These are the top 5 fastest-growing online MBA programs during the pandemic
5 min read
BY Meghan MalasMay possibly 20, 2022, 3:51 PM
Guests and learners participate in an announcement ceremony for Julie Sullivan, incoming president of Santa Clara University, as viewed in March 2022, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Image by Dai Sugano—MediaNews Group/The Mercury Information/Getty Illustrations or photos)
The pandemic ushered in a surge of enrollment in on line MBA systems in the U.S. Even as COVID-19-relevant policies at universities have subsided, these plans keep on being common for their overall flexibility, relative affordability, and ability to allow industry experts to apply what they find out in class in authentic time.
Between the 108 business enterprise colleges that participated in Fortune’s position of the finest on line MBA applications in 2022, 65 systems saw an increase in enrollment in contrast with right before the pandemic. In addition, 21 of these online MBA packages experienced much more-than doubled the quantity of students enrolled in the 2021-2022 academic 12 months in contrast with the 2018-2019 tutorial yr. Sustained interest in online graduate business degrees suggests that these forms of programs aren’t just well known since of the pandemic.
“Whether it be the overall flexibility of asynchronous lessons, making an attempt to harmony function and loved ones daily life with instructional objectives, or just a preference for the on line modality, most college students decide on an online system for a purpose,” claims Adam Wilson, director of on line courses at the College of Tennessee at Martin.
What else helps to describe the increasing curiosity in pursuing an MBA on the web, and which programs grew the most? Below are the five speediest-rising on the internet MBA applications centered on enrollment at the time data was submitted for Fortune‘s ranking in 2021 vs . 2022.
1. Santa Clara University (Leavey)
Fortune on-line MBA method rank: No. 20
Santa Clara University (Leavey)’s online MBA application had 68 pupils enrolled in its on the web MBA plan prior to the pandemic. In 2022, the system experienced developed to 283 students.
Leavey’s on line MBA curriculum is primarily geared towards students who are looking for information and capabilities to progress in in-desire fields—like Huge Tech or at innovative startups, claims Nydia MacGregor, senior assistant dean of graduate organization programs at the Leavey Faculty of Small business.
The system originally launched in 2018 and was developed to mirror Leavey’s in-man or woman MBA software it offers the exact same curriculum, school, occupation management workforce, and alumni community. Officials at Leavey assume that the pandemic-fueled bump in online MBA enrollment is in this article to keep, but don’t foresee continued calendar year-in excess of-year advancement that is so exponential.
When the on the internet MBA program 1st introduced, on-line packages ended up nonetheless an experiment in some students’ eyes, MacGregor explains. “This is just no for a longer period legitimate, higher-high-quality online training is sought after and valued.”
2. College of Maine
Fortune on line MBA software rank: No. 35
The on the net MBA software at the University of Maine had 97 pupils enrolled in the 2019 educational year and that selection grew to 402 in 2022.
The online MBA method, which launched in 2019, by now experienced a main of very sturdy and engaged MBA college in spot all through its improvement, claims Norm O’Reilly, dean of the University of Maine Graduate Faculty of Organization.
The online system introduced just just before pandemic from its foundational applications at the College of Maine and University of Southern Maine, and it is the initially degree application to be offered at the university’s graduate university of business enterprise.
“Offered on the internet, in-particular person and in a versatile format—it was a application of decision for several throughout the pandemic,” O’Reilly states. “As we appear out of the COVID-19 period, we assume our enrollments to flatten.”
3. University of North Carolina–Wilmington Cameron College of Business enterprise
Fortune online MBA plan rank: No. 71
In 2019, the University of North Carolina-Wilmington’s online MBA method enrolled 152 college students. In 2022, enrollment had improved to 623 pupils. To keep up with the inflow of students, UNC–Wilmington has employed extra than a dozen new college users.
“The method is built to be significant-high-quality, versatile, and affordable—and these are the very characteristics that adult learners drive,” states Robert Burrus, dean of UNC–Wilmington’s Cameron University of Enterprise. “We foresee our applications will proceed to grow into the potential, but not at the similar tempo.”
4. The University of Tennessee–Martin
Fortune online MBA method rank: No. 68
Enrollment in the on the net MBA application at the College of Tennessee–Martin jumped to 305 pupils in 2022, up from the 114 learners enrolled in 2019. The school cites multiple motives for the raise in desire in its on-line MBA method: superior-high quality faculty, the reduction of necessary credit hrs from 36 to 30, expanded focus solutions, and the means to do the job alongside other college students from all more than the earth.
“All issues viewed as we foresee the enrollment development of our MBA method to keep on and are committed to steady improvement in all features of the application,” states Ahmad Tootoonchi, dean of the College or university of Company and World-wide Affairs at the University of Tennessee–Martin.
5. Louisiana Condition University–Baton Rouge (Ourso)
Fortune on the net MBA application rank: No. 58
Enrollment in Louisiana Condition University’s on line MBA diploma program went from 251 to 561 concerning 2019 and 2022.
“As learners pivoted to on-line studying opportunities, our plan benefited from extra ease and overall flexibility in an MBA knowledge,” claims Dana Charles Hart, director of the Flores MBA application at Louisiana Condition University’s Ourso Faculty of Business. “Our figures have leveled a bit in the very last a few months, but we foresee more advancement in our on-line offerings.”
As enrollment has climbed, LSU designs to also develop some software offerings. The school’s on line MBA method will resume its world wide immersion vacation experiences for the initial time given that the starting of the pandemic on the web MBA pupils will travel to Latin America in October 2022. A skilled speaker collection, meant to further engage college students will also start this calendar year.
See how the schools you’re considering landed in Fortune’s rankings of the best master’s in general public wellness systems, business analytics packages, data science plans, and part-time, executive, full-time, and online MBA courses.
