The online MBA at Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education (ADDOE), Amity University has the largest class size of all the online MBA programs featured in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2020, with 4392 students. 

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2020 assess the online MBA offerings of 47 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA remotely.

You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

10) Bradford University School of Management

Bradford University School of Management’s Distance Learning MBA two-year program could be seen as a moderately sized online MBA program in the grand scheme of things.

Students will study at their own convenience through the business school’s Virtual Learning Environment, with live online tutor sessions to contextualize learning.

Assessment include: a 4,000-word core assignment, 2,000-word elective assignment, and 15,000-word Management Project.

Students on the program have an average of 13 years’ work experience, 76 percent of students are international, and 31 percent are female. Tuition is the same for all students at £18,296 (US$22,784), but some international students may need to pay extra fees.

9) AGSM @ UNSW Business School

Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of New South Wales Business School’s MBAX scored highly for employability and class experience.

AGSM’s program features a compulsory starter course, five core courses, five specialization courses, and a capstone course in: Change, Social Impact, Technology or Finance. Similarly, you could take international exchange opportunities at business schools including London Business School, Yale School of Management and the NUS Business School.

The total estimated fees for the program (change/technology/finance track) are AUD$59,760 (approx. US$36,465), and AUD$56,340 (approx. US$34,381) for the social impact track. The cohort has an average of 13 years’ work experience and 37 percent female students.

8) Colorado State University College of Business

CSU’s College of Business Online MBA is a 21-month, 42-credit program teaching major functional business areas, including accounting, finance, information systems, leadership and human resources, supply chain, strategy, and marketing. The program scored very highly for the Class Experience indicator.

You also can spend seven to 10 days on the optional international business study trip as an elective – meeting with business leaders, learning international business culture, and becoming acclimated to different environments.

Tuition for the program ranges from US$42,580 (full-time) or US$43,294 (part-time). Students on the program have an average of 10 years’ work experience, 42 percent are female, and the average length of program is 21 months.

7) Jack Welch Management Institute

The JWMI online MBA was founded by former GE CEO Jack Welch in 2009. The program scored close to a perfect score for the Class Profile indicator. Students will learn business lessons from Welch, as well as from CEOs of companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Starbucks.

Students can complete the program from 18-36 months, there are 12 classes (10 weeks per course), and you’ll only spend 10-15 hours per week per class. The JWMI emphasizes that you can ‘Learn it on Monday, apply it on Tuesday’.

Tuition fees are US$46,200 for the whole course, with funding assistance also available. Students in the cohort have an average of 15 years’ work experience – the second highest number in the global ranking – 14 percent of students are female, and 46 percent are female.

6) Warwick Business School

The online MBA at WBS – ranked third globally – achieved the second-highest score in the global ranking for the Class Profile indicator.

Warwick’s program takes an average of 30 months to complete. In your first year, you’ll undertake eight required modules and two ‘Warwick Weeks’ on campus. In your second year you’ll have four elective modules and a consultancy project. Per module, there are 30 teaching hours, 40 hours of guided self-study and 30 hours of independent study.

The cohort is diverse, with 79 percent international students (down from 92 percent) and 28 percent female students. Fees for the program are £33,250 (approx. US$41,210) and include one international elective module.

5) Indiana University, Kelley School of Business

Offered by Kelley Direct Programs, Indiana University’s online MBA program – established in 1999 – was the first online MBA offering from a top school. The program achieved a perfect score for class experience and a high score for employability.

The program can be tailored to your professional goals, as 50 percent of the modules are electives plus you can choose from seven major specializations including Business Analytics, Marketing and Finance (amongst others), and a signature integrated core experience. There are weekly live classes and international immersive electives available.

Meet your classmates and professors at the Kelley Connect Weeks, two required one-week residencies in Bloomington, Indiana. The cohort has an average of 8.5 years’ work experience and 26 percent female students. The 24-month program has tuition fees of US$67,830.

4) Martin J. Whitman School of Management

With 485 students in its cohort, Whitman’s online MBA@Syracuse program just missed out on the top 3 largest MBA cohorts. The program scored very highly for the Class Experience indicator.

Syracuse’s online MBA curriculum requires 54 credits (36 credits of core, 15 credits of electives, 3 credits of US and/or global residencies) to complete in as few as 24 months. Past residencies have been hosted in business hubs such as New York City, Denver, Hong Kong, and Munich.

A range of electives are available in areas that include project management, entrepreneurship, marketing research, and Lean Six Sigma.

Students in the cohort have an average of 11.3 years’ work experience, 40 percent female students, and participants complete the program in an average of 30 months. The estimated tuition is US$87,480.

3) Alliance Manchester Business School

AMBS’s Global MBA achieved a high score for the class profile indicator – and with 717 students it’s unsurprising.

The Manchester Global Part-time MBA degree combines core courses, electives and applied learning (including simulation projects and live business projects). The flexible program includes 30 days of teaching spread across six workshop residentials (including Dubai, Hong Kong, Manchester, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore).

The 24-month program (with start dates in July and January) has tuition fees of £30,000 (approx. US$37,293) or £27,500 for the accelerated Finance pathway (approx. US$34,177). The cohort is diverse, with 84 percent international students, 37 percent female students, and 12 years’ average work experience.

2) Open University Business School

With distance learning at its ethos, it’s no wonder the Open University is one of the world’s most respected distance learning institutions, so it’s not surprising that their triple accredited flexible MBA attracts a lot of students – 1251 to be precise. The program scored very highly for the Class Profile and Class Experience indicators.

The program combines online forums and web discussion rooms with the all-important face to face component, with short residential schools and optional face to face workshops for most modules. Students can complete the MBA program in anything from 18 months to seven years.

Tuition ranges from £16,790–£18,420 (approx. US$20,862 to $22,886) depending on the route taken and if you’re from the UK, Republic of Ireland, EU, or international. Women make up 37 percent of the cohort, and international students make up 26 percent.

1) Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education

And we’ve reached our online program with the largest cohort in QS’ Global Full-Time online MBA Ranking 2020 - Amity Directorate of Distance & Online Education’s online MBA with 4,392 students. The program scored very highly for the Class Experience indicator.

The two-year Online MBA Program was introduced by Amity Online in 2005.

Amity’s Learning Management System (LMS) features learning materials and interactive content, live online classes, webinars, and video lectures on demand. The program offers 15 industry-oriented specializations which can be elected from the 3rd semester onwards.

Students complete the program in an average of 24 months (with start dates in January and July). Participants on the program have an average of five years’ work experience, 26 percent international students, and 43 percent female students. The total tuition US$3,200.

The online MBA at Sawyer Business School has the highest percentage of female students of those featured in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2019, with 59 percent of its cohort identifying as female.  

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 47 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA remotely.

10) Kogod School of Business

At 19^th place in the overall ranking this year and 10^th for percentage of female students is MBA@American at American University’s Kogod School of Business.

Students can choose to complete the program in 24, 18, 15 or 12 months. There are 12 core courses, three elective courses, and two in-person immersions. Students need 48 credits to graduate.

The average work experience of this year’s student cohort is 6.2 years. Only one percent of the class are international students, the same as last year.

Tuition is US$84,432.

9) Kennesaw State – Michael J. Coles College of Business

In ninth place for percentage of female students is Kennesaw State. The online MBA program achieved a high score for the class profile indicator.

With a small cohort of 33 students who have an average of 8.9 years’ work experience, the program has an accelerated structure that allows them to gain their degree at the same speed as the on-campus cohort.

Tuition is US$24,370.

=6) University of South Florida St. Petersburg

In joint sixth place for the cohorts with the most female students – and a new entry in the online MBA rankings in 45^th place – is the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

The 120 students of the online MBA program, of which seven percent are international students, have an average of 6.6 years of professional experience.

Tuition is US$16,617.24.

=6) La Trobe Business School 

The second of three online MBA programs with 50 percent of women in their 2020 cohort is La Trobe University Business School. The average program length is 24 months, but students can choose to complete it in as little as one year.

La Trobe’s online MBA focuses on innovative enterprise learning via Zoom, with unique courses such as the UN-backed ‘Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME) aimed at training the future leaders of the business world.

Students have an average of 10.1 years’ work experience.

Tuition is AUS$39,936.48.

=6) Fox School of Business and Management 

The final school coming in joint sixth place is Fox School of Business and Management.

Students on Fox’s medium-size program have an average of 11.7 years of work experience, one of the highest in this year’s ranking. The program received a high score for class profile.

The majority of faculty at Fox’s online MBA also teach on-campus MBA courses, guaranteeing students receive the exact same education experience – regardless of being online or in-person – ensuring the online MBA is consistent with the school’s values and learning objectives. Classes are taught on the learning management system Canvas and students can interact with each other and faculty members through Zoom.

Tuition is US$59,760.

5) SBS Swiss Business School

Halfway through the list, showing a significant improvement from last year’s ranking, is Switzerland’s SBS Swiss Business School, with the first school in the top 10 passing gender parity with52 percent of its cohort identifying as female.

SBS’ online MBA is ranked in 27^th place in this year’s overall ranking, with students having an average of nine years of work experience. The 2020 student cohort is one of the most international on the list at 79 percent.

The program is case study oriented and features live webinars on its platforms.  

Tuition at SBS is one of the cheapest on the list at US$17,819.25.

4) Chapman Graduate School of Business – Florida International University

Florida International University received high scores across all indicators. The program’s student cohort has an average of eight years’ work experience, one of the highest on the list, and 53 percent of attendees identifying as women.

The 24-month online MBA program offers eight specializations including International Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Marketing Channel Strategy, Strategic Negotiations, Business Date Analytics, Real Estate and Leadership.

Tuition is US$42,000.

3) Frank G. Zarb School of Business

With a two-rank improvement from last year, 2020’s third online MBA with the highest number of female students is Hofstra University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business.

The 20-month program is a 45-credit MBA which features a curriculum divided into three focus areas: core competencies, advanced core, and major concentration. Students also have the option to take the non-cohort option and graduate within five years.

Students have an average of 12 years’ work experience.

Tuition is US$64,350.

2) EU Business School 

In the silver medal position in this year’s ranking for the number of female students with a cohort is EU Business School  - with 56 percent female students.

The online MBA program boasts 100 percent international students and has received a perfect score in class experience. The student cohort’s average years of work experience is high at 9.5.

Upon graduation, EU Business School students receive a state-accredited MBA from the University of Roehampton in London, as well as their EU degree.

The program – which can be completed in 12 or 15 months – is a mix of interactive webinars, business simulations and on-campus networking opportunities, giving students the opportunity to personalize their e-learning experience.

Tuition is EUR17,400, equivalent to US$19,515.84.

1) Suffolk University – Sawyer Business School

Topping the table for the most female students on an online MBA program this year is Suffolk’s online MBA, priding itself with 59 percent female students in its 2020 cohort.

The school scored high in class experience, offering its students 12 concentrations and over 100 electives to choose from to tailor their MBA experience to their interests.

Throughout the course, students have the opportunity to work remotely on over seven different client projects, developing strong business acumen and the skills necessary to be successful in the business world.

Tuition is the cheapest on the list at US$1,171.

The online MBA at EU Business School has the highest percentage of international students of those featured in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2020.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 47 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA remotely.

10) Aston Business School

Kicking off our top 10 is Aston Business School, international students making up 53 percent of the 2020 cohort.

The school offers six MBA intakes every year to ensure that the program is widely accessible to a wide range of candidates, regardless of personal and professional commitments.

The program is completely online and features several UN Sustainable Development Goals in its curriculum, such as Good Health and Well-being, Industry, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. The inclusion of these goals helps students become responsible leaders.

Tuition is US$24,245.86.

=8) The Robert Gordon University Aberdeen Business School

In joint eighth place is Aberdeen Business School’s online MBA, with 69 percent of international students in its 2020 cohort.

The program focuses on practical teaching to give its students advanced leadership skills and an in-depth understanding of different areas of business. Participants have the option to choose a specialization, such as the MBA Oil and Gas Management specialist course, to tailor their curriculum to their interests.

This year, the program has a very small student cohort of only 26 students, but they do have one of the highest averages for work experience – 14 years. 19 percent of students identify as female.

The program takes an average of 33 months to complete. Activities include two-and-a-half hours per week of lectures, webinars and 32-48 hours of practical classes or workshop in the final semester.

Tuition for the program is £20,000 (approx. US$25,096).

=8) Birmingham Business School

The second school in joint eighth place is Birmingham Business School. Its 33-month online MBA program has 69 percent international students in its 2020 cohort.

Birmingham’s online MBA provides a combination of academic research, practical teaching and integrated online live conferencing sessions. Corporate social responsibility, sustainability and multiculturalism are recurring themes throughout the program, helping students tailor their business knowledge to the issues of contemporary times.

Birmingham Business School offers three MBA intakes per year. Tuition is US$26,716.03.

7) Bradford School of Management

Bradford School of Management offers a 36-month MBA with four yearly intakes in January, April, July and October. The program has a high percentage of international students: 76 percent in the 2020 cohort.

Tuition is £18,296 (approx. US$24,245.86). Bradford students have the option to take two international modules through the university’s Dubai Hub at no additional cost.

The program received a good score for class profile. Out of the 2020 student cohort, 31 percent identify as female. Participants have an average 13 years’ work experience.

=5) SBS Swiss Business School

In joint fifth place for most international students is SBS Swiss Business School. Its multicultural program boasts 79 percent international students, 52 percent of female students and a high score for the class experience indicator.

This year’s cohort has 53 students who have an average 9 years’ work experience. The program takes 24 months on average to complete.

There are 15 modules on the SBS online MBA, each taking eight weeks to complete. Aside from traditional e-teaching, students can participate in a wide range of webinar sessions and online forums to boost their curriculum.

=5) Warwick Business School

Halfway through our list in joint fifth place is Warwick Business School, with 79 percent international students in its medium-sized cohort of 367.

Pietro Micheli, Course Director for the Distance Learning MBA and Professor of Business Performance and Innovation, said: "We are looking for driven individuals who will add their own unique perspective to create a diverse cohort in terms of cultures, professions, sectors and experience."

The online MBA program received high scores across the board in our rankings, taking on average 30 months to complete.

Warwick’s program is undertaken primarily online with two residential weeks and an optional face-to-face module. Students who are interested in the ethics of business can take part in specialized courses such as Business & Sustainability and Leadership.

Tuition is US$42,425.

4) Imperial College Business School

In fourth place with 80 percent of international students on its online MBA program is Imperial College Business School, which scored highly in employability and faculty and teaching.

Professor Markus Perkmann, Academic Director of the Global Online MBA, said: "International students enrich our community and bring unique cultural, career and educational backgrounds to their cohort which creates a more interesting study experience for all students.

"Online learning has taken away the physical barriers of geographic location which means that students from all over the world can study together, gaining the important skills, knowledge and networks needed to succeed in the world of international business."

The 24-month MBA is taught on Imperial’s own EdTech platform, providing students with a dynamic and flexible online experience. The program offers an activity-based approach to foster student collaboration and human-centred learning experiences.

Tuition is £36,500 (approx. US$48,369.90). In terms of class profile, 30 percent of the 2020 cohort identify as female. On average, participants have 10.5 years’ work experience.

3) Alliance Manchester Business School

In the bronze medal position for highest number of international students on a course is the online MBA program at Alliance Manchester Business School. Out of the 717 students in this year’s cohort, 84 percent are international.

The online MBA combines core courses, electives and applied learning, including simulation projects and live business projects.

The 24-month program received a high score for class profile. Tuition is £29,500 (approx. US$39,093.40).

2) IE Business School

In second place for cohort diversity is the Global Online MBA at IE Business School. The program earned the top spot in this year’s ranking,  cementing its stance as the best online MBA program for yet another year, with a perfect score of 100 for employability and class experience.

Out of 71 students in the 2020 cohort, 86 percent are international, and 34 percent identify as female. Participants have an average of 10 years’ work experience.

On average, students complete IE’s online MBA in 18 months, making it the second-shortest program on the list.

Teaching is comprised of theoretical and practical classes and requires a high level of interaction, allowing students to gain new business perspectives.

Dean Martin Boehm said: "The faculty in IE's Online MBA program have a distinctly international profile - one which mirrors that of our student body - and they are dedicated to excellence in their research as well as their teaching and professional activities.

"The faculty are trained in their special art of teaching online and are focused on building connections and fostering participation between students."

Tuition is EUR€50,000 (approx. US$56,080).

1) EU Business School

And at the top of our list with the highest number of international students on its 2020 cohort is the online MBA at EU Business School.

The program boasts 100 percent international students and has received a perfect score in class experience.

Upon graduation, EU Business School students receive a state-accredited MBA from the University of Roehampton in London, as well as their EU degree.

The program – which can be completed in 12 or 15 months – is a mix of interactive webinars, business simulations and on-campus networking opportunities, giving students the opportunity to personalize their e-learning experience.

Tuition is EUR€17,400 (approx. US$19,515.84).

The online MBA program at George Washington University School of Business has the most expensive tuition in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2020.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 47 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA from the comfort of your home.

10) Baylor University

Tuition: US$51,264

Kicking off our top 10 is Baylor University’s online MBA, which scored highly in the employability indicator.

The program offers six yearly intakes in January, March, May, June, August and October and can be completed in as little as one year, although the average duration is 30 months.

The online MBA is asynchronous, meaning that students can complete courses whenever it suits them, and focuses on ethical leadership and Christian values.

33 percent of the 2020 cohort of 30 students identify as female. All students have on average 11 years’ work experience.

9) Eller College of Management

Tuition: US$51,525

In ninth place for online MBA programs with the most expensive tuition is Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona’s online MBA.

The program offers six starting date options per year and six areas of concentration for students to tailor their curriculum – Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Management, Management and Organizations, Privacy and Security and Marketing.

Students also have the option to participate in international travel with full-time MBA students.

Out of the 2020 cohort of 108 students, 31 percent are women. The program takes on average 30 months to complete.

8) IE Business School

Tuition: EUR€50,000 (approx. US$56,080).

In eighth place for most expensive online MBA programs is IE Business School’s Global MBA.

The program earned the top spot as best online MBA in this year’s rankings, with a perfect score of 100 for employability and class experience.

Out of 71 students in the 2020 cohort, 86 percent are international, and 34 percent identify as female. Participants have an average of 10 years’ work experience.

On average, students complete IE’s online MBA in 18 months, making it the second-shortest program on the list.

Teaching is comprised of theoretical and practical classes and requires a high level of interaction, allowing students to gain new business perspectives.

7) University of Florida Warrington College of Business

Tuition: US$59,807.52

The seventh most expensive online program in this year’s ranking is the online MBA from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business.

The new 24-month, 48-credit program combines online classes, individual assignments, group projects and weekly readings. Participants also have the option to participate in cohort networking and co-curricular professional activities.

There are 186 students in the 2020 cohort, with an average of 6.69 years’ work experience. 37 percent of students identify as female, and just about 5 percent are international.

6) Frank G. Zarb School of Business

Tuition: US$64,350.

In sixth place for most expensive tuition is the online MBA from Hofstra University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business.

The 20-month program is a 45-credit MBA which features a curriculum divided into three focus areas: core competencies, advanced core, and major concentration. Students also have the option to take the non-cohort option and graduate within five years.

The program has the third highest percentage of female students at 55 percent. Students have an average of 12 years’ work experience.

5) Kelley School of Business

Tuition: US$74,520

Halfway through our list is the online MBA from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. The program scored highly for employability and received a perfect score for class experience.

The 54-credit online MBA is highly customizable, thanks to seven specialization options, and is delivered through three integrated course sets: business foundations, key business functions and the future of business.

Aside from online classes, students can network with their peers, faculty and staff in two week-long residencies where they can gain invaluable hands-on experience by solving live business cases.

Out of the large cohort of 451, 18 percent are international students and 26 percent identify as female.

4) Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Tuition: US$84,186

In fourth place on our list is the online MBA from Syracuse University’s Martin K. Whitman School of Management. The program scored highly for class experience and has one of the largest cohorts in this year’s top 10 for most expensive programs with 485 students.

The program’s curriculum features core business courses, specialized areas of concentration and hands-on domestic and international residencies to give students the skills necessary to advance in the global business environment.

On average, students take 30 months to complete the program.

3) Kogod School of Business

Tuition: US$84,432.

Kicking-off our top three is MBA@American program at the American University’s Kogod School of Business.

The program takes an inclusive and forward-thinking approach to business education, prioritizing diversity and giving students a global perspective to tackle 21^st century business challenges.

Students can choose to complete the program in 24, 18, 15 or 12 months. There are 12 core courses, three elective courses, and two in-person immersions. Students need 48 credits to graduate.

The average work experience of this year’s student cohort is 6.2 years. 48 percent of students identify as female.

2) Marshall School of Business

Tuition: US$99,419

In second place for most expensive tuition is the online MBA from USC Marshall School of Business, which received high scores for class experience, employability and faculty and teaching.

The program is built for a digital-driven business world, helping students develop skills in emerging topics such as analytics, virtual communications and remote team management.

The online MBA begins with a one-week intensive residential in which students and faculty meet face-to-face and complete the first course of the program. The remainder of the program is fully online with synchronous classes and asynchronous coursework that includes interactive scenarios, group assignments, case studies and video.

On average, students take 21 months to complete the program.

1) George Washington University School of Business

Tuition: US$104,895

And at the top of our list with the most expensive tuition is the online MBA at George Washington University School of Business, which received a high score for class experience.

The program takes on average 42 months to complete and is highly influenced by the school’s location – Washington D.C. Students can benefit from the school’s connections with the private, public and NGO sectors through four-day residency courses, class projects, live learning opportunities and co-curricular experiences.

Of the 126 students that make up the 2020 cohort, 46 percent are women and 17 percent are international students.

Which schools offer their online MBA graduates the best chance in the current job market?

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 47 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA from the comfort of your home.

One of the indicators included in the ranking is the employability indicator, revealing the top business schools for graduate employability.

By collecting data from QS surveys and schools themselves, the ranking gives a comprehensive outlook about the institutions employers prefer to hire from.

10) Poole College of Management

Kicking off our top 10 for employability with a score of 70.79 is the online MBA from NC State University Poole College of Management.

The program offers an integrated core curriculum with a focus on technology, business processes, and practical applications. Students can choose between a range of electives and specialized concentrations to meet their interests and career needs.

The 2020 class of 106 students has an average of 10.07 years’ work experience and 30.19 percent of students identify as female.

Tuition is US$46,155.

9) Warwick Business School

In ninth place for graduate employability is Warwick Business School, with a score of 70.97.

Warwick’s online MBA is highly multicultural, with 79 percent international students in its large cohort of 367. It received high scores across the board in our ranking, taking 30 months on average to complete.

The program is studied primarily online with two residential weeks and an optional face-to-face module.

Pietro Micheli, Course Director for the Distance Learning MBA and Professor of Business Performance and Innovation, said: "Our program is not just an online MBA, but a blended distance learning MBA. That is, we believe that this program is, and will be in the future, a mix of online and face-to-face content and interaction."

Students who are interested in the ethics of business can take part in specialized courses such as Business & Sustainability and Leadership.

Tuition is US$42,425.

8) Chapman Graduate School of Business – FIU

Eighth on our list is the online MBA from Chapman, which received an employability score of 71.20 and high scores across all indicators.

The 24-month online MBA program offers eight specializations including International Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Marketing Channel Strategy, Strategic Negotiations, Business Date Analytics, Real Estate and Leadership.

The program’s student cohort has an average of eight years’ work experience, one of the highest on the list. 53 percent of participants identify as female.

Tuition is US$42,000.

7) Baylor University

In seventh place with a score of 74.00 out of 100 is Baylor University’s online MBA.

33 percent of the small 2020 cohort of 30 students identify as female. All students have 11 years’ work experience on average.

The program offers six yearly intakes in January, March, May, June, August and October and can be completed in as little as one year, although the average duration is 30 months.

The online MBA is asynchronous, meaning that students can complete courses whenever it suits them, and focuses on ethical leadership and Christian values.

Tuition is US$51,264.

6) Marshall School of Business

In sixth place for employability is the second most expensive program in our global ranking, the online MBA from USC Marshall School of Business.

The program, which received high scores for class experience and faculty and teaching, is built for a digital-driven business world, helping students develop skills in emerging topics such as analytics, virtual communications and remote team management.

The online MBA begins with a one-week intensive residential in which students and faculty meet face-to-face and complete the first course of the program. The remainder of the program is fully online with synchronous classes and asynchronous coursework that includes interactive scenarios, group assignments, case studies and video.

On average, students take 21 months to complete the program. Tuition is US$99,419.

5) MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business

Halfway through our top 10 list for employability is MIP’s iFlex MBA, which received a high score of 76.83 out of 100.

The program focuses on the development of technical and soft skills through analytical and practice-oriented teaching. Students have access to AI mentoring tools, personalized learning platforms and online networking opportunities with alumni and professionals in the business world.

In 2019, MIP revised the online MBA portolio and added new courses about innovation and entrepreneurship to provide students with more top-notch business skills.

Federico Frattini, Dean and Professor at MIP, said: "The whole portfolio was revised to be able to accelerate the growth of managers and entrepreneurs, to give candidates the opportunity to become real agents of change and innovation in their companies and organizations.

"We believe this is a choice appropriate [for students] to be ready to overcome the challenges our companies will face in the future. Only innovation and an innovative mindset can guide companies out of critical periods."

Out of the 62 students that make up the 2020 cohort, 18 percent identify as female and 40 percent are international. Participants have an average of 13 years’ work experience.

The average program length is 21 months. Tuition is EUR€32,000 (approx. US$35,891.20).

4) AGSM @ UNSW Business School

Narrowly missing out on a top 3 spot is the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) online MBA at the University of New South Wales Business School. The program received a very score of 81.21 for employability and high scores for the class experience and class profile indicators.

The online MBA has a flexible teaching format where students can specialize in different focus areas such as technology, social impact, innovation, and corporate responsibility and accountability. The program offers optional face-to-face courses and access to career support, which is key to student success.

Nick Wailes, Director at AGSM and Deputy Dean at UNSW Business School, said: "[Our] programs are designed and facilitated by experienced academics and leading industry practitioners who know how to ensure that students are successful in this mode of learning and are able to immediately apply what they learn in the program to their work."

Participants have an average of 13 years’ work experience under their belt. Tuition is AUS$57,960 (approx. US$40,609.09).

3) Kelley School of Business

In the bronze medal position for employability is the online MBA from Kelley School of Business. The 27-month program received an employability score of 81.30 and a perfect score for class experience.

The 54-credit online MBA is highly customizable, thanks to seven specialization options, and is delivered through three integrated course sets: business foundations, key business functions and the future of business.

Aside from online classes, students can network with their peers, faculty and staff in two week-long residencies where they can gain invaluable hands-on experience by solving live business cases.

Out of the large cohort of 451, 18 percent are international students and 26 percent identify as female. Tuition is US$74,520.

2) Imperial College Business School

Just missing out on the top spot is Imperial College Business School’s online MBA, which received a near perfect score for employability.

The 24-month MBA is taught through Imperial’s own EdTech platform, providing students with a dynamic and flexible online experience. The program offers an activity-based approach to foster student collaboration and human-centred learning experiences.

Professor Markus Perkmann, Academic Director of the Global Online MBA, said: "This ranking reflects the that we have selected our best core faculty to teach on our Global Online MBA and that our graduates do very well in terms of progressing their careers.

"Our faculty are world leading experts in their subject domains and offer a great online learning experience, closely aligned with the skills students need to succeed in the global jobs market."

Tuition is £36,500 (approx. US$48,369.90). In terms of class profile, the program is highly multicultural with 80 percent of international students in the 2020 cohort. On average, participants have 10.5 years’ work experience.

1) IE Business School

In first place with a perfect score of 100 for employability is the Global Online MBA at IE Business School. The program also earned the top spot as best online MBA in this year’s ranking, with a perfect score for class experience too.

On average, students complete IE’s online MBA in 18 months, making it the second-shortest program on the global list.

Teaching is comprised of theoretical and practical classes and requires a high level of interaction, allowing students to gain new business perspectives.

Dean Martin Boehm said: "The current virtual environment that we all now find ourselves in shows just how important it is to have digital literacy and skills. This is how we will live and work moving forward and thus it is essential to learn how to navigate between face-to-face and online environments.

"This is a particular strength of our online MBA students and alumni."

The program is made up of three core online periods, one Global Immersion Week and three face-to-face weeks.

Out of 71 students in the 2020 cohort, 86 percent are international, and 34 percent identify as female. Participants have an average of 10 years’ work experience.

Tuition is EUR€50,000 (approx. US$56,080).

Online MBA programmes have taken on increased importance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. To reflect this, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2022 is our largest ranking of online business school provision yet, including over 72 programmes from around the world.  

While full-time MBA programme applications have been in decline in recent years, online MBA programme options have increased in availability and often offer a cheaper alternative to the full-time programme. 

Online MBA programmes have been ranked in this 11th edition of our Online MBA Rankings according to four metric groups, each designed to capture a key component of their mission: employability, diversity and access, the standard of the learning experience, and the quality of the class experience. These four metric groups are: 

Faculty and Teaching (35% of final score) 

Does this programme offer high academic standards? The results incorporate data from QS’s proprietary QS Academic Survey, which captures the sentiments of 95,000 academics globally. This metric also uses inputs provided by participating schools and/or validated by publicly available data. 

This 35 percent is split as follows: 

Academic reputation (15%): This metric gives us an accurate impression of the reputation of an online MBA programme and is based on university and business school nominations from around the world between 2017 and 2021. Academics name the institutions which they believe are the strongest in their subject area. 

 The survey has grown to become the world’s largest survey of academic opinion, and, in terms of size and scope, is an unparalleled means of measuring sentiment in the academic community. 

FTE/number of enrolled students ratio (10%): A higher ratio means students can expect to receive more individual attention from the programme’s faculty. 

Completion rate (10%): This is considered in order to reward programmes which have a consistent cohort and is taken as an indicator that the online MBA programme is worth completing in full. 

Employability (30%) 

How employable are graduates from this online MBA programme? The results incorporate data from QS’s proprietary QS Global Employer Survey, which captures the sentiments of over 44,000 hiring managers worldwide. Each year thousands of employers across all sectors and industries - including Facebook, Google, Uber, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America - respond to the survey with the opportunity to nominate specific business schools that they believe produce the best graduates. 

The QS Global Employer Survey has now been running over 20 years. Between 2017-2021, we collected hundreds of thousands of university and business school nominations from nearly 45,000 global employers. More recent responses have been given the greatest weight in this ranking.  

For the online MBA ranking, we weight more heavily the employers who say they hired online MBAs specifically, as employers don’t always differentiate between the online and full-time versions of the programme.  

The survey helps us have an accurate impression of the reputation of a school compared to its peers among relevant employers who are hiring online MBAs. 

Class Profile (30%) 

How diverse and international is each programme’s class cohort? What is the applicant/place ratio, and how many students are enrolled? How much work experience does the cohort have, on average? These inputs are provided by participating schools and/or validated by publicly available data. 

This 30 percent is split as follows: 

Number of students enrolled (10%): Higher number is important because it means school will have a lot of experience putting many students through the online MBA curriculum. It is also a positive for students because their online MBA network is larger and the groupwork is more diverse.  

Applicant/place ratio (5%): We look at the number of applicants for the online programme over a given period compared with the number of places available for that period. The higher the ratio, the more popular the programme and the higher the score. This is because a higher ratio means it is more selective and points are given to reward this competitiveness. 

Work experience (5%): A large aspect of studying an online MBA is group work and case discussion. Having an online MBA cohort with more work experience provides more perspectives from professional settings and projects that elevate the entire programme experience. This is vital as you don’t just learn from your teachers, but also your peers. 

Proportion of female students (5%): The highest scores are awarded to the online MBA programmes which get closest to gender parity (a 50:50 split). 

Number of nationalities represented (5%): The highest scores are awarded to the online MBA programmes with the most diversity in the classroom. 

Class Experience (5%) 

What is the calibre of each programme’s learning experience? This includes a range of evenly-weighted indicators including physical meetups, regular synchronous classes, access to a learning app on a mobile and/or tablet, and 24/7 tech support. These factors help to create a rewarding experience for the online MBA student. These inputs are provided by participating schools and/or validated by publicly available data. 

As not all of the above factors are always relevant to each online MBA programme, we take a score from the schools which have some or all of these components.