Top Executive MBA Programs With High Acceptance Rates

When choosing where to study your executive MBA, the application process and its various hurdles can be daunting.

If you’re worried about beating other applicants to a spot at your chosen business school, it might make sense to target an executive MBA program which isn’t too over-subscribed.

Below, we take a look at the executive MBA programs that have the highest acceptance percentage rate according to EMBA applications and enrolments in 2017-18.

10) Audencia Business School

Audencia’s part-time, triple-accredited Executive MBA can be completed between 16 and 19 months.

The program is offered in Paris four days a month (bilingual) or in Nantes on the weekend (bilingual) or three days a month (100 percent in English). 

At the end of the course, you’ll receive the Executive MBA diploma plus an official French state certificate (niveau I, RNCP) equal to a master’s level.

Students are required to have four years of university study, as well as eight years’ professional experience and management responsibilities. Each intake often has 20 to 30 students.

Students will undertake two week-long international seminars in March and October, with past seminars including China and Brazil.

9) University of Stellenbosch Business School

The two-year USB MBA takes a blended/modular approach for the executive MBA – with classes held on campus and online.

USB’s MBA in Managing International Organizations (MBA MIO) sees graduates land senior management level roles at international organizations in the not-for-profit sector. Similarly, USB’s MBA in Health Care Leadership (MBA HCL) assists graduates to apply health care leadership knowledge in the public or private health care industry.

For the Class of 2021, South African students will pay R351,025 for both the MBA Modular and the MBA Blended Learning. Whereas in comparison, students from the rest of the world will pay a total of R419,245 for either program.

8) Krannert School of Management

The IMM Global Executive MBA is 19 months – beginning in March – and requires 48 credit hours.

Students will study in seven countries on four continents across six universities for a global experience.

The curriculum is organized into five modules blending in-class and online learning. Modules consist of an eight- to 10-week preparation period, a two-week on-campus residency, and an online exam.

The expected class statistics for IMM’s Class of 2021: an average of 15 years; work experience; class size of 25; 25 percent female student.

Once completed, students receive two master's degrees: an MBA from Purdue and an MBA from TIAS School for Business and Society at Tilburg University in The Netherlands. The program costs US$85,000.

7) University of Texas at Arlington-College of Business

The UT Arlington Executive MBA’s curriculum is student-team based with an emphasis on case studies.

Fourteen courses are taught in sequence, beginning with a cohort orientation, and culminating with the two-week international immersion trip in the final semester.

Over 15 months, classes meet two weekends per month: Friday 18 pm, and Saturday 8 am5 pm.

On average, there are 20-30 students with an average of 16+ years’ work experience, 38-years-old, female students makeup 29 percent of the class

6) Pacífico Business School

Pacífico’s Corporate MBA – International Edition allows participants to obtain a double international degree – an MBA awarded by the Universidad del Pacífico and a Corporate Master of Business Administration, awarded by Universitat Ramon Llull, ESADE Business School.

In addition, students will receive a diploma of participation for the international module held from McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University.

The program is 14 months in total, with face-to-face classes for four days once a month. Students are required to have five years’ professional experience. Tuition for the program is S145,000 (US$42,816).

5) ESE Business School

ESE Business School – affiliated with the Universidad de los Andes – offers its very own executive MBA program.

Students can take two elective courses from a menu of courses, which could include:

• Customer insight
• Operations in service companies
• Business management in the health sector
• Financial derivatives
• Risk management
• Investments and portfolio management
• Company sustainability
• Family business management

ESE offers an International Seminar, “Challenges for Companies in a Global Environment”, which has been held at IESE Business School in recent years.

On average, students are 35, have 10 years’ work experience, 30 percent are female, and 15 percent are international students. Tuition for the program is UF905 (US$31,387).

4) Kyiv-Mohyla Business School

The Executive MBA program is designed for senior executives who have at least 5 years’ experience in strategy development and implementation and are able to speak English at or above Upper-Intermediate (B2).

Kyiv-Mohyla Business school’s 16-month program features 15 modules (two of which are international), as well as two short-term management development programs.

The five levels that make up the 15 modules are: Introduction to Management Effectiveness; Operational Performance Management; New Generation Strategies; Organizational Development; Strategies in Action.

The program’s tuition is UAH590,000 (US$24,348).

3) IAE Business School

IAE Business School’s executive MBA can be completed in two years – and there are a few methods to choose from: EMBA Monday, EMBA Baires, and the Regional EMBA.

Fundamentals are undertaken in the first year, including how to make a business profitable, and understanding the organization and its environment. Participants will also take part in the hackaton – a week of adaptive leadership.

In the second year, students will take electives, simulators, and international experience, and their final project.

Students are required to have a degree, a minimum of fiver years’ work experience, and a minimum age of 27.

2) Maastricht University

Maastricht University’s executive track of the MBA consists of five obligatory core courses and three remaining modules that can be selected with a focus in Responsible Leadership and Sustainability or Digital Business.

The executive track has an active student body of 63 participants with another 26 students passionately working on their Business Consulting Project.

Students have an average age of 38; participants are required to have at least five years’ work experience, but Maastricht students have an average of 15 years’ experience.

The program costs €28,500 (US$31,352) including classes, study materials, and catering during all educational weeks.

1) Kent State University

Kent State University’s executive MBA program is held one weekend per month, features a summer session and is 100 percent online.

Students can earn their AACSB accredited EMBA in 19 months – but the program is spread across three years should you need it.

Participants will also take part in a 10-day international business experience with a global project. Tuition for the program is US$43,900 for a total of 32 semester credit hours (which also includes beginning residency, international business experience trips, and other elements).