowest rates in the country and it has not increased in six years!

University of Delaware#8. University of Delaware

Master of Science in International Business

With the main campus in Newark, DE, the University of Delaware is a land-grant research university that’s known for its wide selection of graduate programs. It is a leader in international education and was actually the first school to offer a study-abroad program, first doing so in 1923. 

The University of Delaware is also home to one of the best online MBA international business schools. Offered by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, the international business MBA is a ten-course program that is accredited by AACSB. It will prepare you to be competitive in the global marketplace, granting you the specific knowledge you need to globalize your career. 

You will be able to customize your curriculum to help you deal with the specific challenges in the day-to-day operations and strategies of international businesses. You’ll take intensive seven-week courses so you can graduate in as little as 18 months and you can do so 100% online. As you study, you will have access to a personal career coach and many other student services, like scholarships and financial aid.

You will learn from talented, highly qualified faculty, all of whom have PhDs in their respective disciplines. Some classes you may take will include Ethical Issues in Domestic and Global Business Environments, Globalization and Business, Managing the Global Enterprise, Future of Globalization and You, and Leading Across Boundaries.

Lehigh University#9. Lehigh University

MBA Program International Business Concentration

Lehigh University is a private research university located in Bethlehem, PA. established by businessman Asa Packer in 1865, this university continues to offer some of the best business programs in the entire country.

The MBA program here is superb on its own, but pair it with an international business concentration, and you’ll have all the skills you need to land the job of your dreams. This part-time, flex MBA degree includes core classes such as Global Marketing Strategies and International Finance. You’ll also be able to participate in special topics courses and immersion trips to various locations.

You will work closely with a faculty advisor to create your customized schedule. Tuition is low with rates starting at just $1,180 per credit hour. Scholarships and other financial aid opportunities are available, too, making this degree one of the most affordable of its kind.

St. Thomas University#10. St. Thomas University

Master of Business Administration in International Business

A private Catholic university, St. Thomas University is located in Opa-locka North, Miami Gardens, FL. This school is one of the most diverse, home to students from almost every state and more than 70 countries. 

Because of this, you’ll learn alongside an accomplished and engaging group of peers as you complete your studies in the MBA in international business degree. The program will prepare you to work in fields like international trade, sales, and business development, supply chain operations, global economic development, real estate, nonprofit management, baking, and more. 

You’ll gain technical skills along with the soft skills you need to be successful in any setting. You can take courses on a full- or part-time basis as you work alongside international business companies and people from other parts of the world. You will even have the opportunity to work on research with faculty, getting your work published in top-0ranked business publications and journals. 

With classes offered online as well as during the evening hours, this program is a great option for the student who wants to continue to work full-time. It is flexible and designed specifically with the needs of working professionals in mind. You will receive personalized attention every single step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online MBA in international business?

When you choose to pursue an online MBA in international business, you’ll benefit from a curriculum that offers all the advantages of a traditional MBA paired with the more in-depth training of a master’s in international business. You’ll gain the skills necessary to respond to the demands of a constantly growing global marketplace and be prepared to fill a leadership role in a global organization.

Most MBA in international business degrees take around two years to complete, though this can vary. It might take you just 12 months to complete a degree or you could bide your time, taking around three or four years to finish your studies if you’re working on your degree part-time. 

You will take classes in things like International Management, International Finance, and Banking, Import and Export Applications, and Global Marketing Concepts and Strategies. You’ll often have the opportunity to work on industry and academic research, both with faculty as well as independently.

The very best online MBA in international b business degrees also present you with the opportunity to work with international business partners who face global business challenges. Study abroad is another integral component of the top MBA in international business degrees, too. 

Ultimately, when you’re looking for the best online MBA in international business, it’s important to find one that will allow you to work closely with an advisor to create a schedule that meshes with your needs, professionals goals and interests, and lifestyle. No two programs are exactly alike!

Is there an online international business MBA—no GMAT required?

Most colleges and universities, even those that offer MBA degrees exclusively online, do still require the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), an exam that is required for admission to most graduate business programs.

However, there are some that will allow you to submit the GRE (Graduate Records Examination) instead. Many schools have even tossed all of their testing requirements to the wayside, allowing you to instead demonstrate your readiness for graduate work via other aspects of your application, such as your transcripts or letters of recommendation.

Check with your school to see if the GMAT is required long before you plan to apply. That way, you can give yourself plenty of time to study for and take (and possibly retake) the exam. Otherwise, work on strengthening other components of your application.

In addition to transcripts evicting an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (which tends to be the minimum for most graduate schools), you will also need to submit a resume showing that you have a few years of work experience. Letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and an interview are other elements that may be required as part of your application to graduate school. 

Is it worth doing an online MBA?

It is absolutely worth it to complete an online MBA. Not only will you likely enjoy your classes and the opportunity to meet new professionals in your classes, but you will also benefit from courses that will prepare you for a vast assortment of rewarding careers.

While the list of potential career options is seemingly endless, individuals who hold MBA degrees in international business may pursue jobs such as cultural advisor, financial controller, global human resource or business development manager, glover operations manager, international accountant, import and export manager, and much more. 

Your job duties will vary depending on your title and where in the world you choose to work but you can expect no two days to ever be quite exactly the same. You can work in career fields like banking, customer relations, data and data analysis, economic advising, health care, banking, and insurance, and just about any other business-oriented field that comes to mind.

Which country is best for MBA in international business?

If you want to earn a degree in international business, you can do so from just about any location in the world—especially if you choose to study exclusively online! However, there are a few countries that rise above the rest when it comes to the quality of MBA programs. The very best programs offer extensive networking opportunities and in-depth coursework. 

The United States tends to rank at the top of the list when it comes to highly ranked business schools. Here, most MBA in international business degrees last two years and provide work experience with specific companies.

Other countries that are excellent picks if you’re interested in an MBA in international business include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, China, Japan, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

What is the most prestigious online MBA?

If you’re looking for a highly respected MBA, you can’t go wrong with any of the schools we profiled in our ranking (like the University of Delaware or Florida Atlantic University). 

However, many students find themselves looking for schools whose names do all the talking for them. If that’s the case, you might turn to an Ivy League. Of the eight Ivy League schools, only Brown University offers an online MBA degree and this occurs in a blended fashion.

Another way you can enhance your career prospects, even if you aren’t studying at the most prestigious business school, is to join an international business professional organization. These organizations often host events and conferences, put together trade publications, and sometimes even offer awards and funding opportunities for studying and working abroad. 

Some of the most prestigious organizations to consider joining include the International Academy of Business and Economics, the International Academy of Business Disciplines, and the Academy of International Business. 

Should I get an MBA in international business?

Getting an MBA in international business is a smart choice to make, both personally and professionally. Not only can it open up doors to a variety of career prospects, but it also will help you make a higher average salary, regardless of whether you are new to the workforce or are hoping your degree will provide you with the bump in education and skills you need to earn a promotion.

As an international business major, you might work as a business executive, a human resources manager, or as a policy or management analyst. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top business executives make an average salary of $107,680 per year—and that’s with just a bachelor’s degree! Candidates with a few years of experience and a master’s degree can earn significantly more. 

If you choose to work as a human resources manager, helping your company coordinate, plan, and direct its administrative functions, you could earn $121,220 per year (or up to $58 per hour!). These jobs are in high demand, too, with a job growth of 6% expected by 2029. 

Finally, as a management analyst, you’ll work to find easy ways to improve the efficiency of an organization. These jobs are exploding in popularity, with an expected 11% growth in this field by 2029. The pay isn’t too shabby, either, with the average worker making $87,660 per year. 

What is the cheapest online MBA in the world for international students?

All of the options profiled in our ranking are affordable programs for domestic and international students alike. However, it’s important to note that many universities now offer tuition-free programs, too. 

For example, at the University of the People, you can enroll in a completely online, tuition-free MBA program that costs just $2,400 (to cover administrative and exam fees). New York University is another school that offers a high-quality, highly affordable online MBA degree. 

OTHER NOTABLE PROGRAMS 

#11. Arizona State University

Location: Tempe, AZ

Degree: MBA in International Business

Net Price: $12,134

Website

#12. Texas A & M International University

Location: College Station, TX

Degree: MBA in International Business

Net Price: $5,459

Website

#13. Dallas Baptist University

Location: Dallas, TX

Degree: International Business Concentration

Net Price: $18,262

Website

#14. Mercy College

Location: Dobbs Ferry, NY

Degree: Master of Business Administration Business Administration

Net Price: $16,338

Website

#15. Webster University

Location: St. Louis, MO

Degree: MBA in International Business

Net Price: $13,500

Website

IF YOU ENJOYED THAT THEN CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON THE BEST AFFORDABLE ONLINE MASTERS IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) & BEST AFFORDABLE ONLINE MASTER’S IN ACCOUNTING!

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

50 Best Online Master of Mechanical Engineering Degree Programs

online masters mechanical engineeringWere you the kid who always took toys apart in order to see how they worked? Consider yourself enterprising and good with machines? Do you excel at fixing issues with existing processes and creating news ways of making things work more efficiently? If you answered affirmatively to these questions, chances are you would be a good mechanical engineer. Wondering how you could get that advanced degree while still working and taking care of all of your current commitments? Online! This article will help you find your online mechanical engineering program, because we have culled through the available information on current master’s programs to bring you details on the best online Master of Mechanical Engineering degrees. We discovered that this online degree is not only one of the 50 most popular online master’s degrees, but also a great financial investment (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mechanical Engineers make more per hour than others in similar professions). Additionally, most online programs boast the same rigorous curriculum and experienced faculty as the on-campus programs, just offered entirely online, making the convenience hard to beat.

A field for professionals who like to make things work, mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineering really begin to thrive during the Industrial Revolution when new manufacturing practices were being developed on a larger scale than ever before. Now, mechanical engineers utilize principles of engineering, mathematics, science, and physics to scrutinize, plan, construct, and improve upon machinery and mechanical systems and structures. A very exciting field, mechanical engineering professionals can specialize in a multitude of research areas. Additionally, there is a great deal of diversity in potential employment, for there are many other fields in which mechanical engineering can intersect, such as aerospace or nuclear engineering, biomechanics, or nanotechnology.

We have examined many programs offered online, and by focusing on the history behind the degree, we have assurance that all of the programs listed in our ranking are reputable and from schools that have been perfecting both the content and the delivery for decades (and some for more than a century!). Many good programs are offered online, and you’ll see that we offer you a list of the best of the best. To find one that fits your needs, read on to discover the best online mechanical engineering graduate programs currently available!

See Also: 10 Best Master’s in Industrial Engineering

In addition to the Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology, this criteria helped develop this ranking:

  • Program history– the extent to which the subject matter or degree has been offered historically, determined by the founding of the school or college of engineering, the mechanical engineering department, the point in the university’s history that the ME program was established, or the year specific engineering classes were first offered

See Also: Aerospace Engineering Master’s Programs 

#1. Purdue University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

PurdueProgram Details: Purdue Online College of Engineering offers both a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program and an interdisciplinary Master of Science in Engineering (MSE/MS) with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering completely online. Both degrees are 30-credit hours and allow students to craft a Plan of Study with their advisor in order to customize the degree—and there are twelve research areas from which to choose for a great deal of flexibility and customization. The MSME and the MSE/MS degrees are housed within the School of Mechanical Engineering, which was founded in 1882 and the first of the engineering schools at Purdue. In addition to the experienced faculty, Mechanical Engineering students benefit from a dedicated Office for Industrial Experience. This Office provides a “connection to industry” for students, with career resources through a Center for Career Opportunities, project design help, and other services. Two Mechanical Engineering graduate certificates are also offered online: Noise Control or Applied Heat Transfer.

Admissions website

Purdue University is known as “Indiana’s Land-Grant University,” meaning that the school was founded in part with assistance from the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Another component that aided the establishment of this public research university was the support of John Purdue and Tippecanoe County residents—they provided additional funds and land to serve as the campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. John Purdue was the major benefactor of the school and stipulated that it be named in his honor, thus the ground was broken for Purdue University in 1871. Three years later the first classes were held with 39 students in attendance. Now over 40,000 students are enrolled in more than 250 academic degree programs that are offered through Purdue’s ten colleges and online. The original campus in West Lafayette is the flagship of the Purdue University System, and this institution of higher education also has designation as a sea- and space-grant university. Regional accreditation is provided by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#2. University of Southern California

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of Southern CaliforniaProgram Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is provided entirely online through the online delivery method DEN@Viterbi. Requiring a minimum of 27-credit hours and offering a thesis or non-thesis option, as well as several concentration tracks (Thermal and Fluid Sciences, Engineering Design, and Mechanics and Materials), the MSME program dates back to the earliest days of engineering classes first held at USC in 1905. Award-winning faculty head up the MSME program’s coursework, and provide additional mechanical engineering degrees online as well—such as the MS in Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering (Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics). Distance education has been provided by USC Viterbi for nearly half a century, and the attention to online students’ needs are reflected in the comprehensive “student services and IT services in wide ranging areas of advisement, homework and exams, technical support, and more.”

Admissions website

A local judge in Southern California in the late 1800s advocated for an institution of higher education, which would become the University of Southern California (USC). Judge Robert Maclay Widney also recruited the financial support of three businessmen who supplied acreage in Los Angeles for the school. USC was officially established in 1880, and the doors opened to 53 students and ten instructors. Now this private research university enjoys an enrollment of over 45,000 students—it is the oldest university in the state of California. The seventeen colleges of USC provide more than 200 academic degree programs, and the school has designation as both a sea-grant and a space-grant institution. A member of the elite Association of American Universities, USC’s motto—“let whoever earns the palm bear it”—speaks to the triumphant nature of the school and its students. USC has regional accreditation provided by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#3. Stanford University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

StanfordProgram Details: Stanford’s comprehensive, part-time Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree is provided online program through the Stanford Center for Professional Development. The 45-unit degree is housed within Stanford’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, the roots of which were present when the first three mechanical engineering professors came on board when Stanford was founded in 1891. The faculty today is comprised of respected and knowledgeable professionals, and students choose from a specific research group or “depth” to construct their customized course of study. There are fourteen pre-approved depth areas from which students can choose, ranging from Automatic Controls to Fluid Mechanics to Dynamics to Robotics and Kinematics, just to name a few. The degree can be completed in about three years and some on-campus requirements must be met. A dedicated Mechanical Engineering Student Services Office provides support, and many complimentary webinars, course previews, and archived lectures are provided to prospective students.

Admissions website

Leland Stanford Junior University—more commonly known as Stanford University—was established as a tribute to a child lost to typhoid fever in 1884. Wealthy California senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, lost their only child just before his sixteenth birthday. They determined to build something positive and beneficial out of their grief, and so developed the school with their fortune and livestock farm of over 8,000 acres, in what is now Stanford, California. The school opened in 1891 with more than 550 students. Due to the growth of technological entrepreneurialism in the area that was fostered and advanced by Stanford faculty and graduates, Silicon Valley was developed and the school has become one of the top universities in the nation. A private research university, Stanford now serves more than 16,000 students with over 65 undergraduate majors and nearly 100 graduate programs in the seven academic schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignProgram Details: Through the College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Engineering Online provides both a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.ME) degree and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree completely online. Housed with the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering (now known as MechSE but first referenced at the school in 1870), both degrees have coursework taught by esteemed faculty members “who are all active in research and publish in high-impact journals.” The two degrees match their on-campus counterparts in terms of rigorous coursework and student expectations. The M.Eng.ME is a non-thesis, coursework-based degree requiring 32-credit hours and can be completed in just two semesters on a full-time basis. The 32-credit hour MSME program offers both a thesis and a non-thesis option, and students generally complete the degree in eighteen months to two years. Regardless of the program chosen, all online MechSE students have access to dedicated engineering student resources.

Admissions website

One of the first schools to be established in response to the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (University of Illinois or UIUC) was founded in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University. Located in the twin Illinois cities of Champaign and Urbana, the institution welcomed 77 students to the first classes in 1868. A tension between the first president, John Milton (who wanted a liberal arts institution) and other school leaders, (who desired an industrial arts and agricultural approach), led to Milton resigning in 1880. His influence remains, however, as the school has strong liberal arts leanings in addition to being a research university. The flagship campus in the University of Illinois System, UIUC has over 45,000 students enrolled in more than 250 academic degree programs in the sixteen schools and colleges. A public land-, sea-, and space-grant school, the Higher Learning Commission grants full regional accreditation.

#5. The Pennsylvania State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Penn StateProgram Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) online degree program at Penn State is delivered entirely online through Penn State World Campus. The 32-credit hour program promotes a “collaborative” academic experience in which students “build strong ties with other students and gain perspectives from other disciplines and industries” for a comprehensive, advantageous degree. Students work with advisors to craft the degree to fit their needs and professional goals, and can choose from a wide selection of classes such as “Engineering Optimization,” “Principles of Turbomachinery,” and “Finite Elements in Engineering.” Student testimonials and praise dot the program website, and the program and faculty credentials speak for themselves. Mechanical engineering was one of the earliest offerings of Penn State (the first classes being offered in 1868), and Penn State has pioneered online education through the World Campus since 1998, so students have assurance that the discipline and the delivery of their education is teeming with quality.

Admissions website

Known most commonly as Penn State, the school officially named “The Pennsylvania State University” was originally established as the Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania in 1855. With a location in Centre County, Pennsylvania, the school was instrumental in the development of the Morrill Act of 1862. Evan Pugh, Penn State’s first president, advocated for the Morrill Act, also known as the Land-Grant Act, which enabled state schools to be developed with funds from the selling of federal lands. When the Act passed in 1862, Penn State became a land-grant university, and still remains the only one in the state of Pennsylvania (as well as also being a space-, sun-, and sea-grant school). The main campus in University Park is the flagship of the 24 campuses across the state and enrolls nearly 50,000 students. Penn State (as named since 1953) is a public research university with regional accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#6. University of Virginia

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

University of VirginiaProgram Details: Virginia Engineering Online (VEO) provides the Master of Engineering (ME) in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering degree program from the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). It’s the same degree earned as in the on-campus program, and students enrolled in the online format offered through this first engineering school in the South (established as the School of Civil Engineering in 1836) are connected to a long history of “engineering excellence.” Additionally, UVA is part of the Online Graduate Engineering Consortium, allowing online students to take up to half of their 30-credit hours from five other excellent universities. The award-winning MAE faculty honors “a tradition of excellence and a pioneering spirit of entrepreneurship in both education and research” through the coursework offered in two tracks: Mechanics and Thermofluids. Students construct a plan of study with guidance from dedicated Virginia Engineering Online Student Academic Advisors and Graduate Coordinators.

Admissions website

Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as “a public university designed to advance human knowledge, educate leaders and cultivate an informed citizenry,” the University of Virginia (UVA) held its first classes in 1825. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the school very intentionally did not affiliate with any religious denomination at its inception and has remained nonsectarian. UVA is comprised of eleven academic schools and the College at Wise in Southwest Virginia, and is the first southern university elected to membership in the elite Association of American Universities. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having very high research activity, UVA is a public research institution with nearly 25,000 students enrolled in over 120 academic degree programs. The scenic and iconic campus covers almost 1,700 acres and is designated as a World Heritage site. Recognized for its secret societies and history, UVA is the flagship university of the state and has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#7. University of South Carolina

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

University of South Carolina-ColumbiaProgram Details: The University of South Carolina (which was reestablished in 1880 as the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts and offered engineering classes since the beginning) offers both a Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Engineering (ME) in Mechanical Engineering degree entirely online (the ME degree provides a non-thesis option, and students in the MS program culminate the degree with a thesis). Both degree programs require 30-credit hours and are available in the College of Engineering and Computing Mechanical Engineering Department. Seven specialization areas are provided specifically in mechanical engineering, such as Thermo-fluids, Mechanics of Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation, and Nanotechnology. Typical coursework includes classes such as “Intro to Finite Elements Analysis in Mechanical Engineering” and “Advanced Mechanics of Materials,” and the curriculum is presented online by the research-focused and dedicated faculty. The department employees “forerunners” in the field, evidenced by the department doubling in the last decade to become the largest in the college.

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The University of South Carolina began as South Carolina College in 1801 in Columbia, South Carolina. Classes for the nine students began in 1805, and there were just two professors on staff. The institution was very successful until the financial devastation suffered by the state after the Civil War forced it to close briefly. Reopening in 1873 as the University of South Carolina (USC), the school was quite progressive, admitting women and students of color. Closing and reopening again as a segregated college, the school grew to become the USC of today and is now the flagship of the University of South Carolina System. A public coeducational sea-grant university with high research activity, USC serves more than 34,000 students at the main campus, with sixteen academic schools and colleges offering degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission provides the regional accreditation for USC.

#8. Texas A&M University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Texas A&MProgram Details: The Texas A&M J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program can be completed entirely online, and students are allowed up to seven years to finish the 30-credit hour program. Housed within the College of Engineering (the largest college at Texas A&M and one which has been in existence since the school opened in 1876), the degree has core courses that are offered as options and not required, covering topics such as “Theory of Elasticity,” “Advanced Product Design,” and “Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics.” All students will compile a final portfolio (prepared during the duration of study) to showcase what has been learned and how well the student has incorporated the learning outcomes. Faculty members head up many research opportunities for students and have a wide range of publications and awards to prove their experience, and students benefit from the field-specific student resources offered by Engineering Online.

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Founded under the name Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) was established in 1871 and benefited from the Morrill Act of 1862. Classes began in 1876, and the campus was located in Brazos County on more than 2,400 acres of donated land. Gaining its current name in 1963, Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station, Texas has doubled in size and is supplemented by another campus in Galveston. Along with the land-grant designation, Texas A&M is also a sea- and space-grant university, and this public research institution of higher education enrolls more than 66,000 students currently, making it the largest campus by student enrollment in the Texas A&M University System as well as nationally. There are nineteen schools and colleges within Texas A&M, which provide nearly 400 academic degree programs. Regional accreditation is granted through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#9. University of Texas at Austin

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of Texas AustinProgram Details: The fully online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree through UT Austin’s Texas Engineering Executive Education is housed within the Cockrell School of Engineering, which can trace its roots to the day the cornerstone was laid for the university in 1882. The “industry-relevant and immediately applicable” 30-credit hour curriculum does not require a thesis and is rich with courses such as “Statistical Methods for Process Control and Manufacturing,”Materials Science and Engineering,” and “Applied Thermodynamics.” Students progress through the program as a cohort, which provides them with built-in community support. The faculty members are readily available, and their collection of publications and patents is impressive. The unique and thoughtful online learning model is ideal for working professionals who have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or related degree) and at least one year of relevant work experience. Student support is provided, with resources such as the Cockrell School’s Engineering Career Assistance Center to help students be successful.

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The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is the flagship school of the University of Texas System, and its establishment was put into motion by the state legislature in 1876. The first brick was laid in Austin, Texas in 1882, and just a year later in 1883 221 students were welcomed to class in the year of the school’s founding. A public research university, more than 51,000 currently enrolled students participate in nearly 400 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs offered in the eighteen colleges and schools that comprise UT Austin. With the desire to “transform lives for the benefit of society,” UT Austin has a mission to “achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service.” Considered a Public Ivy school, UT Austin is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#10. University of Florida

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

UFProgram Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program at UF is housed within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (which was one of the four colleges of UF when it moved to the Gainesville campus in 1909). Provided entirely online through the UF Electronic Delivery of Graduate Engineering (EDGE) distance learning delivery method, the 30-credit hour program offers a thesis and a non-thesis option. Students follow one of three plans of study (“Dynamics, Systems, and Control,” “Solid Mechanics, Design, and Manufacturing,” or “Thermal Science and Fluid Dynamics”), and an External Advisory Board supports the expert faculty and provides guidance and “continuous improvement” to the programs and MAE Department. In addition, the MAE Department presents six online graduate certificates via EDGE for professionals who don’t desire a full master’s degree. All certificates are made up of three courses, which are available to students asynchronously.

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With a history that can be traced to several schools in areas of Florida, the University of Florida (UF) has grown to become a doctoral university with the highest research activity (as designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education). Located in Gainesville, Florida, UF had a clear start when the Florida Legislature passed an Act that consolidated the state’s public institutions of higher education and the State University System of Florida was instituted. This was in 1905, and the University of the State of Florida opened the doors to over 100 students for the first classes in 1906. Becoming simply “university of Florida” in 1909, UF now enrolls almost 55,000 students and is a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution. Over 300 programs are offered in sixteen academic schools and colleges, and UF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#11. John Hopkins University

Online Master of Mechanical Engineering

Johns HopkinsProgram Details: The Johns Hopkins University part-time online Master of Mechanical Engineering degree program is called Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals. Through the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Whiting School of Engineering, the 30-credit hour program provides four focus areas to customize the degree: Manufacturing, Robotics and Controls, Solids/Mechanics of Materials, or Thermofluids. The required core course “Mathematical Methods for Engineers” is taken the first semester, and classes based on the students’ focus then follow. Mechanical Engineering was one of the first concentrations offered by Johns Hopkins in the 1900s, and online programming has been offered by Johns Hopkins Engineering since 2001—students can therefore be assured of both the reputation and the quality of the online program. Additionally, the faculty’s expertise and the available student services guarantee a highly-rewarding and supportive environment. Online Information Sessions are held periodically to introduce prospective students to faculty and current students and learn about the program.

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Johns Hopkins University, located in Baltimore, Maryland, was named for the man who helped finance the establishment of the institution of higher education (as well as The Johns Hopkins Hospital). The Quaker, known for his philanthropy and for being an abolitionist, was a bachelor without any heirs when he passed away in 1873. The legendary amount he left in his will for the school and medical center was an outrageously large amount ($7 million) by late-19th century standards, and thus Johns Hopkins will be forever remembered for his philanthropy. The doors opened to students in 1876, and the university is one of the founding members of the American Association of Universities. The ten academic schools provide programs to over 24,000 currently enrolled students, and Johns Hopkins is a private university with a Carnegie Classification of doctoral university with the highest research activity. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.

#12. University of California Los Angeles

Online Master of Science in Engineering – Mechanical

UCLAProgram Details: The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (HSSEAS) Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) – Mechanical degree at UCLA is provided as a Master of Science Online (MSOL) program. The MSE degree is located in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and open to students who do not have an undergraduate degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering (but who must take two additional classes:Aerodynamics” and “Advanced Strength of Materials”), several focus areas are provided for customization (such as the multidisciplinary Mechanical Engineering in Medicine). A coursework-based, 27-credit hour program, the impressive “research experience of . . . faculty is reflected in the classroom experience, enabling . . . ME students and graduates to go out and address the world’s grand challenges.” Students are required to complete the program in three years, but the comprehensive resources and services provided help students achieve that goal successfully.

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The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was begun as the University of California’s “Southern Branch” in 1919 and originally offered two-year undergraduate programs. The programs were so successful that the school quickly outgrew its initial name and location, becoming the University of California at Los Angeles in 1927 and moving to a new campus in the Westwood district of Los Angeles in 1929. Over 5,000 students attended classes the first year in the new location, and the school would officially replace the “at” in the name with a comma in 1953. A public research university (with the highest research activity as recognized by the Carnegie Foundation) within the University of California System, UCLA offers over 300 academic degree programs to the nearly 45,000 enrolled students through seventeen schools and colleges. A land-grant university and member of the Association of American Universities, UCLA is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

#13. University of Delaware

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of DelawareProgram Details: The UD College of Engineering offers an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program in the Department of Engineering. The 30-credit hour program, which is the same as the on-campus program, can trace its roots back to 1891 when the first mechanical engineering degree was provided at UD. The broad mechanical engineering discipline can be customized through the five areas of research focus offered by the Department (Biomechanical Engineering, Clean Energy and Environment, Composites and Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology, and Robotics and Control). The curriculum is provided online by the award-winning faculty, who are “recognized as global leaders in research and education,” and includes classes such as “Intermediate Solid Mechanics,” “Linear Systems,” and “Orthopedic Biomechanics.” Resources at every level are provided to online students to help them succeed, and for professionals who do not desire a full master’s program, an online Graduate Certificate in Composites Manufacturing & Engineering is available.

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Established in 1743 as the Free School in New London, Pennsylvania, the University of Delaware (UD) would grow to become classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a very high research institution of higher education. The school was founded by Presbyterian minister Reverend Dr. Francis Alison, and it would go through name and location changes before settling in Newark, Delaware as the Academy of Newark in 1769 (Delaware was part of Pennsylvania until 1776). Several more name changes would occur before the institution merged with the Women’s College of Delaware in 1921, and finally UD was born. More than 300 academic degree programs are provided through seven colleges that comprise the university, and UD enrolls over 23,000 students currently. As its mission, UD “exists to cultivate learning, develop knowledge and foster the free exchange of ideas,” and is a land-, sea-, and space-grant university with regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#14. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Missouri University of Science and TechnologyProgram Details: The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Missouri S&T, recently celebrating the centennial (established in 1916 as the Department of Mechanical Engineering), provides an online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree with both a thesis and a non-thesis option. Both options require 30-credit hours, and all coursework is delivered online synchronously through streaming video (although archived for students to review). Classes offered include varied topics such as “Advanced Fractured Mechanics,” “Viscous Fluid Flow,” and “Compliant Mechanism Design.” The faculty provide expertise in many research areas, and online students have support through Missouri S&T’s Global Learning – Distance Education Student Support Services. For students who do not wish to pursue a full degree (or who would like to start with a certificate before pursuing the MS), five online graduate certificates are offered through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: Composite Materials and Structures, Control Systems, Energy Conversion & Transport, Engineering Mechanics, and Manufacturing Automation.

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Claiming distinction as “as one of the first technological institutions west of the Mississippi,” Missouri University of Science and Technology (“Missouri S&T”) was established in 1870 as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. A Morrill Act of 1862 land-grant university located in Rollo, Missouri, Missouri S&T welcomed 28 students to class for the first time in 1871. Now, nearly 9,000 students are currently enrolled in just under 100 academic degree programs, and Missouri S&T offers all students the unique opportunity to conduct research in one of four “Signature Research Areas” (Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure, Enabling Materials for Extreme Environments, or Smart Living) regardless of their major or academic program choice. A member of the University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T is also a space-grant institution of higher education, and regional accreditation for this coeducational public university is granted by the Higher Learning Commission.

#15. Iowa State University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Iowa StateProgram Details: The Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program at Iowa State University is provided online through Engineering-LAS Online Learning (the online delivery hub for College of Engineering and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences programs). The coursework-only MEng degree is located in one of the “University’s crown jewels,” the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), which has been an important part of Iowa State since the school first classes were offered in 1869 (in fact, the first degree ever awarded was in mechanical engineering). The curriculum is constructed of 30-credit hours and the core coursework is clustered into four discipline areas for students to choose an emphasis (Design and Optimization, Dynamic Systems and Controls, Materials Processing and Mechanics, and Thermo-Fluid Sciences). The extensive ME faculty is impressive and has experience in many research areas and collectively many publications between them. Students are provided with resources and services through online and engineering-specific student support.

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Iowa State University (officially named “Iowa State University of Science and Technology” in 1959, but known most commonly as Iowa State) was established in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. The first graduating class of 26 coeducational students would be welcomed to class for the first time in 1869, and since the Morrill Act of 1862 was passed while campus was being constructed, Iowa State became a land-grant university. Located in Ames, Iowa, campus originally covered 650 acres but has now grown to more than 1,800 acres, and the current student enrollment has increased to more than 35,000 students. This public university is also a space-grant institution, and nearly 300 academic degree programs are offered through the ten schools and colleges that make up Iowa State. The largest university in the state and Carnegie Foundation classified as having the highest research activity, Iowa State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#16. Auburn University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Auburn UniversityProgram Details: Auburn Engineering Online and Continuing Education, provided through the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering offers a non-thesis MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. The 30-credit hour program, in the historic Department of Mechanical Engineering (established in 1885), gives “students opportunities to obtain the skills necessary to define, formulate and solve novel problems” in a convenient, online format. Designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or a bachelor’s in a similar, relevant field), the MS degree allows for a great deal of customization—students choose all of the coursework to construct the degree. The “ever-increasing list of faculty patents and inventions” should serve as confirmation that the program is strong and will be rigorous, but the student services provided should provide reassurance that online ME students will receive the support they need. For students who do not desire to pursue a full degree, the ME Department also provides a Tribology Engineering graduate certificate online.

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Chartered in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts school, Auburn University was originally affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The school became a public institution when it became a land-grant school in 1872 and was renamed Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (it would change names again in 1899 and then became Auburn University in 1960). The first school in the South to participate in the benefits of the Morrill Act of 1862, Auburn is additionally designated as a sea- and space-grant university. One of the two flagships of the state of Alabama, Auburn is located in Auburn, Alabama and is comprised of twelve academic schools and colleges. Just under 30,000 students are currently enrolled in over 140 programs, and the Carnegie Classification states the coeducational school is at a “higher research activity” level. Regional accreditation for Auburn comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#17. University of Arizona

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of ArizonaProgram Details: The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (AME) at the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering (established when UA was founded in 1885) provides an entirely online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. The 32-credit  program offers four core focus areas (dynamics and control systems, fluid mechanics, solid mechanics and dynamics, and thermal sciences) from which students can choose an emphasis, and students can opt between a Master’s Thesis, a Master’s Report, or a Coursework-only plan of study. Additionally, students “learn from and work alongside professors internationally renowned for their research” just as their on-campus counterparts, with coursework in subjects such as mechanics of deformable solids, thermodynamics and radiation, and engineering mathematics. Student support is comprehensive—online students receive a personal Student Academic Success Specialist and have access to an enrollment team, tutoring, alumni career mentorships, and other resources to help them succeed.

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Prior to Arizona becoming a state in 1912, the Arizona Territory Legislative Assembly voted in 1885 to institute a state university as a response to the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Tucson was chosen as the campus location, and construction on the University of Arizona (UA or “Arizona”) began in 1887. The oldest institution of higher education in the state, UA offered the first classes to the initial enrollment of 32 students in 1891. Now the school boasts an enrollment of over 44,000 students and more than 350 academic degree programs. Twenty schools and colleges provide the programs to students either on-campus in Tucson (on a 380-acre main campus) on one of three other campus locations, or online, and Arizona has designation as very high research university from the Carnegie Foundation. A public land-grant university, the University of Arizona is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#18. Georgia Institute of Technology

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Georgia TechProgram Details: Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program is provided entirely online through Georgia Tech Professional Education. Located within the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering (the oldest at Georgia Tech, with classes being offered for the first time in 1888), the degree is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering or similar discipline. Requiring a minimum of 30-credit hours, the degree offers twelve research areas, such as Mechanics of Materials, Automation, Robotics & Control, and Manufacturing. Students choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option and participate in classes like “Computer-Aided Design,” “Vibration-Mechanical System,” and “Combustion.” In addition to the online learning support and the array of student support services, the renowned faculty at the School of Mechanical Engineering is a collection of full-time, tenure-track professors (nearly 100) who have many years of research experience and publications to attest to their knowledge and skill in the field.

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Established to provide an opportunity to promote technological education in an area that was mostly agricultural, the predecessor to Georgia Tech was founded in 1885 in Atlanta, Georgia. Known as the Georgia School of Technology, the institution opened its doors in 1888 to 84 male students. Mechanical Engineering was the only degree offered at first, but throughout the years more programs were added and in 1948 the name of the school was changed to highlight the broader academic focus: Georgia Institute of Technology (known largely as Georgia Tech). A member of the University of Georgia System, Georgia Tech has additional satellite campuses domestically and overseas. This public research university has a current student enrollment of nearly 30,000 and is comprised of six academic colleges. With “very high research activity” as classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Georgia Tech is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#19. North Carolina State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

NC StateProgram Details: The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) at NC State is provided entirely online through Engineering Online. The 30-credit hour MSME program is rooted in a rich history since NC State was started as an Agriculture and Mechanic Arts school and engineering distance programs have been offered since 1978. Housed within the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), six research areas are provided for students to pursue their particular area of interest (such as “Nanoscale Science and Engineering,” “Thermal Sciences and Energy Systems,” and “Structural Mechanics, Materials and Manufacturing”). Extensive, field-specific student resources are available through the NC State Online and Distance Education engineering department, and many tips and guides are provided to help MSME students succeed. The faculty members are not only highly experienced and reputable, but also exceedingly adept at online instruction. In addition, Engineering Online provides news and information for current and prospective students.

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North Carolina State University (NC State or NCSU) was founded as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1887. The land-grant institution welcomed 72 students in 1889 with one building and six professors that first year. NCSU sent representatives to remote areas of the state to train farmers in best agriculture practices, which helped the school grow. Officially renamed in the 1960s, North Carolina State University at Raleigh (“at Raleigh” is not often used, even in official settings) is the flagship member of the University of North Carolina System and the largest institution of higher education in the state. Offering over 250 academic degree programs through twelve colleges to more than 35,000 currently enrolled students, NCSU is also a sea- and space-grant school and has earned the Carnegie Foundation classification of highest research activity. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#20. Stevens Institute of Technology

Online Master of Engineering – Mechanical

Stevens-Institute-of-TechnologyProgram Details: Offering the first mechanical engineering degree in the history of the United States (available since the school was founded in 1870), Stevens provides a Master of Engineering – Mechanical degree program that can be accessed online. There are only two required core courses in the 30-credit hour program (“Modeling and Simulation” and “Engineering Analysis I”); the remaining classes can be customized based on the student’s choice in concentration (Product Design; Manufacturing; Thermal, Fluids, Energy; Pharmaceutical Manufacturing; Medical Devices; Robotics & Control; Micro/Nano Systems) and elective choices. The degree is located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (the oldest and largest department at Stevens) in the Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, and students can opt to make it a thesis or a non-thesis degree. The faculty are experienced, currently holding patents, serving on task forces, and participating in cutting-edge research. Online students benefit from resources such as the Continuing and Professional Student Care Center to help them “flourish.”

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In 1868 in Hoboken, New Jersey, the Stevens family had proven themselves to be adept at engineering, innovation, and philanthropy. The natural outgrowth of these qualities and talents led to the creation of the Stevens Institute of Technology (Edwin A. Stevens had passed away and bequeathed money specifically to establish the school). With a distinct focus on mechanical engineering, Stevens opened as a private institution of higher education in 1870 and has grown to consist of four schools and colleges: Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, School of Systems & Enterprises, School of Business, and College of Arts & Letters. More than 100 academic degree programs are offered to nearly 7,000 students currently, and the Carnegie Foundation recognizes Stevens as having a higher research activity level. The main campus is still located in Hoboken, but is joined by an additional location in Washington, D.C. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation.

#21. Columbia University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Columbia UniversityProgram Details: Housed within the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and offered entirely online though the Columbia Video Network (CVN), the MS in Mechanical Engineering degree at Columbia is a reputable, well-established (the department came into being in 1897) program. Requiring a minimum of 30-credit hours, the degree can be shaped by the student along with their advisor from among classes such as “Thermofluid Systems Design,” “Manufacturing Enterprise,” and “Intro to Control Theory.” Created for students with a bachelor’s of engineering background, the coursework is provided by faculty engineers with impressive credentials replete with publications and patents. Students services and resources through both the School of Engineering and the CVN are available to students, and for individuals who do not wish to pursue a full MS in Mechanical Engineering degree, two fully online twelve-credit hour certificate options are provided: Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering—Sustainable Energy.

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Established as King’s College by a royal charter from King George II of England in 1754, Columbia University is the oldest university in the state of New York and the fifth oldest nationally. The school was affiliated with the Anglican church and set up residence in New York, New York; eight students were the first in attendance. After the American Revolution, the school reopened in 1784 as Columbia College and gained university status in 1896 (the official name is Columbia University in the City of New York). In 1897 Columbia moved to its permanent campus in Morningside Heights, and it has grown to become one of the most selective and competitive schools in the country. Twenty academic colleges provide the programs for nearly 30,000 currently enrolled student, and this private Ivy league school has the Carnegie Foundation’s highest research activity classification. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education regionally accredits Columbia.

#22. University of Arkansas

Online Master of Science in Engineering

University of ArkansasProgram Details: U of A Online offers a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree through the College of Engineering for students who desire a comprehensive, multi-discipline program (engineering has always been an important field at the University of Arkansas—the first mechanical engineering degree was awarded in 1891). Providing the foundational basics in core requirements of mathematics, computer applications, technical communications, and management, the 30-credit MSE degree integrates other traditional engineering discipline coursework along with mechanical engineering for a well-rounded program (students can choose mechanical engineering as their emphasis and focus nine credit hours towards it). The impressive faculty cover a wide range of research areas, and mechanical engineering emphasis classes include “Fundamentals of Aerodynamics,” “Thermal Systems Analysis and Design,” and “Advanced Fracture Mechanics and Structural Integrity.” Students typically complete the degree in under two years and are provided with specific engineering resources to help the find success.

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The University of Arkansas (“U of A”) was founded in 1871 in Fayetteville, Arkansas in order to benefit from the federal Morrill Act of 1862. Originally named The Arkansas Industrial University, this land-grant university established a campus on a former farm site and opened its doors in 1872 to eight students. Though the first classes were held in an old barn, the school grew its curricular focus and became the University of Arkansas in 1899 due to a student-led petition. Over 27,000 students are currently enrolled, and eleven schools and colleges provide more than 200 academic degree programs. In addition to being a land-grant institution, U of A is also a space-grant university, as well as the flagship in the University of Arkansas System. A public doctoral research university with the highest research activity designation from the Carnegie Foundation, U of A is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#23. University of Alabama

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of Alabama TProgram Details: Identical to the on-campus program, the online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree from The University of Alabama is a non-thesis, 30-credit hour program offered through the renowned Bama By Distance. Housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the historic College of Engineering (founded in 1909), the MSME degree program provides a wide array of focus areas, ranging from Additive Manufacturing to Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer to Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics to Mechatronics. The faculty have impressive research experience and provide the environment that allows students to be “vital to the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s research efforts.” Specific courses include “Classical Thermodynamics,” “Nonlinear Control Systems,” and “Intermediate Gas Dynamics,” just to name a few, and the distance program requires a comprehensive exam in lieu of a thesis. Online students have the same student services and resources provided to residential students, as well as their own dedicated Student Services Team.

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Prior to becoming a state, the Alabama Territory lobbied the United States Congress in 1818 to provide township designation for the area so a university could be established. Two years later in 1820, The University of the State of Alabama was founded—and it would be located in Tuscaloosa. The first classes were held in 1831, and 52 enrolled students graced the school in its first year. After the devastation of the Civil War, the university had to regroup and reorganize. Reopening as The University of Alabama (Alabama, “Bama,” or UA) in 1872, this institution of higher education is the oldest public university in the state and the flagship of the University of Alabama System. Over 38,000 students are currently enrolled within the thirteen academic colleges, and UA is both a sea- and space-grant school. Granted by the Carnegie Foundation with higher research activity designation, Alabama is provided with regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#24. Texas Tech University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Texas TechProgram Details: The Whitacre College of Engineering Distance Learning Program at Texas Tech offers a fully online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program. Provided through the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), the roots of which were established when Texas Tech was founded in 1925, the MSME degree requires 36-credit hours, and students can choose between a coursework only option or a Master’s Report. Students also can customize the degree through their choice in advanced mathematics classes, electives, and Concentration and Breadth requirements, in the areas of Dynamics and Controls, Thermal Sciences and Fluid Mechanics, Solid Mechanics and Materials, and Design. Support is provided from the beginning with a Distance Student Orientation, and continues with advising services and career resources. The credentials of the ME faculty are impressive, and online students receive the same academic benefits and attention as their on-campus counterparts.

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Texas Tech University was established by the Texas Legislature as the Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas in 1923. Two years later classes began, and there were over 900 coeducational undergraduate students enrolled that first year (graduate classes were added two years later in 1927). The name changed to Texas Tech University (Texas Tech or TTU) in 1969, and Texas Tech is the flagship in the Texas Tech University System. The sixth-largest institution of higher education in the state, the campus covers almost 2,000 acres and over 36,000 students are currently enrolled. More than 300 academic degree programs are offered in the twelve schools and colleges that comprise Texas Tech, and the Carnegie Foundation has classified this public research university as having the highest research activity (one of only 115 schools to receive that designation). Regional accreditation for Texas Tech is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#25. Colorado State University

Online Master of Engineering with a Mechanical Engineering Specialization

Colorado StateProgram Details: The CSU Master of Engineering (ME) degree with a Mechanical Engineering Specialization is offered completely online asynchronously through the Canvas online learning platform. Housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the 30-credit hour program is comprised of fifteen core courses focusing on topics such as “Metals and Alloys,” “Advanced Composite Materials,” and “Manufacturing Engineering.” Students choose from a wide range of electives to customize the degree, and all classes are taught by the same on-campus professors—faculty members who are inventors and innovators at the “forefront of mechanical engineering technology.” The program is located in the renowned and highly-selective Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering (which offered the first engineering program in the state), and students experience a coursework-based, “practitioner-oriented mechanical engineering degree” program. Student resources and services are comprehensive, ranging from academic advising to conflict resolution services to IT support.

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Six years before Colorado became a state, the Morrill Act of 1862 incentivized the Territory to establish the Colorado Agricultural College in 1870. The land-grant school that would become Colorado State University (CSU) was located in the future city of Fort Collins, Colorado, and classes began for the first time in 1879. The flagship institution of the Colorado State University System, CSU currently enrolls more than 30,000 students and offers over 150 academic degree programs through eight academic colleges. A culture of environmental sustainability permeates the campus and the ideology of CSU—the school received the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™) Platinum rating in 2015, the first such ranking a school has ever been awarded. A public coeducational institution of higher education, CSU is also granted with the Carnegie Foundation classification of having the highest research activity. Regional accreditation for CSU comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#26. Case Western Reserve University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Case Western ReserveProgram Details: The practice-based, completely online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree from Case Western Reserve offers “a rich and engaging curriculum in a convenient digital environment.” The 30-credit hour program is open to students who have may not have an undergraduate engineering degree but who meet the admissions requirements, and it can be completed through the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in just a year and a half. The department is located in the Case School of Engineering, which boasts a history traced back to the 1880 establishment of one of CWRU’s predecessor schools, the degree program presents a curriculum “designed by the best for the best,” with online classes such as “Advanced Engineering Analysis,” Fatigue of Materials,” “Vibration Problems in Engineering,” and “Applied Engineering Statistics.” The faculty boast impressive achievements, and online students benefit from their expertise through small class sizes and a hands-on research approach. An online engineering blog provides information for both current and prospective students as well.

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Hudson, Ohio was the initial location of the school that would grow to become Case Western Reserve University. Founded as Western Reserve College in 1826, the institution moved in 1882 to Cleveland, Ohio. Finances provided by Amasa Stone (railroad mogul) encouraged the move, but five years before this, philanthropic Leonard Case Jr. made plans to endow a polytechnic school, also in Cleveland. Shortly after Case’s death in 1880, the Case School of Applied Science was established. Stone had made a caveat in his financial gift to Western Reserve—the school and Case would share adjoining properties. This was the beginning of a mutual relationship that would culminate in the formation of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in 1967. Nearly 12,000 students are currently enrolled in the academic programs of nine schools and colleges, and the Carnegie Foundation classification for this private doctorate-granting university is the highest research activity level. CWRU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#27. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Online Master of Mechanical Engineering: Polymer Science

University of Wisconsin-MadisonProgram Details: Through the Department of Engineering Professional Development (EPD), students can participate in UW-Madison’s renowned Master of Mechanical Engineering: Polymer Science degree program. A 30-credit hour program with the backing of a strong mechanical engineering history (having first been offered at the school in 1875), most students are working professionals and can complete the degree entirely online in just two to four years. Two required courses (“Transport Phenomena in Polymer Processing” and “Engineering Design with Polymers”) are followed by the student’s choice of several required class topics and electives (such as “Fundamentals of Injection Molding” and “Experimental Mechanics”). Students and alumni benefit from the dedicated EPD Community & Support, which offers resources specific to engineering, advising, technical support, and other services. The faculty are experts in the field of polymer science, and the curriculum is constructed by an institution that is “internationally recognized for its research and teaching in polymer engineering and science.”

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The idea for a university was present before the territory became a state, and when Wisconsin became the 30th state in 1848, the University of Wisconsin was established. Classes began the next year in Madison, Wisconsin, and seventeen students were in attendance—the main campus now covers nearly 1,000 acres. Known as University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) since 1971, UW-Madison is the oldest in the state, the flagship in the University of Wisconsin System, and the official state university of Wisconsin. Nearly 44,000 students are currently enrolled in this land- and sea-grant institution of higher education, and over 400 academic degree programs are offered through the 20 schools and college. A Public Ivy university, UW-Madison is a doctoral research institution with the highest research activity as classified by the Carnegie Foundation. One of the founding members of the Association of American Universities, UW-Madison is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#28. University of New Mexico

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Space Systems Engineering

University of New MexicoProgram Details: One of the first of its kind, the UNM Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program with a concentration in Space Systems Engineering “was developed with input from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate.” The 34-credit hour, coursework only MSME program is offered entirely online through UNM’s Mechanical Engineering Department in the School of Engineering, which “opened in 1906 with a faculty of two and a single classroom” and has grown to be a leader in engineering innovation. The courses are taught by the “nationally recognized faculty” who meet the Quality Matters (QM) standards of online education excellence, and cover topics such as “Orbital Mechanics,” “Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering,” and “Introduction to Space Situational Awareness.” Student services are extensive, including Enrollment Coaching and Online Student Support, and student testimonials are provided to speak to the positive experiences and high-quality academics imparted through UNM Online.

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Founded in 1889, before New Mexico was officially a state, the University of New Mexico (UNM) was voted into existence by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico. The school would be a state university once New Mexico joined the union, and classes began on the Albuquerque, New Mexico campus within a few years. Buildings were constructed utilizing a Pueblo Revival style of architecture, and campus now covers 600 acres. Proudly designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, UNM enrolls nearly 35,000 students across the main campus, branch campuses, and education extension centers. A public research university with the highest research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation, UNM is the flagship institution of the state, and twelve schools and colleges provide over 200 academic degree programs. With a mission to share “resources and strategies that encourage students to reach ambitious academic goals and exceed their own expectations,” UNM is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#29. University of Cincinnati

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

University of CincinnatiProgram Details: The Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering online degree at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science is an accelerated program that can be completed in just eighteen months. Six start dates are offered for this 30-credit hour, non-thesis program, and the curriculum is constructed of courses such as “Effectiveness in Technical Organizations,” “Intelligent Systems Theory,” and “Design for Manufacturability and Assembly,” and all students complete the degree with the Master of Engineering Capstone Project. Based in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME), the degree offers an “industry-focused and practice-oriented approach” and has a long history at UC—the original College of Engineering was established when the school was founded in 1870. The mechanical engineering faculty are well-regarded and knowledgeable (one professor literally wrote the book on engineering education), and graduates of the MEng program testify that the program helped them achieve career opportunities through the skills they gained.

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In the early 1800s, two schools were established in Ohio that would lead to the creation of the University of Cincinnati (UC). Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio merged in 1870 to form Cincinnati College (although there had been a plan in the works since 1858 when a wealthy resident of Cincinnati, Charles McMicken, bequeathed funds to the city in his will for the establishment of an institution of higher education). Expanding and achieving full university status, UC is a public research institution with multiple campuses throughout Cincinnati, Ohio and almost 45,000 enrolled students. Fourteen schools and colleges offer 350 academic degree programs, and the Carnegie Foundation bestows a classification of highest research activity on UC. One of the largest universities in the nation, UC is a member of the University System of Ohio and a space-grant institution. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation to UC.

#30. Michigan Technological University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Michigan TechProgram Details: Through Michigan Tech Online Learning, the Department of Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) provides an online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree program. A 30-credit hour program, the degree provides three options to customize; students choose from a research-based Thesis option, an Independent Study Project Report option, or a Coursework-only option. Multiple courses are delivered online, and additional classes are added with ample student interest (potential classes include “Nanoscale Science and Technology,” “Nonlinear System Analysis & Control,” and “Advanced Engineering Mathematics with Applications”). The extensive ME-EM faculty have a wealth of research and published works between them, and the decades of Michigan Tech mechanical engineering program experience (first offered in the 1920s) is evidenced by the current projects being conducted in the department. Online student resources are provided to mechanical engineering students from the moment they are admitted past graduation, and includes services such as a Multiliteracies Center for current students and Financial Tools and Resources for alumni.

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Started as the Michigan Mining School in Houghton, Michigan in 1885, Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) was established by the state in order to provide best practices training to mining engineers who oversaw the local copper mines. The first classes were led by four faculty members, and the first student enrollment included 23 students. The school would find a permanent location (the original classroom is now a restaurant and club), and the main campus now encompasses 925 acres. Programs have expanded, and now over 130 academic degree programs are offered through five schools and colleges, and student enrollment has surpassed 7,000. The Carnegie Foundation has declared Michigan Tech promotes higher research activity through its College of Engineering, College of Sciences and Arts, School of Business and Economics, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and School of Technology, and regional accreditation is granted from the Higher Learning Commission.

#31. Villanova University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Villanova UniversityProgram Details: The Villanova University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (held in high regard ever since it was established in 1908) offers a “modern, relevant and comprehensive” 30-credit hour Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program online through the College of Engineering E-Learning program. The “highly distinguished and dedicated faculty who are nationally recognized leaders in their disciplines” provide coursework in the established areas of thermal sciences, mechanics and materials, and dynamics and controls, as well as in newer fields such as bioengineering and nanotechnology. Additionally, the College of Engineering presents five mechanical engineering graduate certificates via E-Learning for students who do not desire a full master’s degree. The certificates all require four or five courses for completion, and options include: Mechanics and Material, Machinery Dynamics, Modeling and Simulation (with tracks in Dynamics & Systems and Mechanics & Manufacturing), Thermofluid Systems, and Electro-Mechanical Systems.

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Named for Saint Thomas of Villanova, Villanova University started out as Augustinian College of Villanova and is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school was established by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842, making it the oldest Catholic university in the state of Pennsylvania. An all-male school in the beginning (though nuns were allowed to start taking classes in 1918), Villanova became completely coeducational in 1968 and now enrolls nearly 11,000 students, both residentially on the 250-plus acre campus and online. Six schools and colleges provide over 100 academic degree programs, and this private research university, though firmly rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, “welcomes and respects members of all faiths who seek to nurture a concern for the common good and who share an enthusiasm for the challenge of responsible and productive citizenship in order to build a just and peaceful world.” Regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#32. Lehigh University

Online Master of Mechanical Engineering

Lehigh UniversityProgram Details: Offered through the Office of Distance Learning, Lehigh University’s online Master of Mechanical Engineering degree program is housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The 30-credit hour program is a non-thesis degree (students who want to pursue the MS in Mechanical Engineering degree must get departmental approval and write a thesis) and benefits from a history that began with the first class requirements when Lehigh was founded in 1866 (the School of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1876). Students can pursue the Master’s degree as a gateway to a PhD program, taking five required core courses (such as “Advanced Fluid Mechanics” and “Heat and Mass Transfer”) or opt not to take the required core courses but construct the degree with their chosen coursework. Award-winning faculty provide the entirely online curriculum, and students’ research projects contributed to a blog serve as testaments to the program.

Admissions website

Lehigh University was founded in 1865 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Asa Packer, the man who established the Lehigh Valley Railroad, provided the funding and land to create an institution of higher education that would foster the “intellectual and moral improvement” of the young men in the area. Located on South Mountain in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the institution’s first classes were a year later, and 39 students were in attendance when the doors first opened. By the 1970s women were allowed full admittance, and now more than 7,000 students are currently enrolled. The university’s four academic colleges (the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, and the College of Education) provide nearly 200 academic degree programs, and this private research university is recognized as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education regionally accredits Lehigh.

#33. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteProgram Details: The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering (MANE) in the RPI School of Engineering (one of the first schools of engineering, established in 1824) provides a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering degree program in a blended online format. The “Education for Working Professionals” program requires 30-credit hours and provides four topical research areas (Mechanics and Materials, Thermal and Fluids Engineering, Design and Manufacturing, and Dynamics and Control). The curriculum provides coursework such as “Advanced Engineering Mathematics,” “Introduction to Finite Elements,” and “Analysis of Manufacturing Processes.” Classes are presented by Rensselaer’s “outstanding and highly-ranked engineering faculty,” and all students complete the degree with a Professional Project.  Student resources that are tailored to the graduate mechanical engineering student are made available from the beginning of the educational journey, and even before admittance  online information sessions and webinars are provided for prospective students to learn more about the program and the blended online delivery.

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) was founded in 1824 in Troy, New York as the Rensselaer School by Stephen Van Rensselaer, and the school attracted students from other states due to its academic rigor and affordable price ($40 per semester). Incorporated by the state of New York in 1826 and renamed the Rensselaer Institute in 1834, the school awarded the very first civil engineering degree in the United States the following year. In 1861 the institute was renamed a final time, and RPI now enrolls over 7,500 students in five schools: the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, the Lally School of Management & Technology, and the School of Science. More than 145 degree programs are provided by this historic private research institution with higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. Also a space-grant school, Rensselaer is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#34. Mississippi State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Mississippi StateProgram Details: Mechanical Engineering has a long history at MSU—the institution having begun as an A&M college in 1878 and the College of Engineering being established in 1902. The Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department, the largest academic department at the Bagley College of Engineering at MSU, provides an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree with both a thesis and a non-thesis option. Requiring 31-credit hours for both options, the degree allows students to construct a program of study with advisor guidance. Coursework options are diverse, providing class options such as “Mechanical Metallurgy,” “Energy Systems Design,” “Introduction to Vibrations and Controls,” and “Finite Elements in Mechanical Engineering.” The award-winning faculty provides the same rigorous studies both on-campus and online, and easily accessible resources, services, current student stories and program information assures that the online academic experience is rewarding for online ME graduate students.

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Founded as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi in 1878, Mississippi State University (MSU) welcomed the first students to class in 1880. Main campus was located in and near Starkville, Mississippi, and main campus is still in this area of Oktibbeha County that remains unincorporated. It is a public land-, space-, and sea-grant institution with higher research activity (as Classified by the Carnegie Foundation), and is the flagship university of the state. Since 1958 the official name has been Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, but it is mostly known as simply “Mississippi State University.” Over 21,000 students are enrolled in the main campus alone (there are additional campus locations in Meridian, Biloxi and Vicksburg), making it the largest university in the state per enrollment, and over 175 academic degree programs are provided through twelve colleges and schools. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.

#35. Old Dominion University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Old Dominion UniversityProgram Details: Utilizing a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) focus, ODU provides “an integrated, information-driven” approach in the fully online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering degree program with an emphasis in Design and Manufacturing. The 30-credit hour program is housed within the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology (the College was established in 1962, but as part of the history of ODU, engineering classes were offered since 1931 as a collaboration between Virginia Tech and William & Mary). Coursework for this non-thesis program includes the student’s choice of twelve hours of core requirements, with class options such as “Engineering Mathematics,” “Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics,” and “Advanced Mechanics of Solids.” The experienced faculty enhance the curriculum with their expertise and research area interests, and students are provided with “a dedicated advisor from the Batten College of Engineering & Technology” as well as online student resources.

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Old Dominion University (ODU), founded in Norfolk, Virginia as an extension known as the Norfolk Division of The College of William and Mary in 1930, has been a full, independent institution since 1962 (university status was achieved in 1969). This public doctoral research university is recognized as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Six colleges (College of Arts and Letters, Strome College of Business, Darden College of Education, Batten College of Engineering and Technology, College of Health Sciences, and College of Sciences) provide over 200 academic degree programs to 25,000 currently enrolled students. Old Dominion is also a space- and sea-grant institution and is very active in offering online degree programs. The vision of Old Dominion is to utilize the school’s “exceptional strengths and leadership . . .  to provide practical solutions to complex, real world problems,” and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#36. University of Central Florida

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

UCFProgram Details: The online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program offered through UCF Online is housed within the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the innovative  College of Engineering and Computer Science (approved as one of the four original academic colleges by the State University System of Florida’s Board of Regents in 1966, two years before UCF opened in 1968). The 30-credit hour degree program provides three tracks from which students can choose: Mechanical Engineering (MSME) – Mechanical Systems, Mechanical Engineering (MSME) – Thermofluids, and an accelerated Bachelor of Science to Master of Science program for undergraduates. All tracks provide a thesis or non-thesis option, and can be completed entirely online, and the experience is enriched by partnerships with major technology -focused organizations, “including NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Siemens and Walt Disney World.” The faculty are innovators in their own right, and online students are fully supported.

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In 1962, President Kennedy gave a moving speech on space travel (“We choose to go to the Moon”). This speech was part of the impetus in the creation of the University of Central Florida (UCF), which was founded in 1963 in Orlando, Florida. The name of the school was Florida Technological University until it became UCF in 1978, and originally the academics focused primarily on space and technology. The school was intentionally diverse, admitting coeducational students and students of color from the inception, and almost 2,000 students enrolled the first year. Now, over 66,000 students make UCF the largest school in Florida and the second largest in the nation. More than 200 academic degree programs are provided through the thirteen colleges on the 1,400-plus acre campus, and there are several regional campus locations and many online programs available. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges grants UCF with regional accreditation, and the Carnegie Foundation classifies it as having highest research activity.

#37. University of Idaho

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

University of IdahoProgram Details: Provided online through Engineering Outreach, the Master of Engineering (M. Engr.) in Mechanical Engineering degree program at U of I is a 30-credit hour program within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The ME department is located in the century-and-a-quarter old College of Engineering, and the coursework fulfills the original vision of this prestigious land-grant school—a focus on the mechanical arts. The online class offerings are plentiful (with choices such as “Engineering Acoustics,” “Computational Fluid Dynamics,” and “Finite Element Applications in Engineering,” just to name a few), and the faculty members have a long history of experience and cover many research areas. Student success is important at U of I—the College of Engineering Student Services office provides many resources and support services to engineering students, and a page dedicated to all manner of engineering news relevant to the school is available for all to access.

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The University of Idaho (UI or U of I) was founded in 1889, one year before Idaho joined the union as the 43rd state. A public university and the flagship of the state, UI was located in Moscow, Idaho, and classes began in 1892 for 40 coeducational students. Also the oldest institution of higher education in the state of Idaho, UI is designated as a land- and space-grant university with a higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. Main campus in Moscow is almost 1,600 acres, and branch campuses are located across the state. UI is organized into ten schools, and nearly 200 academic degree programs are currently offered to the more than 11,000 enrolled students. The mission of UI is to “enhance the scientific, economic, social, legal and cultural assets of our state and to develop solutions for complex problems facing our society,” and regional accreditation comes from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

#38. University of California, Riverside

Online Master of Science in Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering

University of California-RiversideProgram Details: The UCR online MS in Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering is offered entirely online through the Bourns College of Engineering. This convenient, flexible program is located within the relatively young but highly regarded Department of Mechanical Engineering and can be completed in as few as thirteen months. The faculty members and professors are “thought leaders and industry experts” who care about their students and offer the same rigorous coursework online as they do on-campus. The 36-credit hour curriculum includes sixteen credits of an engineering core and sixteen credits towards the mechanical engineering specialization, with classes such asTechnology Innovation and Strategy for Engineers,” “Plasma-aided Manufacturing and Materials Processing,” and “Design and Analysis of Engineering Experiments,” and four one-credit Capstone courses. The current students and graduates of the program give it high praises, and prospective students can be assured that available student support specialists “are dedicated to helping students successfully navigate their educational journey.”

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The University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside or UCR) was founded in 1954 but traces its roots to the University of California Citrus Experiment Station (CES), which was established in 1907. The Station moved to a larger location, and by the 1940s a push for a college in the area led to UC Riverside. Opening with 127 students, UCR quickly grew, and this public research university (one of the ten campuses in the University of California system), currently enrolls over 23,000 students. The nearly 1,200-acre campus houses three colleges and four schools, which offer over 180 academic degree programs. A land-grant school, diversity is proudly embraced at UC Riverside—the mission is to “transform the lives of the diverse people of California, the nation, and the world.” The Carnegie Foundation designates the school with a highest research activity classification, and regional accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#39. Kansas State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Kansas State UniversityProgram Details: Through the Kansas State University Global Campus and the College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (officially established in 1922, but classes in “mechanic arts” were offered as early as the foundation of K-State), students can pursue an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree. Requiring 30-credit hours, the degree program curriculum is made up of classes such as “Indoor Environmental Engineering,” “Thermodynamics of Modern Power Cycles,” and “Finite Element Applications in Mechanical Engineering.” All coursework is available online; the only on-campus requirement is the final oral exam at the end of the program. Ideal for individuals who have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (or closely related field), the curriculum is taught by faculty members who have won teaching awards and published many books, chapters, papers, and articles collectively. Online students are fully supported with services and resources—K-State Global Campus has been providing distance education since 1966.

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Though officially established in 1863 as the Kansas State Agricultural College, Kansas State University (Kansas State or K-State) began when the Bluemont Central College was founded in 1858; that school was converted into the land-grant state university. Kansas had entered the union in 1861, and the school located in Manhattan, Kansas benefited from the Morrill Act of 1862. Only the second institution of higher education in the nation that admitted coeducational students without any stipulation, Kansas State had 26 male and 26 female students enrolled in the first year. Renamed Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science in 1959, the school is known as Kansas State University in most settings. One of the 115 universities with the Carnegie Foundation classification of highest research activity, Kansas State is organized into nine colleges and has two branch campuses in Salina and Olathe. Nearly 25,000 students are now enrolled at K-State, and regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission.

#40. University of Michigan-Dearborn

Online Master of Science in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

University of MichiganProgram Details: The College of Engineering and Computer Science Distance Learning Network at UM-Dearborn provides an online Master of Science in Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (MSE-ME) degree program that “combines engineering practice with analysis.” A 30-credit hour program that can be completed entirely online, the MSE-ME presents two emphasis areas in which students can choose to focus: Mechanical Science or Thermal/Fluid Science. Located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (and one of the first degree programs offered by the school when it was established in 1959), the degree program is continuously improved upon with up-to-the-minute input from the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board, which is made up of “industry professionals who provide input . . .  and a perspective on future challenges requiring collaboration.” Coursework such as “Mechanical Behavior of Materials” and “Statistical Thermodynamics” are provided by the impressive faculty, and students can opt to complete the degree with a thesis and independent study.

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Dearborn, a city in Michigan, benefited from being in the larger metropolitan of Detroit when the Ford Motor Company donated six million dollars and 200 acres to the city to finance a public university. An act that was both altruistic and practical, Ford Motor Company was providing funding to create a highly-educated and capable pool of engineers from which they could recruit. The school was founded in 1956, and the University of Michigan–Dearborn (UM–Dearborn) is one of two regional campuses for the flagship University of Michigan, which is located in Ann Arbor. UM-Dearborn opened its doors for the first classes in 1959, and 34 students were enrolled. Only offering degrees in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration at that time, the school has grown to provide over 100 academic degree programs through four colleges. Over 10,000 students are now enrolled, and the Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.

#41. Southern Methodist University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Southern Methodist UniversityProgram Details: The Mechanical Engineering Department at SMU’s Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering provides a 30-credit hour MS in Mechanical Engineering degree online through the Lyle Distance Education Program. The program is at the forefront of distance education (the Lyle School of Engineering having provided “50 years of proven . . . engineering education-at-a-distance” since first offering it in 1967), and students can opt for a thesis or non-thesis track and from three concentration areas (Design and Dynamic Systems and Controls, Mechanics and Manufacturing, or Thermal and Fluid Sciences). Theexceptionally qualified faculty members are continuously engaged in cutting-edge research projects” and pass their knowledge and the benefits of their experience on to the students. Engineering services are provided to students, and a specific Distance Education Help Desk is a resource for distance students. As an additional benefit to students, the Lyle School Executive Board furnishes guidance to the school and a liaison to industry.

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Chartered in 1911 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Southern Methodist University (SMU) welcomed students for the first time in 1915 in the first building constructed on the campus located in Dallas, Texas: Davis Hall. Three campuses now make up the university and cover nearly 625-acres collectively: the main campus in Highland Park/University Park (Dallas), a campus in Taos, New Mexico, and another Texas campus in Plano. Seven academic school comprise SMU and serve almost 12,000 students with more than 260 academic degree programs. Even though the school has a strong tie to the United Methodist church, it is a private research university that is “nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry” and has a higher research activity classification from the Carnegie Foundation. The university’s regional accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#42. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Worcester Polytechnic InstituteProgram Details: Only the third private college established in the U.S. dedicated to science and technology, WPI’s online MS in Mechanical Engineering degree has roots in the first classes offered at the school when it opened in 1868 (making WPI one of the first schools in the nation to offer mechanical engineering coursework). The 30-credit hour program is available entirely online through the ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering department, and students can choose from five specialization areas to customize the degree. The research-intensive faculty provides coursework such as “Applied Numerical Methods In Engineering” and “Fundamentals In Surface Metrology,” and online student support is provided through interactions with Student Support Team members. Also offered entirely online by WPI, the Mechanical Engineering for Technical Leaders (METL) graduate certificate is an eighteen-credit program that provides students with “a combination of the technical skills that create innovation solutions, and the managerial skills that bring these solutions to bear.”

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The rich history of the engineering and technology that Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has produced first began when the school was established in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1865 (classes would begin three years later). The Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science, as it was known then, had two key financial founders: John Boynton and Ichabod Washburn. Both men had different ideas about the school, but their vision helped create a private research institution that now houses fourteen academic departments offering over 50 degree programs to the nearly 5,000 currently enrolled students. WPI has the vision “to create, to discover, and to convey knowledge at the frontiers of academic inquiry for the betterment of society” and is classified as having higher research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. Over 225 student organizations are offered by WPI, and regional accreditation is provided by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#43. University of Houston

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of HoustonProgram Details: The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in the UH Cullen College of Engineering offers an online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program through Online & Special Programs (OSP). The same 30-credit hour degree program as on-campus, but conveniently offered online and with no time limit to complete the degree, the same innovative faculty members provide the coursework, with classes such as “Functional Engineering Materials and Applications,” “Intelligent Structural Systems,” and “Control System Analysis and Design” presented online. The list of specific engineering online student resources includes services, technological assistance with the online delivery system, a FAQ page, and a sample course for prospective students to view. A young university when viewed through historical lenses, UH’s College of Engineering, though established in 1941, has quickly jumped to national recognition and has nearly 20,000 alumni to speak to the quality of the school.

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The University of Houston began simply as evening classes offered at the local high school in 1927. Known as the Houston Junior College at that time, the institution quickly grew to become University of Houston (UH) in 1934. That first year, almost 700 students were enrolled, and by 1939 the school had moved from the high school and found its permanent location. Becoming a state university in 1963, UH became a member of the University of Houston System in 1977. Organized into fourteen schools and colleges, this public research institution offers over 250 academic degree programs to over 45,000 currently enrolled students. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has awarded UH the classification of highest research activity, and UH is also the flagship institution of the UH System and the third largest university in the state of Texas. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides regional accreditation.

#44. University of Washington

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

University of WashingtonProgram Details: The UW Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program can be pursued entirely online on a full- or part-time basis. Designed for current mechanical engineer professionals with a strong undergraduate background in mechanical engineering or similar field, the 42-credit hour program can be pursued by others (such as physics majors) if they complete the undergraduate work required of MSME students. Located in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in the College of Engineering (which was established in 1901), the UW MSME is one of the largest in the nation and offers six concentration options (such as Dynamics & Vibrations or Mechanics, Materials & Manufacturing). In addition to the mechanical engineering resources and student services provided, the ME faculty members have many honors and a wealth of experience and expertise in the field. Prospective students can read the stories of current ME students and alums to visualize the experience of the program.

Admissions website

One of the goals of establishing the University of Washington was to help the city of Seattle prosper and grow. When it was founded in 1861, Washington was still a territory, and the institution was named the Territorial University of Washington. By 1889 (the year Washington entered the union) the school and the city began to thrive, and the school outgrew its original location and moved to the current main campus in 1895. Sixteen schools and colleges comprise the University of Washington (UW), and the institution of higher education is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as having highest research activity. A public university, UW is also a land-, space-, and sea-grant institution and the flagship of the six public universities in the state. A member of the Association of American Universities, UW enrolls almost 47,000 students currently. UW is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

#45. New Mexico Tech

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Program Details: New Mexico Tech’s Department of Mechanical Engineering presents a MS in Mechanical Engineering degree that students can access entirely online through the Center for Graduate Studies via distance education. The program requires 30 credit hours to graduate and provides four specialization areas: Specialization in Explosives Engineering, Specialization in Fluid and Thermal Sciences, Specialization in Mechatronics Systems Engineering, and Specialization in Solid Mechanics. Students participate in twelve-credit hours of their specialization core and complete the degree with electives and either a Thesis or Independent Study course. Although Mechanical Engineering is the newest academic department at NMT, it is the largest in terms of enrollment and enjoys a strong reputation. The faculty are actively involved in cutting-edge research, and since classes are offered in real-time through the Adobe Connect platform, online students are immersed in the class discussion as if they were present in the classroom.

Admissions website

Established as the New Mexico School of Mines in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (known most commonly as New Mexico Tech) is a public university in the Rio Grande valley. Growing out of a desire to boast the economy of one of the mining town Socorro, the first classes began in 1893 for the two instructors and seven students. As the school grew and added more programs (the original classes were in chemistry and metallurgy), the name was change to reflect that growth in 1951. Now New Mexico Tech educates over 2,000 students and offers nearly 50 academic degree programs. Known for engineering, science, and technology, New Mexico Tech houses over a dozen research divisions, such as the Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, and the Energetic Materials Research & Testing Center. New Mexico Tech is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

#46. Clarkson University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Clarkson UniversityProgram Details: Through Distance Learning at Clarkson University, students can pursue both a ME degree and MS degree in Mechanical Engineering. Both degrees are 30-credit hours—the ME is a professional degree requiring a final project, and the MS is research-based with a thesis requirement. Located within the Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering (the largest department at CU) in the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and provided online through the Graduate School, the programs both have a selection of courses from which students can choose in order to customize their degree (some of the courses offered online include “Particle Transport,” “Advanced Modeling & Simulation of Dynamic Systems,” and “Additive Manufacturing”). Technology has been an important component of CU since its founding in 1896, and students are well supported with resources that continue even beyond graduation—such as a Career Center available to online students and alumni.

Admissions website

Clarkson University was established as the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology in 1896. Located in Potsdam, New York, the school was founded by the family of local businessman Thomas Clarkson, who had died heroically saving the life of one of the workers in his sandstone quarry. Seventeen coeducational students were enrolled the first year, and now over 4,300 students are enrolled in more than 95 academic degree programs in one of four schools (The Clarkson School, the Graduate School, the School of Arts & Sciences, the David D. Reh School of Business, and the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering) or three institutes (the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, the Institute for STEM Education, and the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries). A private research university with moderate research activity (as determined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching), Clarkson is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#47. Kennesaw State University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Kennesaw State UniversityProgram Details: With a history that predates the university’s founding, the KSU Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (created as The Technical Institute in 1948 and as established as an academic college of KSU in 2015) provides an entirely online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree program ideal for working professionals. The 30-credit hour program is offered through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and requires eight core courses such as “Advanced Dynamics and Vibrations” and “Applied Engineering Design.” Two electives are chosen by the student from diverse classes such as “Project Management Processes,” “Introduction to Systems Engineering,” and “Total Quality,” and students have the option to complete a Master’s Project for credit. The curriculum is provided for online programs by “the same exceptional faculty that teach on-campus courses,” and these KSU professors have been recognized nationally for excellence in their online training. A comprehensive collection of Student Support Resources are also available to all online MSME students.

Admissions website

Kennesaw State University (KSU) was established as Kennesaw Junior College in 1964, and over 1,000 students were in attendance in its first year. Located in Cobb County, Georgia, KSU has two campus locations: Kennesaw and Marietta. Together the campuses are nearly 600 acres, and now more than 35,000 students are enrolled. The public research university is organized into thirteen colleges, and more than 150 academic degree programs are provided. Part of the University System of Georgia, KSU is the third largest institution of higher education in the state. Merging with the Southern Polytechnic State University in 2015, KSU is classified as having moderate research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. A vision of imparting an experience that will empower “the university community to have the vision, ability, and courage to transform the future,” KSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#48. Virginia Commonwealth University

Online Master of Science in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityProgram Details: Virginia Commonwealth University provides an entirely online MS in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering degree program through Online@VCU. A 30-credit hour program with a mission “to provide graduate students with learning opportunities for acquiring a broad foundation of engineering knowledge including business and manufacturing aspects,” the degree is housed within the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in the College of Engineering. Both a thesis and a non-thesis option are available, and the same nine credits of core courses are required for each (“Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Analysis,” “Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Continuum Mechanics,” and “Topics in Nuclear Engineering”). The remaining credits are comprised of electives, chosen with adviser guidance, from a variety of subject areas, and in the case of the thesis option, six credits of Directed Research in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. The faculty have an impressive collection of media appearances and publications along with their research, and online students have access to resources and services.

Admissions website

Founded as the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), a medical department of the Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has grown to become a comprehensive public research university. Established in 1838 in Richmond, Virginia the school obtained its own charter in 1844 to become the independent MCV. In 1968, the Medical College of Virginia merged with the Richmond Professional Institute, and now more than 31,000 students are currently enrolled. The VCU main campus encompasses almost 175 acres in downtown Richmond, and there are branch and satellite locations throughout the state and overseas. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designates VCU with the highest research activity level, and over 200 academic degree programs are provided through the fourteen schools and colleges of this institution of higher education. Regional accreditation for VCU is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#49. Indiana State University

Online Master of Science in Technology Management with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering Technology

Indiana State UniversityProgram Details: The College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Indiana State University provides an online Master of Science in Technology Management (MSTM) degree with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering Technology. A 33-credit hour program that can be completed in two years (but allows students up to seven years) and “provides a strong graduate education by integrating teaching with applied research in an engaging, challenging and supportive learning environment to prepare leaders.” The Technology Management Core includes fifteen-credits of coursework such as “Systems in Manufacturing” and “Economic Analysis for Engineering and Technology,” and the Mechanical Engineering Technology concentration offers nine credits towards “Engineering Design and Management,” “Application of Simulation Modeling and Analysis,” and “Computer Aided Graphics Software.” Electives and either a Major Project or Master’s Thesis culminate the program. This unique degree is offered through the College of Technology and located in the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology Management.

Admissions website

Established as the Indiana State Normal School by the Indiana General Assembly in 1865, Indiana State University was originally a school to train teachers for the area. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, the institution of higher education opened its doors in 1870 for the first classes, and 23 students were enrolled. Going through several expansions and name changes, the school became Indiana State University in 1965. Organized into seven colleges, Indiana State is a doctoral research university with a moderate research activity level designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Providing almost 200 academic degree programs to the more than 13,500 currently enrolled students, Indiana State has a mission to “integrate teaching, research, and creative activity in an engaging, challenging, and supportive learning environment to prepare productive citizens for Indiana and the world.” Regional accreditation has been provided by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915.

#50. Boston University

Online Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

Boston UniversityProgram Details: The BU Master of Engineering (MEng) in Mechanical Engineering degree program is offered online through the Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering (which was founded in 1950). A 32-credit hour professional degree ideal for recent graduates, professionals who are at a mid-point in their career, and industry workers who want to expand their engineering and management knowledge. Classes are varied and cover topics like “Probability and Statistics for Mechanical Engineers,” “Atmospheric Flight Mechanics and Control,” and “Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems,” and all students culminate the degree by fulfilling a Practicum Requirement (in which students should be prepared to devote more than 50 hours to successfully complete). Seven research areas provide opportunities for students, and the award-winning faculty are available to offer their expertise and guidance. The College of Engineering houses a Graduate Programs Office to provide an orientation for new students, as well as other resources.

Admissions website

Boston University can claim a rich history of predecessors. The earliest school that contributed to the creation of Boston University was the Newbury Bible Institute, which was founded in 1839. The school was established in Newbury, Vermont by delegates of the United Methodist Church from Boston, and would be given a new charter in 1867 to move to Massachusetts and become the Boston Theological Institute. A newly-established Boston University merged with the institution in 1871 to become closer to the Boston University of today, and by the end of the 19th century all locations of the school came together on the campus on the banks of the Charles River. Now organized into seventeen schools and colleges, Boston University (BU) enrolls over 33,000 students currently, and this private nonsectarian research university is classified with the highest research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges regionally accredits BU.

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Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

50 Best Civil Engineering Masters Online

online masters civil engineeringCivil engineering traces back to the creation of Ancient Egypt’s infrastructure.

If you think about it, a major civilization would need to have engineers to function.

And that is what civil engineers do. 

The Master of Civil Engineering online degree is one of the most popular online degree programs. We’ve gone through many programs to find the best that meet our standards.

Enter – the masters in civil engineering online.

In these master’s degrees, you’ll take civil engineering courses that prepare you to conduct research (and give you relevant work experience) in topics like:

  • Advanced mechanics
  • Computer science
  • Construction technology
  • Engineering theory
  • The built environment 
  • Coastal structures 
  • Engineering design

In many cases, these online programs have recorded lectures that are delivered online so aspiring civil engineers can pursue higher education at their own pace.

As a bonus,  we present to you a list of some of the best online master of civil engineering programs, plus some of the best environmental programs. And even construction programs!

Three for the price of one! Ready to master civil engineering online?

Read on to discover the program that will lead to your exciting career in civil engineering. Get moving on creating the next big civilization!

We used the Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology to develop this ranking. 

See Also: 10 Best Master’s in Industrial Engineering

#1. North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University at RaleighYou’ll find the best civil engineering master’s degree at NC State. There are two online master’s programs through Engineering Online. This online master civil engineering is one of the best.

There is the NCSU online Master of Civil Engineering (MCE) degree program. There’s also an online civil engineering/environmental program, too. 

Both have 30 credits. No thesis is needed at North Carolina State University, the state’s flagship university. The GRE is waived for all applicants who have an undergraduate degree. That’s right – you don’t need to submit GRE scores at this top public university like you might with other schools with equally high research activity according to the Carnegie Foundation! International applicants may need to submit TOEFL scores, however.

These online master’s programs prepare students for leadership roles without having to require students to pay an arm and a leg. Tuition is charged per credit and it is an affordable program. 

The NSCU online MCE and the NCSU online MENE degree programs each offer seven specialization areas. Examples include:

  • Construction Engineering and Transportation Materials & Systems
  • Air Pollution Engineering and Modeling & Systems Analysis

Aspiring civil engineers have up to six years to complete either online masters civil engineering.

Admissions website

See Also: Best Online Masters in Chemical Engineering

#2. Johns Hopkins University

Johns HopkinsYou’ll find another one of the best civil engineering master’s degree programs at Johns Hopkins University. The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering has an online graduate program. It is also home to the online Johns Hopkins Engineering for Professionals graduate program. 

Both programs at Johns Hopkins Engineering school have 30-credits. They allow students up to five years to complete the degrees on a part-time basis. The GRE is not needed for these Johns Hopkins engineering programs. The online Master of Civil Engineering program also offers an optional focus area in Structural Engineering.

There are many elective choices and focus areas from which the aspiring civil engineering can choose at Johns Hopkins Engineering, such as:

  • “Marine Geotechnical Engineering”
  • “Retaining Structures and Slope Stability”
  • “Preservation Engineering in the Urban Context” 

As you can imagine, this degree in engineering requires students to work hard. However, it is an affordable program that offers the best of higher education for civil engineers, according to U.S. News & World Report. It’s a top ranked degree that is ideal for working professionals. 

Admissions website

#3. Columbia University

Columbia University in New York CityYou’ll find another top civil engineering degree program, particularly for students interested in focus areas like engineering theory, in the heart of Manhattan.

Columbia University’s Columbia Video Network (CVN) provides the high-quality graduate programs expected from Columbia. But it is in a convenient, online format. Students at Columbia University will gain the advanced skills they need to solve major engineering problems. Aspiring civil engineers will take classes in everything from water resource engineering to preservation engineering, geometric design to engineering theory. 

Two online MS programs are in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. In this civil engineering master’s degree, students can choose between the Columbia online MS in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics degree. There is also the Columbia online MS in Construction Engineering & Management degree.

Both programs have 30 credits. They allow up to five years for completion. Both provide a great deal of customization opportunities. The MS in Civil Engineering program has many concentration options. There are engineering electives like:

  • “Energy Dynamics of Green Buildings”
  • “Technology & Strategic Issues in Manufacturing Enterprises”
  • “Transportation Analytics and Logistics”

Admissions website

#4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThe Department of Civil Engineering at Illinois has two 100% online graduate degree programs. Both are some of the best civil engineering master’s degree options out there, especially for the working civil engineer. There is an online Master’s in Civil Engineering degree. There’s also a concentration for aspiring environmental and civil engineering students.

Both degrees are 36-credits and coursework programs. There is no thesis.

The online master’s in Civil Engineering degree offers additional concentration areas in:

  • Infrastructure
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Structural Engineering

Admissions website

#5. University of Southern California

University of Southern CaliforniaThe USC Viterbi School of Engineering has three online graduate degree programs.

There are two 27-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering degrees:

The MS programs have an undergraduate degree in an engineering field. Students focus on a specific core of coursework. In this civil engineering master’s degree, they can choose from a wide selection of electives. Examples include:

  • “Computer Methods in Engineering”
  • “Structural Design for Dynamic Loads” 
  • “International Construction and Engineering” 

Admissions website

#6. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and TechnologyThe Missouri S&T Global Learning’s Distance & Continuing Education Department  has two 30-credit hour degrees. There is the Missouri S&T MS in Civil Engineering, which is one of the top civil engineering programs in the country. There are options to take civil engineering courses with other majors as well, perfect for the civil engineer with broad interests.

Both degrees also provide focus areas. The online Master’s in Civil Engineering degree is a coursework program. There is no thesis. It has concentration areas like:

  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering
  • Construction Engineering

The online Master’s in Environmental Science Engineering degree focuses on Engineering Analysis and Design.

Most students complete the degrees in about three years. They are allowed up to six. 

Admissions website

#7. Purdue University

PurdueThe Purdue Polytechnic Center for Professional Studies offers a 33-credit hour, non-thesis Master of Science (MSCM) degree program. It is 100% online.

It includes topics such as :

  • “Value Engineering & Visualization for Sustainability”
  • “Construction Management Training & Development” 
  • “Sustainable Site Development”

These are offered in interactive, fifteen-week long virtual evening classes. Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute Online Student Resources are available to all online MSCM students.

Admissions website

#8. Arizona State University

Arizona StateArizona State University’s Online Master of Science degree for the aspiring civil engineer is provided through the Del E. Webb School of Construction. The ASU Online Master of Science in Engineering in Sustainable Engineering is in the ASU School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.

Both degrees are 30-credits. They are programs presented online by ASU Online. There are many opportunities to customize each degree.

The ASU MS degree offers concentrations in things like Facility Management. 

Admissions website

#9. University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-MadisonUW-Madison has an outstanding civil engineering masters online.

Students work together as a cohort during the live online sessions. These are in an interactive and participatory experience. It sets the University of Wisconsin Madison’s ME program apart.

There are core courses in the civil engineering masters degrees at University of Wisconsin Madison such as:

  • “Hydraulic Design of Urban Stormwater Systems”
  • “Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering”
  • “Sustainable Microgrids”

The 30-credit hour ME program takes three years on a part-time basis. No GRE is needed for admission. You will complete a project paper in the specialization areas of your choice and can access recorded lectures to take all the online classes required for these civil engineering programs.

Admissions website

#10. University of Alabama at Birmingham

UABUAB School offers three online graduate programs.

UAB’s online Master of Engineering program in Sustainable Smart Cities is an interdisciplinary program.

There are classes such as:

  • “Low-Carbon & Renewable Energy Systems”
  • “Health & Liveability” 
  • “Big Data & Smart Cities”
  • “Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering”

The online civil engineering program offers online classes that will prepare civil engineering students for work in government agencies and many other roles.

Admissions website

#11. Texas Tech University

Texas TechThe Texas Tech Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering offers a great MS in Civil Engineering. 

This online program is ideal for working professionals. It does not require students to visit campus, as some other civil engineering programs do. It is top ranked by U.S. News & World Report and has low in state tuition. 

It is a 30-credit hour program. The online MSCE degree at Texas Tech will offer students three different ways of formatting their degree. There is the thesis option and the report option. There is also the coursework  option.

Admissions website

#12. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

University of Tennessee KnoxvilleTwo concentrations are available online for the Civil Engineering program.

One great option for a master’s in civil engineering is the online MS in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Public Works Engineering.

There is also the online Master’s in Civil Engineering. This has a concentration in Transportation Engineering. 

Admissions website

#13. University of Virginia

University of VirginiaThe five-year UVA online ME in Civil Engineering program does not need the GRE.

Students can design their own schedules with the help of a Virginia Engineering Online Academic Advisor.

Subareas of Civil Engineering include:

  • civil engineering materials
  • structural engineering
  • geotechnical engineering
  • environmental engineering
  • transportation engineering
  • water resources engineering

Admissions website

#14. University of Washington

University of WashingtonThe UW online MS in Civil Engineering: Energy Infrastructure and the UW online MS in Civil Engineering: Construction Engineering give students online, part-time civil engineering program excellence. These degrees take just two to three years.

Both programs have 42-credits with some course topics such as:

  • Energy Infrastructure & the Environment
  • Utility System Construction
  • Wind Turbine Analysis
  • Distributed Renewable Power Systems
  • Heavy Construction Estimating
  • Statistical Fundamentals for Construction & Materials Applications

Admissions website

#15. Ohio University

Ohio UniversityThe civil engineering degree program at this space grant institution is located in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ College. The GRE is not necessary for undergraduate engineering majors. Students can take up to six years to complete the program.

The Ohio online MSCE curriculum has three core courses:

  • Construction Planning and Scheduling
  • Applied Civil Engineering Statistics
  • Engineering Writing

Students customize their degrees with one of several concentration area options:

  • Construction Engineering and Management
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering. 

Admissions website

#16. Kansas State University

Kansas State UniversityThe engineering college at Kansas State University has online engineering programs through the K-State Global Campus. The 30-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering degree program is coursework-only. Students can take up to six years to finish the degree.

There are courses and concentrations such as:

  • Transportation Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering. 

Admissions website

#17. Auburn University

Auburn UniversityOnline MCE students focus on two emphasis areas: Environmental Engineering and Structural Engineering. This is a 30-credit hour program that takes two to three years. The online MCE does not have a thesis.

Coursework covers engineering subsets like:

  • Earthquake Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering
  • Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design
  • Geosynthetics and Soil Improvements
  • Traffic Engineering Analysis.

Admissions website

#18. University of California, Los Angeles

UCLAUCLA Engineering Master of Science in Engineering Online has an online Master of Science in Engineering degree. It has a Certificate of Sustainable Water Engineering. This degree focuses on clean water sustainability.

The curriculum has core courses like:

  • Environmental Biotechnology
  • Chemical Fate and Transport
  • Engineering Economic Analysis of Water and Environmental Planning
  • Geochemical Modeling

 Admissions website

#19. Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University has a SMU-Lyle MS in Civil Engineering degree or the  SMU-Lyle MS in Environmental Engineering degree.

Both degree programs have 30-credit hours. The MS in Civil Engineering offers two emphasis areas:

  • Structural Engineering
  • Transportation Systems

Admissions website

#20. Villanova University

Villanova UniversityThere are two programs at Villanova. There is a Master of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering (MSWREE) degree. There’s also a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) degree.

Students must complete 30-credit hours. Courses include:

  • Lake, Stream & Wetland Ecology
  • Intro Hydraulics & Hydrology
  • Water Resources Planning & Management
  • Composites for Infrastructure
  • Railway Engineering
  • River Dynamics
  • Watershed Management

Admissions website

#21. University of Arkansas

University of ArkansasThe University of Arkansas College of Engineering has a comprehensive Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree . Most students complete the 30-credit hour, multi-disciplinary online MSE in one and a half to two years. 

There are online course options such as:

  • Finite Element Methods in Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Regulations and Permits
  • Transportation Soils Engineering
  • Groundwater Hydrology
  • Structural Dynamics

Admissions website

#22. Old Dominion University

Old Dominion UniversityThe ODU MS program in Civil Engineering in Coastal Engineering has 30-credit hours and a final thesis.

Both the Environmental and the Civil Engineering degrees has the GRE as a requirement. You can study at your own pace in these online programs, taking the same classes as civil engineering graduates studying in on campus programs. You’ll study everything from engineering and construction to air pollution control, the built environment and engineering design. You’ll gain skills that will enable you to pursue any kind of job opportunities, from those at government agencies to consulting firms and everything in between.

They provide a relevant curriculum. The location of the school near the Atlantic Ocean allows for many environmental and coastal engineering research possibilities. 

Admissions website

#23. Mississippi State University

Mississippi StateMississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering Online (BCoE) has an online master’s program in civil engineering. Students can choose between a thesis (30-credit hours) and a non-thesis (33-credit hours) option. Seven specializations are available, including master’s degrees in:

  • Construction Engineering and Management
  • Construction Materials Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering

Admissions website

#24. University of North Dakota

UNDStudents can choose between the online or on campus master’s in civil engineering degree. On offer is a 30-credit hour thesis or 32-credit hour non-thesis option. There is also the 30-credit hour online MEng in Civil Engineering at the University of North Dakota Grand Forks.

The UND Online Master’s in Environmental Engineering offers students the same choice. This is between a practice-based MEng degree and a research-focused MS degree. Both options are 30-credit hours. 

Admissions website

#25. Colorado State University

Colorado StateStudents can pursue two 100% online Civil Engineering graduate degrees here. The 32-credit hour MS in Civil Engineering and the 30-credit hour ME in Civil Engineering both provide a focus in Water Resources.

CSU Civil Engineering coursework includes:

  • Civil Engineering Project Management
  • Engineering Hydrology
  • Statistics for Environmental Monitoring

Admissions website

#26. California State University, Fullerton

California State University in FullertonThe online MS in Environmental Engineering (MS_ENVE) is a 30-credit hour program. It is in a cohort format. While most students enroll in full time study so that they can gain the advanced skills they need to go out and work for top public and private organizations as quickly as possible, part-time study is also an option for civil engineering graduates who want to work while they study at the same time.

The curriculum includes relevant and topical online classes such as:

  • Hydraulics and Hydrology for Environmental Engineers
  • Environmental Engineering Practices and Project Management
  • Air Pollution Control Engineering

Admissions website

#27. University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas ArlingtonThere are many civil engineering options available at the University of Texas at Arlington. There’s A Master of Engineering (M.Engr.) in Civil Engineering, a Master of Science (MS) in Civil Engineering, and an MCM. These are all in the Department of Civil Engineering in the UTA College of Engineering.

You can customize each degree. There are research areas in both of the Civil Engineering degrees. These include:

  • Construction (both Engineering and Management)
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Infrastructure Systems
  • Structures and Applied Mechanics
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Water Resources.

Admissions website

#28. Clarkson University

The Clarkson CEM program does ask for the GRE for admission. It has 30-credit hours for completion. There is a combination of civil and environmental core and elective coursework. That is along with business management coursework that aspiring civil engineers will take at this private institution to give you a strong background to work in just about any discipline, including leadership roles.

Courses include:

  • Advanced Construction Engineering
  • Sustainable Infrastructure and Building
  • Special Topics in Construction and Engineering Management
  • Computational Methods of Structural Analysis
  • Cement Chemistry

Admissions website

#29. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWPI’s Online Graduate Programs has an online MS in Environmental Engineering. The 33-credit hour program does not need the GRE. It offers a variety of coursework. This is one of the best online options for civil engineering professionals to choose from if they are interested in a coursework only program.

Options include:

  • Emerging Trends in Corporate Sustainability
  • Biosystems in Environmental Engineering
  • Green Energy
  • Engineering Mathematics
  • Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists
  • Energy Management

Admissions website

#30. Louisiana State University

LSUThe LSU Online Master of Science is offered 100% online. Students participate in the “Professional” path of the 36-credit hour program. It is a non-thesis, coursework-only version of the on-campus program.

There are three core courses. These are followed by nine elective courses chosen by the student. Choices include: 

  • Natural Hazard Resistant Construction
  • Construction Dispute Resolution
  • Advanced Sustainable Construction

Admissions website

#31. University of Florida

UFTwo graduate degree programs from the University of Florida Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment (ESSIE) are online. These are the Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering Sciences.

Students can pursue either discipline as a Master of Science or a Master of Engineering Students can customize their chosen degree in many ways.

Some online classes offered for Civil Engineering include:

  • Probabilistic and Stochastic Methods in Civil Engineering
  • Wind Engineering
  • Special Problems in Environmental Engineering
  • Wetland Hydrology

After completing this civil engineering master’s, engineering students enrolled will be prepared for just about any and all job opportunities they can find. It is one of the best civil engineering master’s degrees for civil engineers who want to work for the government!

Admissions website

#32. Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Tech UniversityYou’ll find another one of the best civil engineering masters degrees at Lawrence Tech. This program offers a cutting-education to civil engineering students enrolled in the online program. 

The College of Engineering at Lawrence Technological University has two online engineering master’s degrees through Lawrence Tech Online. There is LTU’s online Master of Science in Civil Engineering. It offers a “specialized Structural Engineering focus”. It has  a thesis or coursework-only option. This is one of the best online masters degree in civil engineering options.

There is also the LTU online graduate degree in Construction and Engineering Management. Both provide an appealing 30-credit hour curriculum. It takes two years or less.

There are small class sizes and experienced professors. The online delivery technology is cutting edge. The LTU online MS in Civil Engineering program curriculum is 30 hours for the thesis option. It is 33 for the coursework-only format.

The Structural Engineering focus translates to relevant classes such as:

  • Sustainable Construction Practices
  • Advanced Analysis and Design of Structures
  • Structural Dynamics

Admissions website

#33. Florida International University 

Florida International UniversityA 100% online MS is available at FIU. The degree has 33-credit hours. These take a year on a full-time basis.

There are a wide range of electives in this online civil engineering masters. These offer many opportunities to customize the degree. There are Online MSCM choices such as:

  • Value Engineering in Construction
  • Systems Approach for Housing Planning
  • Construction Engineering and Management

Admissions website

#34. South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

South DakotaThe South Dakota School of Mines Department of Civil  Engineering has a superb MS in Construction Engineering & Management (MSCEM). It is one of the three engineering degrees provided through the SD Mines Distance Education program.

The MSCEM degree has 33-credit hours of both core courses. There are also plenty of electives to choose from. For this online master degree in civil engineering, these include:

  • Engineering Management and Labor Relations
  • Managing Sustainable Projects
  • Engineering Economics

Admissions website

#35. Iowa State University

Iowa StateThe online MEng in Civil Engineering degree at Iowa State University has a specialization in Construction Engineering and Management.

It is a coursework-only, elite program. It has recognition from The Associated General Contractors of America.

In fact, it’s one of five institutions in the nation that have achieved that honor. It is a 30-credit hour program. It is in Iowa State’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.

Admissions website

#36. University of Louisville

The UofL Online Learning MS in Civil Engineering is for professionals who have an undergraduate degree in civil engineering. It is in the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

The 30-credit hour online masters in civil engineering program takes just three “intensive enrollment” semesters.

The course list for the UofL Online MS in Civil Engineering degree offers a strong focus on Transportation. Courses in this civil engineering online masters include:

  • Traffic Engineering
  • Wetland Design

Admissions website

#37. University of Idaho

University of IdahoThe 33-credit, non-thesis program at the University of Idaho does not have the GRE. It offers students five focus areas. The U of I Engineering Outreach Civil Engineering curriculum provides coursework in classes like:

  • Engineering Law and Contracts
  • Sedimentation Engineering
  • Fluvial Geomorphology and River Mechanics

There are many emphasis areas, too:

  • Environmental and Sanitary Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering
  • Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics

Admissions website

#38. University of California, Riverside

University of California-RiversideThe online MS in Engineering with an Environmental and Engineering Systems (Water) specialization is provided through UCR Online.

It is a 36-credit hour program. The online masters of civil engineering is an accelerated thirteen-month program. Students take classes such as:

  • Engineering in the Global Environment
  • Technology Innovation and Strategy for Engineers
  • Water Chemistry in Natural and Engineered Systems
  • Physical and Chemical Separation Processes

Admissions website

#39. University of South Carolina

University of South Carolina-ColumbiaThe University of South Carolina Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has a distance education option. This is for both the MS and the ME in Civil Engineering degree programs.

Both programs present a focus on several civil engineering sub-fields. Students choose courses from all five areas:

  • Environmental
  • Geotechnical
  • Structures
  • Engineering Transportation Systems
  • Water Resources

The USC Civil and Environmental Engineering Courses offers a wide range of choices in addition to the three core courses:

  • Principles of Environmental Engineering Process
  • Advanced Soil Mechanics
  • Advanced Structural Mechanics and Analysis

Admissions website

#40. Michigan Technological University

Michigan TechThe Michigan Tech online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE) is a 30-credit hour program. It takes just five semesters.

It is part of Michigan Tech’s Online Engineering Degree Programs. It has a Structural Engineering focus. The engineering core coursework covers relevant topics in classes such as:

  • Matrix Structural Analysis
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Structural Dynamics

Admissions website

#41. New Jersey Institute of Technology

NJIT’s Newark College of Engineering has an online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE). It is in the John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The 30-credit hour online MSCE program takes less than two years. It allows up to seven for part-time students.

NJIT provides three specialization tracks. These are for students to customize their MSCE degree:

  • Engineering Transportation
  • Construction 
  • Structural Design and Construction.

The online MSCE curriculum at NJIT provides core coursework such as:

  • Introduction to Urban Transportation Planning
  • Hydrology

There is also “bridge” coursework available for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in civil engineering. It’s also for those without a strong engineering or mathematics background. 

Admissions website

#42. Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State UniversityThe online MS in Civil Engineering (MSCE) is in the Kennesaw State University Department of Civil and Construction Engineering.

The degree has 30-credit hours for completion. All students in the program participate in two core classes:

  • Research Methods
  • Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability in Civil Engineering

They can choose from one of three online concentration areas:

  • Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
  • Transportation and Pavement Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering and Water Resources. 

Admissions website

#43. Norwich University

Norwich UniversityNorwich University Online College of Graduate and Continuing Studies is the online platform for the Master of Civil Engineering (MCE). It is housed in the David Crawford School of Engineering.  

Four concentrations are available in:

  • Construction 
  • Environmental/Water Resources Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering

All online MCE students participate in two core courses:

  • Engineering Mathematics
  • Project Management Techniques, Tools and Practices

There is also the Capstone Design Project at the end of the program on campus. Students often complete the degree in less than two years.

Admissions website

#44. University of New Mexico

University of New MexicoThe Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering in the University of New Mexico School of Engineering has an online UNM Master of Construction Management (MCM).

The 30-credit hour program takes as little as twelve months on a full-time basis.

The core and elective courses comprise fifteen credit hours. They cover topics like:

  • Project Controls
  • Construction Law
  • Simulation and Design of Construction Operations
  • Engineering Project Management
  • Sustainable Design and Construction
  • Global History of Construction

Admissions website

#45. University of Wisconsin-Stout

UW-Stout’s online MS degree program is online through Stout Online.

The 30-credit hour program is in the UW-Stout School of Management in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management (CSTEMM).

The program has a resourceful and experienced faculty. They teach courses such as:

  • Environmental Concerns in Construction
  • Architectural Preservation
  • Succession Planning in Construction

There is a final research component. Students can choose between a thesis or an additional course in a research area for this degree in engineering. An example is “Field Problem in Construction Management.” 

Admissions website

#46. University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado BoulderUniversity of Colorado Boulder’s Graduate School offers students a program with an emphasis in Water Engineering and Management (WEM). It is all online. The MSCVE has 30-credit hours to graduate. The curriculum includes topics like:

  • Water Profession: Leadership and Communication
  • Water Utility Management: Current Issues and Future Challenges

#47. University of New Haven

University of New HavenThe Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven provides an online Master of Science in Environmental and Civil Engineering  program. The 30-credit hour program takes as little as eighteen months to two years. There is no GRE or GMAT for admission.

Take courses such as:

  • Environmental Law and Legislation
  • Biological Treatment of Aqueous Wastes
  • Pollution Prevention Management

Admissions website

#48. Western Carolina University

Western Carolina UniversityThe Kimmel School of Construction Management in the WCU College of Engineering and Technology offers an online Master degree program.

The flexible 30-credit hour program allows for self-pacing. The curriculum has eighteen hours of core courses. There are classes such as:

  • Sustainability in Construction
  • Leadership in Construction Management
  • Advanced Legal Issues in Construction

Admissions website

#49. University of Texas at El Paso

UTEPThe College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers an online, no-GRE Master of Science. The 30-credit hour program prepares students to seek certification from the American Institute of Constructors.

Classes include topics such as:

  • Advanced Mechanical Electrical Construction
  • Construction Cost Analysis and Bidding
  • Construction Law and Ethics
  • Earth Construction

As is the case with other online MS programs, this degree does have a non thesis option that serves as a great option for both part and full time working professionals alike. 

Admissions website

#50. University of Houston

University of HoustonUniversity of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering caters to engineering professionals. 

The online MSCE is 31-credit hours. The curriculum includes classes such as:

  • Constitutive Modeling of Materials
  • Introduction to Dynamics of Structures
  • Hydrodynamics of Offshore Structures

Aspiring civil engineers who are interested in this online program should request information by visiting the online master’s website for admission.

Admissions website

Related Rankings

Best 50 Online Masters Engineering Management

Best Online MS Mechanical Engineering

Best Online Masters Electrical Engineering

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

50 Best Online MBA Degree Programs

online mba ufThe online Master of Business Administration (MBA) is the most popular online master’s degree. The MBA is by far the most in-demand professional degree for good reason–combining business savvy with methodical critical thinking skills produces the competent and driven professionals that companies desire to be at their helm. And with all the specializations students can choose to tailor their degree to fit their career goals, many different jobs are within grasp. Graduates can go on to be chief financial officers, marketing directors, computer and information system managers, and high-end management consultants–just to name a few possibilities. Landing these sought-after jobs shouldn’t be hard either–according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs like these have been growing at a faster than average rate.

In addition to being one of the most customizable and prestigious degrees one can earn, it’s also one of the highest paying master’s degrees. Good news even for MBA graduates who go into the non-profit sector–traditionally a lower paying field than the for-profit business sector or government. U.S. News and World Report discloses that the average non-profit manager salary is still high at just over $81,000 a year, and for MBA graduates who do go into the business sector, salaries were well into six figures within just a few years after graduation.

All Programs are not Equal

We strive to present information on the best, most remarkable online MBA degree programs possible. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International is the hallmark of excellence for granting accreditation to schools offering online Master of Business Administration degrees. Less than 5% of all business schools worldwide have received the distinction of being AACSB accredited. For your convenience and assurance, all of the online MBA degree programs on our list have earned this renowned recognition.

The Methodology for This Ranking

Looking only at schools that are also regionally accredited and which offer distance learning master’s degree programs in business administration (as verified by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation), we considered multiple factors in which to determine ranking. Each college or university’s MBA program had to have high marks based on these factors to land on our list. Giving equal weight to each factor, we compiled our list utilizing our Master’s Programs Guide Core Methodology Criteria and these additional factors:

  • Affordability
  • GRE/GMAT not required/waived

Look through our list to find the school that best fits your needs for an online MBA, and take charge of your future!

#1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

MBA@UNC

Program Details: The MBA@UNC at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School offers academic excellence in an online format. With the same celebrated faculty members teaching cutting-edge coursework, a career service team available for consulting, coaching and guidance, and a network of alumi all over the world, students in the MBA@UNC program are in good hands. Students have their choice of five concentrations in this 66-credit hour degree program that can be completed in as little as two years, and coursework is both asynchronous and synchronous, with the set-time login classes never larger than fifteen students. For experiential learning, students can participate in MBA@UNC Global Immersions that are offered four times a year. Students can go as far as Singapore or as close as Chicago to seek exposure to global business practices. Applicants with more than five years of work experience are exempt from the GMAT/GRE requirement, and once a student becomes a graduate of the MBA@UNC online degree program, they are not on their own–all MBA@UNC coursework is archived and available for as long as a student wants to access it. In addition, graduates can take MBA electives online as they desire.

Admissions website

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill– called UNC or simply “Carolina”–was born when the first cornerstone was laid in the approximate middle of the state. Chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1789 and inviting first student Hinton James to class on February 12, 1795, now the campus incorporates over 700 acres in downtown Chapel Hill.  Additionally, over 250 academic degree programs are offered across fourteen schools and colleges to almost 30,000 students. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has affirmed its regional accreditation of UNC.

#2. Indiana University

Online MBA

Program Details: A concentrated, week-long required residency called Kelley Connect Week starts both the first and second years of the IU Kelley School of Business online MBA degree program. Students earn credits, meet their classmates and professors, and compete as a team on a real business exercise to be presented to corporate leaders and executives at the end of the week. With a required 51-credit hours, only 39 of them being core credits, students are able to choose twelve electives to customize their degree. For further specialization and unique experiences, students can choose to pursue a Kelley School of Business dual MBA/MS degree in seven different areas, take an immersion course, or participate in a Kelley Direct AGILE course elective (Accelerating Global Immersion Leadership Education) and study business abroad in places such as Botswana, Myanmar, or Brazil. For support and guidance, career coaches who specialize in working with online students are on hand to help navigate the academic choices and create a strategic plan for finding a job post-graduation. GMAT/GRE waiver requests are considered for applicants with at least five years of relevant work experience, an advanced degrees, or a previous degree from the Kelley School of Business.

Admissions website

In 1820 a proposal for a state seminary was passed by the Indiana State legislature, and by 1824 classes were attended by the first ten students in Bloomington. Four years later in 1828 the name was changed to Indiana College, and ten years after that changed to Indiana University (IU).  The largest school in Indiana, IU has sixteen schools and colleges providing over 550 academic degree programs to its nearly 50,000 students. Indiana University at Bloomington is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#3. University of Florida

Online MBA

Program Details: The Hough Graduate School of Business within University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business offers an online MBA degree entirely online with no required on-campus visits. The 48-credit hour UF MBA at Warrington College of Business online MBA degree program is designed to be completed in 24 months, and the UF MBA Admissions team provides information sessions either online or at one of the UF campuses on a weekly basis to answer any questions a prospective student may have. All courses are taught by the respected UF Warrington faculty members, who provide a “career-focused curriculum” to help their students succeed, with classes like “Global Strategic Management” and “Legal Environment of Business.” For students who do not mind coming to campus, UF Warrington offers both an accelerated hybrid-online MBA for students with an undergraduate business degree that can be completed in just sixteen months, as well as a 27-month hybrid-online MBA for students who have an undergraduate degree in any subject. No matter which format a student chooses, all UF MBA degree programs are the same and impart to students a “well-rounded, rich MBA experience.”

Admissions website

The Gainesville Academy opened in Gainesville, Florida in 1858. In 1866 ownership of the school and land transferred to the state under the condition that the East Florida Seminary be relocated to Gainesville, and the two schools merged. Two more schools were joined with the Gainesville school to become the University of the State of Florida, and with the final name change to University of Florida (UF), the school has sixteen schools and colleges offering over 300 academic degree programs for almost 55,000 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits the University of Florida.

#4. University of Southern California

Online MBA

The USC Marshall School of Business Online MBA (OMBA) is the perfect blend of the University of Southern California’s “heritage of academic excellence with the flexibility of online learning.” Starting with the course called “Role of the Manager,” OMBA students participate in a week of online coursework and discussion and conclude with a six-day on-campus residency to begin the 51-credit hour program. Going through the program together as a cohort, students access the remainder of the coursework entirely online. The curriculum is guided by the capable instruction of the renowned USC Marshall faculty, who work with “instructional technology experts” to infuse “the best elements of the on-campus programs with a variety of new elements built specifically for the online experience.” The rigorous program is supplemented by exceptional online student services and resources, such as the Online Marshall MBA Career Services, and for prospective students, USC OMBA online information sessions are held to allow interaction with the USC Marshall faculty and staff in order to learn more about the program.

Admissions website

Established in 1880 in Los Angeles, California, the University of Southern California (USC) is the oldest institution of higher education in the state and a member of the Association of American Universities. This sea- and space-grant institution houses seventeen schools and colleges to serve more than 45,000 currently enrolled students. Over 200 degree programs are provided at this private research university, and USC is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

#5. Arizona State University

Online MBA

Program Details: The ASU W. P. Carey School of Business online MBA degree program is the same as the on-campus program, with the same core curriculum, elective options, and faculty. The W. P. Carey Online MBA core curriculum classes includes topical subjects like “Statistics for Managers” and “Leading People, Teams and Organization: Organizational Theory,” and the student’s elective choices or opting into one of four MBA emphasis areas (Finance, International Business, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management) allows for customization. A student services team is available to offer assistance to online students through every step of the process, and there’s also a dedicated online tech services team. During the academic journey and even beyond graduation, the W. P. Carey Graduate Career Center provides career coaching and workshops, as well as alumni resources. In addition to the first-rate MBA program through W. P. Carey School, concurrent degrees in online MBA/Master of Legal Studies, MBA/MSE Electrical Engineering, and MBA/MS Industrial Engineering are possible through the Arizona State Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law or Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

Admissions website

In 1885, the Territorial Normal School was created in Tempe to educate teachers for the Arizona territory. Thirty-three students started classes a year later in a four-room schoolhouse on twenty donated acres. Growth and multiple name changes occurred through the years, and in 1958 Arizona State University (ASU) was settled upon. Unlike other schools, ASU’s current multiple campuses are seen as “one university in many places” rather than separate schools. Sixteen colleges and schools extend over the six ASU campuses and offer more than 350 academic degree programs to over 80,000 students. The Higher Learning Commission provides ASU with regional accreditation.

#6. The Pennsylvania State University

Online MBA

Program Details: Having been invested for such a length of time in distance learning means that the Penn State Online MBA delivered through the Penn State World Campus is not only the same high-caliber degree as one would get on-campus, but also an intentionally created program that provides a cut above the industry standard for online coursework. Starting with the Penn State Online MBA five-day residency in University Park, Pennsylvania, the 48-credit hour program focuses on real-world business logistics facilitated by the cutting-edge Penn State faculty members and utilizing an approach called ICE (Integration, Collaboration and Engagement). Penn State’s Smeal College of Business online MBA provides an array of opportunities for customization–an interdisciplinary 39 core credits are required, and students dedicate nine electives towards their chosen concentration (there are fourteen dedicated concentrations, and choices range from Negotiation & Influence to Business Sustainability Strategy to Business Architecture). Student support is also highly customizable–the online MBA career services makes available personalized career coaches and many programs and opportunities to assure a successful transition from student to working professional. Applicants with a terminal degree or work experience may request a GMAT waiver.

Admissions website

Penn State is the only land-grant institution in Pennsylvania, but was chartered prior to the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862. Its origins were in line with the intentions of the Morrill Act in that Penn State was created as a school to provide liberal arts as a practical education in addition to the scientific, agricultural training most students at the time needed. Now fourteen schools and colleges comprise this public, research intensive university. In addition to the 24 campuses across Pennsylvania, the Penn State World Campus has been offering online classes since 1998. The first students of this endeavor graduated in 2000, but now over 12,000 students are enrolled online. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools provides regional accreditation to Penn State.

#7. Carnegie Mellon University

Online MBA

Program Details: Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business online MBA degree program is a part-time program that is an exact model of the on-campus MBA program offerings, just provided through the convenience of online flexibility. The Tepper School Online MBA offers the same renowned curriculum taught by the same world-class faculty, with the same start dates and admissions requirements (it is anticipated that the program will be completed in 32 months with a start date in September). There are six opportunities to become engaged in the on-campus Tepper culture and network through “Access Weekends” that set this program apart. The Tepper School reaches out in many ways to present information on the school, culture, and opportunities for prospective students–offering virtual info sessions, meet-ups, webinars and other events. Once a student, Tepper emphasizes a firm foundation in business basics–requiring students to finish coursework in economics, finance, operations, quantitative analysis and organizational behavior before they move on to their electives. Additionally, eleven concentration areas are presented with the Tepper MBA–most students choose three or four for added customization.

Admissions website

Funded by a $1 million donation from Andrew Carnegie in 1900 for the express purpose of starting technical schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for both men and women, the Carnegie Technical Schools (the women attended Margaret Morrison Carnegie College) quickly grew into Carnegie Institute of Technology. In 1967 the school became Carnegie Mellon University as it joined with the Mellon Institute, and by 1973 the women’s college closed and the women joined in completely with Carnegie Mellon. Now a private research institution with seven schools and colleges offering over 140 academic degree programs, regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#8. University of Texas at Dallas

Professional Online MBA

Program Details: The UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management’s online Professional MBA (PMBA Online) degree program is offered completely online with no required residencies. A 53-credit hour program with unparalleled opportunities for customization, there are fifteen UT Dallas Online MBA concentrations and thirteen Naveen Jindal School of Management MBA dual degree options. In addition to the core courses made available online, students can choose from a wide selection of business area electives (such as Finance and Managerial Economic coursework and Organizations, Strategy and International Management courses). UT Dallas online MBA information events are offered regularly for prospective students, and once accepted students can start the PMBA Online program in the fall, spring or summer. GMAT/GRE waivers are provided for applicants with previous terminal degrees and other factors, and most students complete the degree in about four years. Student support is readily accessible for Online PMBA students, with such resources and services as the Jindal School of Management Career Management Center (CMC). Services such as the CMC and many others are specifically provided to online UT Dallas students as well to make sure their experience is just as rewarding as if they were on-campus.

Admissions website

In 1961 the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest was the creation of the three founders of Texas Instruments. Established to foster the talented, tech-savvy young Texans and keep them in Texas rather than going out-of-state, the school changed names in 1967 and then again in 1969 when its assets were transferred to the State of Texas and officially became the University of Texas Dallas. A gift of nearly 300 acres from the the Hoblitzelle Foundation and the Texas Research Foundation in 1973 provided a larger campus to the University. Now over 26,000 students study in nearly 140 academic degree programs provided by eight schools. UT Dallas is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 

#9. University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium

Online MBA

Program Details: If getting the benefit of four university MBA degrees in one fully online MBA program sounds too good to be true, take a look at the University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium’s 30-credit hour general MBA degree program (the program is up to 47-credit hours if students need to take foundation business courses). A completely online program with no required campus visits, students can begin in the fall, spring or summer (the online, non-credit orientation course is only offered in the fall and spring). Courses are offered in modules and must be completed in sequence, and students usually finish in two and a half to three years but have up to seven as needed. All faculty members are trained specifically to teach online, and class size is kept small to ensure students have access to professors. Additionally, the MBA Consortium Executive Committee oversees the program, assuring that the quality and accessibility of the online MBA remains consistent. Students also have access to MBA Consortium student support services to make sure the online education process is a smooth one, and there are several opportunities to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement due with the application.

Admissions website

The University of Wisconsin (UW) System is a unification in 1971 of two systems of higher education in the State of Wisconsin. Combining the University of Wisconsin (which had its origins in 1849 in the land-grant university at Madison), and the Wisconsin State Universities system (which started as a Normal School in Platteville in 1866), as a single public university system under one board of regents, the UW System encompasses thirteen four-year universities and multiple other two-year colleges and extension programs throughout the state. There are approximately 180,000 students within the statewide System. The collaboration between UW–Eau Claire, UW–La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh and UW–Parkside, with University of Wisconsin Eau Claire serving as the managing partner for the program, is what makes up the MBA Consortium.

#10. Auburn University

Online MBA

Program Details: The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business’ 39-credit hour Auburn Online MBA degree program is made up of thirteen classes and starts with an optional on-campus residency. Students on average finish the nine core business courses and four electives in two and a half years, but students may take up to six years to complete the program if needed. Core classes cover necessary topics such as “Strategic Analysis & the Competitive Environment” and “Information Systems for Competitive Advantage,” and all coursework is taught by the experienced Auburn faculty. Each student benefits from the Auburn MBA Programs leadership team that provides guidance throughout the entire MBA journey, and a final capstone course and project (“Integrated Business Project & Case Analysis) culminate the program with a three-day on-campus residency right before graduation. Opportunities after graduation are facilitated with help from an advisor in the Office of Professional and Career Development, and there are also available Auburn Online MBA Dual Degree possibilities in Finance, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Information Systems. Students who already possess a terminal degree are waived from the GMAT requirement.

Admissions website

East Alabama Male College, chartered in 1856 in Auburn, was a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist Church. The school transferred to the State of Alabama in 1872 and took advantage of the Morrill Act of 1862 to become the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, the first land-grant institution in the South (it also has both space and sea-grant institutional status). In 1892 the first women joined as students and the name was changed to the Alabama Polytechnic Institute seven years after that. In 1960, the school became Auburn University, and today the twelve schools and colleges serve almost 30,000 enrolled students in over 140 academic degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides Auburn with its regional accreditation.

#11. Villanova University

Online MBA

The Villanova School of Business (VSB) now offers the “distinguished” MBA online, providing an identical curriculum taught by the same accomplished faculty. The concepts and skills that are imparted through the online coursework is designed to be implemented immediately at the student’s workplace in tandem with the learning experience, which sets Villanova online MBA students apart. The 48-credit hour program can be completed in just two years, and students participate in several on campus residencies—the Leadership Challenge kicks-off the program, and additional practicum experiences are conducted at the middle and end of the student’s time in the program. Also offered is the VSB MBA program Global Consulting Practicum, an optional week-long international immersion experience available for students who want firsthand exposure to global business practices. The Villanova Online MBA faculty are internationally recognized authorities in the business field, and their expertise helps provide five specializations from which students can choose: Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, and Strategic Management. An array of Villanova webinars and fact sheets are made available to potential students to help them find information on the program.

Started as the Augustinian College of Villanova by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842, Villanova University is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. A private research university (the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the state), Villanova was originally a school just for men (although nuns could take classes beginning in 1918). Fully coeducational since 1968, Villanova is a high research activity institution with nearly 11,000 students enrolled in over 100 academic degree programs in six schools and colleges, and regional accreditation comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Admissions website

#12. North Carolina State University

Professional Online MBA

Program Details: Housed within the Jenkins Graduate School of Management at NC State University‘s Poole College of Management, the Jenkins Professional Online MBA degree program is presented mostly in an asynchronous format, which allows for a lot of flexibility. Professors are available to online students “through a virtual collaborative space” in which students can call, email, or seek answers to questions while chatting online. With a choice between the accelerated (21 months) or flexible (up to six years) programs and starting in either the fall or the spring, the 40-credit hour NC State Jenkins Professional Online MBA program is truly adjustable and accessible. Online students receive the same student support as their on-campus counterparts, such as the Jenkins Career Management Center and tech support through the DELTA Department. Concentrations are not chosen by online students, but they do complete an area of emphasis of six credit hours in a specific area of business which is very similar to the concentrations available to on-campus MBA students. There are two three-day required campus residencies in Raleigh (active duty military may waive this requirement) and an optional week-long international Jenkins MBA immersion residency. GMAT waivers are considered on a student-by-student basis.

Admissions website

The North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was established as a land-grant institution in Raleigh in 1887. Two years later, 72 students and six faculty members held the first class in a single building. In 1914, the passing of the Smith-Lever Act established a collaboration between land-grant colleges and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This partnership, in which colleges sent educators to rural parts of the state to assist farmers by teaching agricultural techniques, helped North Carolina State College (its new name) thrive. Over the years the college grew into the State’s largest university and was officially renamed North Carolina State University at Raleigh (but is known by most as NC State). Over 34,000 students seek their degree in twelve colleges offering more than 300 academic degree programs, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission grants NC State regional accreditation.

#13. Ball State University

Online MBA

Program Details: An enlivened and exciting 30-33 credit hour program (or up to 51-credit hours for students who do not have an undergraduate business degree and need to take foundational classes), the coursework for the Ball State University fully online MBA degree program is a mixture of both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Five concentration options are available in addition to the general MBA track: students can choose to participate in an Entrepreneurship concentration, Finance concentration, Health Economics, Policy, and Administration concentration, Logistics and Supply Chain Management concentration, or Sales Management concentration. The same Ball State Miller College of Business faculty members who teach the on-campus courses teach the online courses, and moreover Ball State makes a point of providing these professors with specific instruction on creating and implementing online classes. Many of the same services for residential students are available as Ball State Online student support services–career-planning, tech support, The Writing Center, etc.–but in addition online students can receive support from an Online Student Ambassador. Students with previous professional advanced degrees can receive a waiver for the GMAT/GRE requirement.

Admissions website

When a small school to train teachers in Muncie, Indiana closed its doors in the early 20th century, local businessman Frank Ball and his brothers bought the property and buildings and donated them to the State. The Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division became a new teacher’s school in 1918. Four years later the name was changed to Ball Teachers College in honor of the Ball brothers, and then the name changed again in 1929 to Ball State Teachers College. As the school continued to grow and offer more than just teaching degrees, the name was changed a final time to Ball State University in 1965. Now eight colleges serve 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in almost 350 academic degree programs. Ball State University receives regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.

#14. University of Maryland

Online MBA

Program Details: A 54-credit program that can be completed in as little as twenty-four months, the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland, College Park online MBA degree program joins excellence in academics with the ease of flexibility. Two required on-campus residencies (one a three-day experience at the beginning of the coursework and the other a final capstone project) gives Smith online MBA students an opportunity to be in the lead with actual real-world problems to be analyzed and solved through teamwork and innovation. Students can choose a general track or from specializations in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Analytics, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management. All online coursework is taught by the same “innovators and established thought leaders” who are the Robert H. Smith School of Business faculty, and online students and alumni benefit from the same extensive career services that on-campus students do–services such as peer-to-peer mentoring, career coaching, and interactive interview practice. Students with proven academic excellence and a “successful career trajectory” are encouraged to talk with an enrollment advisor in regards to a GRE/GMAT waiver.

Admissions website

Maryland Agricultural College was chartered in 1856 and 428 acres of farmland was secured to be the site of the institution in 1858. The following year the school opened its doors to 34 students. By 1916 the school became state supported and a public college, with the name changed to Maryland State College of Agriculture. Now the University of Maryland is the flagship in the University System of Maryland and boasts almost 40,000 students enrolled in fourteen schools and colleges. Located in College Park, MD, the University of Maryland is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#15. Lehigh University

Online MBA

Program Details: The Lehigh University College of Business and Economics’s online MBA degree is available through what they call the “Flex MBA.” The Lehigh Flex MBA is delivered in multiple ways for students to choose the best fit for their needs–on-campus or online, part-time or accelerated, or any combination of those methods. The 36-credit hour program has two required on-campus components regardless of whether a student chooses to complete coursework online or on-campus; a required weekend orientation kicks-off the program, and an on-campus capstone project is the culmination. The core curriculum is comprised of classes such as “Managing Products & Services” and “Introduction to the Organization & Its Environment,” and students have their choice of six Lehigh FLEX MBA program concentrations. For students who need certain prerequisites that weren’t completed in their undergraduate work, Lehigh offers online courses that can be taken at the same time as their MBA coursework. Applicants with academic doctorate, juris doctorate, or medical doctorate degrees are automatically exempt from the GRE/GMAT requirement–others with ten or more years of experience are encouraged to request a waiver.

Admissions website

A donation of around 57 acres and $500,000 from Asa Packer, the President of Lehigh Valley Railroad, was the beginnings of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1865. Packer, an altruistic, enterprising businessman, desired to positively influence the intellect and morality of the men in the Lehigh Valley area, and 39 men were the first students. Now over 2,300 acres provide a campus for the nearly 7,000 coeducational students who are enrolled in this private research university. Lehigh University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#16. University of Massachusetts Amherst

Online MBA

Program Details: The UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management online MBA degree program offers an uncompromising education with the benefit of flexibility. The Isenberg Online MBA is the same MBA program as offered on-campus, with the same coursework and distinguished faculty and the same advising and support services available, just with the added benefit of learning at your one’s own convenience. Starting with the admissions process (applicants with a doctoral or master’s degree, and/or ten or more years of professional experience may request a GMAT waiver), there are three application deadlines and four class start dates for added flexibility. The coursework is just as detailed, and there are optional focus areas in Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Administration, Marketing, and Sport Management that allow for student customization (the program is 39-credit hours without a focus, and 45-credits with a focus area). For those who are a bit unsure or apprehensive about starting an online MBA, the Isenberg School allows interested parties to Try A Class and take up to two classes before they apply or while their application is being processed, and these class credits can transfer once the student is enrolled.

Admissions website

The University of Massachusetts in Amherst (UMass Amherst), like many other land-grant schools in the mid-1800s, was begun in 1863 as a college of agriculture. Located on 310 acres in the countryside, the first students started classes in 1867. By 1931 the school was renamed Massachusetts State College, but then changed again in 1947 to the University of Massachusetts. This public research flagship of the State’s five-campus university system is now officially known as the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Campus has grown to almost 1,450 acres with nine schools and colleges offering over 230 academic degree programs to more than 30,000 students. UMass Amherst is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#17. University of Mississippi

Online MBA

Program Details: The 100% online Ole Miss MBA degree program at the University of Mississippi lives up to the reputation of the prestigious institution. The 36-credit hour MBA program is typically completed in two years (a set sequence of classes is suggested to finish in the two year time frame), but students have as many as six to work on the degree at their own pace. The required Ole Miss online MBA core coursework is taught by the same “world-renowned” Ole Miss School of Business Administration faculty, and classes include relevant topics such as “Managerial Economics,” “Leadership and Ethics,” and “Business Planning and Entrepreneurship.” Resources such as the Current MBA Student Calendar and recorded student testimonials are helpful both for prospective students and current MBA participants. The Ole Miss reputation supplies significant support in the form of the MBA Alumni Board’s Professional Development Days (a series offered several times a year), as well as the Ole Miss Alumni Association (a “hallmark of the University of Mississippi”) to maintain ties and network connections after graduation.

Admissions website

Fondly known as “Ole Miss,” the University of Mississippi was chartered by the Mississippi Legislature in 1844. In 1848, eighty students began classes in what would be the state’s one-and-only public institution for higher education for almost 25 more years. Today Ole Miss remains Mississippi’s flagship and largest university with almost 25,000 students earning their degrees in fifteen schools and colleges and four extension campuses. The University of Mississippi has achieved the distinction of being an R-1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification. The main campus is located in both Oxford and University, Mississippi. Ole Miss is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#18. Pepperdine University

Online MBA

Program Details: The online MBA program from  Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management offers a great deal of customization opportunities through five concentration options. Students can opt for a focus in Marketing, Finance, Leadership and Managing Organizational Change, General Management, or Digital Innovation and Information Systems. Generally completed in about two years, the Pepperdine online MBA program requires the same 52-credit hours but allows for a lot more flexibility than the on-campus MBA part-time and full-time programs. Core courses include topics such as “Prices, Profit, and the Market Economy,” “Integration in Business Operations,” and “Political, Regulatory, Ethical, and Legal Issues of Business,” and as one can imagine with a school steeped in its founder’s faith tradition, there is a “values-centered” approach to the coursework, but it is also very experiential. For example, there are two required on-campus, weekend residencies in which students are given a real-world case-study and expected to work alongside currently-working company executives to solve it. Additionally, the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School faculty are “executives, entrepreneurs, consultants, and published authors,” so students are learning from professionals in the field.

Admissions website

George Pepperdine, an entrepreneur who founded the Western Auto Supply Company and a man of deep Christian faith, determined to create a place of higher education where young men and women could seek solid academics and have their faith nurtured by faculty and administration. In the fall of 1937, George Pepperdine College opened with 167 students in Los Angeles, California. Through the years expansions–the biggest a move into Malibu–and a name change took place to reflect the growth of both the student body and the academic programs offered. Today Pepperdine boasts five schools, 73 degree programs, and over 7,500 students. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges provides Pepperdine with regional accreditation.n

#19. University of Nebraska–Lincoln

MBA@Nebraska

Program Details: The online MBA degree program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is ideal for those who do not possess an undergraduate degree in business. Offered completely online in the Nebraska College of Business, the 48-credit hour degree program known as MBA@Nebraska can be completed in as little as eighteen months, though most students complete it in three to four years (but students have up to ten years if needed). Thirty core credit hours and eighteen electives are required, and one can start in the fall, spring or summer (many opportunities are present to allow students to request a waiver for the GRE/GMAT requirement for admission). The relevant MBA@Nebraska curriculum offers core classes like “Strategic Management and Business Policy” and “Organizational Behavior,” as well as applicable electives such as “Talent Acquisition,” “Multinational Financial Analysis,” and “Marketing and Globalization.” Five optional specializations are offered in Business Analytics, Finance, International Business, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management, and there is an UNL online exploratory website that gives prospective students a glimpse of the coursework, faculty contact information, and links to student support.

Admissions website

Chartered just two years after Nebraska was granted statehood in the newly designated capital of Lincoln in 1869, four city blocks became the first campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Within forty years student enrollment increased to almost 4,000 students. Now, campus encompasses over 600 acres and over 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled in nine schools and colleges, and there are over 300 academic degree programs offered. UNL is a public university regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#20. Florida State University

Online MBA

Program Details: With an expected completion of just over two years and three possible start dates a year, the FSU College of Business online MBA degree program offered online through Distance@FSU provides a quick and flexible degree program for working professionals. Requiring 39-credit hours to graduate and offering core classes such as “Marketing Strategy in the Global Environment,” “Business Conditions Analysis,” and “The Legal & Ethical Environment of Business,” the program also promises quality and rigorous academics taught by the same faculty members as the on-campus MBA offerings. And for students who want a specialization focus, there are 100% online FSU MBA focus areas available in Business Analytics, Management Information Systems, Risk Management and Insurance (with an additional choice between track options of Financial Planning or Risk Management), or Real Estate. Some applicants may be eligible to request a GMAT waiver, and once accepted into the MBA program there is an online orientation to guide students through the process of beginning classes, and there are multiple Distance@FSU student support services to help them succeed.

Admissions website

Florida State University had beginnings as both the Tallahassee Female Academy and the all-male West Florida Seminary. The two schools joined in 1858 but maintained the men’s school’s name until 1863 when it was changed to The Florida Military and Collegiate Institute. Going through several more changes, the final name of Florida State University (FSU) was settled in 1947. Encompassing 1,550 acres, including the downtown Tallahassee main campus of over 450 acres, FSU now has sixteen schools and colleges and over 330 academic degree programs for the more than 41,000 students. FSU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#21. University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Online MBA

Program Details: A lot of thought goes into the making sure the coursework is stellar for the Online MBA offered through the Kate Tiedemann College of Business at USF St. Petersburg (KTCOB). Many of the MBA faculty members have received certification in their online course development through the KTCOB designation as a participating institution with the Quality Matters program for online teaching excellence. In addition to offering the KTCOB Online MBA Essential Modules that students will need to master in order to graduate (some students will not need the modules if they have a strong background in undergraduate business courses), there are nine focus areas from which to choose in the 36-credit hour program to customize the degree. Students have the option to integrate two tracks to form a more comprehensive concentration from within the dedicated focus areas in Business Analytics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Finance, Forensic Accounting, Healthcare Analytics, Information Systems Management, International Business, Management, and Marketing Strategy. A waiver is possible for the GMAT/GRE requirement–applicants are encouraged to seek information, and KTCOB Online MBA information sessions are readily available for prospective students.

Admissions website

On September 7, 1965, 260 students first attended class at the University of South Florida (USF) in the barracks of closed down United States Maritime Service Training Station in the Bayboro Harbor waterfront area of St. Petersburg. As the school grew, an expanded 63-acre campus was developed in 1978. This large, public research institution officially became its own separately accredited university within the University of South Florida System in 2002. Offering 41 academic degree programs to its almost 5,000 students, USF St. Petersburg is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#22. Mississippi State University

Online MBA

Program Details: A 30-credit hour program, requiring 27 hours of core classes and three hours of electives, the Mississippi State University (MSU) Distance MBA degree program through the College of Business can be accessed entirely online. Most students finish the program in as little as two years, but the school allows up to eight years to complete the degree as needed. There are electives within the College of Business to satisfy the three hour requirement, but students can gain approval for other classes outside the College of Business if they choose–some courses that are considered MSU Distance MBA potential elective offerings include “Racism and the US Color Line,” “Elements of Persuasion,” and “Remote Sensing Physical Environment.” For students with an interest in engineering, the MSU College of Business offers jointly with the MSU College of Engineering a fully online MBA with a concentration in Project Management (MBA-PM) degree program. The MSU MBA-PM degree program requires 36-credit hours, covering topics such as “Process Improvement Engineering,” “Law, Business, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution,” and “Leadership Skills for Managerial Behavior.”

Admissions website

The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, established as a land-grant university in Starkville in 1878, opened in 1880. The name was changed first in 1932 to Mississippi State College and then again in 1958 to Mississippi State University. Main campus in Starkville now encompasses 4,200 acres, with additional research areas on the Plant Science Farm and the Animal Sciences Farm totaling more than 2,000 more acres, and twelve schools and colleges serve over 20,000 students with over 175 academic degree programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges grants regional accreditation to MSU.

#23. University of Wisconsin Whitewater

Online MBA

Program Details: With eleven dedicated emphasis areas possible (in addition to the customized MBA track and the limitless creativity of the student), the online MBA degree program at the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics (COBE) is truly whatever a student could want it to be. Choosing from Data Analytics, Finance, Environmental Safety and Health, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain and Operations Management, IT Management, Management, International Business, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, or whatever customization a student can devise, students can focus on the very specific business area in which they desire to pursue work. All 36 breadth and emphasis credit hours are provided entirely online, and the same experienced, research-focused faculty teach the online courses so the academic quality is identical to on-campus–just delivered in a flexible format. There are three start dates possible throughout the year and applicants are given several different avenues for seeking a GRE/GMAT waiver. For prospective students, there are multiple UW-Whitewater MBA degree program online information sessions to learn more about the program, and current students have access to many UW-Whitewater COBE Graduate Student Support Resources.

Admissions website

Founded in Whitewater, Wisconsin in 1868, the Whitewater Normal School was begun as one of several teacher education schools that came into being during the late 1900s. The school was successful through fires, wars and a great depression. By the mid-twentieth century, the Whitewater Normal School became part of the Wisconsin State College system and went through several name changes before landing on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. With over 12,000 students enrolled in about 70 academic degree programs, UW-Whitewater has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.

#24. Washington State University

Online MBA

Program Details: Offering the same renowned curriculum and expert faculty as the on-campus MBA program, the WSU Carson College of Business online MBA degree program ensures that distance students receive the best education with the added benefit of flexibility–and they have the student testimonials to prove it. Flexibility extends to when students want to begin their coursework as well: the start date options are unparalleled–WSU online MBA students can opt for three different term starts each in the fall, spring or summer. For students who have a bachelor’s degree in business, the program is 36-credit hours for the general online MBA track (sixteen additional credit hours in foundational business coursework are required for others). All coursework is entirely online, and students can complete the program in just 22 to 29 months. In addition to the general online MBA track, which offers core classes such as “Strategy Formulation and Organizational Design” and “Business Analytics: Transforming Data into Decisions,” students can customize their degree by pursuing one of four concentrations: Finance, Hospitality Business Management, International Business, or Marketing. Each concentration is also offered as a WSU Online MBA nine-credit hour certificate.

Admissions website

In 1890 the newly instituted state of Washington’s Legislature determined to establish a state college. After touring multiple cities, the town of Pullman was chosen and in January of 1892, the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science opened its doors. The name officially became Washington State University (WSU) in 1959, and now WSU has eleven colleges and over 200 academic degree programs on-campus, and 22 degree programs online. With four extension campuses and their thriving online degree programs, Washington State has over 30,000 students enrolled. WSU receives regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

#25. Arkansas State University

Online MBA

Program Details: A 33-credit hour program located in the Arkansas State University Neil Griffin College of Business and offered by A-State Online (AOS), the Online MBA degree program is made up of 27-credit hours of core classes and six of electives. Core curriculum courses include topics such as “Accounting for Planning and Control,” “Global Strategic Initiatives,” and “Corporate Financial Management,” and electives can be any of the offered classes or (with department approval) a “directed individual study” that has as the student’s goal a research paper or publication. The final outcome must be a presentation that is subject to review by faculty members in the graduate school. Two optional fully-online concentrations are available; students can choose from Supply Chain Management or Finance. Students can be sure they are receiving the best education via their experienced and highly-trained AOS faculty professors, and online students are able to access their additional support through the A-State Online Services for online students.

Admissions website

One of four agricultural high schools founded in Arkansas in 1909 to teach farming and textile manufacturing skills by Act 100 of 1909, the first classes in the Jonesboro, Arkansas “Aggie” school began on donated land in 1910 with 189 students and eight faculty members. On January 17, 1967, the agricultural high school became the public research institution Arkansas State University (A-State) after much advocating by administrators and the Jonesboro community. Now just over 14,000 students are enrolled in the more than 140 academic degree programs within the six colleges of A-State, which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#26. University of North Dakota

Online MBA

Program Details: The online University of North Dakota MBA Program in the UND College of Business & Public Administration requires 43-credit hours and can be completed as a part-time program in two or more years. Taught as an interdisciplinary program across the College of Business’ Departments of Accounting, Economics & Finance, Marketing, Management, and Political Science & Public Administration, as well as the School of Entrepreneurship, students are immersed in important and well-rounded coursework. The curriculum features classes such as “The Successful MBA–Executive Skills,” “Accounting Information for Decision and Control,” and “Econometrics,” and students choose from a general MBA concentration track or from the Business Analytics ConcentrationGovernment and Business Concentration, Social Entrepreneurship Concentration, or International Concentration (the International Concentration does require students to study abroad in an exchange with an international university). Student support services come in many forms–career services, online library services, personal counseling, and tech support, just to name a few, and UND online students gain the benefit of “the convenience of online learning with the personal contact and connection” of a caring and supportive faculty and staff.

Admissions website

The University of North Dakota was founded in Grand Forks, ND in 1883 (six years before North Dakota officially became a state). The first graduating class was comprised of eight students, and contained both men and women. On-campus living was very affordable then at only $3.50 a week for room and board, as long as one didn’t mind not having a furnace for heat or windows to open in the summer, and drinking water brought in from town by the barrel. Now the University of North Dakota is a thriving public research institution that enjoys educating almost 15,000 students in over 225 academic degree programs through nine schools and colleges. Regional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission.

#27. Creighton University

Online MBA

Program Details: The prestigious Heider College of Business at Creighton offers an online MBA degree achieved with only 33 credits taken as eleven classes in eight-week terms. (If students want to finish even more quickly than the prescribed 32 months, they are free to accelerate the program by taking more than one class at a time). The curriculum includes courses such as “Leadership & Organizational Behavior,” “Economic Analysis for Managers,” and “Information Systems Management,” and students can construct a concentration from among electives grouped in the areas of Finance, Leadership, Business Intelligence & Analytics, Accounting, Financial Psychology & Behavioral Finance, or Personal Financial Planning. The online Creighton MBA degree program is open to all undergraduate degree recipients, and students will become engaged in a non-thesis program taught by the “deeply connected” and experienced Heider College of Business faculty members. Most applicants are not required to submit GMAT scores, and the relevant program culminates in a capstone course in strategic management. For students with unrelated bachelor’s degrees and no significant business coursework (specifically in statistics), Creighton offers a noncredit statistics tutorial for a fee.

Admissions website

Creighton University is a coeducational, Jesuit university located in Omaha, Nebraska. Envisioned as a memorial by Mary Lucretia Creighton to her late husband Edward, Creighton College was founded in 1878 with money left in Mary’s will for the purpose of opening a school.  Five Jesuit priests, two lay teachers and 120 students first held class that year. Today, over 8,000 students attend and study over 100 academic degrees and majors in nine schools and colleges in the university. A “Catholic and Jesuit comprehensive university,” Creighton is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#28. George Washington University

Online MBA

Program Details: A three-year program requiring 55.5 credit hours to graduate, the GW Online MBA degree can be started in the fall, spring or summer, and GW Online Global & Experiential Opportunities provided as optional residencies can really serve to enhance a student’s experience. Students with over seven years of professional work experience may be able to waive the GMAT/GRE requirement, but even then competition for admission to the GW Online MBA degree at the George Washington School of Business (GWSB) is fierce due to the strength of the reputation and character of both the school and the MBA program. Offered online through the GWSB Digital Community, digital sessions and once-weekly live classroom sessions assure that the coursework is lively and rigorous. Faculty members are available to interact with students during online office hours, so there is no disadvantage to being a distance learner. There are six optional concentrations: Consulting, Finance, Global Management, Government Contracts, Information Systems and Technology Management, and Project Management, as well as the GW Online Healthcare MBA, and students may choose up to two if they desire a broader range of specializations.

Admissions website

In 1819, a group of Baptist ministers secured funding to purchase land in the capital and put in a petition to Congress to charter the college that they were in the process of organizing. By 1821 President Monroe signed an Act of Congress, and Columbian College was born. After 60 years, another Act of Congress in 1904 changed the name to The George Washington University (GW).  Now, this private research university located in the District of Columbia educates more than 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the University’s ten schools on three campuses, and employs over 2,500 faculty members. George Washington has regional accreditation through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#29. University of North Texas

Accelerated Online MBA

Program Details: The UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business presents six different accelerated online MBA degree program focus area options. Students can choose from a concentration in Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Analytics, or Supply Chain Management. The 36-credit hour program can be started at five different times during the year and completed in as little as fourteen months, and the UNT accelerated online MBA curriculum is comprised of core course, concentration classes, and electives. Students all participate in eighteen hours of core classes such as “Accounting for Management” and “Intro to the Business Decision Process,” and concentration classes cover fifteen credits of the required 36. Students can choose an elective from a large listing of offered courses, with topics such as “Leadership Research and Development,” “Employment Placement & Personnel Planning,” and “Discovery and Learning with Big Data.” With a commitment to “inquiry and shared discovery,” the UNT College of Business faculty are engaged as students’ “partners throughout the online course process,” so prospective students can be assured they are part of a community of learning, even though they are learning from a distance.

Admissions website

From a space rented above a hardware store to educate 70 men and women to one of the largest public universities in the nation, the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas has grown beyond the humble expectations of its origins as the Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute. With twelve colleges and schools and over 220 academic degree programs for the 37,000 students who attend, UNT has gone through seven different names in its 125 year history, the final name of University of North Texas being bestowed in 1988. UNT is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#30. The University of Tennessee at Martin

Online MBA

Program Details: For graduates with at least two years of professional work experience, the UT Martin Online MBA degree program offers convenience, flexibility, and excellence. The online MBA is a cohort-based, eighteen-month program offered completely online with two start-dates each year, and admissions exam requirements of the GRE or GMAT can be waived with a previous master’s degree or seven or more years of professional work experience. Located in the UT Martin College of Business and Global Affairs, the online MBA provides two tracks: the 30-credit hour General Business track and the 42-credit hour Agricultural track. Core courses such as “Organizational Theory and Design,” “Legal and Ethical Environment of Business,” and “Accounting for Managerial Decisions” are required for both tracks, and Online MBA with the Agricultural track option students choose from electives such as “Commodity Futures and Options Market,” “Advanced Econometric Applications in Agribusiness, and “Applied Management Science in Agricultural Systems” to make up the remaining credits of their program. The top-notch UT Martin faculty provides instruction, and the College of Business and Global Affairs online resources to support students are plentiful.

Admissions website

Now a public university in the western part of Tennessee, the University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) was founded as the Hall-Moody Institute in 1900 by local Baptists and the Beulah Association of Northwest Tennessee. Named after two prominent Baptist ministers, J. N. Hall and J. B. Moody, the institute was originally created to provide religious education. By 1927 the school joined with Union University to become the University of Tennessee Junior College. Under its final name of University of Tennessee Martin, the school currently offers twenty-two degrees and over 100 specializations to its almost 7,000 students. UT Martin is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#31. State University of New York at Oswego

Online MBA

Program Details: SUNY Oswego offers a completely-online MBA degree program that is “equally applicable to private, public and governmental sectors of management” and can be completed in just two years. The same award-winning SUNY Oswego School of Business faculty as the on-campus MBA programs provides instruction for the 36-credit hour program (there are 21-credit hours required for students who need business foundational coursework, for a total of 57 credit hours). In addition to potential prerequisite foundational coursework, the core curriculum, and electives, students participate in Advanced Tool Courses such as “Futures and Options Market” and “Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management.” Elective choices are varied, and students have options such as “Sales Leadership and Strategy,” “Cyber Law,” and “Loss Control, Contracting, and Housing.” Classes are accessed via the SUNY Oswego Blackboard Learn online system, and online classes are generally available a week before the semester starts to allow students to become comfortable with the online delivery system. Admission is rolling so students can begin the process of admission at their convenience, and the program has start dates in the fall, spring and summer.

Admissions website

The State University of New York–or SUNY– at Oswego, NY was founded in 1861 as Oswego Primary Teachers’ Training School and moved to its current location in 1913. Going through several changes in the 1940’s, the current arts and sciences institution that it is today within the State University of New York system was established in 1962. Now offering over 110 academic degree programs to 8,000 students, SUNY Oswego is one of thirteen university colleges in the SUNY system (which includes 64 campuses in total). SUNY Oswego is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Higher Education.

#32. Oklahoma State University

Online MBA

Program Details: Housed in the Spears School of Business’ Watson Graduate School of Management at Oklahoma State University and provided online through the Michael and Anne Greenwood Center for Online Excellence, the OSU Online MBA degree program is 42-credit hours and can be completed on a part-time basis. With “twelve tremendous reasons” that the OSU Online MBA is a benefit for the business professional, students can expect tremendous flexibility, affordable quality, many student support services, and connections within the program and beyond. In addition to the stellar core curriculum classes like “Business Intelligence Tools and Techniques” and “Corporate and Business Strategy,” OSU Online students can choose from nine MBA concentrations that are offered entirely online (Business Sustainability, Data Science, Energy Business, Entrepreneurship, Global Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Assurance, Marketing Analytics, and Nonprofit Management) and will gain a “higher realm of administrative versatility” through the program. Multiple tutorials are provided that cover many aspects of the online learning platform utilized by OSU Online called Brightspace, so before a student has even been admitted the program makes available services to help them succeed.

Admissions website

Classes first began for Oklahoma State University–originally known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College–in 1891 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The University has grown from a small A&M school with a first graduating class of only six male students to a coeducational, public research institution that has become the flagship of a statewide university system with extension offices and campuses throughout the state of Oklahoma. Boasting over 37,000 students across the state and ten schools and colleges, Oklahoma State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#33. Syracuse University

Online MBA

Program Details: The online MBA program offered by Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management is called MBA@Syracuse, and it doesn’t differ from the quality of the on-campus program in any way. The same Whitman School faculty teach all of the online MBA classes, and online students will “benefit from the scholarly expertise and practical experience” they bring. Offering rolling admission, a GMAT waiver for applicants with at least five years of work experience, and four different start dates a year, the online MBA@Syracuse is a part-time program that can be completed in as little as two years. Once accepted, each new student receives a welcome phone call from their student support advisor who will talk them through the process, expectations, and answer any questions they may have. Requiring 54-credit hours, MBA@Syracuse online students participate in three on-campus residencies, which provide unparalleled interactions and “allow students to apply their skills and network with classmates and professors.” Six optional specializations are provided as dedicated focus areas in which students can concentrate their studies if they choose: Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Marketing Management, and Entrepreneurship.

Admissions website

The Methodist State Convention, which was held in 1870 in Syracuse, New York, resolved to found a university within the city. By fall of 1871, seven women and thirty-four men became classical studies students in a four-year program or scientific fields studies students in a three-year program at the College of Liberal Arts in a rented building. Today, this private research university has thirteen schools and colleges that offer over 200 academic degree programs to its approximately 20,000 students.  The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools gives Syracuse its regional accreditation.

#34. West Texas A&M University

Online MBA

Program Details: Offering the exact same MBA program in which the on-campus students participate, the online MBA degree mode offered through the Department of Management, Marketing and General Business in West Texas A&M‘s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business delivers distinction with added accessibility. Designed to be completed in two years, and depending on a student’s background and choice in emphasis area (MBA General Business track, Computer Information Systems, Management, Marketing, or Healthcare Management), the MBA program requires between 31 to 46 credit hours. Up to nine credit hours in foundational coursework may be required for students not coming from a business background, and students have their choice of the credits that make up the core curriculum (with a wide selection of class options such as “Social Network and Media Analysis” and “International Human Resource Management”). For students who are having trouble deciding which online MBA class to take, Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business Graduate Course Introductory Videos are made available. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 may request a GMAT waiver.

Admissions website

The establishment of a State normal school by the Texas Legislature in 1909 prompted lively competition between many cities in west Texas to become home to the proposed institution for educating teachers. The town of Canyon pledged 40 acres and just over $100,000, which helped push Canyon into the lead. A year later, sixteen faculty members and over 150 students began classes at West Texas State Normal College. Now West Texas A&M University’s almost 10,000 students are enrolled in nearly 100 academic degree programs in six schools and colleges. West Texas A&M is provided with regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#35. Quinnipiac University

Online MBA

Program Details: The online MBA degree program at Quinnipiac University School of Business marries high quality with a user-friendly program. The MBA program receives the support of the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, and additionally students have access to the QU Online technical support team 24/7, financial aid resource counseling, administrative support, academic advising, as well as the dedicated business resources provided by the School of Business. Courses are taught by the same faculty that teach on-campus, and there are three optional professional focus tracks: the Quinnipiac online MBA Finance Track, the Quinnipiac online MBA Healthcare Management Track, and the Quinnipiac online MBA Supply Chain Management Track. Students can also choose their own electives to create a specialized area of focus customized for their specific career goals if desired. Elective choices vary based on the student’s professional focus track (if they have chosen one), and include such topics as “Health Policy and Politics,” “Managing Marketing Channels,” “Corporate Compliance in the Health Care Industry,” and “International Business Negotiation.” Applicants can submit a waiver request for the GRE requirement, and start dates are offered in the fall, spring or summer.

Admissions website

Quinnipiac University (QU) is a private, nonsectarian university with three campuses located in Hamden and New Haven, Connecticut. Originally started as a small college in New Haven in 1929, Quinnipiac has grown to a national institution with over 10,000 graduate and undergraduate students currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences or one of eight professional schools. Known for the Quinnipiac University Poll, QU conducts thorough, highly-respected polls on issues of politics and public concern, which are then used by many in the news media to assess and report on public opinion. Quinnipiac University earns regional accreditation by New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#36. University of Nevada, Reno

Online Executive MBA

Program Details: The University of Nevada, Reno College of Business offers an online Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree rather than the more commonly known MBA. Adding the distinction of “executive” to their MBA degree program means this is a rigorous program ideal for professionals who want to finish their degree quickly while continuing to work full-time. Utilizing the University of Nevada, Reno online EMBA cohort structure in which students begin the program at the same time in the fall and move through the sequenced coursework together, the twelve-course curriculum program is completed in two years. Students can have undergraduate degrees unrelated to business but must have at least five years of professional work experience, and the GRE/GMAT admissions requirement is waived for students who already have a master’s or professional degree, or who are currently licensed as CPAs, CFPs, CMAs or PEs. The 37-credit hours needed to complete the program are offered as 21 credit hour core courses and 15 credit hour breadth courses, and range from core topics such as “Economics of the Firm” to breadth topics such as “Personal Branding.”

Admissions website

Founded in 1874 as the State University of Nevada and awarding its first degrees to three students seventeen years later in 1891, the University of Nevada, Reno now boasts over 18,000 students and almost 1,000 faculty members. The school was started due to the benefits the Morrill Act of 1862 and is the only land-grant university in the state. A public research institution offering over 145 degree programs, University of Nevada, Reno has been regionally accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities continuously since 1938.

#37. Columbus State University

Online MBA

Program Details: Provided completely online through the Georgia WebMBA® consortium of schools (a coalition of six AACSB-accredited University System of Georgia institutions jointly offering the online MBA), the Columbus State Turner College of Business online MBA requires 30-credit hours. There is an option to start the program either in the fall or the spring–both options begin with a two-day on-campus orientation, and students become engaged with their fellow students and the Turner College of Business faculty and staff right from the start. Students can complete the degree in five semesters but have up to six years if needed. The ten required classes are provided entirely online and include topics such as “Human Behavior in Organizations,” “Strategic Marketing,” and “Global & International Business” in order to fulfill Turner College’s mission of preparing “students to add value to their communities and employers in a globally competitive environment, by providing high quality, relevant business and computer science education.” Students can also participate in the online Georgia WebMBA™ program through George College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University.

Admissions website

Established as a junior college in 1958 in Columbus, Georgia with fifteen faculty members and almost 300 students, Columbus State University became a full four year institution in 1965. Now offering more than 90 academic degree programs, the Columbus State has about 8,000 students enrolled currently. Located about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, Columbus State University has two campuses–main campus and the RiverPark campus–and also offers classes at army base Fort Benning. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides the regional accreditation for Columbus State University.

#38. Hofstra University

Online MBA

Program Details: Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business offers a highly-flexible online MBA degree program. Students can start the 38-45 credit hour program (the credit requirements are determined by the student’s participation in and grade point average of previous undergraduate business classes from an AACSB-accredited institution) as a small, 20-month cohort group in the fall, or they can opt out of the cohort model in order to customize the program to their desired timeline. Two unique concentrations are available in Strategic Business Management and Strategic Healthcare Management, and all coursework is taught by the revered Zarb faculty–an accomplished bunch who have an impressive array of achievements, such as producing “over 350 articles in 190 different scholarly journals” in the span of five years. Online students have full access to Zarb’s Graduate Business Career Services center, and are supported through individualized sessions. In order to address the international needs of business education, an optional Hofstra MBA Global Practicum on Strategy (GPS) in which students travel abroad to get firsthand knowledge on how businesses in other countries are managed (the cost is in addition to the normal tuition).

Admissions website

Located on Long Island in Hempstead, New York and just miles away from New York City, Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational institution that was founded in 1935.  The campus boasts a total enrollment of about 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The faculty to student ratio is 14:1, so students have a great deal of support in the almost 300 academic degree programs that Hofstra offers. Regional accreditation is provided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

#39. Marist College

Online MBA

Program Details: With rolling admission, two term start dates, the possibility to waive the GRE/GMAT requirement, and the option to complete the 36-credit hour program in as little as four semesters or up to seven years, Marist College School of Management‘s online, asynchronous MBA degree program truly allows students to work on their degree in their own time. A mixture of core courses, electives and optional concentrations also gives many opportunities to customize the degree to each student’s specific academic desires and career goals. Students can choose from the Marist Online MBA concentrations in Ethical Leadership, Financial Management, or Health Care Administration. And for potential students who would like to experience Marist prior to making the commitment to attend, there are multiple on-campus Open House events, online graduate information sessions, and there is even an online sample class tutorial available called Touch the Technology. Support and learning for students and grads continue in the form of the “Leadership Development and Experiential Weekends” that are open to current on-campus and online students as well as alumni.

Admissions website

Founded in 1929 as a training school and seminary for future Marist Brothers in the Catholic Church, Marist College is now a private, coeducational institution. Located on roughly 200 acres in Poughkeepsie, NY, there are over 6,500 students enrolled in seven schools and 75 academic degree programs. Encouraging students to see a vision of community around the world and serve globally, Marist offers students the opportunity to study abroad on the branch campus in Florence, Italy. Regional accreditation is provided by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#40. Southern Illinois University

Online MBA

Program Details: The SIU College of Business presents an online MBA degree that waives the GRE requirement for applicants who have five or more years of work experience. The 42-credit hour online MBA program starts in the summer and is designed to be finished in just 23 months. Students can choose the general track of the online SIU MBA degree or either the online MBA with a concentration in Agribusiness Economics (offered jointly with the College of Agricultural Sciences) or the online MBA with an Analytics for Managers concentration. Delivered in the cohort format, the online MBA students benefit from a built-in peer group with which to develop group-building skills, support, and future business contacts, and in addition to the collaborative nature of the cohort peer group, at least two teaching assistants are assigned to assist both the faculty and the online MBA students as they do their coursework and move through the program.  The SIUC College of Business faculty are “known nationally and internationally for their contributions in teaching, research and service,” so students can be sure that they are learning from some of the best.

Admissions website

Founded as the state’s second teachers school in 1869 with an impressive first class of 143 students and twelve academic departments, Southern Illinois University Carbondale now has a total enrollment of over 17,000 students and offers more than 300 academic degree programs in ten schools and colleges. The largest campus of the Southern Illinois University system and the flagship institution, SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and has regional accreditation provided by the Higher Learning Commission.

#41. College of William and Mary

Online MBA

Program Details: The 49-credit hour William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business Online MBA degree program typically takes two years to complete, and provides a customizable, unique Mason Online MBA learning experience. Starting the academic journey with the William & Mary Renaissance Manager course, students come up with their own experiential “wicked problem” that will be central throughout their coursework, and complete the program with the Revolutionary Leader Practicum.  There are weekend residency opportunities twice a year in which students can attend workshops and hear speakers, as well as benefit from connecting with Executive Partners, who are retired professionals who serve as mentors to both on-campus and online MBA students. Online students are only required to attend one of these residencies, but are invited to attend as many as they like. The level of support provided to Online MBA degree students at Mason is vast and comprehensive. Students are provided with a Student Success Coordinator before classes begin to offer encouragement in developing an individualized plan of success, and other services such as round-the-clock tech support, academic advising and career services are available. Certain applicants to William & Mary’s Online MBA program may be eligible for a GRE/GMAT waiver.

Admissions website

Older than every other institution of higher education in the U.S. except for Harvard, the College of William & Mary was chartered by England’s King William III and Queen Mary II in 1693 and located in an area in the colony of Virginia that would three years later be named Williamsburg. In 1695 (before the town was named), the Wren Building was under construction, and it is still in use today as the oldest college building still in existence in the United States. By 1906, William and Mary became a public university, and now William and Mary currently has over 8,500 students and offers more than 60 academic degree programs. Regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

#42. Louisiana State University

Online MBA

Program Details: Prospective students of the LSU Ourso College of Business online Flores MBA degree program are provided with support services from the first inquiry all the way through to graduation. The dedicated LSU Online support specialists guide students through questions regarding the application, financial aid, registration, and finding that work/life balance. Applicants with three years of work experience and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 can request a waiver for the GRE requirement, and in as little as eighteen months, students can find themselves completing the 42-credit hour program. The coursework builds on each student’s proven experience and is divided into 33 hours of core courses and nine hours of electives and includes classes such as “Understanding International Management Challenges,” “Understanding Financial Information,” and “Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence.” The LSU Online MBA faculty are both engaged and experienced, and LSU information sessions are held to provide information for those who are interested in the Flores MBA. For alumni of the program, the MBA Association offers continued support, socialization, and networking opportunities post-graduation.

Admissions website

Begun as a small, all-male military school beginning in the days leading up to the Civil War and continuing through the early 1900s, Louisiana State University is now the flagship for Louisiana’s college and university system. Located in Baton Rouge, LSU is a land, sea, and space-grant university. A public, coeducational institution, Louisiana State University has over 235 academic degree programs– with more than 120 programs for graduate degrees–and prides itself on the approximately 30,000 students currently enrolled. Regional accreditation for LSU is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

#43. Northeastern University

Online MBA

Program Details: The Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business fully-online, part-time MBA degree program is designed to help students hone in on their areas of interest and expertise. Offering a 50-credit hour curriculum made up of thirteen core course and five electives, Northeastern gives online MBA students a choice between eight different concentrations: Finance, Healthcare Management, High Technology Management, Innovation Entrepreneurship, International Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainability. The core curriculum includes relevant coursework such as “Managing Ethics in the Workplace and Marketplace” and “Value Creation Through Financial Decision Making,” and is taught by the esteemed D’Amore-McKim faculty, who “collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.” There are optional residencies for added experiential learning, offered both domestically and overseas. An online video provides a glimpse into what students can expect as they become immersed in their coursework, and the no-GRE/GMAT admission is rolling–students can choose between nine different start dates for ultimate flexibility. There are many Northeastern University Online Graduate Programs resources to assist online students along their way.

Admissions website

The YMCA of Boston, Massachusetts formed the “Evening Institute for Young Men” in May 1896. By the fall of 1898, the origin of Northeastern University was born out of this institute with its first class of students. Over a century later, over 20,000 students are now enrolled within Northeastern’s nine schools and colleges studying over 300 academic degree programs. There are also four regional Northeastern campuses– a southeast campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, two campuses on the West Coast in Seattle and Silicon Valley, and one in Toronto. Northeastern is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

#44. University of South Dakota

Online MBA

Program Details: The University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business states as its mission “to extend the possibilities through the University of South Dakota to learners through online, distance and nontraditional education to become more in their professional careers and personal lives,” and the online MBA degree program lives up to that mission by offering USD Online student support services such as a writing center, disability services, and veteran resources to all online MBA students. In addition to the general MBA track, four MBA specializations are provided in Business Analytics, Health Services Administration, Marketing, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. Eighteen credit hours of foundation coursework may be required for students without a strong undergraduate business background, and core coursework for the general track covers topics like “Leadership Development” and “Business and Its Environment.” Applicants may be able to waive the GMAT requirement and are offered three application deadlines and three program start dates once admitted, and the USD Online MBA program can be completed with as few as 33 core credit hours or up to as many as 51 with all foundation courses.

Admissions website

A flagship public institution located on almost 300 acres in Vermillion, South Dakota, the University of South Dakota (USD) is the oldest post-secondary school in the Dakotas. The establishment of the University was authorized in 1862, but because it was not funded classes did not start until 1882. Almost 70 students by the end of 1883 grew to 500 students six years later, and now over 10,000 students are currently enrolled in nine schools and colleges. The University of South Dakota has been regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1913.

#45. Clarkson University

Online MBA

Program Details: Clarkson’s Reh School of Business online MBA degree is designed for working professionals to obtain their 48-credit degree in less than two years by taking classes part-time. Students are not locked into this model however–Clarkson offers a Hybrid MBA in which students can take classes in a variety of ways–on-campus, online, part-time or full-time. This flexibility allows students to finish at an accelerated rate (in 21 months) or up to five years, and students can begin classes at four different times a year, offering even more flexibility. The GRE requirement is waived for students with relevant work experience or a master’s degree in another field, and the respected Clarkson School of Business faculty teach both the on-campus MBA program and all online classes, so the quality of the online MBA program is intact. Clarkson University’s online MBA program is a real boon for both students with a strong background in business and for those who haven’t done a lot of standard business coursework: Clarkson’s Summer Business Concept Program provides foundational business classes free of charge to incoming students, and the culminating final project before graduation is an actual consulting project with a real company.

Admissions website

Clarkson University is a private research university located in Potsdam, New York. Founded in 1896 as a memorial to Thomas Clarkson by his three sisters and a niece after his tragic death, seventeen young men and women became the school’s first class on September 2, 1896. Clarkson University now educates over 4,000 graduate and undergraduate students with over 50 academic degree programs and a student to faculty ratio of 15:1. Clarkson University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

#46. University of Michigan-Dearborn

Online MBA

Program Details: The UM-Dearborn College of Business offers the exact same degree program whether online or on-campus–the only difference is that online students receive priority when it comes to registering for online courses. With rolling admission (and the potential to waive the GRE requirement with either three years business experience or a master’s degree in business or engineering) and start dates in September, January and May, this flexible online MBA program can be completed with 36 or up to 48 credits, depending on whether or not students decide to pursue one of the two fully online concentration options in Finance or International business. There are also two fully online, 57-66 credit hour, dual degree options: UM-Dearborn’s MBA/MS in Finance or UM-Dearborn’s MBA/MSE in Industrial and Systems Engineering (offered in conjunction with the College of Engineering and Computer Science). The online MBA degree program is open to students with any undergraduate bachelor’s degree, and the program offers nine core courses in topics such as “Applied Statistical Modeling,” “Operations Management,” and “Corporate Social Responsibility.”

Admissions website

The University of Michigan-Dearborn is a public institution that was founded in 1959 thanks to a gift from the Ford Motor Co. of over six million dollars. Campus is located on 200 plus acres (another gift of the Ford Motor Co.) in Dearborn, Michigan, within the larger metropolitan area of Detroit. With only thirty-four students in the first class and offering only three degree programs (Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration) in 1959 to over 9,000 students enrolled in 2016 and over 100 degree programs, UM-Dearborn continues to offer small class size and a student-focused approach. UM–Dearborn receives its regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

#47. Cleveland State University

Online Accelerated MBA

Program Details: Truly utilizing the online model to its fullest potential, Cleveland State University’s Monte Ahuja College of Business Mobile Accelerated MBA (AMBA) degree program offers multiple apps that allow students to access all coursework, textbook materials, required readings, interactive learning materials and course modules from anywhere they have a web browser. Assignments, tests, and quizzes are also fully online and can be accessed via computer. One of the quickest online degrees available, the AMBA ranges between 32 and 34-credit hours (dependent upon the student’s choice of electives) and is taken in a prescribed sequence over the period of one year. Coursework includes rigorous topics such as “IT for Competitive Advantage,” “Integrative Business Strategy,” and “Management of Innovation & Technology.” Students are required to submit GRE or GMAT scores (unless they have an MD or PhD) and have the option of cohort start dates twice a year, either in the spring or the fall. The CSU Monte Ahuja College of Business online AMBA benefits from the prestigious College of Business and is administered through the CSU College of Graduate Studies.

Admissions website

Located on 85 acres in downtown Cleveland, Ohio and with an extended campus in Westlake, Ohio, Cleveland State University is a public, state-assisted university. Cleveland State started in the late 1800s as free night classes offered by the YMCA in German and French to students who couldn’t afford an education. After reorganization in the early 1900s and again in 1929-1930, Fenn College was established as a private institution. By 1964, Fenn College’s programs, structures and employees were adopted into Cleveland State University. Classes began in fall 1965, and now almost 18,000 students are enrolled in eight colleges. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation.

#48. Temple University

Online MBA

Program Details: With rolling admission, classes available online at all hours, and the same active-in-the-business-world Fox School of Business faculty members who teach on-campus, the Temple University online MBA degree program checks all the requirements off the list. The 48-credit hour program kicks-off with the seven-day Fox Online MBA residency in Philadelphia, and students become part of an intentionally-fostered online community that continues through to the day they graduate. During a student’s time in the Fox online MBA program, they can be assured that all student services are available to them just as readily as they are to their on-campus peers. Students have twelve online Fox School of Business concentrations from which to choose, and can complete the degree in as little as 20 months or up to six years, and it concludes with a final capstone project called the Enterprise Consulting Practicum–an actual business project in which clients from national or global companies seek assistance with their organization’s needs. Master of Science dual online degrees are also offered with the MBA in Business Analytics, Human Resources Management, Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, and Marketing.

Admissions website

Started as night-school tutoring in 1884 by altruistic Baptist Minister Russell Conwell, The Temple College was incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1888. . When the school became Temple College and offered admission to both men and women, over 200 applicants sought to be students. In 1892 the first class of eighteen graduated. By 1907 the college became a university, and the following year Pennsylvania recognized Temple as an official institute of higher education. Now Temple has grown to seventeen schools and colleges and educates more than 35,000 students. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides regional accreditation to Temple University.

#49. University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Online MBA

Program Details: The University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ College of Business offers an extremely flexible and respected 100% online MBA degree program. The online UCCS MBA program was first introduced in 1996, so it has the benefit of many years of developing and improving upon itself. The program waives the GRE requirement for applicants with a master’s degree or relevant work experience and allows students to start in the spring, summer or fall.  Students can finish the 36-credit hour program in an accelerated 18 months or up to five years (students who do not have sufficient undergraduate coursework in business will be required to take nine credits of foundation courses for a total of 45-credit hours). The same faculty and the same program as the on-campus MBA, plus access to career and placement services and the UCCS College of Business Alumni Association, ensure that the student support and the MBA degree online students receive is identical to their on-campus counterparts. Students can customize their degree to fit their career goals by choosing a general MBA track or an online concentration in one of seven areas of emphasis: Finance, Health Care Administration, International Business, Management, Marketing, or Project Management.

Established in 1965 and built on 80 acres acquired for just $1 in 1964, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) has grown to over 500 acres. Originally a satellite of the University of Colorado Boulder campus, UCCS was a modest-sized school for commuters. Now the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is its own institution with over 70 academic degree programs and around 12,000 students– about 5,000 of which take advantage of online learning opportunities in some measure. UCCS is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

#50. Central Michigan University

Online MBA

Program Details: Housed in the Central Michigan University College of Business Administration and provided by CMU Online, the 40-credit hour MBA degree program can be accessed entirely online. Identical to the on-campus MBA program, the core curriculum offers classes such as “Managing Information Systems in a Global Economy,” “Data Analysis for Managers,” and “Marketing-Based Management,” and emphasis area focus concentrations are available in Human Resource Management, Logistics Management, Marketing, ERP Emphasis using SAP Software, and Value-Driven Organization. Although the GMAT is required for admission, there are several ways in which applicants can seek a waiver, and start dates are offered in the fall, spring and summer. The culture of support and cooperation extends from Central Michigan University to its Global Campus. In addition to the CMU Online Learning Resource Center, other support services available to the online student at Central Michigan include a writing center and a math assistance center, plus what the University calls an “online Ally” who is an “experienced, successful online student who provides personal assistance and advice” to new students still learning the ropes.

Admissions website

The Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute was founded in 1892 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan to educate 31 young people (many with no more than a middle school education) in teaching, business and stenography. Central Michigan University has expanded to offer over 200 academic degree programs to almost 27,000 students on the 480 acre main campus in Mount Pleasant and around the world. The Higher Learning Commission provides regional accreditation to Central Michigan.

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20 Best Online MBA in Strategy

The MBA. The Master of Business Administration. It is one of the most popular and in-demand graduate degrees in the country. 

Why? The world of business is always evolving. It is also competitive. To develop the skills you need to succeed in such an environment, you need the right training. Sure, lots of what you need to know will come from real-world work experience. That is why most graduate degrees in business require at least a couple of years of work experience for admission.

However, there’s nothing quite like the rigorous curriculum of an online MBA in Strategic Management to show you the ropes. Nor will you be able to access a professional network of alumni, peers, and industry professionals quite like you will while you are pursuing an online MBA in Strategic Management 

Many people think that all business degrees are alike, with core classes centered around finance, marketing, economics, and other business fundamentals. In reality, there are many different directions you can take. 

Perhaps you want to focus your studies on accounting. You can do that by earning an MBA with a concentration in accounting. Maybe you’d rather emphasize the applications of business in a healthcare setting. 

Yet for many students, earning an online MBA in strategy is the best choice for their careers.

What is a strategic management MBA at an online business school? This degree will allow you to approach the complex world report of business like a game of chess. You’ll work to arrange all the moving pieces in an enterprise. You will anticipate and pursue opportunities for advancement, craft smart business tactics, and use your insights to help your company succeed in the massive world report of business.

Do you want to build solid decision-making skills? Do you want to learn more about the market factors that help a corporation succeed? Earning one of the top online MBAs in strategy is the right choice for you. 

And if the thought of earning an online MBA in Strategic Management appeals to you, you might want to consider earning that degree online. There are countless benefits to pursuing an online education. You will be able to arrange your course schedule so that it accommodates your other commitments (such as caring for children or attending a full-time job). Plus, online degrees often tend to be more affordable.

The costs of college continue to rise. There are lots of reasons to consider online schooling. You won’t have to worry about paying for things like room and board or transportation. Even the per credit hour tuition for online programs tends to be a lot cheaper than what students pay on campus. 

If you think that online degrees are lower in quality or prestige than their on-campus counterparts, think again. Online programs hold the same recognition from employers and universities as do their on-campus counterparts. Most of the time, you won’t even know the difference by looking at your diploma or transcript!

Ready to take your career in business to the next level? Consider pursuing one of these 20 best strategic management online MBA degrees. You won’t regret it. 

Common Application and Admission Questions

So how do you apply to the best online MBA strategy programs?

Strategic management is a discipline that requires you to conduct systematic research, engage in careful planning. You will analyze every aspect of business. You’ll apply your skills in strategic management to just about any kind of business in any industry. Your degree plan and admissions requirements may vary. It depends on the exact route you want to pursue with your career. 

The skills that you will acquire in most strategic management MBAs are about the same. You’ll learn how to conduct thorough business research . You will learn how to analyze the results of that research as they apply to a real-world setting. You’ll become skilled in data analysis and also learn soft skills that are necessary for the world report of business. For example, you’ll need to become skilled in analytical thinking, communication, leadership, and decision-making.

Most strategic management degrees take about 12 to 24 months to complete. You can take less or more time to finish your studies if needed. You may also be able to pursue an additional concentration, minor, or dual degree if you choose, too. In a strategy concentration, you’ll complete core courses like:

  • Corporate Strategy
  • Global Strategy
  • Strategic Management of Technology
  • Strategic Leadership
  • Global Business Strategy
  • International Business Management
  • Global Supply Chain Management
  • Smart Strategic Management
  • Human Resources
  • Executive Leadership
  • Organizational Leadership and Business Strategy
  • Corporate Strategy
  • Operations Management

Make sure the programs to which you apply have all of these features (and others you might care about) before you apply. Don’t waste your time applying to dozens of schools. Instead, narrow your list to just three or four schools you think might be a good fit. That way, you won’t be faced with overwhelming decision fatigue!

When you’re ready to sit down and start filling out those applications, you’ll need to have a few things on hand. First and foremost is your credit card. Some schools now waive fees for online applications. However, most online MBA in Strategic Management programs still require hefty application fees. 

You will need a bachelor’s degree with coursework that shows you are well prepared for graduate work in business. A major in business or a related field (like economics, marketing, or accounting) isn’t often necessary. It may make you a more competitive candidate. It will reduce the number of undergraduate business prerequisites you have to take, too. 

You will need to furnish transcripts showing that you completed this bachelor’s degree. Most business schools have minimum GPA requirements. This is often a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 

The GMAT or GRE is also often required. You might need to submit things like a personal essay, one professional letter of recommendation or more, and a current resume, too. In some cases, a full interview with the admissions team at your school might be required. 

Before you fill out a single application, make sure you take the time to do your research and to ensure that each of the schools to which you are applying will be a good fit for you. Talk with the admission team about requirements. Whenever possible, students pay a visit to campus! Yes, even if you are studying online!. This will give you a good idea of whether you are making the right decision.

What About Financial Aid & Scholarships?

If you’ve decided to earn an MBA in strategy online, you’ve made a smart choice in regards to your financial future. The potential return on investment for one of these degrees is high. In other words, you may earn a high salary when you graduate with a strategic management online MBA. 

Finding the money upfront to pay for such a degree, though, is a challenge. The top 100 schools in the country cost, on average, more than $75,000 for the program’s lifespan! Online degrees tend to be less expensive at face value than their on-campus counterparts.

You will also be well served by finding funding to offset the cost of graduate school. This is funding that you won’t have to pay back. 

Begin by completing the FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application will analyze your financial need by taking a look at key financial documents like your W2s and tax returns.  

This will determine your eligibility for state and federal aid such as grants and subsidized loans. There tend to be fewer need-based grants available to graduate students than there are to undergraduates. Your options might be limited.

The good news is that most universities work hard to pick up the slack. They offer a variety of need-based grants and scholarships. Most universities also offer merit-based awards.

Another source of funding you may pursue is school-based employment. Many business schools offer fellowships and assistantships. These will allow you to gain work experience in your field. You will also have a bulk of your graduate school costs paid for in full. They tend to be competitive. Apply early and put your best foot forward for consideration. 

Once you’ve exhausted those options, you may want to look at other kinds of scholarships and funding sources. There are plenty of scholarships for prospective students interested in an online MBA program out there. That’s even more true if you are interested in applying for a targeted award. These are often aimed at increasing the number of minorities or other underrepresented groups in the world report of business. 

Check with local philanthropic organizations, corporate sponsors, or even your own employer. Your own company might be a goldmine when it comes to finding funding to pay for school. Many businesses offer tuition remission plans that pay for part or all of your graduate school costs. This is often in exchange for a commitment to work for them for a set number of years.

The key to landing funding for your master’s degree is to apply early. Make yourself the best  candidate possible. Try to boost your GMAT scores and GPA before you apply. Apply early to your MBA programs. Once accepted, most online MBA programs will consider all candidates when awarding scholarships. Apply too late, though, and you’ll be out of the running. Aspiring business professionals should always apply early to their MBA programs!

Research, research, research. Leave no stone unturned when you’re looking for ways to pay for your credit hours for the graduate degree. It might seem like a frustrating, time-consuming process now. You’re sure to thank yourself later.

How Much Can I Make With an MBA in Strategy? 

As the person responsible for building a company’s market strategy, you’re going to hold a lot of responsibility. As a result, you’ll need to have a high level of expertise. With that expertise often comes a high salary.

Payscale reports that MBAs of all kinds are often associated with average salaries of $85,000 or more. Earn a specialization. You’ll earn even more. An article by Poets and Quants notes that students who choose a specialization in strategy make almost $14,000 more than those who specialize in any other field!

You’ll be able to find employment across a variety of sectors. Some of the leading employers for individuals with MBAs in strategy include:

  • Amazon
  • Microsoft
  • AT&T
  • Deloitte Consulting LLP

Businesses of all types and sizes want to hire MBA grads. It makes sense that your average salary might vary, too. 

Where you live will play a role in your earnings. The best places to look for high-paying work in business strategy are places where large corporations often tend to be headquartered. Examples include New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, and Atlanta. 

There are several careers that you might want to consider if a high salary is at the top of your priority list. One of these is as a management consultant. Management consultants are sometimes referred to management analysts. This is a person who will reach and recommend ways to improve a client or organization’s efficiency. You may earn an average salary of more than $85,260, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

You might also consider working as a senior product manager. You could earn an average salary of $105,480, with your potential salary increasing with the more education you pursue. There are some entry-level jobs in this field for candidates who possess bachelor’s degrees. Yet you’re more apt to land a job with an MBA.

Another potential option is a job as a finance manager. A finance manager is a professional who creates financial reports, develops plans, and directs investment activities. This is all to help organizations meet their long-term financial goals. Again, a bachelor’s degree is all you need for entry into this career, but you’ll earn a higher salary (in most cases, in excess of $129,890, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics!) with an online master of business administration in strategic management.

The beauty of these jobs is that they are high-paying and in high demand. That’s great news. A high paying job isn’t worth much if you aren’t able to find one to begin with! The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the job for management consultants is expected to grow by 11% by 2029. Jobs for finance managers are expected to increase by a whopping 15%. Finance managers, like general and operations managers, are in high demand. In addition to working as a financial manager, there are also jobs for operations managers, sales managers, and other business professionals in just about every industry. MBA students have no shortage of jobs to choose from! Doctoral programs are also popular pathways for graduates.

Why are these general and operations managers jobs so in demand? There are lots of reasons,. One of the biggest is because they are specialized and require a unique level of training that not everybody will have. These aren’t jobs that are outsourced to computers! You need to have some serious business chops and the drive to be successful. And, of course, to earn one of the 20 best strategic management MBA degrees.

What Are the Best MBA in Strategy Degrees?

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following five aspects:

25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and finish there

20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni

20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who get accepted

10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.

#1. The University of Texas at Dallas

Online MBA with a focus in Strategic Management

University of Texas at DallasThe University of Texas at Dallas opened with one singular goal. That was to serve as a private research arm of Texas Instruments.

Today, the university has expanded to offer more than 140 academic programs. These are across eight schools. There are more than 50 research institutes and centers. It is renowned for its rapid growth in research. It also has competitive admissions policies. This school offers one of the very top online MBAs in strategy. The college of business here is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The Naveen Jindal School of Management offers the strategic management MBA. The curriculum is online. Exams are administered as components of:

  • courses
  • uploaded via email
  • proctored at approved testing centers

The degree is ranked as the sixth-best online MBA program in the country. It features 15 different concentrations. There are 13 dual-degree options and almost 60 electives for you to choose from. Prospective students in these MBA programs will begin their studies by taking two undergraduate business prerequisites. There is one in Communications for Management and the other in Quantitative Foundation of Business.

Prospective students will complete 32 semester hours of core courses such as:

  • Financial Management
  • Strategic Management
  • Strategic Leadership
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Managing IT in the Analytics Edge
  • Relationship Selling Strategies
  • Business Intelligence
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Managerial Economics
  • Corporate Governance
  • Labor Relations and Workforce Management
  • Organizational Communication
  • Managing Innovation
  • Global Enterprise Strategy and Strategic Management
  • International Markets

Then you can pursue electives and strategic leadership concentration courses to prepare you to become a management analyst. In addition to the focus in strategic management, this MBA also comes with concentrations for prospective students in:

  • Accounting
  • Energy management
  • Analytics
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Healthcare leadership and management

The strategic management concentration focuses on corporate-level strategic management. You’ll learn how to implement strategic designs from start to finish. You will also learn how to lead in any setting. Your core courses will also integrate:

  • finance
  • organizational theory
  • economics
  • accounting

You’ll be able to help your organization create and leverage a sustainable, competitive advantage. Online students will be prepared to become business professionals in any field. They could work as a management analyst or go on to further study, using their MBA programs to pursue doctoral programs. 

You can even choose to tack on an additional academic certificate. There are several options available. These include:

  • Executive and professional coaching
  • Organizational consulting
  • Transformational leadership and strategic leadership
  • Project management.

The professional management MBA is available 100% online. There’s also a full-time on campus version. There’s even an evening and flex setting. You can pursue an MBA regardless of your work schedule or other commitments. 

The beauty of this MBA program is that you can apply and begin your coursework in any semester. There’s no prescribed sequence you must follow. It is convenient and flexible. Courses are taught on your schedule. You’ll be granted access to committed academic and career support every step of the way. 

Ready to apply and begin the next step in your career journey? You’ll need to submit an online application and a $50 application fee. Upload digital copies of your unofficial transcripts and test scores. Mail official documents after you’re admitted. You must supply GMAT or GRE scores that are no more than five years old. You’ll also need a professional letter of recommendation, an essay, and a detailed resume. Interviews are not required for online learners. 

#2. University of North Texas

Online MBA with a focus in Strategic Management

University of North TexasThe University of North Texas offers a superb online master of business administration with a strategic management and business strategy concentration. This is the flagship institution of the UNT System. The University of North Texas in Denton, TX first opened its doors as a nonsectarian, coeducational teachers college. It is viewed as one of the top schools to attend if you wanted to become a teacher. yet this former normal school now offers degrees in more than a dozen colleges and schools.

You won’t just learn inside the classroom here, either. You will be able to practice what you preach! The school is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities—Very High Research Activity.” It spends more than $78.4 million on research in 2019 alone. As an MBA candidate here, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to put your training into practice.

The University of North Texas has more than 80 online program options. It enrolls almost 80,000 students each year. The college of business here is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The Master of Business Administration comes with multiple specialization options. These include:

  • Sport entertainment management
  • Organizational behavior
  • Human resource management
  • Supply chain analytics.

For aspiring strategic managers, the focus in strategic management is the way to go. It consists of 12 total classes and 36 credit hours. You’ll learn the skills you need to manage an organization. You will also learn how to help an organization develop broad policies to meet its goals. 

This is an accelerated program. It features classes that are taught 100% online. They are broken down into convenient eight-week chunks. You can also sign up for classes in this strategic management degree that are five weeks long each in the summer. There are start dates six times each year. Because of this flexible scheduling, you can earn your degree in as little as 14 months.

Regardless of the concentration you choose, you’ll learn marketable skills in this master of business administration with a specialization in strategic management. These include:

  • teamwork
  • ethical conduct
  • quantitative analysis

You’ll take a series of core classes that are required for students in all concentrations. Examples include:

  • Organizational Behavior and Analysis
  • Leveraging IT for Business
  • Marketing Management
  • Successful Strategy and Strategic Management
  • Workforce Management and Labor Relations
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Business Intelligence

Then, you’ll take strategic management courses such as Operations Management and Strategic Supply Chain Management. 

This MBA program is perfect for students who are interested in leading in managerial positions. It is taught by faculty who were recruited from internationally recognized universities. They represent a wide variety of teaching experiences and research expertise. You’ll gain key business insights from these business professionals. There are plenty of opportunities for experiential learning. Your concentration courses will allow you to solve a real world business problem and add to your current resume for leadership roles. You could use your MBA programs credentials to apply for doctoral programs later on, too.

It’s also affordable. The average student who is a resident of Texas will pay just $23,900 for tuition and fees. That’s for the entire program! There are multiple start dates each year. This makes attending classes easier and more convenient than ever. 

To apply for the MBA at the University of North Texas, you will need to meet admissions requirements both of the graduate school and of the College of Business. You must supply official transcripts along with GMAT or GRE scores. You should also submit a 600- to 700-word essay. You’ll also need a resume with work experience and two letters of recommendation. 

#3. University of Delaware

Online MBA with an emphasis in Strategic Management

University of DelawareYou’ll find a top MBA in business strategy at the University of Delaware. The University of Delaware is a groundbreaking institution located in Newark, DE. It is truly a school of “firsts.” This is one of just four schools on the continent to offer a major in art conservation. It was also the first university in the country to offer a study abroad program. 

There are more than 300 degrees for students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level to choose from. The University of Delaware is a smart choice for students interested in pursuing an online MBA. You’ll love visiting the university’s modern campus in Newark. But you’ll also love the multitude of resources that will be available to you as an online learner in the master of business administration with a strategic management concentration. The college of business here is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

This online MBA program offers many benefits. Each class follows an intensive seven-week format. You can learn when and where it is most convenient for you. You don’t have to have a bachelor’s degree in business in order to attend these online MBA programs. You’ll be able to collaborate with other learners from a wide variety of backgrounds. This is one of the best online MBAs if you want to develop a successful strategy and strategic management skillset that will help you make sound business decisions. 

Classes in this MBA program are taught by Ph.D.-qualified faculty. They have extensive industry experience and education. You’ll have access to a personal career coach. You’ll also get scholarships and other forms of financial aid to help you succeed without spending a fortune.

The strategy emphasis is not the only concentration for you to choose from in the MBA program. You can choose one or more concentrations to meet your career goals. Some options include:

  • Healthcare management
  • International business
  • Finance
  • Analytics

You can also choose to pursue multiple concentrations for a more competitive strategy.  You can combine two or more emphasis areas to give you greater flexibility in the job market. The degree is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. You will work closely with business partners to form strategic alliances and gain insight on upcoming management positions. 

It is an affordable program. It features tuition that starts at just $950 per credit hour. Most students take just 16 months to complete the program. Since courses are offered online, you’ll move as fast or slow as you’d like through the curriculum. 

You will have access to the Lerner’s Career Services. This is a department that focuses on students in the Lerner School of Business. You’ll be able to work with career advisors to attend networking events, virtual workshops, career fairs, speaker series, and more. Plus, you will complete seminars, case studies, and other online learning experiences. 

You will need to have a bachelor’s degree (any academic background is acceptable) from a regionally accredited university. Your bachelor’s degree GPA should be at least 2.8 to qualify for the strategic management MBA program. You must have two years of work experience. GRE and GMAT scores are required. Waivers are often granted based on your work history and your background in mathematics. These strategic management programs are easy and affordable to apply to!

#4. Brenau University

Online MBA with an emphasis in Strategic Thinking and Innovation

Brenau UniversityBrenau University has the best MBA for strategy for hardworking graduate students. It opened in 1878. It is a private school located in Gainesville, GA. This school has more than 3500 students from 48 states and 17 foreign countries. It’s not the largest school. However, it is one of the most diverse.

The university offers degrees at the associate through the doctoral level. You can also take classes in Augusta, Atlanta, Jacksonville, FL, and of course, online. The online MBA is perfect for graduate students who wish to hone their critical thinking and decision-making skills. It is ideal for those who have some level of work experience. 

Ready to land that promotion? The online MBA at Brenau has just what you need. Eighty-six percent of the graduates of this MBA program say that the degree helped to prepare them for leadership roles in the business world. Most of those surveyed also reporting that it increased their earnings.

You’ll learn from faculty who are experts in their fields. They have real-world expertise in budgeting, business operations, marketing management, and more. You’ll be able to upgrade your resume by taking classes that are convenient. They are offered 100% online to help you land that new job.

You’ll be able to shorten the amount of time it takes you to earn your degree by pursuing the available accelerated track. You’ll only need 12 months to complete your studies! The college of business here is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

There are 13 unique concentrations for you to choose from in this strategic management MBA. All it takes is the addition of four to six courses to help you build a customized degree. It will work well with your unique experience and career goals. Some of the most popular concentrations, in addition to strategic thinking and innovation, in the college of business here include:

  • Health care management
  • Human resource management
  • Financial management
  • Project management.

The strategic thinking and innovation concentration is unique. It is available both as part of the MBA as well as part of the master’s in organizational leadership at Brenau. You’ll learn how to solve complex problems in an organization. You’ll also learn the steps necessary to become more proactive in critical thinking and creative decision making.

In this online MBA in strategic management, you’ll take comprehensive courses that will acquaint you with essential business management techniques. Core classes include:

  • Strategic Management and Policy
  • Foundations of Business Analytics
  • Intro to Business Communications
  • Budgeting for Managers.

You’ll have access to a dedicated team of coaches and support staff. They will offer expert guidance starting at day one of your program. 

The degree is transfer-designated. This makes it a great option for students who have completed some of their courses at another institution.  Brenau will accept up to 65 of your credits!

This 36-credit hour program requires a 3.0 GPA. You don’t have to have a business background. You should have taken courses such as Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Managerial Finance, and Business Essentials For Managers. 

#5. Hofstra University

Online MBA with a concentration in Strategic Business Management

Hofstra UniversityHofstra University has another top MBA in strategy. This college of business opened its doors in 1935 as an extension of New York University. It was named Nassau College—Hofstra Memorial of New York University at Hempstead, Long Island. It became independent in 1939. 

It makes sense, therefore, that the school would maintain some prestige. It was an extension of NYU’s well-regarded campus. Today, Hofstra consists of ten schools. It is noted for its connection to presidential conferences, debates, and campaigns. 

This prestige is just part of what makes Hofstra such a great place to pursue an online MBA with a concentration in strategic business management. The other parts? Its academics, student services, and flexibility and convenience for distance learners. You’ll love everything that the online MBA in strategic management has to offer. 

The degree is in the Zarb School of Business. The the top-ranked online MBA program at Hofstra is ranked ninth in the country by Poets and Quants. It’s also top ranked by The Princeton Review, and QS World University Rankings.

This program was the very first distance learning program in Strategic Business Management in New York. Hofstra also offered the first strategic healthcare management program in the state, too. The business school has been AACSB-accredited for more than four decades. Courses are taught by full-time faculty members. They are true experts and leading practitioners in the field.

The school’s unique proximity to the New York metropolitan area will give you some of the best access to the business community. You’ll be able to interact with other professionals through events, career services, and industry liaisons.

It is a 38-credit hour program. It is perfect for working professionals. You will learn the skills you need to succeed in any area of business. You will get the MBA you always wanted. It has a clear focus that is relevant to all areas of business. There are additional concentrations available in:

  • Strategic business management
  • Finance
  • Strategic health care management. 

You will learn in small class sizes. They are structured in a cohort-based format. Your classroom environment will be customized. You will interact with other students and faculty members. The school’s global and industry focus has residency requirements. These allow you to learn from global corporations and business leaders in New York City. Take two years to complete your degree or take a little bit longer. This degree is customizable.

To apply, you will need to submit an online application form. This can be done more or less at your own convenience. The Zarb School of Business has a rolling admissions policy. You’ll also need to supply GMAT or GRE scores. You’ll need official transcripts from all universities you attended and a resume. You’ll also need to supply a personal statement and two letters of recommendation. 

There are no minimum cut-offs for any of the required years of work experience, a high undergraduate GPA, and strong scores on the GMAT or GRE. These testing requirements can be waived if you have progressive work experience.

#6. Villanova University

Online Strategic Management MBA

Villanova UniversityYou’ll find another one of the top MBA in strategic management online MBA degrees at Villanova University. Villanova University is a private Catholic university located in Villanova, PA. Villanova University is named after Saint Thomas of Villanova. It is the oldest Catholic university in the state. It’s also the only Augustinian university in the country. 

Despite these historic roots,  the Villanova University School of Business remains focused on expanding future opportunities for its students. It is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities-High Research Activity” According to the National Science Foundation, it spent almost $21 million on research in 2018 alone. 

You’ll be able to benefit from these research opportunities as a student in the online strategic management MBA here. The online MBA in strategic management is one of the best. 

Earning an online MBA from the Villanova School of Business will help you learn more about the fundamentals of business. It will also help you learn about how technology has revolutionized the way our world conducts business. It’s a top-ranked degree. Classes are taught by the same expert faculty who teach on campus. However, they’re delivered in a more flexible, convenient format. 

The strategic management emphasis area is not the only specialization pathway you can pursue. You can also expand your leadership opportunities by choosing from specializations in:

  • Analytics
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • International Business

You will take core classes such as:

  • Analyzing and Leveraging Data
  • Strategic Marketing Management
  • Team Leadership and Group Dynamics.

Forty-eight credit hours are required. Most students finish their classes in just two years. You can choose from multiple capstone options. These include a global experience or a social enterprise consulting practicum. 

This degree (including all of its available specializations) is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. It is also ranked as one of the best schools in the country for veterans by U.S. News & World Report. 

The programs at Villanova are designed for professionals, by professionals. You’ll enjoy a personalized education in an interactive online format. Faculty have extensive industry knowledge and will help you build essential leadership skills. You can engage in live networking with faculty and peers in an online setting. You can attend campus for weekend residency experiences. 

The school has a vast alumni network that spans the globe. You’ll participate in optional international immersion experiences in emerging economies. You will cultivate relationships with your peers. You’ll be able to experience the same faculty and curriculum that you would have access to on-campus. Class sizes are small in both settings. The average online section contains just 20 students. 

To apply for admission to the online strategic management MBA at Villanova, you will need to complete an online application. Provide official transcripts with your academic credentials from a bachelor’s degree. Two letters of recommendation, a resume, and two separate personal statement essays are also required. You may be asked to participate in an interview. You will also need to submit test scores. 

#7. University of Pittsburgh

Blended MBA with a focus area in Strategy

University of PittsburghNext up are the strategy MBA programs in business administration at the University of Pittsburgh. This school opened as the Pittsburgh Academy by Hugh Henry Brackenridge in 1787. The University of Pittsburgh is a state-related public research college. It opened in response to a need for a proper university in the city as the country forged westward. Today, the school contains 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges. It is home to about 29,000 students.

There is a main campus in urban Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh also has undergraduate branch campuses in Bradford, Johnstown, Titusville, and Greensburg, PA. Of course, you can always take classes online, too! The online MBA in strategic management is perfect for distance learners. 

The part-time MBA is 100% online with the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. It is designed for working professionals. It can be completed online or with the addition of on-campus courses. You’ll be able to take classes at the pace that’s right for you. You can take up to nine credits at a time. You will graduate in just one or two years. 

The curriculum of this program offers the opportunity for individualized and accelerated learning. You’ll learn more about the links between business disciplines as well as with other fields and industries. You’ll gain the perspective you need to be a successful leader. You’ll take integrative coursework in data programming fundamentals, research, business communications, and more. 

Your opportunities to learn will extend far outside of the classroom. This will make you a more versatile and well-rounded leader. You’ll participate in co-curricular opportunities like community-based projects, case competitions, and professional development programming. These will reinforce the core concepts you’ve already learned.

There are even global learning opportunities! You can study abroad and learn from some of the best minds in business. You will solve real-world challenges and expand your cultural awareness. The University of Pittsburgh offers a global research practicum, global issues workshops, and consulting field projects.

The strategy concentration is just one potential pathway in the MBA at the University of Pittsburgh. You can also pursue a Katz Credential. This will highlight your expertise and give you experiential learning in a certain business area. Online students will be able to work with business partners in these MBA programs. This is done through specialized coursework and projects. Some popular credentials include:

  • Technology management
  • Strategic leadership
  • Global business
  • Corporate strategy
  • Marketing management
  • Operations
  • Managerial economics
  • Financial management
  • International business culture

You’ll have some of the best access to career and networking services in the business. You can participate in networking events both on-campus, in the famed Mervis Hall, or online. You can also engage in the Executives in Residence program. This will allow you to work with a dedicated group of former executives. They want nothing more than to help you grow as a professional. 

To apply for admission to the MBA at the Katz Graduate School of Business, you will need to submit an online application and provide two recommendations. You will also need essay responses, and a current resume. You will also need to have completed a four-year undergraduate degree and provide official college transcripts from your bachelor’s degree. A degree in business is not required. You should also plan on submitting official test scores. You’ll also need an application fee. 

#8. Ottawa University

Online MBA with a concentration in Strategic Innovation

 The MBA strategic management online degree at Ottawa University is one of the best business administration degrees in the nation. Ottawa University is a private Baptist university located in Ottawa, KS. Ottawa University has additional campuses in places like Surprise, AZ. There are other numerous locations around the country. The Ottawa campus is small. It is home to 750 students. Yet you’ll find thousands of students who choose to take advantage of Ottawa University’s extensive online offerings.

The MBA is offered by the Angell Snyder School of Business. It is one of the country’s best master in business administration with a strategic management concentration. The online Master of Business Administration at Ottawa University will provide you with high-quality preparation in business. Courses integrate professional ethics, core business fundamentals, and your personal values. It offers maximum flexibility. Courses are offered both online as well as in the evening during a classroom setting.

The Master of Business Administration with a strategic management concentration will qualify you for jobs in the public sector, the private sector, and in academics. In the online MBA in strategic management, you’ll learn the problem-solving skills you need to impact your organization’s outlook . You will also enjoy the maximum flexibility you need to help you juggle school along with your already-busy life. You will take classes in eight-week terms. There are six available terms per year. You study at your leisure. Take just one class per term or attempt a full course load. The choice is yours!

You’ll learn how to focus on strategic tasks and engage in comprehensive strategic analysis and planning. It consists of 36 credit hours of study. There are eight required core courses. There are four courses designed just for learners in the Strategic Innovation MBA track. 

These courses include:

  • Managing in a Global Environment
  • Social, Cultural, Legal, and Political Influences in Business
  • Corporate Strategies
  • The Creative Organization.

In this strategic management MBA program, you’ll also take classes in things like business strategy and managing in the global environment. You’ll gain executive leadership skills in this strategic management program, too. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. This is the highest designation for business programs in the world. 

The MBA in strategic innovation is not the only business program offered by Ottawa University. Far from it, in fact. The master’s degree has additional concentrations in:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Business data analytics
  • Population health/health care

There are also bachelor’s degrees in these fields. There is a Master of Arts in leadership, a Master of Arts in human resources, and much, much more.

The courses in the MBA in strategic innovation will prepare you to become a leader within your current company. It will also prepare you to embark on new leadership opportunities. The average starting salary for MBA graduates was $115,000 in 2019. It’s tough to find a degree with a better return on investment than this one!

Ready to apply? You will need to supply a completed application for admission. You’ll also need an application fee. You also need to provide official transcripts. Not to worry if you’ve attended another graduate school in the past. You can transfer in up to 80 hours toward a 124-hour degree.

#9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

Online MBA with a concentration in Strategy and Consulting

University of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe online MBA in strategic management at UNC is another one of the best business administration degrees. This school is the flagship university of the University of North Carolina system. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is considered a Public Ivy. This means that the school offers the sweet duality of low tuition along with a reputation for an academic experience that is equivalent to that which you would receive at an Ivy League University!

The school opened its doors in 1785. It’s the oldest university in the state of North Carolina. Yet it is  not stuck in the past but rather anchored in the future. Faculty and staff seek out ways to provide new opportunities for students. There are more than 70 courses of study among 13 separate professional schools and colleges.

The online MBA at UNC is known as the “no-compromise MBA.” You won’t have to give up anything, not your personal and professional obligations or the quality of your degree, in order to learn in this program. 

It’s ranked as the number one best online MBA by U.S. News & World Report. The UNC Kenan-Flager School of Business is ranked in the top 20 of all business schools in the country, too. Even The Princeton Review agrees. This program is ranked the second-best in the country!

You’ll develop a profound approach to leadership that will amplify your strengths, reflect your values, and position you for success. It’s a recognized and well-established program. It includes challenging coursework. You’ll have access to a large global network of more than 42,000 alumni. 

The program has multiple start dates each year. These are in January, April, July, and October. You’ll join a small cohort of fellow students when you begin your classes. This will allow you to learn from a diverse group of peers as you complete group projects and other assignments.

The curriculum is designed and facilitated by the school’s world-class teaching and research faculty. Core classes cover everything you need to know about strategic management and other business administration fields. For example, you’ll take classes in executive leadership, business strategy, and human resources in this strategic management degree. You can pursue other concentrations besides strategy and consulting.

Business school concentration options include:

  • Marketing
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Data analytics and decision making.

Most of your classes will be completed online. But you’ll be able to participate in a number of action-based programs so that you can expand your cross-cultural awareness. Class sizes are small and close-knit. You’ll be able to travel to major cities all over the world for weekend-long learning intensives, too. You can meet peers and professors face-to-face and take part in local activities.

Ready to apply? At the UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business, the process is seamless. You’ll need to submit test scores along with your official transcripts. The average student here has about four and a half years of work experience. They have an average GPA of 3.4. But you don’t need to meet a cookie-cutter mold in order to apply. In fact, more than half of all students in this program don’t have a background in business! Financial aid is available to most MBA in strategic management students at this business school.

#10. Northcentral University

Online Strategic Management MBA

NorthcentralNext, consider the online MBA strategic management degree at Northcentral. This school is a private university headquartered in San Diego, CA. Northcentral University is all about the online learner. You’ll find all kinds of programs in fields like:

  • education
  • marriage and family therapy
  • psychology
  • business

There are plenty of online MBA programs for aspiring business administration professionals here.

It was established in 1996. It is one of the newest business school colleges out there. Yet you’ll find a top strategic management program here! It is one of the best for online learners. It consists of six schools:

  • the School of Law
  • the School of Technology
  • the School of Education
  • the School of Health Sciences
  • the School of Social and Behavioral Science
  • the School of Business.

This school offers degrees at the baccalaureate, graduate, and post-master’s levels. 

There is no GRE or GMAT required for admission. It is one of the best for working professionals. You’ll learn how to evaluate the health of an organization. You’ll also learn how to provide effective business solutions that both address and anticipate global trends. You’ll gain the skills you need to drive innovation. You’ll gain the leadership chops you need to be successful.

The program can be completed on an accelerated timeline. This will allow you to graduate in several months instead of several years. It’s affordable. There are multiple scholarships available for new students. The degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. This is an association that accredits business programs across the globe on more than 1000 campuses. Most online MBA programs accredited by this body also offer financial aid.

You will take a total of ten courses or 30 credit hours. Most students complete their classes in less than a year and a half. Classes start every week. You don’t have to wait around in order to begin your degree. You can take up to five years to complete your master’s degree. Most students will take much less time than that. 

Everything at Northcentral can be done at your own pace. You don’t have to attend scheduled lecture hours or complete group assignments. You can schedule everything around your professional and personal obligations. You’ll be mentored by experts in the field during all of your classes. Since everything is done on your own in this smart strategic management MBA program, you’ll benefit from one-on-one engagement without having to fight for attention in a classroom. 

The strategic management pathway is not your only specialization option at this business school, either. You can also choose from business administration options in:

  • General business administration
  • Homeland security
  • Information technology
  • Criminal justice

 In most cases, you’ll take core classes such as:

  • Managing People and Teams
  • Operations Management
  • Innovation and Marketing
  • Strategic Management.

Unique specialization courses include:

  • Global Product Management
  • Advanced Digital Marketing
  • Strategic Marketing Management. 

Northcentral has a very liberal admissions process for the business administration strategic management programs. It allows for direct entry if you have a bachelor’s degree in business. This must be from a regionally or nationally accredited institution. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in business or executive leadership, you can complete the online application. You will receive an academic evaluation with your official college transcripts. You must also take one introductory course before taking the rest of your professional MBA courses. 

OTHER NOTABLE MBA IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

#11. Winthrop University

Location: Rock Hill, SC

Degree: Online Professional MBA with a Strategic Leadership Concentration

Net Price: $15,666

Website          

#12. Chatham University

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Degree: Online Professional MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Strategy

Net Price: $17,744

Website

#13. New England College

Location: Henniker, NH

Degree: Online Professional MBA in Strategic Leadership degree 

Net Price: $13,560

Website            

#14. Amberton University

Location: Garland, TX

Degree: Online Professional MBA in Strategic Leadership MBA degree

Net Price: $6,390

Website

#15. Messiah University

Location: Mechanicsburg, PA

Degree: Online Professional MBA with a concentration in Strategic Leadership 

Net Price: $12,060

Website 

#16. John F. Kennedy University

Location: Pleasant Hill, CA

Degree: Strategic Management MBA Online

Net Price: $8,500

Website     

#17. Niagara University

Location: Niagara University, NY

Degree: Online MBA in Strategic Management

Net Price: $14,308

Website 

#18. Russell Sage College

Location: Troy, NY

Degree: Online MBA – Strategy

Net Price: $14,308

Website      

#19. Davenport University

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Degree: Online MBA in Strategic Management

Net Price: $15,126

Website

#20. University of the Southwest

Location: Hobbs, NM

Degree: Online MBA with a specialization in Strategic Management 

Net Price: $14,376

Website           

IF YOU ENJOYED THAT THEN CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON THE 50 MOST POPULAR ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREES and WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MASTER OF ARTS (MA) AND A MASTERS OF SCIENCE (MS) DEGREE?

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

20 Best Online Master’s in Secondary Education

masters in secondary education online

When it comes to teaching, secondary education takes first place. Well, that sounds good anyway—universities offering secondary teaching degrees should use that as a motto, because it’s snappy. In reality, teaching at any level is a higher calling, an immeasurably important job that directly shapes the minds of tomorrow’s adults. Secondary instructors work with kids at a pivotal time: In the United States, “secondary education” covers middle school through high school, grades six through 12.

Those are intense years for kids, to put it mildly, when brains and bodies are developing at a seemingly breakneck pace. Adults who willingly choose to be around kids during this tumultuous, exciting time deserve some kind of humanitarian award, or at least everyone’s undying respect.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are more than 1 million of these brave souls in the United States. That number excludes substitute teachers, career/technical education teachers, and special education teachers, whom it classifies separately. The BLS doesn’t provide growth estimates for secondary teachers as a group, but it forecasts the number of middle school teaching jobs to increase by 3% (slower than average) and high school teaching jobs by 4% (average) through 2028.

People looking to follow the jobs will find the highest number of them in California, Texas, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Unsurprisingly, the nation’s four biggest cities—New York, LA, Chicago, and Houston—have the most jobs in metropolitan areas. As U.S. News and World Report notes, “Growth depends on the region, since the amount state and local governments budget for new positions varies significantly.”

Landing a good job teaching in a secondary environment depends on a lot of factors, but an advanced degree can only help your chances of getting one. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 59% of secondary school teachers had a post-baccalaureate degree in 2015-2016—the most recent year for data—up from 50% in 1999-2000. Education remains a popular graduate degree: In 2016-2017, it accounted for 18% of master’s degrees (146,000), second only to business degrees. Before 2010, education was the No. 1 master’s degree in the U.S.

All of that is to say the jobs are out there, and people are using master’s degrees to better prepare for them. As the number of teachers—secondary or otherwise—with master’s degrees continues to trend upward, the degree will become less of a rarity and more of a necessity. While there will always be a place for teachers who lack advanced degrees, those who do have them will find more opportunities available to them. 

Secondary education is also the place to be. U.S. News and World Report ranks high school teacher the No. 2 in Best Education Jobs and middle school teacher No. 4. Okay, so the “best education jobs” list is only seven items long, placing in the top five still counts for something, right? 

See Also: 10 Best Master’s in Industrial Engineering

Common Application and Admission Questions

The schools in our 20 best online master’s in secondary education either prepare students to earn their first teaching certificate or further the expertise of working teachers—one or the other, usually not both. That means admission criteria are different, depending on the intended outcome of the program. Some require prospective students to show proof of a valid teaching license with their application, and others require little more than transcripts of undergraduate coursework. Many of the programs offer further specialization within secondary education. In some of those cases, the universities require an undergraduate degree that reflects those specializations. 

Admission requirements can vary considerably. These programs are generally geared to working adults—and thus offer part-time instruction—which means they typically have more accommodating admission standards. That could mean credit for previous coursework performed while earning a teaching certificate, or no standardized test requirement, or a general “Let’s figure out a way to make this work for you” attitude. Degrees tend to require about 30 credit hours of work, usually including student teaching and/or a capstone project. Coursework begins with core education classes then proceeds to more targeted topics and projects, such as specialization courses and student teaching assignments.

All of the programs in our top 20 are offered 100% online, with few or no requirements to go to campus. But because online education is heavily regulated, students applying to schools outside of their home state will need to ensure those schools have permission to instruct them. Out-of-state students in programs that work toward a teaching certificate will also need to check the reciprocity guidelines of their home state to ensure their hard work pays off back home.

Because teaching is a sort of higher calling, many programs require a personal statement wherein applicants explain why they’re pursuing the degree, their educational philosophy, and more. Letters of recommendation are another common requirement, along with the usual stuff like college transcripts. Most require at least an undergraduate 2.5 GPA or around a 3.0 in the final 30 to 60 hours of undergrad study. Not all schools require standardized testing—GRE, Praxis, MAT, etc.—but, especially for applicants whose undergrad GPA isn’t so great, good test scores can help with admission. Expect to spend $50 or so on application fees as well.

Online degree programs tend to have rolling applications, so people can apply at any time, and often offer several start dates throughout the year. A few are cohort-based, meaning you proceed through your degree work with the same group of people. Most programs provide asynchronous learning, wherein students complete coursework—such as watching lectures and completing assignments—on their own time, albeit with deadlines for assignments. The ones that aren’t asynchronous require students to be online at a certain time every week to watch lectures and participate in class. Regardless of the type of instruction, it’s usually supplemented with designated times for group chats and interaction with instructors so distance students don’t feel so removed from a traditional learning experience.

What About Financial Aid & Scholarships?

Education isn’t getting any cheaper, but the biggest perk of online learning—next to its flexibility—is its affordability. Online classes are cheaper per credit hour than their on-campus counterparts, sometimes to a significant degree, so it pays to learn from home. Even though online learning is designed as an alternative to people matriculating on campus, some universities—particularly public schools—still distinguish between in-state and out-of-state students. Non-residents may have to pay more, but they’re still paying less than they would as traditional out-of-state students attending classes on campus.

The programs in our 20 best online master’s in secondary education average $17,958 per academic year, a number we calculate using tuition as a base and factoring in financial aid opportunities. On the high end is Saint Joseph’s University (No. 15) at $35,344, and on the low is Cal State–Fullerton (No. 5), at $8,274. That’s quite a spread, and no matter what school you choose, a master’s degree requires a significant chunk of change.

The first thing to do is fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid from the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid program. For a quicker estimate of what aid you may qualify for, use the site’s FAFSA4caster. In fact, the entire Federal Student Aid website is super helpful. It has a whole section devoted to the various types of financial aid, how to apply for it, an overview of the entire process, and another section on dealing with student loans. Because student loans remain the easiest and most common form of financial aid, and because the industry has suffered from bad actors, the Federal Student Aid website is especially helpful. There’s a loan simulator, consolidation information, and a whole section with resources for qualifying for loan forgiveness. 

If loans are the yin of higher education funding, scholarships and grants are the yang. Scholarships are based on merit, grants on need, and there are a lot fewer of them for graduate studies than undergraduate. The first place to start is whichever university you plan to attend, as it will likely have in-house scholarships and grants for students. The University of North Texas (No. 2) offers a typical example, with university and departmental scholarships, along with external ones related to the university. It’s also worth checking what scholarships are offered by your home state and any private companies that have skin in the education game. Once again, a great resource for this is the Federal Student Aid website, which explains the scholarship process and links out to the U.S. Department of Labor, which lists more than 8,000 scholarships, grants, and more. There are also dozens of scholarship and grant aggregators online, even on the websites for student-loan companies, so all it takes is research to find some that could work for you. 

Veterans and active-duty military will want to see what they qualify for with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides funds for college studies. Finally, because these are online degree programs, students won’t have a chance to work as research or teaching assistants on campus, but they still may qualify for Federal Work-Study, which provides part-time work related to their field of study. But considering these programs are geared toward adults who are already working, adding on a part-time job to the heap of responsibilities may not be reasonable. 

How Much Can I Make With a Master’s in Secondary Education? 

If teaching is known for anything, it’s not high salaries. While pay has improved on a macro level over the years, teaching will never vie for space on any “best paying jobs” lists (or “lowest stress jobs,” for that matter). Jobs that can be described as “callings” are usually the most challenging—people are called to them, after all—but also the most rewarding. Teachers tend to place high on those kinds of lists, and with good reason: Few careers have as much of an impact as teaching.

That said, self-satisfaction doesn’t pay the bills. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, secondary school teachers earn an average annual salary of $64,430, with top earners bringing in $97,500 and the lowest 10% earning $39,740. The median is $60,320, still well above the national median salary of $38,640. State government jobs (excluding schools and hospitals) pay the best, with an average salary of $72,340, followed by elementary and secondary schools ($64,400), colleges and universities ($60,170), psychiatric and substance-abuse hospitals ($58,980), and local government, excluding schools and hospitals ($56,490). Geographic location plays a huge role too, with teachers in more expensive states earning a higher average salary. BLS data shows secondary school teachers in California earn $80,510, and their counterparts in New York $85,300. Teachers in Texas, which has the second highest number of secondary teaching jobs after California, earn an average annual salary of $58,190—nearly 28% less than teachers in the Sunshine State. (Bonus for Texans: no state income tax.) One surprise among the BLS data: Alaska is the fourth highest-paying state for teachers, who earn an average of $77,920, extra money they can spend on warm clothes.

Beyond geographic location, salary depends on experience and education, which makes a master’s degree a pretty safe bet for career advancement. According to a 2011 report from Georgetown University’s Center for Education in the Workforce cited by U.S. News and World Report, people who hold a bachelor’s degree earn $2.27million over their lifetime. But those with a master’s degree earn $2.67 million. Also worth noting: A 2013 report from the Center for Education in the Workforce found the overall unemployment rate for people with graduate degrees to be 3.3%, significantly better than the 7.0% national average at the time. These days, national unemployment is hovering around 3.6%, good news for people with and without advanced degrees.

What Are the Best Online Master’s in Secondary Education Degrees?

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following five aspects:

25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there

20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni

20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who actually get accepted

10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals.

Check out our ranking of the 20 best online master’s in secondary education!

#1. Liberty University

Master of Arts in Teaching

Founded by Rev. Jerry Falwell in 1971, Liberty University likes to say it trains “Champions for Christ,” and its MAT program is designed “to help integrate your faith and Christian worldview with your professional life.” It’s an online degree that “will prepare you professionally as well as spiritually,” so Liberty University has a higher calling on its mind. 

In more earthly concerns, the MAT is a 36-hour program that takes an average of a year and a half to complete. Courses are completed 100% online in eight-week intervals, and students can transfer in up to 50% of their degree credits. The university describes the curriculum as having a core of learning theory, notable research on historical and philosophical foundations of education, and is based on exceptionalism in education. 

Liberty divides the curriculum into three areas of 12 hours each: initial education core, secondary education cognate, and professional courses. The initial education core features four foundational classes: Learning Theory, Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Education, Foundations of Exceptionality, and Tests and Measurements. The secondary education cognate begins with a pair of required courses, Current Issues in Content Areas and Content Instructional Procedures, then students can make some choices based on their interests. They choose one of three courses in writing/language, then one of five options covering middle school instruction. They dig into teaching science, social studies, math, and literacy, and there’s also a course called Curriculum & Methods for Effective Instruction. 

The 12 hours of professional courses mix theory with hands-on work. It includes two practicums—for no course credit—that require 45 clock hours in a project “designed to link theory with practice,” per the course description. A student teaching course provides three hours, and the rest of the coursework is rounded out by Curriculum Fundamentals, Principles of Behavior Management, and Teaching Content Area Reading. The university recommends students pursue dual endorsements, whereby they take a few extra courses to graduate with licensure in secondary education and an additional endorsement, such as elementary education, middle grades, or special education. 

Liberty keeps its admission requirements simple. Applicants will need a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or better, along with their transcripts. Those with a GPA under 3.0 will still be considered for provisional admission. Liberty’s program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation. 

The school offers start dates for its MAT program eight times throughout the year. At $27,432 per academic year, Liberty University is the second most expensive program on our list, costing roughly $10,000 more than the average. Veterans can earn significant discounts on their tuition, and if they’re veterans who work as civilian first responders, they can get even more of a discount. 

#2.  University of North Texas

Master of Education in Teaching, Secondary Education

The University of North Texas lies in Denton, about 40 miles north of Dallas. But don’t spend too much time looking at maps to find it: “UNT is more than a place,” says its website. “We are a state of mind, a way of being.” Well, that works out for people studying online at UNT, as they won’t be spending much time on campus. UNT is, like, wherever you plug in your laptop, man. 

The university’s Master of Education in teaching, secondary education is a 36-hour program built around 12 classes. The curriculum breaks down into 12 hours of core education courses, 12 hours of a secondary education classes, six hours of education foundations or pedagogy, and six hours of student teaching or an internship/practicum. The 12 hours of core courses include classes on curriculum development, classroom discipline, literacy development, and applying theory to teaching practice. Which classes students choose for the 12 hours of secondary education requirement seems to be up to their discretion—pending the university’s approval—but UNT requires that at least six of them be reading courses. 

The secondary certification coursework actually doesn’t entail a lot of coursework. There are two required courses—Public Education and the Teaching Profession, and Successful Teaching in the Secondary School—then students choose one of two paths. Those seeking secondary certification will earn six credit hours for student teaching in secondary schools. Others will take a practicum/internship path, which places them in public schools to teach under the guidance of a mentor from the school district. This latter path is required for initial teacher certification for people who already have a bachelor’s degree. Both practicums are worth three credit hours each, and both will require a teaching portfolio.

Although the program is completed online, some courses require two meetings per year, and there’s an optional face-to-face orientation for students at the beginning of the process. Getting into UNT’s Master of Education program is a two-step process, which begins with an application to the university’s Toulouse Graduate School. Applications for students who meet the initial admission standards are then reviewed by the College of Education, which makes the final decision. So what are those admission standards? For the university, plan to supply GRE/GMAT scores and college transcripts. The college of education requires a 2.8 GPA or better, résumé, letter of intent for pursuing a master’s in teaching, and a three- to four-page essay “on your personal philosophy of teaching with concrete examples of that philosophy applied to your own teaching practices.” 

That sounds intense, but UNT’s price tag is a lot less intimidating: only $12,600, well below the average for the 20 best online master’s in secondary education. The university’s tuition calculator can help prospective students get a better sense of the exact potential costs of completing UNT’s program.

#3.  The University of Alabama

Master of Arts in Teaching

“Bama by Distance,” goes the motto of the University of Alabama’s online learning division, probably because “Tuscaloosa by Telecommute” is too clunky. Regardless, the university offers a variety of online options, including five varieties of MAT in secondary education degrees with various certifications: reading specialist P-12; English for speakers of other languages P-12; English language arts 6-12; general social science 6-12; and science (biology, chemistry, physics, or general science). 

The English language arts track is designed for teachers currently certified at the bachelor’s level in secondary education English language arts, and it explores “ways to create environments that stimulate and challenge students to be engaged in the active processes of language use and learning.” The social science curriculum focuses on political science, history, and civil rights using problem-based inquiry models. The reading specialist track is the most specialized of the four, with a curriculum “consisting of theory, application, assessment, and implementation of research-based instruction.” 

All of them share the same basic setup: 30 credit hours of coursework—though the reading specialist degree can go up to 33—all of it completed online. All of the certifications except reading specialist take four required courses specific to their field of study. There isn’t a ton of overlap, though most of them require Computer-Based Instructional Technologies and Modern Secondary School Programs. The three non-reading specialist tracks share similar requirements for foundations courses (all three hours), field teaching (nine to 12 hours), and a special education survey course. The ESOL track also requires six hours of an internship, and science has an educational research course requirement for three hours. 

The reading specialist certification goes its own way compared to Bama’s other MAT in secondary education programs. There are 10 required courses, including four practicums covering literacy coaching, PK through second grade, reading education for third to sixth grade, and an advanced one for middle and high school students. Other coursework includes Second Language Acquisition, Expanding Reading in the Elementary Grades, Beginning Reading in PK-Primary Grades, Seminar in Literacy Coaching, Re-envisioning Literacy Assessment for Diverse Learners, and Introduction to Educational Research. About the only thing the reading specialist track shares with the others is a requirement for a special education survey course.

Bama’s admission requirements are pretty similar across the tracks: Alabama class B teaching certification (or equivalent); an undergrad degree with a 3.0 GPA; a minimum 300 on the GRE or 50th percentile on the MAT; transcripts; three letters of recommendation (one from a principal or superintendent); and a statement of purpose. Applicants for the reading specialist track will also need two full years of K-12 teaching experience.

Everyone will need $20,465 per academic year, which places the University of Alabama on the pricier side of the programs in our list. The actual price may vary, of course, and like other universities, Bama has a Net Price Calculator on its website to help prospective students get a better idea of how much their education will cost. 

#4.  San Diego State University

Master of Arts in Teaching

A lot of universities talk about the particulars of their secondary education master’s programs—how many credit hours they require, courses in the curriculum, etc.—but San Diego State takes a step back to dig into the thought processes behind those things. Describing it as resting on a foundation of “social justice and equity in education,” SDSU believes “that teachers must have the opportunity to examine and think critically about the curriculum and delivery methods they use in the classroom.” So it bakes that into its program, which includes hands-on instruction with problem-based learning and issues-centered curriculum. That’s part of the larger mission of SDSU’s School of Teacher Education, which promotes “a disposition of inquiry among prospective and practicing teachers, scholars, and students.” 

Even better: It can all be done in one year. Although SDSU’s program requires 30 units for graduation, it awards six hours of credit for previous graduate coursework taken while earning a teaching credential. (Those who earned their credential as an undergrad will need to take two additional classes.) Students work as a cohort through three semesters beginning with four courses the first summer, two courses in the fall, and two in the spring. The first semester is intense, as professor Luke Duesbery notes in a video explaining the program, with courses covering curriculum development, innovations in curriculum, assessment and evaluation, and multilingual language acquisition. The second semester features courses on teaching critical thinking with technology and inclusive education, then wraps up with a take-home comprehensive exam. The final semester includes a class covering research-based pedagogy for diverse learners (focusing on tools, strategies, the latest research, and best practices) and an action research/capstone project designed by the student. In it, they ask and answer an education question that matters to them. The idea is that, through the project, “teachers will have the opportunity to examine and develop curriculum for use in their own classrooms which is grounded in the values of social justice,” per the website.

Describing the program as “highly competitive”—U.S. News and World Report ranks it No. 8 for Best Online Master’s in Education Programs—the university recommends prospective students apply as soon as possible. It’s a two-step process that requires them to first apply to SDSU, then into the program itself. They’ll need a valid teaching credential, transcripts of all their college work, GRE scores, a one-page statement of purpose, and a letter of recommendation. 

SDSU likes to tout its top 10 national ranking and No. 1 state ranking in U.S. News and World Report for students graduating with the least amount of student debt. Those rankings are from 2013, and SDSU isn’t on the most recent ranking. But California heavily subsidizes its universities, and the school remains reasonable: $14,568, below average for the 20 best online master’s in secondary education. 

#5.  California State University–Fullerton

Master of Science in Education, Secondary Education Concentration

Cal State University in Fullerton, CA, is fairly new by university standards. It started in 1959 as Orange County State College, working out of local high schools until it found a permanent home a few years later. In 1962, the school hosted what it billed as “the first Intercollegiate Elephant Race in Human History,” a publicity stunt to help engage students in college life. Ten thousand people showed up to watch 15 elephants “race” across part of campus, and it drew media attention from all over. Such an event would almost certainly never fly today, but its legacy lives on in the CSUF’s mascot, Titan the Elephant.

What CSUF has lacked in stunty media events in recent decades, it has made up for in affordability ($8,274, the cheapest in our top 20), surging student enrollment (just under 40,000 as of 2019), and solid rankings as a regional university. U.S. News and World Report has it at No. 17 for Regional Universities West, and tied for No. 20 in Best Online Master’s in Education Programs. Speaking of online programs, CSUF’s MS in education, secondary education concentration, aims to build students’ skills in “curriculum design, instructional and assessment strategies, integration of technology, and reflection skills.” It’s available in both online-only and hybrid formats. 

The degree requires 31 units of instruction, divided among a prerequisite course (Introduction to Graduate Studies for one credit), core courses (15 units), concentration courses (six units), electives (six units), and a culminating experience (three units). Five classes form the core block, covering educational technology, secondary school writing, educational research, curriculum theory and development, and a professional seminar in secondary teaching. The concentration coursework comes from two classes: Family, Community, and Professional Partnerships and Assessing Student Learning. Students pick their electives with the help of an advisor, then choose one of three options for their culminating experience: project seminar (three credits), capstone (three credits), or thesis (one to three credits). In the seminar, students prepare, evaluate, develop, and present curriculum research projects. The capstone allows for further study in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, educational technology, program development, leadership, the National Board of Certification, and interpersonal relations. For the thesis, students conduct research on an empirical project, which they write up in a thesis with the aim of publishing it. 

CSUF offers the program every fall and usually in the spring, though that depends on student enrollment. Getting into it requires a 3.0 on previous academic work, a valid teaching credential, résumé, a 500-word statement of purpose, and at least two letters of recommendation addressing “your aptitude for graduate study, including your teaching skills as well as your academic preparation.” Whatever hurdles there may be, they all seem worth it for that $8,274 price tag—it’s less than half the list average and an unbeatable deal.

#6.  University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Master of Arts in Teaching Middle Grades and Secondary Education

One of the numerous universities that began after World War II to provide continuing education opportunities for the nation’s large new professional class, UNC–Charlotte bills itself these days as “North Carolina’s urban research university.” The university system’s Chapel Hill campus might be its flagship, but UNC–Charlotte lies in the state’s largest city, with all of the extra opportunities that affords.

Those play into the development of the university’s online MAT program, which is designed for students who have completed UNC–Charlotte’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching Middle Grades and Secondary Education. The university describes the MAT program as “Phase II” of the preceding 16 hours of coursework for the certificate. The MAT adds 21 more hours, beginning with 12 hours of core courses, three hours of advanced methods, and six hours of content specialization courses. The core work consists of four classes in teacher leadership, adolescent learning, research methods, and a professional development seminar. For advanced methods, students choose one of four courses about teaching English, math, science, and social studies in middle and secondary school. They drill down further into one of those subjects via content specialization courses, which cover middle and secondary education for math, English, science, and social studies. The curriculum wraps up with a capstone electronic portfolio.

Along the way, students conduct research, write grants, and complete a teacher-leadership project, according to the program website. They also have the opportunity to create professional development programs for teachers at their schools and have a chance to mentor a novice teacher. The university notes that “a number” of its students have received grants for their classroom work.

Because UNC–Charlotte considers its MAT program a sort of extension of its graduate teaching certificate, it essentially disqualifies any outsiders from taking it. Among its admission requirements is completion of its graduate certificate program as well as a recommendation from a full-time faculty member who taught the applicant in the certificate program. They also need to have earned a 3.5 GPA or better in the certificate program—the highest application GPA requirement on our list—though people who have lower GPAs may still be eligible if they score above the 30th percentile on the GRE or Miller Analogies Test. Beyond those requirements, applicants need to submit their transcripts as well as a statement of purpose. 

Once they check off all of those boxes, applicants will need to pony up $14,987 per academic year, which falls significantly below average for the programs in our top 20. The mix of affordability and high-caliber instruction helps explain why U.S. News and World Report ranks UNC–Charlotte No. 28 for Best Online Master’s in Education Programs, tying it with Purdue University and the University of Nebraska–Kearney.

#7.  University of the Cumberlands

Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education Concentration

A small school located in Williamsburg, KY, University of Cumberlands is home to a lot more graduate students than undergrads. Its most recent numbers show 9,005 grads to only 1,366 undergrad students, so University of Cumberlands must be doing something right with its graduate programs.

Maybe the key is having fairly rigorous standards. The university’s Master of Arts in teaching program has more admission requirements than many other programs on our list. First, people who are already licensed teachers are ineligible for admission, though applicants interested in its secondary education program need a bachelor’s degree in it or at least 30 “background hours” in secondary education. Transcripts need to show a cumulative 2.75 GPA or better or a 3.0 or better in the last 30 hours of coursework. Applicants also need to provide three letters of recommendation (including one from an employer or professor) and meet GRE or Praxis CASE score standards. Everybody has to take one of the exams, as UC’s website says the “entrance exam CANNOT be waived” in bold letters. The university also requires a background check and, at the start of the program, the submission of a “character and fitness” form that asks about disciplinary and criminal history.

Licensed teachers can’t participate in UC’s MAT program because it’s designed to provide them with Kentucky state licensure. If you don’t live in Kentucky, don’t sweat it. The certificate can be transferred via interstate reciprocity, but it’s a good idea to double-check the reciprocity rules in your home state first. The curriculum focuses on a knowledge base in pedagogy and instruction. Once students proceed through the foundation courses, the rest “focus on the application of instruction through field experience in your locality,” says the program website

The 33-hour secondary education concentration allows further specialization in English, math, social studies, physics, Earth science, biology, or chemistry. The curriculum begins with 10 foundational courses covering topics like research methods, students with disabilities, educational psychology, special student populations, educational technology, and more. It also includes three clinicals, beginning with an introductory course. The second clinical places the student in a classroom for observation and participation. The third is a practicum, a.k.a. the exit course, designed for students who currently work in a classroom. Students dig into their specialization via a three-hour course covering teaching methods and materials for the subject.

Courses typically last eight weeks, though research methods, student teaching, and practicum classes last for 16. It’s important to note that they’re not asynchronous, either. Per its FAQ, classes meet one night per week from 8 to 9:30 p.m. eastern time. 

At $17,588, the University of the Cumberlands costs just under the average for the 20 best online master’s in secondary education. 

#8.  University of Maryland Global Campus

Master of Arts in Teaching

Formerly known by the far clunkier name of University of Maryland University College, the University of Maryland Global Campus is the distance-learning wing of the Maryland university system. Although it describes itself as “an online state university” these days, its history stretches back more than 70 years, when it started as the University of Maryland’s College of Special and Continuation Studies. It was the first university that sent faculty overseas to work with active-duty military at American military bases in Europe. The school still does that at military bases in 20 countries, and the university has more than 80,000 students worldwide and satellite locations around Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

UMGC’s MAT degree is a 30-credit program designed to qualify students for teaching certification in Maryland. Students who live elsewhere may still qualify in their home state, but they’ll need to check reciprocity and certification requirements. The credits break down into four courses, each for six credits and taken in order: Foundations of Teaching for Learning, Adolescent Development and Learning Needs, Reading and Multiple Literacies, and Subject Methods and Assessment. The university says each course has some kind of field-work component, which leads up to a six-credit full-time on-site internship for 80 in-school days (roughly 18 calendar weeks) under the supervision of a teaching mentor certified in your content area. Prior to the internship, students must pass a content-assessment test. An orientation course for no credit, taken concurrently with Foundations of Teaching for Learning, is also required. Students may transfer in up to six credits.

A list of courses can only provide so much insight into UMGC’s curriculum, so the program website specifies learning outcomes, including designing and delivering instructional plans, assessing student learning, differentiating teaching methods, and using technology to maximize learning. Perhaps most important, the MAT program allows graduates to teach secondary students from diverse backgrounds (based on culture, ethnicity, language, and socioeconomic status) in a diversity of settings (rural, urban, alternate classrooms). It’s a program designed to produce teachers who can handle whatever their jobs throw at them, which is usually a lot.

To graduate, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better and receive a B or better in each class. Not only that, they have to earn at least an 80 on all major assignments. They’ll complete a performance-based teaching portfolio and student learning objectives project prior to graduation, and they’ll also need to register for the Praxis II pedagogy exam. 

Like University of the Cumberlands above, UMGC not only requires a bachelor’s degree, but also a major in the content area being sought (though the university may also consider 30 credits in content-related courses as sufficient). All previous coursework needs to have been completed with a 2.75 GPA or better. Applicants will need to submit a qualifying composite Praxis CORE Assessment score, or a similarly qualifying score on the Praxis I, SAT, ACT, or GRE. 

Once into the program, students can expect to spend $16,790 per academic year, placing UMGC below average for our list.

#9.  University of Maine

Master of Education in Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction (Elementary and Secondary Education)

The University of Maine is located in the central city of Orono, about ten miles northeast of Bangor. It lies near a wildlife refuge, lakes, and verdant forests with tons of trails. It also averages a low of 8 degrees in January and a high of 28, with only a slight improvement in February. Also, it only gets 178 sunny days a year, well below the U.S. average of 205. So maybe distance learning is the way to go if you want to be a Black Bear? (The University of Maine mascot, not the actual animal.) Maybe that’s why the university offers more than 500 courses online.

UM’s Master of Education in curriculum, assessment, and instruction for elementary and secondary education is a 33-hour program for people who already have a teaching certificate. Based on “equitable and socially just instructional practices,” it aims to teach students how to use “research-based knowledge, field-tested experience, and the latest technology to meet the changing needs of students and schools.” It also offers concentrations via certificates in classroom technology integrationist (12 credits), early childhood teacher (12 credits), high leverage practices to promote inclusion (15 credits), instructional design (12 credits), and positive behavior intervention and support—RTI for behavior (nine credits). Students also have the option to devise their own concentration via courses from other education programs or content areas like language, social sciences, math, etc.

Students begin with 12 credits of core courses: Formative Assessments: Research, Practice, and Policy; Classroom Practice to Improve Learning; Dynamics of the Curriculum; and Prevention and Intervention in School Settings. From there they pivot to “action research” courses where they complete a research project their final year in lieu of a thesis. Two courses guide them through the process: a seminar and a practicum, each for three credits. For the practicum, students develop a research plan “for a question of educational practice of the student’s choice,” then implement it in a school or educational setting. They share progress of the plan via a blog, then present the process and results to a professional audience. 

The University of Maine has rolling admission, so students can apply at any time. In addition to proof of teaching certification, applicants need to submit transcripts with a 3.0 GPA or better, an essay describing their motivation for applying to the program, and letters of recommendation. That last part is optional, but highly recommended for applicants whose transcripts show a less than 3.0 GPA. U.S. News and World Report ranked UM No. 60 for Best Online Master’s in Education Programs, so the application process may be competitive. The tuition certainly is: $16,984, below average for our top 20. Active-duty military and honorably discharged veterans who use the GI Bill automatically receive in-state tuition. 

#10.  Kennesaw State University

Master of Education in Secondary and Middle Grades Education

Would you describe yourself as an evidence-based instructional leader? How about a reflective scholar-practitioner? Maybe a responsive change agent? Well, if it’s none of the above, don’t fret: Kennesaw State University aims to transform you via its Master of Education in secondary and middle grades education. Its “content-focused, standards-based” program emphasizes that kind of development so teachers know how to meet the needs of their learners, to use and produce educational research, and can maintain partnerships with families and communities.

The 36-hour program is intended for people who already have their teaching certificate. Kennesaw divides its degrees by teaching area, offering a Master of Eucation in secondary English, secondary mathematics, secondary history, and secondary science. All of them are available fully online except science, which is a hybrid program. 

The coursework is divided into three sections: 15 hours of core, 12 hours of teaching field, and nine hours of electives. The five core classes need to be taken in sequential order, and they all have long names, such as Differentiation, Academic Language, and Assessment in Middle and Secondary Classrooms. That light-hearted romp kicks off the core coursework, followed by: Transformative Teaching and Learning with Families and Communities; Applied Quantitative & Qualitative Research; and Reflective Inquiry for Transformative Teaching and Learning. Finishing it off is a capstone research project that includes a 20-hour field experience. Focusing on their area of interest within teaching, students will use strategy and knowledge developed in the program to transform their classroom practice, a process they’ll need to document in their project.

Beyond the core coursework, students take teaching field courses focused on one subject area: English, math, science, and history. At least one of those courses has to cover instructional technology, such as Technology and Media in English and Language Arts. For the nine hours of electives, students have the option to take additional education or teaching field courses, or coursework to earn an endorsement in autism spectrum disorder, coaching, ESOL, gifted education, online teaching, personalized learning, reading, or teacher leader. Working through all 36 hours takes five or six hours as a part-time student and four as a full-time one, per Kennesaw’s FAQ. A maximum of nine credit hours can be transferred in from another institution, so 27 of those 36 credit hours for the degree must come from work at Kennesaw State. 

Admission to the program requires a valid teaching certificate (in the appropriate teaching field and grade level for the degree), résumé, two recommendations, official transcripts (with a minimum 2.75 GPA), and a one- to two-page personal statement describing your philosophy of education and professional goals. Kennesaw State also requires $17,618 per academic year, which is nearly a bull’s-eye for the average cost of the 20 best online master’s in secondary education.

OTHER NOTABLE PROGRAMS

#11. Ball State University

Location: Muncie, IN

Degree: Master of Arts in Secondary Education

Net Price: $13,642

Website

#12. University of Central Missouri

Location: Warrensburg, MO

Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching

Net Price: $12,616

Website

#13. Wisconsin Lutheran College

Location: Milwaukee

Degree: Master of Arts – Transition to Teaching

Net Price: $21,773

Website       

#14. University of West Alabama

Location: Livingston, AL

Degree: Master of Education in High School Education

Net Price: $13,357

Website    

#15. Saint Joseph’s University

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Degree: Master of Science in Education – Secondary Education

Net Price: $35,344

Website  

#16. University of Nebraska at Kearney

Location: Kearney, NE

Degree: Master of Arts in Education

Net Price: $15,975

Website       

#17. University of Northern Iowa

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Degree: Master of Arts in Mathematics: Secondary Teaching Emphasis

Net Price: $16,453

Website     

#18. Mississippi State University

Location: Mississippi State, MS

Degree: Master of Science in Secondary Education

Net Price: $16,670

Website

#19. DePaul University

Location: Chicago

Degree: Master of Education in Secondary Education

Net Price: $30,584

Website

#20. Georgia Southern University

Location: Statesboro, GA

Degree: Master of Education in Secondary Education

Net Price: $15,435

Website

IF YOU ENJOYED THAT THEN CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON THE 50 MOST POPULAR ONLINE  MASTER’S DEGREES  & THE TOP 10 REASONS TO EARN YOUR MASTER’S DEGREE!

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

VegaZone – Dein hochwertiges Gaming-Erlebnis mit maximalen Ansprüchen

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Übersicht

Bemerkenswerte Spielauswahl für gehobene Gamer

Auf VegaZone Österreich bauen wir auf Qualität statt Menge. Diese Spielesammlung umfasst präzise kuratierte Titel von bekannten Providern, die für Gerechtigkeit und Fortschritt anerkannt sind. Wir kollaborieren ausschließlich mit Providern zusammen, welcher RNG-Systeme durch neutrale Prüfinstitute wie eCOGRA geprüft wurden – ein verifizierter Maßstab, der seit dem Jahr 2003 die Sparte prägt und für belegbar faire Resultate sorgt.

Das Angebot reicht von traditionellen Spielautomaten über fortschreitende Hauptgewinne bis hin zu Live-Dealer-Tischen, die in direkt gestreamt werden. Sämtliches Spiel wird wiederkehrend auf seine RTP-Rate geprüft, wobei wir hundertprozentige Klarheit gewährleisten. Die durchschnittlichen Return-to-Player-Werte unserer Automaten liegen stetig über dem Marktniveau, was allen Gamern langfristig verbesserte Gewinnmöglichkeiten bietet.

Aus welchem Grund unsere Spielepalette überzeugt

  • Jenseits von 2000 zertifizierte Titel von über 40 erstklassigen Providern
  • Jede Woche Neuerscheinungen mit besonderen Erstveröffentlichungen
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  • Mobile-optimierte Versionen für unterbrechungsfreies Gaming unterwegs
  • Gratis Testversionen für gefahrloses Testen neuer Titel

Lizenzvergabe und Datensicherheit auf oberstem Niveau

Unsere Plattform operiert unter strikten behördlichen Richtlinien und besitzt über alle erforderlichen Genehmigungen für den deutschen Markt. Wir betrachten Kundenschutz ernst und integrieren fortschrittliche Sicherheitstechnologien, die alle individuellen und finanziellen Details jederzeit schützen. Die SSL-Technologie nach Finanzinstituts-Standard sorgt dafür, dass sämtliche Überweisungen und Datenübertragungen absolut geschützt ablaufen.

Verantwortungsbewusstes Zocken steht bei VegaZone an erster Position. Die Nutzer haben stets die Chance, Einzahlungslimits festzulegen, Spielpausen zu setzen oder sich selbst zu sperren. Wir kooperieren mit renommierten Organisationen im Gebiet Suchtvorbeugung und offerieren umfassende Unterstützungsressourcen direkt auf unserer Website.

Vielseitige Zahlungsoptionen für maximale Komfort

Bezahlmethode
Deposit-Dauer
Auszahlungsdauer
Mindestbetrag
Visa/Mastercard (Visa/Mastercard) Umgehend 1-3 Arbeitstage 10 €
Sofortüberweisung Sofort 1-2 Arbeitstage 20 €
Elektronische Geldbörsen (Skrill, Neteller) Direkt 0-24 Stunden 10 Euro
Überweisung 1-3 Arbeitstage 3-5 Arbeitstage 50 €
Kryptowährungen 15-30 Minuten 1-2 Std. 25 €

Man verstehen, dass zügige und simple Transaktionen für alle Gamer entscheidend sind. Deshalb haben wir ein weites Portfolio an Bezahloptionen integriert, die unterschiedlichsten Präferenzen gerecht werden. Alle Withdrawals werden innerhalb von 24 Std. nach Anfrage prozessiert, sofern die Kontoverifizierung bereits finalisiert ist.

Besonderes Bonus-Programm mit transparenten Konditionen

Unser Bonus-System wurde mit Schwerpunkt auf Kundenzufriedenheit entwickelt. Im Gegensatz als bei etlichen Mitbewerbern setzen wir auf realistische Durchspielbedingungen und angemessene Fristen. Erstmalige Spieler erhalten einen gestaffelten Begrüßungsbonus, der sich entlang die initialen Einzahlungen erstreckt und weitere Gratisspiele an bestimmten Top-Slots beinhaltet.

Vorteile unseres VIP-Programms

  1. Maßgeschneiderte Bonusangebote basierend auf Ihrem Nutzungsverhalten
  2. Besonderer Eintritt zu Premium-Turnieren mit garantierten Preispools
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  4. Eigener Kundenbetreuer für maßgeschneiderten Support
  5. Einladungen zu speziellen Events und Sonderaktionen
  6. Cashback-Programme mit wöchentlichen Credits

Auf VegaZone gewinnen Stammkunden von einem abgestuften Treueprogramm, das automatisch Points für sämtliche Wette sammelt. Diese Punkte können gegen Prämien, Gratisspiele oder sogar Sachpreise konvertiert werden. Je höher euer Rang, desto reizvoller werden die Prämien – bar komplexe Bedingungen oder unsichtbare Bedingungen.

Unser Customer Service steht dir ständig zur Verfügbarkeit. Das polyglotte Service-Team erreichen Sie über Echtzeit-Chat, E-Mail oder Telefon. Gemittelte Reaktionszeiten liegen unterhalb von drei Mins, und unsere Teammitglieder sind eigens ausgebildet, um sogar schwierige Anliegen schnell und kompetent zu klären. Wir stecken kontinuierlich in die Weiterentwicklung der Dienstleistungen, weil Ihre Contentment unsere wichtigste Präferenz ist.

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

Rocky Spin Spielbank: Fachkundiges Spielvergnügen mit Offenheit und Sicherheitsgarantie

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Inhalt

Lizenzierung und rechtliche Basis

Auf Rocky Spin casino agieren wir nach strikten regulatorischen Vorgaben, die den Nutzerschutz an oberste Priorität setzen. Unsere eigene Webseite hat über eine gültige Gaming-Lizenz, die kontinuierlichen Prüfungen und Überprüfungen unterworfen ist. Die Malta Gambling Authority (MGA) erteilt Genehmigungen ausschließlich an Betreiber, die belegbar über hinreichende monetäre Ressourcen, offene Prozesse und geprüfte Zufallszahlengeneratoren aufweisen.

Wir verpflichten uns zur Beachtung sämtlicher gesetzlichen Vorschriften in den Rechtsbereichen, in denen wir tätig sind. Unsere Compliance-Einheit arbeitet stetig daran, sämtliche behördlichen Anforderungen zu einzuhalten und den Nutzern ein legales Environment zu schaffen.

Spielangebot und Software-Partnerschaften

Unser eigenes Online-Casino offeriert eine akribisch zusammengestellte Auswahl an Spielen von führenden Entwicklern der Industrie. Wir selbst arbeiten nur mit lizensierten Entwicklern zusammen, deren Spiele durch neutrale Prüfinstitute wie eCOGRA-Standard oder iTechLabs Labs verifiziert wurden.

Kategorien in unseren Angebot

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  • Spezielle Spielformate: Game-Shows, Würfelspiele und neuartige Hybridspiele, die herkömmliche Spielmechaniken mit aktuellen Funktionen verschmelzen
Software-Provider
Anzahl Spiele
Highlight
Durchschnitts-RTP
NetEnt 180+ Innovative Grafikengine 96.2%
Microgaming 220+ Progressive Jackpots 95.8%
Evolution Provider Gaming 75+ Live Casino Experte 97.3%
Pragmatic Play Play 150+ Für Mobil optimiert 96.5%
Play’n GO 130+ Thematische Vielfalt 96.0%

Transaktionsmethoden im Vergleich

Unser Online-Casino bietet eine breite Auswahl an Zahlungsmöglichkeiten, um globalen Nutzern variable Zahlungswege zu schaffen. Jegliche Zahlungsvorgänge sind über gesicherte Connections abgewickelt und unterliegen rigorosen Anti-Geldwäsche-Protokollen entsprechend der 5. Europäischen Geldwäscherichtlinie.

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  3. Banktransfer: Klassische SEPA-Transfers und Sofort-Transfer für Spieler mit Vorliebe für klassische Banking-Services
  4. Krypto: BTC, Ether und LTC für optimale Diskretion und weltweite Transaktionen ohne Konversionskosten
  5. Prepaid-Karten: Paysafecard als Option für Spieler, die ihre Bankdaten offenlegen möchten
Transaktionsmethode
Mindest Deposit
Höchste Abhebung
Prozessierungszeit
Gebühren
Visa/Mastercard 10€ 5.000€ pro Tag 3 bis 5 Werktage Kostenfrei
Skrill/Neteller 10€ 10.000€ pro Tag bis 24 Stunden Keine
Banktransfer 20€ 20.000€/Tag 2 bis 7 Geschäftstage Kostenfrei
Bitcoin 20€ Ohne Limit ein bis sechs Stunden Blockchain-Gebühren
Paysafecard 10€ k.A. Unmittelbar Keine

Schutzstandards und Datenschutz

Unser Team integrieren marktführende Schutztechnologien zum zur Absicherung vertraulicher Nutzerdaten. Unsere Plattform nutzt SSL-256-Bit-Verschlüsselung – den gleichen Sicherheitsstandard, den ebenfalls Banken für Online-Banking verwenden. Ein bestätigter Fakt: Laut einer Studie des Alderney Gambling Gaming Aufsicht Commission aus 2022 reduzieren lizenzierte Internet-Casinos mit SSL-Codierung Sicherheitsvorfälle um 99,7% im Vergleich zu unlizenziertem Gaming.

Die Systeme sind angesiedelt sich in geschützten Datencentern mit doppelten Sicherungssystemen. 2FA steht sämtlichen Kunden als optionale Sicherheitserweiterung zur Aktivierung. Wir selbst bewahren Zahlungsdaten ausschließlich in codierter Weise, so dass komplette Kartendaten niemals auf unseren Systemen gespeichert bleiben.

Qualifizierter Kundendienst

Das Service-Team ist verfügbar sieben Tage lang die Woche zur Kontaktaufnahme und setzt sich zusammen aus mehrsprachigen Experten mit gründlicher Ausbildung im Spielrecht und technischen Lösungsansätzen. Der Echtzeit-Chat bietet mittlere Antwortzeiten von unter zweier Min. innerhalb der Stoßzeiten.

Elektronische Anfragen werden im Zeitraum von 6 Stunden prozessiert, anspruchsvollere Anfragen mit individueller Recherche binnen von 24 Stunden. Wir erfassen jegliche Kommunikationen nach DSGVO-Richtlinien und verwenden das Kundenfeedback zur kontinuierlichen Optimierung unserer eigenen Dienstleistungen.

Kommunikationswege

Zusätzlich zu Echtzeit-Chat und Email bieten wir eine umfangreiche FAQ-Sektion mit über 150 gründlichen Beiträgen zu technologischen Fragestellungen, Bonusbedingungen, KYC-Prozessen und Spielregeln. Tutorial-Videos veranschaulichen komplexe Prozesse visuell für Nutzer, die geschriebene Anleitungen als weniger zugänglich wahrnehmen.

Kontrolliertes Gaming

In der Rolle als lizenzierter Anbieter tragen wir Verantwortung für die Prävention bedenklichen Spielverhaltens. Unsere Webseite implementiert diverse Tools zur persönlichen Kontrolle: Deposit-Limits, Loss-Limits, Sitzungszeitbegrenzungen und Selbstausschlussoptionen von einem 30-Tage-Zeitraum bis zu dauerhaften Ausschlüssen.

Wir kollaborieren mit Einrichtungen wie Gam Care und Be Gamble Aware und offerieren direkte Links zu qualifizierten Support-Einrichtungen. Das Team werden periodisch im Erkennen von Risikosignalen ausgebildet und ist ermächtigt, proaktiv Kunden zu kontaktieren, deren Nutzungsverhalten auf mögliche Risiken hinweist.

Bei RockysSpin auffassen wir Spieltätigkeit als Unterhaltungsform, niemals als Verdienstmöglichkeit. Klarheit über Gewinnchancen, Return-to-Player-Werte und kalkulatorische Hausvorteile gehört zu der Informationspflicht. Ausschließlich informierte Nutzer können bewusste Entscheidungen treffen – jene Denkweise leitet sämtliche unsere geschäftlichen Maßnahmen.

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

MegaBlock: The Revolutionary Gaming Entertainment Experience

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Index of Topics

Primary Play Functions and Math Foundation

MegaBlock operates on a complex formula that combines classic slot mechanics with innovative cascading block structures. The game uses a proprietary arbitrary number generator certified by Gambling Laboratories International, guaranteeing every spin generates genuine variance with a confirmed RTP (Return to Player) of 96.4 percent. Such figure positions MegaBlock within the highest-rated casino games in this industry, a fact validated through third-party analysis performed across 10 million gaming sessions.

This grid structure comprises of a seven-by-seven gaming field where icons arrange to create victorious combinations. Contrary to standard slot games, MegaBlock Igra presents a special cluster-pay feature that pays users when five or more identical symbols connect horizontally or upright. All successful cluster activates the cascading feature, clearing successful symbols and permitting new ones to fall into place, producing chances for consecutive wins within a single stake.

Symbol Type
Min Cluster
Prize Multiplier
Occurrence Rate
Elite Diamond 5 symbols 150x 2.8%
Yellow Star five symbols 75x 4.2%
Crimson Block five symbols 40x 6.5%
Green Tile 5 symbols 25x 9.1%
Standard Blocks 5 symbols 10x-15x 18.3%

Planned Method to Maximize Returns

Victory in MegaBlock necessitates understanding the correlation between volatility and gaming length. This game implements a moderate-high volatility system, signifying payouts happen less often but deliver considerable prizes when these appear. Gamers should consider their budget control plan thoroughly before starting prolonged play sessions.

Budget Management Essentials

  • Play Allocation: Separate your entire budget into minimum 50 betting units to survive volatility during infrequent prize periods
  • Stake Sizing: Maintain uniform bet amounts between one to two percent of your complete budget per round to guarantee duration during losing streaks
  • Win Preservation: Set aside forty percent of major wins immediately to secure successful session results regardless of subsequent results
  • Period Constraints: Create preset play durations of 30 to 45 minutes to preserve optimal decision-making capabilities
  • Losing Limits: Implement strict loss-stop boundaries at 30 percent of session budget to avoid reactive chase behavior

Function Breakdown and Payment Structure

The multiplier growth system separates MegaBlock from alternative titles. Each consecutive cascade boosts the victory boost gradually, beginning at one-x and moving through 2 times, 4x, 8 times, attaining a max of 128 times during outstanding sequences. The exponential growth generates situations where initial modest wins convert into substantial prizes through sustained tumbling reactions.

Cascade Number
Current Multiplier
Cumulative Win Potential
Probability
First Cascade 1x Starting Payout 28.4%
2nd Cascade 2x 2 times Total 12.7%
Third Cascade 4x six-x Total 5.3%
Following Cascade 8x 14 times Total 1.8%
5th+ Cascade 16x-128x 30 to 270 times Total 0.4%

Bonus Round Initiation

This free spins mode triggers when four or more scatter symbols appear simultaneously on the grid. Gamers receive twelve initial complimentary spins with continuous boosts that never refresh between falls. Such mechanism fundamentally changes the numerical expectation, as victorious falls preserve their multiplication amounts throughout the complete bonus duration.

Gamer Advantages in Our Game

  1. Transparent Mathematics: All payout figures and likelihood allocations are publicly revealed and third-party validated, erasing uncertainty from tactical planning
  2. Acquire Feature Option: Users can buy immediate entry to the bonus round for 100x their starting bet, avoiding base game fluctuation entirely
  3. Customizable Volatility: Bet size choices ranging from 0.20 to 100.00 credits accommodate careful players and whales simultaneously
  4. Portable Optimization: Complete functionality across all platforms with no operational reduction or capability constraints on smartphones and tablets
  5. Autoplay Intelligence: Enhanced automatic options feature profit limit halts, losing limit halts, and individual win limit stops for enhanced control

Betting Enhancement Techniques

Numerical evaluation of prolonged play sessions shows ideal results materializes when users maintain stake stability rather than using progressive betting systems. This numerical benefit remains constant independent of bet change, creating level betting the most sustainable extended approach. Our game’s framework favors discipline and controlled budget management over risky wager manipulation.

Skilled players realize that peak worth extraction happens through planned special round scheduling. Our acquire feature turns mathematically favorable when accumulated session deficits near 80-90x the starting wager, as acquiring special admission at the level offers equivalent expected value to continuing base game gameplay while generating concentrated fun value and fluctuation resolution.

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor

Gransino Casino Nederland: Jouw Destinatie voor Hoogwaardige Online Gaming

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Inhoudsopgave

Vergunning en Beveiliging

Wanneer je op ons gamed, kun u hierop rekenen dat jij in ‘n geheel gereglementeerde omgeving zich bevindt. gransino casino werkt onder strenge wetgeving en gebruikt de meest strenge veiligheidsnormen die in de gehele de industrie beschikbaar zijn. We doen inzet van moderne SSL-codering om al onze privé en monetaire informatie van al onze klanten te waarborgen.

Openheid komt bij ons casino bovenaan. Alle game-uitkomsten zijn bepaald door gecertificeerde Random Number Generators (RNG), dit wil zeggen dat elk game-uitkomst volledig willekeurig en fair is. Externe auditbedrijven inspecteren periodiek onze systemen om de eerlijkheid te waarborgen.

Veiligheidsaspect
Specificatie
Verificatie
Encryptie 256-bit SSL Dagelijks gemonitord
RNG Certificering iTech Labs goedgekeurd Maandelijkse audits
Gegevensbescherming AVG compliant Jaarlijkse certificering
Verantwoord Spelen CRUKS geïntegreerd Real-time verificatie

Ons Brede Spelportfolio

Via Gransino Casino Nederland presenteren wij een zorgvuldig opgebouwde collectie van ruim dan 850 games van toonaangevende game-ontwikkelaars. Ons assortiment wordt voortdurend aangevuld met alle recentste uitgaves, zodat je altijd access hebt over de allerbeste vernieuwende gaming-ervaringen.

Slots en Tafelspellen

De gokkastverzameling varieert van ouderwetse fruitmachines tot geavanceerde video automaten met cumulatieve hoofdprijzen. Speciaal voor liefhebbers van tafelspellen hebben wij een ruim aanbod aan varianten van roulettegames, blackjackspellen, punto banco en pokervarianten. Elk individueel spel is afgestemd voor beide computer als mobiele toestellen, met kristalheldere beeldkwaliteit en vloeiende speelbeleving.

Live-dealer Casino Ervaring

Onze live dealer-casino wordt aangedreven door deskundige dealers die in realtime met u interacteren vanuit ultramoderne studio’s. De HD-videostreams zorgen voor een waarachtige casinosfeer, ondertussen je comfortabel vanaf huis gamed. Wij presenteren live versies van alle populaire tafelgames, waaronder exclusieve types zoals Bliksem Roulette en Infinite Blackjack.

Betalingsmethoden en Transacties

We begrijpt dat vlugge en solide betalingen cruciaal zijn ter ondersteuning van een ideale spelervaring. Bijgevolg hebben hebben we middelen gestoken in een compleet uitgebreid platform van betaalmethoden die specifiek zijn afgestemd op onze Hollandse doelgroep.

  • iDEAL: Rechtstreekse bankoverschrijvingen vanaf alle Nederlandse bankinstelling met onmiddellijke confirmatie
  • Creditcards: Visa en MasterCard met afhandeling in 24 uur tijd
  • E-wallets: Skrill, Neteller en Paypal voor onmiddellijke overboekingen
  • Bankoverschrijving: Klassieke methode voor grotere bedragen met verhoogde beveiliging
  • Prepaid vouchers: Prepaid vouchers voor anonieme deposito’s
Betaalmethode
Minimale Storting
Maximale Opname
Verwerkingstijd
iDEAL €10 €10.000 Direct
Creditcard €20 €5.000 1-3 werkdagen
E-wallets €10 €15.000 Direct – 24 uur
Bankoverschrijving €50 €25.000 3-5 werkdagen

Bonus-aanbiedingen en Aanbiedingen

Al onze klanten krijgen het beste, en dit weerspiegelt zich binnen ons genereuze bonusprogramma. Van het ogenblik dat jij je registreert, ben je beloond voor je loyaliteit en speelbeleving. Iedere actie is opgezet met eerlijke inzetvereisten en heldere condities.

Aanmeldpakket

Verse gebruikers ontvangen een gul starterspakket dat wordt verdeeld over alle eerste 3 stortingen. Hetgeen verschaft je extra game-tijd en maximaliseert je potentieel om al onze titels te verkennen alvorens direct uw eigen speelbudget geheel in te gaan inzetten. Al onze bonusvoorwaarden zijn helder aangegeven, zonder verscholen voorwaarden.

VIP-systeem

Ons VIP-programma bestaat uit diverse niveaus waarbij je vanzelf rewards vergaart bij iedere bet. Bovenstaande credits kunnen zijn getransformeerd in bonustegoed, free rotaties of speciale awards. Des te verder je niveau, zoveel groter benefits je ontgrendelt, inclusief dedicated account-beheerders en toegang voor exclusieve events.

Klantenondersteuning en Support

Het helpdesk blijft 24/7 uur per dag, alle weekdagen per weekcyclus voor jou paraat. We heeft bewust gekozen voor Nederlandstalige medewerkers die niet slechts alleen de taal hanteren, maar tevens de unieke vereisten van Nederlandse gamers doorgronden.

  • Live Chat: Directe ondersteuning via de livechat op alle pagina van ons platform
  • E-mail Support: Gedetailleerde reacties gedurende 2 uur in werktijd
  • Telefoon: Directe lijn met een deskundige specialist voor complexere zaken
  • FAQ-sectie: Omvangrijke informatiedatabase met reacties op reguliere vragen
  • Video Tutorials: Geleidelijke uitleg voor nieuwe gebruikers

Mobiel Gaming bij Gransino

Het grootste gros van onze spelers speelt via ons gameplatform via handheld apparaten, en daar hebben heeft Gransino geheel op ingespeeld. Het speelportaal is opgezet met ‘n mobiel-gerichte aanpak, dit impliceert dat onze tablet beleving net zo uitgebreid en smooth is als wanneer je op desktop.

Responsief Design en Functionaliteit

U hoeft niet geen aparte mobiele app te installeren; ons casino past zich vanzelf aan ieder display-afmeting aan. Ongeacht of je momenteel een Apple toestel, Android-smartphone, of iPad gebruikt, de interface wordt makkelijk te bedienen en al onze functies zijn volledig bereikbaar. Inzetten, uitbetalingen, bonus-activatie en hulpdienst zijn elk afzonderlijk geoptimaliseerd voor touchscreen-bediening.

De opstartsnelheden zijn geoptimaliseerd voor mobiele verbindingen, en reeds op 4G-netwerken werken onze spellen vrij van haperingen. Ten behoeve van liefhebbers van levende casino heeft er geavanceerde streaming-techniek geïmplementeerd die HD-resolutie waarborgt bij minimaal databereik.

Via Gransino Casino NL blijft hoogwaardige service, veiligheid en spelplezier centraal. We blijft investeren in alle modernste technologieën en luisteren nauwgezet naar input van onze gebruikerscommunity om een perfecte online casino-ervaring te verschaffen aan Nederlandse spelers.

Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor