Online MBA programs are becoming increasingly popular among working professionals who want to advance their careers, gain new skills, and network with peers from different industries and backgrounds. However, not all online MBA programs are created equal, and choosing the best one can be a daunting task. In this essay, I will compare and contrast three of the top-ranked online MBA programs in the USA according to Fortune and US News: Indiana University–Bloomington (Kelley), University of Florida (Hough), and Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper). I will evaluate them based on four criteria: curriculum, cost, flexibility, and reputation.
Curriculum
The curriculum of an online MBA program should be rigorous, relevant, and diverse, offering students a comprehensive and holistic education that prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of the business world. All three programs have core courses that cover the essential topics of business administration, such as accounting, finance, marketing, operations, strategy, and leadership. However, they also differ in their elective offerings, concentrations, and specializations.
- Kelley offers 54 credits of coursework, including 39 credits of core courses and 15 credits of electives. Students can choose from seven concentrations: business analytics, digital tech management, entrepreneur and corporate innovation, finance, marketing, strategy and leadership, and supply chain and operations.
- Hough offers 48 credits of coursework, including 32 credits of core courses and 16 credits of electives. Students can choose from five specializations: entrepreneurship, finance, international business, marketing, or real estate.
- Tepper offers 60 credits of coursework, including 36 credits of core courses and 24 credits of electives. Students can choose from six tracks: business analytics, entrepreneurship through acquisition, management of innovation and product development, marketing science/strategy/technology innovation management/entrepreneurship track (MSTIM), strategic leadership/organizational behavior/human resources track (SLOHR), or technology leadership.
Based on the curriculum criterion, Kelley has the advantage of offering more concentrations than the other two programs, allowing students to tailor their education to their specific interests and goals. Hough has the advantage of offering a specialization in real estate, which is not available in the other two programs. Tepper has the advantage of offering more electives than the other two programs, giving students more flexibility and variety in their course selection.
Cost
The cost of an online MBA program should be affordable and reasonable, considering the quality and value of the education. The cost per credit varies among the three programs:
- Kelley charges $1,521 per credit, which amounts to $82,134 for the entire program.
- Hough charges $1,255 per credit, which amounts to $60,240 for the entire program.
- Tepper charges $2,100 per credit, which amounts to $126,000 for the entire program.
Based on the cost criterion, Hough has the advantage of being the cheapest among the three programs. Kelley has the advantage of being moderately priced compared to Tepper. Tepper has the disadvantage of being the most expensive among the three programs.
Flexibility
The flexibility of an online MBA program should be convenient and accommodating for working professionals who have busy schedules and personal commitments. The flexibility can be measured by the duration of the program, the delivery mode of the courses, and the residency requirements.
- Kelley offers two options for completing the program: a two-year option or a five-year option. The two-year option requires students to take two courses per quarter for six quarters. The five-year option allows students to take one course per quarter for up to 12 quarters. The courses are delivered asynchronously through recorded lectures and assignments that can be accessed anytime. However, students are also required to attend synchronous sessions with faculty and peers once a week for each course. Additionally, students must attend two one-week residencies on campus at the beginning and end of the program.
- Hough offers two options for completing the program: a one-year option or a two-year option. The one-year option requires students to take four courses per term for four terms. The two-year option requires students to take two courses per term for eight terms. The courses are delivered asynchronously through recorded lectures and assignments that can be accessed anytime. However, students are also required to attend synchronous sessions with faculty and peers once every other week for each course. Additionally, students must attend one weekend residency on campus at the beginning of each term.
- Tepper offers one option for completing the program: a 32-month option that requires students to take two courses per mini-semester for eight mini-semesters. The courses are delivered through a hybrid model that combines asynchronous online learning with synchronous live sessions that are held every other weekend. Additionally, students must attend six access weekends on campus or at a regional location throughout the program.
Based on the flexibility criterion, Hough has the advantage of offering the shortest duration among the three programs, as well as the least frequent synchronous sessions. Kelley has the advantage of offering the longest duration among the three programs, as well as the least frequent residencies. Tepper has the disadvantage of offering the most frequent live sessions and access weekends among the three programs.
Reputation
The reputation of an online MBA program should be high and prestigious, reflecting the quality and impact of the education. The reputation can be measured by the rankings, accreditations, alumni network, and career outcomes of the program.
- Kelley is ranked #1 by Fortune and #3 by US News for its online MBA program. It is accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. It has a global network of over 120,000 alumni from its business school. It reports that 92% of its online MBA graduates received a salary increase or promotion within one year of graduation.
- Hough is ranked #2 by Fortune and #4 by US News for its online MBA program. It is accredited by AACSB International. It has a global network of over 74,000 alumni from its business school. It reports that 85% of its online MBA graduates received a salary increase or promotion within one year of graduation.
- Tepper is ranked #3 by Fortune and #2 by US News for its online MBA program. It is accredited by AACSB International. It has a global network of over 16,000 alumni from its business school. It reports that 80% of its online MBA graduates received a salary increase or promotion within one year of graduation.
Based on the reputation criterion, Kelley has the advantage of being ranked #1 by Fortune and having the highest percentage of graduates who received a salary increase or promotion. Hough has the advantage of being ranked #2 by Fortune and having the second highest percentage of graduates who received a salary increase or promotion. Tepper has the advantage of being ranked #2 by US News and having a strong reputation in technology and innovation.
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