Top 10 Online MBA Programs 2019

This article is based on our 2019 rankings. Check out the QS Online MBA Rankings 2020 for the latest version of this information.

The online MBA program at Spain’s IE Business School has been ranked the best in the world in the QS Online MBA Rankings 2019.

Released today, the QS Online MBA Rankings assess the online MBA offerings of 40 business schools worldwide. You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

Read on to find out more about the top 10 programs setting the global standard for exceptional online MBA provision.

10) Durham University Business School

In tenth place is Durham University Business School, which achieved high scores for class profile and class experience.

You can choose to take the 24-month program 100 percent online or take a blended approach combining online learning with residential modules. Online modules are delivered over a 12-week period, including assessments and students are expected to devote 15 hours per week to study.

Program fees are between £21,000 and £23,000 (approx. US$26,715 to US$29,259). In terms of class profile, 59 percent of students are international and around 28 percent are women. The cohort have an average of 16 years' work experience, the second highest in the rankings.

9) Hough Graduate School of Business, University of Florida

The University of Florida’s online MBA program scored well in all ranking indicators, particularly employability. Tuition fees for the 21-month program are US$59,807.

The majority of the program is delivered online but there are options for residencies at one of the university’s campuses or a Global Immersion Experience. Students can watch online lectures at their convenience, and can expect to spend around 15 hours per week on individual assignments, group projects and readings.

In terms of class profile, 34 percent of the class are female, with an average of seven years’ work experience. Graduates have in impressive average post-program salary of US$96,288.

8) Alliance Manchester Business School

Alliance Manchester Business School achieved high scores across all ranking indicators, including a high score for class experience.

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 has tuition fees of £29,500 (approx. US$37,620) or £26,500 for the accelerated Finance pathway (approx. US$33,794). The cohort is diverse, with 87 percent international students, 35 percent female students, and 11 years’ average work experience.

7) MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business

MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business’ online MBA offering lasts 21 months. The program achieved a perfect score for class experience and the second-highest score in the rankings for faculty and teaching.

The program is made up primarily of digital learning, with two compulsory face-to-face weeks, additional optional face-to-face weeks and international study options. There are weekly two-and-a-half hour live sessions, plus asynchronous learning methods.

Fees for the program are €32,000 for individuals (approx. US$38,960) and €37,000 for those sponsored by their company (approx. US$41,579). The cohort is around 28 percent international, with 31 percent female students and an average of 11 years’ work experience.

6) Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM)

Australia’s only school in the top 10 is the MBAX at the Australian Graduate School of Management, which achieved a perfect score for class experience and a high score for employability.

The program consists of a compulsory starter course, followed by five core courses, five specialization courses, and a capstone course within your chosen area of study. You can specialize in Technology, Change, Finance or Social Impact. There are 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 are AUD$57,960 (approx. US$40,283). The cohort has an average of 11.6 years’ work experience and nearly reaches gender parity, with 43 percent female students.

5) Indiana University (Kelley Direct Programs)

Established in 1999, Indiana University’s online MBA program – offered by Kelley Direct Programs – 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 a major from specializations including Business Analytics, Marketing and Finance (amongst others). 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. Your classmates have an average of 7.3 years’ work experience and 27 percent female students. The 24-month program has tuition fees of US$67,830.

4) Warwick Business School

Narrowly missing out on a top three spot is Warwick Business School. The program achieved a perfect score for class experience and the joint-highest score in the rankings for class profile.

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 92 percent international students and 31 percent female students. Fees for the program are £32,460 (approx. US$41,194) and include one international elective module.

3) Marshall School of Business

In the bronze medal position is the online MBA program at Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. The 21-month program achieved a perfect score for class experience and the third-highest score in the rankings for employability.

Aside from one six-day residential intensive course, the rest of the program is delivered fully online through virtual team meetings and assessments, case studies, interactive games and moderated discussion boards. There are also live online class meetings two to three times per week.

Tuition is US$99,692, with total tuition costs coming to around US$106,197. In terms of class profile, the cohort is 32 percent female with an average 11 years’ work experience.

2) Imperial College Business School

Just missing out on the top spot is Imperial College Business School’s program, which scored highly across all ranking indicators, particularly for employability, where it got the second-highest score in the rankings.

The majority of teaching takes place via The Hub, a virtual learning platform developed by Imperial’s award-winning Edtech lab. Students complete pre-study modules, then attend a five-day, compulsory on-campus induction, as well as four core module periods followed by an optional global experience week. The course is topped off with a capstone business game.

Fees for the 24-month program are £36,500 (approx. US$46,329). In terms of class profile, 84 percent of the cohort are international, 38 percent are women, and they have an average of 11 years’ work experience.

1) IE Business School

In first place, and retaining the top spot from last years’ rankings, is IE Business School. The program achieved the highest score in the rankings for both employability and faculty and teaching, plus a perfect score for class experience.

It is made up of three core online periods, one Global Immersion Week (locations include Shanghai, Los Angeles and Mumbai), plus three face-to-face weeks in Madrid. Teaching includes working in interactive small groups on real-world, industry-based case studies. The program has an average length of 15 months, the joint shortest in the rankings.

The class profile is made up of 94 percent international students, 33 percent women, and an average of 8.5 years’ work experience. Fees for the 2018-19 academic year are €51,200 (approx. US$57,778).