Best Online Master's in Management Programs 2021

Top Consensus Ranked Online Master's in Management Degrees

Number one on our list is the Online Master of Science in Quantitative Management degree found at the AACSB-accredited Stern School of Business. It combines the foundational courses of an MBA degree, including essential business management concepts and leadership principles, with business analytics. This part-time, cohort-based, 33 credit-hour, rigorous and innovative online degree can be completed in just 20 months, one course at a time. Any undergraduate major with professional experience can apply, and some use this degree as “an MBA alternative.” Students experience self-paced coursework, along with optional live weekly sessions with their instructor and classmates. Some of the 22 courses include R Programming for Data, Statistical Modeling, Financial Accounting, Data Science & Predictive Analytics, FinTech, Business Strategy, and Corporate Finance. Students are required to attend two four-day residencies on campus throughout the program, which allows for in-person immersion with faculty, the cohort, and New York City. Courses covered while on campus are Collaboration, Conflict & Negotiation, Communication, and Professional Responsibility.

The AACSB-accredited Kelley School of Business offers an Online Master of Science in Strategic Management degree focusing on developing experts in leadership, management, planning, decision-making, and problem-solving. Examples of management topics covered include operations management, organizational development and change, competitive analysis, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurship. This Online Master’s in Management degree prepares mid-level and advanced-career professionals with at least five years of manager-level experience to successfully lead government, corporate, or nonprofit organizations, including their own business. Students complete 30-credit hours in 15 months to three years, depending on the pace that works best for them, specifically. Courses include Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Developing Strategic Capabilities, Thinking Strategically: Gaming Theory & Business Strategy, Strategic Marketing Management, International Competitive Strategy, Organization Designs for Strategic Advantage, and Strategic Management of Technology & Innovation. Kelley does a great job supporting their online students in professional development, networking, and social opportunities through the online-only Kelley Direct Student Leadership Association.

Those pursuing a C-suite position or who have reached a top leadership management role can benefit from the Online Master’s in Strategic Management & Executive Leadership degree at the AACSB-accredited Smeal College of Business. In as little as five semesters, students learn to think strategically, embrace the ins and outs of strategy, transition into an executive leader, and ethically and responsibly lead at the highest level. Classes are primarily asynchronous, with voluntary synchronous sessions interacting with professors and peers. The 30-credit hours are filled by core courses, concentration courses, and electives. Core courses include Global Strategic Management, Power & Influence, Strategy Implementation & Organizational Change, and Strategic Leading & Identity. Concentrations include Business Sustainability Strategy, Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Negotiation and Influence. This unique program offers students an incredible opportunity to complete a graduate certificate in Business Analytics, Business Management Foundations, Strategic Leadership, or Business Architecture at the start or during the degree program. Students study real-world case studies and have an optional Global Immersion trip.

Our next top Online Master’s in Management degree comes from the AACSB-accredited Warrington College of Business. Its Online Master of Science in Management is designed for students who have acquired a bachelor’s degree in the past two years and is open to non-business majors. There is no work experience requirement. If you choose the full-time option, you can complete this degree in just one year. Through entirely online lectures, assignments, discussions, readings, and career workshops, students obtain strong management skills and a solid business foundation that can be utilized in a variety of industries. Twenty-two core and ten elective hours comprise the total 32-credit hour program. Core courses include Managerial Accounting, International Business Law, Professional Communication, Organizational Behavior, Global Strategic Management, and Marketing Management. Elective options include Compensation in Organizations, Global Trade & Policy, Product Development, International Entrepreneurship, and Leading Teams. Through electives, global immersion trips, entrepreneurial projects, and internship opportunities, students can truly customize their educational experience.

“Position yourself to become an industry leader” with the highly-ranked Broad College of Business’ Online Master of Science in Management, Strategy & Leadership. This AACSB-accredited Online Master’s in Management degree equips effective leaders with an in-depth understanding of management theory, forward-thinking solutions, and motivation techniques. Through a rigorous curriculum, real-world applications, an interactive online classroom, and hands-on learning, this degree program builds a strong work ethic and skills in leadership, strategy, human resources, team management, and making decisions. Students endure 30-credit hours of 100% online coursework involving video-based lectures that take 20-24 months to complete. It is designed for experienced professionals who have earned a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of full-time management work. A few of the thirteen required courses include Analyzing Your Organization, Corporate Strategy, Developing Managerial Skills, Fundamentals of Human Resource Staffing, Negotiations, and Leading the Strategic Change Process. Electives include Managing Diversity in the Workplace, Developing Reward & Compensation Systems, and Talent Management & Development.

George Washington University’s AACSB-accredited School of Business has our fifth best Online Master’s in Management degree. It can be completed entirely online, on-campus, or in a hybrid format. There are full-time, one-year, and part-time options. Graduates walk away with enhanced skills in critical thinking, quantitative analysis, decision-making, team leadership and management, and effective oral and written communication. Although business majors can excel in this degree program, it is also designed for those without a business undergraduate like liberal arts or STEM students. This 33-credit hour innovative degree program allows students to choose one of 22 graduate certificate programs to fulfill their 12-credit elective requirements and earn a graduate certificate in a specific area of interest in the process. Options include Analytics for Managers, Corporate Responsibility, Digital Marketing & Analytics, Governmental & Nonprofit Accounting, Management of Technology & Innovation, and Marketing & Brand Management. Core courses include Decision Making & Data Analysis, Finance, Organizations & Human Capital, Marketing, Business Ethics & Public Policy, and Strategy Fundamentals.

Management science is applying science to the study of management. The Master of Science in Management Science at the AACSB-accredited Jindal School of Management develops leaders who utilize scientific theories and methods to identify and solve business problems and make informed decisions. It is a self-paced, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program with four core and eight elective courses that total 36-credit hours. The online core courses are Business Analytics with R or SAS, Database Foundations, Statistics & Data Analysis, and Spreadsheet Modeling & Analytics. To meet the elective requirements, students have the option to pursue one of four tracks: Information Technology Management, Business Analytics, Consulting, or Project Management. They can also choose from many courses within several topics, including Finance & Managerial Economics, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Management, and Organizations Strategy & International Management. An undergraduate degree of any kind can apply, and there is no required capstone course or internship with this degree.

Gaining an education in the rapidly increasing field of marketing analytics prepares leaders to handle and analyze data, extract meaningful insights, solve complex issues, and drive growth in all types of industries and organizations. That is what the Online Master of Management in Marketing Analytics offered by the Poole College of Management accomplishes. It is a part-time degree geared toward equipping the working professional with essential business analytical and managerial skills. Students experience an innovative curriculum, real-world practice, and hands-on learning in this 30-credit hour, AACSB-accredited program. The Business Analytics Core courses include Data-Driven Managerial Decision I & II, Predictive Analytics for Business & Big Data, and Data Engineering, Management & Warehousing. Marketing and Business Skills courses include Communication, Privacy, & Ethics in Big Data, Marketing Management & Strategy, and Marketing Analytics. There is also a practicum course involving a marketing project and 12-credit hours of electives. Students have flexibility in the program’s length, with a maximum of six years to complete.

Join a network of over 40,000 Gabelli School of Business alumni through its Online Master’s in Management degree program. This AACSB-accredited program prepares students to manage a variety of businesses across multiple industries, from small businesses and nonprofits to corporations. The comprehensive curriculum instills foundational business knowledge and the awareness of socially responsible practices, along with ethical decision-making, collaboration, and leadership skills. It is designed for those looking to begin or advance in a business career. Students participate in live seminar-style classes and can access asynchronous coursework anytime, any day, and from anywhere through the mobile app. Although online, this program connects students to Gabelli’s experienced faculty and the esteemed business influence of New York City. Of the 30 credits required, 24 credits are in core courses like Introduction to Modern Management, Financial Fundamentals, Marketing in the Digital Age, Business Strategy for the Modern World, and Global Initiatives in Management. Students choose six credits of electives and attend a three-day residency in NYC.

The Online Master of Management with an Entrepreneurial Hospitality specialization at the AACSB-accredited Freeman School of Business is a “first of its kind” program. By combining innovative entrepreneurial and hospitality concepts, principles, and techniques, this degree gives business leaders multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to build a customer-centric organization. Recent graduates and professionals looking to advance their careers complete this fast-paced program in just twelve months. The twelve classes total 36-credit hours and include Business Communication, Managing People in Organizations, Hospitality Real Estate Development, Strategic Management, Operations Management, a Global Business Project, and an Entrepreneurial Hospitality Seminar. There are two optional immersions in New Orleans, which provide students the opportunity to network, have face time with professors, and present final projects in person. This program offers expert mentorship, a forward-thinking curriculum, team collaboration, “action learning” opportunities, and a chance to create and present an innovative hospitality business plan to potential investors and industry professionals.

An excellent degree for those looking to enhance their managerial skills in the global marketplace is the Online Master of Arts in Management degree from the Culverhouse College of Business. This one-year AACSB-accredited program is designed for those who have acquired a business or non-business undergraduate degree, who desire to build a robust skill set, advance in their competitiveness or are possibly on their way to a doctoral management program. It prepares students through advanced management courses like Strategic Human Resources Management, Leadership & Ethics, Global Business, Concepts Financial Managerial Accounting, and Business Policy. The curriculum provides a focused area of study in Global Business, with courses entitled Global Market Management, Managerial Economics, Advance Import/Export Strategy, and two elective options. Not only are students prepared for professional success, but they also acquire a global mindset, perspective, and understanding of the global business world. Students complete the 30-credit hours of coursework both online and on-campus.

At the AACSB-accredited Graziadio Business School, you can earn an Online Master’s in Management and Leadership in just twelve months. Business professionals who have completed two or more years of related experience will excel in this program. It is designed to prepare you to empower others and “manage change at all levels” at any organization, from startups to nonprofits to large corporations. Highly experienced faculty members take students through a curriculum focused on teaching project management, self-awareness, organization, work design, group dynamics, and team and organizational culture. They have an incredible opportunity to assist a nonprofit organization through the Education to Community capstone course. There is no GMAT/GRE requirement to apply, and students can choose either a full-time or part-time format. Throughout the 36-unit program, students experience weekly live classes, engaging discussions, team projects, two in-person immersions in Malibu at Pepperdine, and the opportunity to connect with the global network of Graziadio alumni professionals.

“Take charge of your career” with the Online Master of Science in Management & Leadership at the Bauer College of Business, located in the fourth largest city in the US. Those who have acquired an undergraduate degree or simply need a change can learn how to successfully lead any organization, understand business fundamentals, and discover business solutions through this AACSB-accredited program. It instills excellent soft skills in communication, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork while building initiative and a solid work ethic. The fast-paced courses are offered 100% online with a flexible schedule, virtual classrooms, peer collaboration, hands-on learning opportunities and can be completed in 12-18 months. Expert faculty bring real-world experience as they instruct classes like Organizational Behavior & Management, Fundamentals of Business, Strategic Analysis, and Ethical Leadership & Critical Reasoning. Other courses include Human Resource Management, Managerial Decision-Making, Leadership Development, and Effective Negotiations. Students get to choose several electives and access career coaching, professional development, and networking opportunities through the Rockwell Career Center.

Experience the flexibility of the Online Master of Science in Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship degree at the Fox School of Business. This AACSB-accredited Online Master’s in Management program focuses on developing business leaders proficient in innovation, strategy, and entrepreneurship concepts, methods, tools, and perspectives. Students can truly customize their degree plan to fit their schedule and lifestyle by choosing between online or hybrid, full-time or part-time, and studying one of three specializations that dive deeper into a topic of study. The 30-credit hour degree takes one to six years to complete, depending. Entirely online courses occur on Thursday evenings. “Expand your ability to lead innovation” and unleash your creativity through these core courses: Business Model Innovation, Creativity Unleashed, and Principles of Strategy & Management. Specializations include Entrepreneurship, Technology & Innovation Management, and Innovation Strategy. The program offers opportunities for hands-on experiences, top-tier faculty influence, collaboration with classmates, and even a dual MBA/MS degree option.

The highly-ranked, award-winning Online Master’s in Management degree at Stevens Institute of Technology’s AACSB-accredited School of Business provides an engaging virtual environment. Live 100% online courses offer the same curriculum and high-quality faculty as their on-campus counterpart. Full-time students can complete this 30-credit program in just one year. Content focuses on how leadership, strategy, innovation, and economics play an important role in successfully managing organizations and people. Eight core courses include Financial Decision Making, Economics for Managers, Technology & Innovation Management, Strategic Management, Marketing Management, Fundamentals of Project Management, Organizational Behavior & Design, and Operations Management. Students experience virtual lectures, skill development workshops, social events, career resources, and networking opportunities. They choose two free electives, which can offer a deeper look into management concepts or other subjects like sustainability, information systems, and computer science. There is also the Industry Capstone Program, where students work with other classmates and faculty members to consult a business and help them solve a problem.

The next Online Master’s in Management is found at Indiana University Southeast’s School of Business. This AACSB-accredited program does not require a business undergraduate degree. It can prepare non-business majors for management positions in various government, healthcare, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations. Students can complete the 30-hour program in twelve months. Online students can choose to pursue the blended format, allowing for some on-campus classes and face-to-face time with professors and classmates along with the online coursework. The curriculum equips leaders with a range of skills necessary to manage resources, technology, and people successfully. The required classes include Business/Managerial Communications, Industrial (Labor) Relations, Human Resource Management, Conflict Resolution, Organizational Behavior & Leadership, Organizations & Organizational Change Management, Negotiations, Venture Growth Management, and Managing Teams. Non-business majors are required to take the Speaking the Language of Business course, while business majors get to choose an elective. Recommended electives include Marketing Management, Legal & Ethical Environment of Business, and Project Management.

Learn “the management skills relevant to you” through Harrison College of Business and Computing’s Online Master’s in Management degree. This AACSB-accredited, 100% online program utilizes your experience with an undergraduate degree requirement, but it does not have to be in business or management. It does, however, require you to have acquired three years of managerial experience in the workplace. Students enhance their management knowledge base and skill set while studying the latest strategic theory through seven core courses. These include Organizational Behavior in Practice, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Theory & Design, Quantitative & Qualitative Research Methods, Applied Human Resource Management, and Liability Risks in Products and Services. To focus on an interesting area of management, students complete the 30-credit hour program by choosing nine hours of elective courses. Added benefits to this highly-ranked program are access to advisors specifically for online students, Career Services offering things like coaching, interview practice and events, mentorship, and collaboration with experienced and award-winning professors.

It is almost impossible to be an effective manager without solid leadership skills. The Jones College of Business offers an AACSB-accredited Online Master’s in Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership that equips managers to successfully lead teams and individuals in various types of corporate, business, education, healthcare, manufacturing, service, and government organizations. Throughout the 33-semester hours of coursework, students have learning opportunities where they experience “the trenches of the real-world work environment” and build ethical leadership, communication, planning, and decision-making skills. Core courses include Business Ethics, Lean Project Management Principles, Seminar in Human Resource Management, and Strategic Decision Making. Organizational Development and Leadership & Motivation are also required courses and the Applied Management Project capstone course where students partner with an organization and apply what they have learned. Six hours of electives can be chosen from management courses like Current Issues in Management, Negotiation, International Management, Organization Behavior, or a different interest area.

Learn how to “lead your team to the next level” with an Online Master’s in Management & Organization from UC Denver’s Business School. This AACSB-accredited program focuses on the human and organizational concepts and business principles, like leadership, strategy, human resources, and organizational change. It prepares students to lead in both public and private companies. Effective decision-making, communication, critical thinking, and managerial skills are developed through the 30-credit hour, full-time or part-time program. Some complete this degree in as little as two years. Core courses include Leading Individuals & Teams, Designing Effective Organizations, Leading Organizational Change, and Managing People for Competitive Advantage. Students have the option to specialize in Business Strategy & Innovation, Managing for Sustainability, or Leadership & Change Management, or they can choose the General Management Track. Everyone gets six hours of free electives in a variety of business areas. Online students can access the school’s Business Career Connections full of resources to assist in career preparation.

Those who have recently graduated college and desire a career in business management but have no, or very little, business knowledge and experience can highly benefit from the AACSB-accredited Lacy School of Business’s Online Master’s in Management degree. Quantitative, design thinking, decision making, and critical thinking skills are developed. Highly experienced faculty instruct students in the fundamentals of business through core courses like Quantitative Analysis, Financial Statements & Accounting, Applied Economics, Managing Teams, Planning & Project Management, Accounting Information for Managers, Financing Your Project, Marketing & Value Creation, and Innovative Problem-Solving. There is an accelerated full-time or a part-time option to complete the 33-credit hour, cohort-based program. This program provides online students opportunities to experience group projects, partake in community engagement, and interact with peers. “Maximize your skills” and prepare for a successful career through a required internship, professional networking, a capstone course, casework, job placement assistance, a career mentor, and opportunities to dig deep into business problems and solutions.

Ohio University’s College of Business offers a nationally ranked AACSB-accredited Online Master’s in Management degree. It focuses on building and enhancing skills in decision-making, interpreting and leveraging data, managing and motivating employees, operations and project management, and building customer relationships. Acquiring these managerial and analytical skills and knowledge is essential to successful management. The layout of the program allows students to obtain stackable certificates throughout the coursework. It begins with the Management & Leadership Certificate, which contains the Managing Individuals & Teams, Managerial Decisions & Challenges, and Researching the Business Environment classes. The Capstone Experience includes the Managerial Effectiveness & Research and Leadership & Communication classes, along with a Capstone Project. Students also choose to add one of six certificate options, including Business Analytics, Human Resource Management, Business Venturing & Entrepreneurship, and Operations & Supply Chain Management. This 100% online, 36-credit hour program can be finished in two years, with an accelerated one-year option, no GMAT requirement, and access to the unique Leadership Development Program.

The 100% Online Master’s in Management program at the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business develops leadership skills in those who possess quantitative skills and are currently in or desire to acquire a supervisory role. This AACSB-accredited program focuses on an “ethics-based approach to business education” and does not require GMAT/GRE test scores for admittance. Courses that make up the 30-credit hour program include The Legal Environment, Negotiation, Ethics & Stakeholder Management, The Executive Environment, Business Strategy, Behavior in Organizations, Budgeting & Finance for Managers, The Entrepreneurial Manager, Human Resources Management, and Project Management. As it is crucial to carry an entrepreneurial mindset into any business, the business school deems it important to provide an optional certificate in entrepreneurship for its Online Master’s in Management students. Students dive into courses like Sales & Marketing for the Entrepreneurial Firm, Ideation Adventure, and an Entrepreneurship Pitch Experience for nine extra credits. This certificate comes in a hybrid format, with some on-campus sessions.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Tuchman School of Management takes pride in how its Online Master’s in Management degree program is “preparing leaders in the field.” This entirely online 30-credit hour program can be completed full-time in one year and part-time in two years. It is designed to fully prepare graduates to transition into higher-level managerial and executive roles. A benefit of being part of a technological institute is that this degree intertwines technical expertise with business fundamentals and carries the AACSB accreditation. Fifteen credits involve core courses in Organizational Behavior, Management Accounting, Global Marketing Management, Corporate Finance I, and Information Systems Principles. The rest of the required credits come from one of the four concentration areas: Financial Technology (FinTech), Global Project Management, Web Systems & Media, and STEM-approved Business Analytics. Each of these concentrations takes the student through a deep dive into business and technical subjects that are prevalent in today’s professional world.

Marquette’s College of Business Administration delivers a seamless and accessible AACSB-accredited Online Master’s in Management degree through the learning management system: Desire2Learn. Students learn how to handle, motivate, lead, and work with different types of people and organizations. The 30-credit hour interdisciplinary program involves 21 required credits and nine elective credits, with synchronous and asynchronous classes. A few core courses include Human Resources/Organizational Development Analytics, Diversity & Inclusion in Global Organizations, Leadership Coaching & Development, Human Capital Strategy, Concepts for Ethical Business Practice, and a Management Capstone. You do not have to have work experience to apply, there are no required on-campus visits, and it can be completed in two years. Faculty members who are experienced and accomplished professionals guide students throughout the program. Graduates will be able to lead the direction of an organization, provide purpose, manage morale, train others in corporate responsibility and ethics, and implement strategic processes across all types of industries.

Having a deep understanding of global organizations is key to success in today’s business world, which is why the Online Master’s in Global Management at the Tobin College of Business is such a great degree. In 30-credit hours, you will learn how to lead a global business, nonprofit, and government teams, manage resources, analyze operational issues, develop sustainable solutions, and cultivate managerial and technical skills. Management courses include Managing Organizational Operations, Global Sustainability, Managing for Global Success, and Leading Modern Organizations. Global management courses are International Human Resource Management, Seminar in International Management, and Global Sourcing. Students choose all three of those, or two of them combined with an internship or an International Study course. There is also a capstone course in either Seminar in Business Policy or International Business Strategy. To provide expertise in a specific area, students have the option to concentrate their studies in the Management of E-commerce, Supply Chain Management, or Human Resource Management.