The Online MBA Programmes with the Highest Proportion of Female Students 2021

Which online MBA programmes have the highest proportion of female students in 2021? Clarkson's David D. Reh School of Business takes the number one spot this year, with 65 percent of the online MBA cohort identifying as female.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings 2021 assess the online MBA offerings of 57 business schools worldwide, demonstrating just how easy it is to earn your MBA from the comfort of your home.

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

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

Let's take a look at the online MBA programmes with the highest proportion of female students.

8=) Walsh College

Walsh College held its first virtual course in 1998, and the programme now boasts 4,243 graduates.

You will receive personal attention in small virtual class settings from academic faculty who bring years of real-world experience to the classroom. Students can utilise year-round registration, and the streamlined programme means MBAs can complete the programme in 12 months.

Of the 388 students in this year's cohort, there are 12 nationalities represented and students have an average of 9.5 years work experience.

8=) University of Cincinnati (Lindner)

Students on the online MBA programme at the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business have eight years of work experience on average, and three percent of the 642 students are international, with six nationalities represented.

Online MBA students at the business school can customise their MBA programme by choosing from among 12 credit hours of electives, including: Health Care Administration, Health Care Finance, Health Care Operations, Health Care Policy and Regulation, Marketing, Corporate Taxation, Individual Taxation, and Investment Management.

Students can complete the online MBA programme in as little as 12 months, but usually complete the programme in two years. Tuition is US$34,401, and 80 percent of students in this year's cohort are completely self-funded.

8=) Jack Welch Management Institute

The JWMI online MBA was founded by former GE CEO Jack Welch in 2009. The programme 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 programme 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. Of the 1,987 students in the cohort, participants have an average of 15 years’ work experience (the second-highest number in the global ranking), 18 percent of students are international, 67 nationalities represented (the third-highest number in the global ranking), and 51 percent are female.

8=) Kogod School of Business

Kogod School of Business at the American University’s online MBA programme was one of the top overall scorers for class experience.

The Kogod online MBA has a standard course duration of 24 months, but can also be completed on a 12, 15 or 18-month track. The curriculum features two in-person immersions, 13 core courses and two elective courses.

The programme has surpassed gender parity with 51 percent female students in this year’s cohort. Ranked 22nd globally, this year’s cohort incorporates four nationalities, two percent international students, and students have an average of 5.5 years work experience. Tuition is US$86,976.

6=) University of Memphis (Fogelman)

The University of Memphis’s Fogelman College offers prospective students a 36 credit-hour online MBA.

Fogelman online MBA grads have landed jobs in a number of high-stake companies, including: Deloitte Consulting; Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.; Verizon; AutoZone; FedEx; Nike.

There are five nationalities represented in this year’s cohort, two percent of students are international, 53 percent identify as female, and students have an average of 5.5 years work experience.  

6=) EU Business School

53 percent of students on EU Business School’s online MBA programme also identify as female (however, a slight drop from 56 percent last year).

The online MBA programme 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.

4=) George Washington University School of Business

The online MBA programme at George Washington – ranked 18th globally – scored very highly for the class experience indicator.

Of the 355 students in class, 54 percent are female, 11 percent are international, and 15 nationalities are represented. Students also have an average of 15 years’ worth of experience under their belt (the second joint-highest in the overall global ranking).

Students may begin the program in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters (August, January, or May). Generally, students will take six credit hours per semester. Students must complete 46.5 credits (34.5 credits in required courses and 12 credits in electives).

Since the programme began in 2004, the programme boasts 1,105 graduates.

Tuition for the programme is US$103,635 – the second-highest tuition in the global top 10.

4=) Chapman Graduate School of Business – FIU

Next is the online MBA from Chapman Graduate School of Business at FIU, which received an employability score of 73.10 and a high score for class profile. The cohort’s make up features 54 percent female students, 20 percent of students are international (with 22 nationalities represented), and students have an average of 7 years of work experience.

The programme is highly customisable: students can choose from three different pacing tracks, five term starts and eight specialisations. It also includes a two-day in-campus residency, seminars, industry nights, virtual meetings and business career management opportunities.

Tuition for the entire programme is US$42,000 for both in-state and out-of-state students.

3) Temple University (Fox)

Students on Fox School of Business and Management’s medium-size programme have an average of 11.7 years of work experience, and the programme received a high score for class profile.

The majority of faculty on the Fox 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.

2) Suffolk University (Sawyer)

Dropping down one spot to second place in this year’s top 10 is Suffolk’s online MBA, however, the programme actually boasts a higher percentage of female students this year at 64 percent up from 59 percent.

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.

Of the 134 students on the programme, participants have an average of 5.6 years’ work experience, two percent are international, with two nationalities represented.

1) Clarkson University

Topping the table for the most female students on an online MBA programme this year is Clarkson University – which also scored very highly for the class experience indicator.

The Online MBA at Clarkson runs on quarter-based terms that usually start in September, January, March and June.

Clarkson's Online MBA consists of 14 3-credit courses (10 core courses and four electives) giving students a balanced educational experience.

The online MBA cohort is a modest size with 122 students enrolled – of which nine percent are international with six nationalities represented, and students have an average of 9.5 years work experience. Established in 2010, students usually take an average of 21 months to complete the programme. Tuition for the programme is US$49,308.

There are four award levels associated with the online MBA at Clarkson:  Fellowship (at least 15 percent); Dean’s (at least 25 percent); Presidential (at least 40 percent); Trustees (at least 75 percent)