Top 10 online MBAs for employability 2022

Which schools offer their online MBA graduates the best chance in the current job market? Improving by one place this year, Imperial College Business School’s online MBA programme earned the top spot for employability in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2022.  

Released this month, the rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 72 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 measures employability, revealing the top online MBA programmes for graduate employability and career opportunities based on data from QS surveys and the schools themselves. 

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

10) Babson College, F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business 

Kicking off our top schools for employability is the Babson Part-time MBA. Students can focus their studies by choosing one or more of Babson's seven MBA concentrations, covering topics such as STEM-designated Quantitative Finance or Entrepreneurship.  

The programme offers students an opportunity to put into practice what they’ve learned during a semester-long, client consulting project they’ll undertake in the MBA Core. 

Equipped with the latest business insights, graduates of the 2021 course have gone on to work for companies such as Amazon, Apple, Salesforce and Johnson & Johnson.  

Tuition is US$114,500 and average alumni salary is approximately US$163,044 three years after graduation. 

9) Alliance Manchester Business School 

In ninth place, gaining a spot from the 2021 ranking, is the online MBA programme from Alliance Manchester Business School. The Manchester Global Part-time MBA combines online teaching with face-to-face workshop residentials three times a year.  

Xavier Duran, Director of MBA programmes at Alliance Manchester Business School said: “Our MBA is a transformational programme and equips our students with the confidence to set the direction of their future careers in terms of promotion, changing jobs and companies, changing industry and setting up their own business. 

“From a more management perspective, MBAs will increasingly focus on equipping students and graduates with the skills to manage in a context of uncertainty.” 

The 2022 class profile highlights the diversity of its cohort, with 85 percent classified as international students (coming from 51 different countries) and 35 percent identifying as female students. 

The 24-month flexible programme costs £31,000 (approx. US$40,517) or £28,500 (approx. US$ 37,253) for the accelerated Finance pathway.  

8) Marshall School of Business 

Next is the online MBA from the Marshall School of Business. Students benefit from an integrated curriculum with award-winning video content that consists of five cross-disciplinary courses. The top industries represented by the school’s student body include: Technology, Health Care, Financial Services, Government, and Entertainment and Media.  

Marshall’s Online MBA Career Services support the programme’s primary goal of developing students into leaders ready to succeed in the global marketplace. They offer a range of services including: one-on-one career advising, resume and cover letter reviews, interview preparation and career coaching.  

The class profile includes the second-highest percentage of female students in its cohort in the top 10 with 47 percent, and an average 10 years’ work experience.  

Tuition is US$112, 072. 

7) Chapman Graduate School of Business – FIU 

In seventh place – and gaining a spot from last year’s ranking - is the online MBA from Chapman Graduate School of Business at Florida International University. For a second year running, the course has the highest percentage of female students in the top 10: a commendable 54 percent.  

The Professional MBA is highly customisable. Students can choose from three different pacing tracks, five term starts, 10 specialisations and the programme can be completed in 18, 21 or 33 months.  

Students can also participate in the MBA Industry Night Series – an opportunity to hear first-hand from business industry leaders about the most in-demand business trends, ranging from cybersecurity to government and community relations. They are often frequented by corporate recruiters and serve as networking opportunities for all those who attend.  

Employers represented in the Professional MBA cohorts include Comcast, United Airlines, Intel and Citigroup. 

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

6) Jenkins Graduate School of Management  

In sixth place is the Professional Online MBA at the Jenkins Graduate School of Management. Built on optimal flexibility, students can select from an accelerated or flexible programme to earn their degree in as few as 21 months or up to six years. Students also complete two residencies at NC State’s main campus in Raleigh, North Carolina.  

Reflecting on changes implemented into this year’s programme, a spokesperson from the school said: “We are constantly updating the curriculum to use current issues and practical application through real client projects and introducing new courses that are responsive to industry needs, such as CSR and Artificial Intelligence.” 

The Poole College of Management Center provides MBA students with individualised support through scheduled one-to-one meetings and office hours. During these sessions, students have the opportunity to ask questions about personal branding, interview preparation and salary negotiations.  

Tuition is US$51,655 for in-state students or US$88,599 for out-of-state students.  

5) AGSM @ UNSW Business School 

Halfway through the list, sliding back two spots from last year’s third position, is the only Australian school in the top 10 – Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales.  

The school provides a unique online management degree that allows students to specialise and customise their MBA from four different streams including six core courses, six specialisation options and at least one capstone course.  

A spokesperson from the school said: “The new Responsible Management curriculum provides a broader educational experience that goes beyond simply mastering technical skills, it also equips graduates with the skills they need to meet the demand for ethical expertise in industry.  

“The AGSM MBAX is designed to keep pace with change in the world of business where leaders are now expected to deal with things like the threat of climate change, supply chain issues and reacting against the prospect of modern slavery. 

“To further help students (who currently work and have extensive professional experience) engage and assimilate new knowledge and skills, where possible, we encourage application to current and real work issues throughout their MBA studies.” 

Tuition is US$43,210. 

4) Warwick Business School 

Retaining fourth position for a second year running is Warwick Business School. The Distance Learning MBA is studied primarily online but the course is distinguished by including two residential weeks at the Warwick campus.  

Students can also study up to two of their elective modules face-to-face either on campus at Warwick Business School, at WBS London, or they can choose to study in cities such as Prague, Singapore and Dubai.  

Students will have weekly sessions allocated within their timetable dedicated to their career development, in addition to access to unlimited one-to-one career coaching throughout the year, ensuring they leave WBS feeling confident to make their next career move.  

Graduates of WBS attract top employers, including companies such as IBM, J.P. Morgan, KPMG and Amazon.  

The 2022 class profile is highly diverse, with 66 percent international students and 31 percent female students. 

Tuition is £35,650 (approx. US$46,554).  

3) Kelley School of Business 

Kicking off the top three for employability, and gaining two spots from last year’s fifth position, is Kelley School of Business.  

Professor Will Geoghegan, chair of the Kelley Direct Program and clinical associate professor of management and entrepreneurship, said: “Students in Kelley Direct benefit from one-on-one career coaching with their own dedicated executive career coach, gain knowledge from renowned Kelley School of Business faculty, and take their learning into the marketplace through global and domestic consulting and immersion opportunities. 

“On the career management side, because Kelley treats its career services as a strategic part of its value proposition, Kelley Graduate Career Services is well-resourced and able to attract career services professionals from across the United States, providing world class career services to our students. 

“Kelley GCS has been able to invest in state-of-the-art professional development for our coaches, including but not limited to, executive coaching training programmes for most coaches, as well as in expanding our strong employer relations for an increasing number of employers recruiting directly from Kelley.  

“As a result, Kelley GCS has consistently earned top rankings among business school career services worldwide.” 

More than 64 percent of Kelley Direct Online MBA students are promoted while within the programme or within six months of graduation.  

The class profile assessed for this year’s ranking consisted of 33 percent women and students have an average of 10 years of work experience under their belt. 

Tuition is US$78,246 and average starting salaries are approximately US$122,337.  

2) IE Business School 

Dropping to second place for employability is the world’s number one online MBA programme, the Global Online MBA at IE Business School.  

Throughout the programme, students will have access to career advancement resources such as individual career coaching and guidance from the Talent & Careers department. This personalised career training provides networking opportunities with leading companies and executives from all over the world. 

IE Talent & Careers are specialist in the following industries: Pharma/healthcare, Luxury, Retail, Tech, Law, Finance, Real Estate, Architecture and design, International Development, Consulting, Industrial and Energy. 

The programme can be completed in 17, 24 or 30 months and students have the option to participate in a face-to-face residential in Madrid, learning valuable and actionable insights directly from top industry leaders and organisations. 

Known for its diverse cohorts, the 2022 class profile is made up of 93 percent international students, 63 different nationalities represented and 44 percent women (up from last year’s 40 percent).  

Tuition is €51,200 (approx. US$56,368).  

1) Imperial College Business School 

Imperial College Business School’s Global Online MBA has earned the employability gold medal this year.  

With a wide range of flexcore and elective modules, students can tailor the curriculum to suit their personal interests, or they can specialise in areas such as Business Analytics and Operations, and have this specialisation certified for their employer.  

Professor Markus Perkmann, Academic Director of the programme, said: “For many students, the Global Online MBA is an opportunity to enhance their prospects and chart a path into their future career, whether that be climbing the ladder more rapidly within their current organisation, seeking opportunities with other companies in the same industry, or more drastic pivots in geography or direction. 

“With the support of our Careers team, we help students clarify their goals, career and leadership development plans, identify any limiting beliefs or unhelpful thinking styles, shape personal career narratives and support them to realise their aspirations.” 

Imperial’s Global Online MBA cohort is the second-most international on the list, with 86 percent international students and 60 nationalities represented.  

Fees for the programme are £42,600 (approx. US$55,814).