The celebration is in full swing in Bloomington, Indiana today as Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business online MBA program has once again clinched the top spot in U.S. News’ annual ranking of the best online MBA programs in the United States. This marks the ninth time in the past twelve years that Kelley has achieved this prestigious recognition, showcasing an unparalleled level of consistency in a landscape known for its fluctuations. Throughout these dozen years, Kelley Direct MBA has consistently secured a top-three position, never falling below third place.
This year, Kelley stands alone at the number one position, having shared the spotlight with the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in the previous year. MBA@UNC, the online program offered by UNC, has now slipped to third place, trailing behind the hybrid online MBA program at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, which made a noteworthy leap from fifth place to second. UNC, however, has maintained a strong performance in these rankings, never dropping below third place in ten out of the twelve rankings and securing the top spot six times. It’s worth noting that UNC was not included in the initial two years of this ranking.
In the latest rankings, UNC finds itself sharing the third spot with two other prominent players in the online MBA realm: the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles and the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business in Seattle.
Kelley’s online program also received top marks in alumni satisfaction surveys for the second consecutive year, further solidifying its position as a leader in the online MBA sphere. Graduates have expressed exceptionally high satisfaction rates with the program, highlighting its strengths and unique offerings.
The remaining slots in the top ten online MBA programs are filled by the University of Florida at sixth place, with Arizona State University and the University of Arizona tied for seventh. The Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Kansas share the ninth spot in this prestigious ranking.
U.S. News determines these rankings based on data provided by “regionally accredited” business schools, coupled with peer assessment surveys from esteemed academic officials within MBA programs. The methodology involves a complex formula that considers nearly 50 different metrics across five key categories: student engagement, peer assessment, student excellence, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology.
Each category comprises various metrics, with factors such as graduation rates, accreditation status, and student indebtedness playing crucial roles in the evaluation process. Notably, this year’s methodology saw adjustments, including the removal of the proportion of graduates who borrowed as a ranking factor. Additionally, changes were made to the weightage of student indebtedness within the Services and Technologies category, reflecting a shift towards assessing affordability and support services more comprehensively.
As the online MBA landscape continues to evolve, further analysis and insights on these rankings will be provided in due course. If you have any questions or comments regarding this article, feel free to reach out or share your thoughts below.