Online Degree in Information Technology Management

Best Online MBA Programs in Illinois Online MBA Rankings

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Illinois is known for many things, including being home to some excellent colleges and universities that have developed cutting edge programs in business management. Some of the top business schools hail from the Prairie State, and offer some of the best online MBA programs in the country.

The State

While some trivia buffs might know that actors Harrison Ford and Bill Murray were both born in the state of Illinois, fewer will probably realize that the state was the site of where the first fish aquarium was constructed in 1893. The state of Illinois includes other firsts: the first skyscraper ever erected was in Chicago in 1885, and Illinois was the first state in the United States to ratify the thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865 that would abolish slavery in the country.

The Online MBA

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when working professionals with lots of time equity within an organization would struggle with the idea of receiving higher education in business. The worker would have to decide to keep a paying job or travel across the country to find a high-quality, full-time MBA at a reputable college. Relocating would often mean the graduate student would have to find a new job but also try to work out an academic schedule that made sense with all the responsibilities that work and a home life demand.

The advent of the online MBA makes the decision a lot easier for many working professionals. There is less of a compromise if you can stay in your current position while taking courses online, during the evening, or over weekends. Because most business schools know it is difficult juggling work and school duties, they often allow students to set their own convenient schedules for course completion. With these factors, and many more in mind, here are the best online MBA programs in Illinois.

Methodology

To find the best Online MBA programs in Illinois, over 570 online MBA programs were examined and first identified based upon their location in Illinois, and then upon their overall affordability, national reputation, and convenience.

Affordability

All tuition data was collected from each university’s website. The base tuition was calculated for each online MBA degree, not include fees, books, or lodging. The Affordability Score, is the base tuition is placed on a 100-point scale and then inverted. This score attributes to 33% of the final ranking score.

Reputation

The reputation for each online MBA is calculated from three national MBA ranking sources: The Economist, Bloomberg Businessweek, and US News and World Report. The scores and rankings were placed on a 100-point scale and then averaged to find a balanced consensus on each online MBA’s reputation. This averaged score was placed on a 100-point scale for the Reputation Score, and attributes to 33% of the final ranking score.

Convenience

An MBA’s convenience is based upon if it can be completed in a 100% online format with not campus residencies, and if the GMAT/GRE requirement is omitted or waived during the admission process. Each program’s online format score and GMAT score were averaged to make the Convenience Score, which attributes to 33% of the final ranking score.

college of engineering university of illinois at urbana champaign logo 40155The Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is not only known to provide one of the best online MBA programs in Illinois, but it is also consistently marked as one of the best in the country. This online MBA gives students the choice to tailor their studies with an emphasis in Digital Marketing, Global Challenges in Business, or Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship. U.S. News & World Report champions the Gies College of Business as the 47th best business school, and Bloomberg Businesweek names them as the 85th best business school in the nation. Although the admissions office at the Gies College of Business highly recommends the submission of a GMAT or GRE test score before being formally accepted into the program, students are not required to submit one. The curriculum for this best of Illinois degree is comprised of 18 courses that total 72-credit hours in all. Strategic Management, Macroeconomics for Business, Digital Marketing Analytics, Fostering Creative Thinking, and Global Impact Psychology and Business Ethics are some of the courses distance learners will have access to while working through the curriculum of this 100% online program.

Affordability Score: 91.81
Convenience Score: 100.00
Reputation Score: 100.00

1200px Western Illinois University Logo.svgThe College of Business and Technology at Western Illinois University delivers an online MBA with post-baccalaureate certificates in Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics. Not all business graduate students start their undergraduate academic career with a bend towards business education. The College of Business and Technology is aware of this fact and has made it possible for students lacking a bachelor’s degree in business to apply for this 100% online MBA. Incoming students lacking a business degree may be susceptible to up to twenty-one credit hours of leveling courses in business. At just over $10,000 in base tuition, this AACSB-International accredited program from Western Illinois University is the most affordable program in this ranking of the best online MBA programs in Illinois. A GMAT waiver may be procured by candidates when applying for this degree by petitioning the MBA Directors at the College of Business and Technology. The business school offers several formats for this 33-credit hour degree including all courses taken in the classroom in Macomb, Illinois, a hybrid experience with some courses through distance learning and some in the traditional classroom, and a 100% online education with zero campus visits required.

Affordability Score: 100.00
Convenience Score: 75.00
Reputation Score: 19.67

office of continuing education southern illinois university edwardsville logo 130169Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides an online MBA with specializations in Business Analytics, Project Management, and Management Information Systems through the School of Business. The core courses delivered in this 42-credit hour online MBA include Accounting for MBAs, Operations Management and Process Analysis, Information Systems and Technology, Marketing Analysis and Applications for Managerial Decision Making, Managerial Economics, Corporate Finance, Quantitative Analysis, Interpersonal Skills for Managers, and Decision Making in Organizations. AACSB-International accredits the business school at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, which should give distance learners a high level of confidence that this degree is one of the most reputable online MBAs in the state of Illinois. The GMAT is an admissions requirement for incoming students, yet the business school does provide a GMAT or GRE test score waiver for qualifying students. Listed at less than $15,000 in tuition, this online MBA is the second-most affordable distance degree in this ranking.

Affordability Score: 98.27
Convenience Score: 75.00
Reputation Score: 19.67

saint xavier university logo 8503Saint Xavier University features an online MBA with a commitment to convenience and accessibility. The Graham School of Management’s online MBA equips graduate students with the ethical training and business knowledge needed to lead with confidence in global business organizations. While the 100% online program incorporates an integrated curriculum that offers both foundation theory and practical application, distance learners also gain experience through the School of Management’s internship and mentorship opportunities. MBA graduate students can expect to receive award-winning guidance and support from an expert faculty. The GSM alumni network is a strong one that offers students support and future business opportunities and connections that are sure to help online MBA students to succeed. Students can choose to complete all classes online or seek a hybrid experience with some courses offered in the classroom on the Chicago campus. Specializations like Health Administration, Management, Digital Marketing, Financial Fraud Examination and Management, Forensic and Investigative Accounting, Project Management, and Human Resource Management are also offered within this top-shelf online MBA.

Affordability Score: 68.34
Convenience Score: 100.00
Reputation Score: 19.67

Governors State University logoAn online MBA with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management, and offered as a general MBA, can be pursued through the College of Business at Governors State University. The 100% online MBA will help distance learners go farther into their field of study with the added convenience of never having to step foot on the campus in University Park, Illinois. The 36-credit hour degree will certainly equip graduate students with the skills they will need to manage organizations and increase their company’s profitability in the future. Advanced studies associated with this 100% online MBA allow distance learners to enter seamlessly and make a true impact on global markets.  The curriculum for this degree is divided between 24 core credits, nine specialization hours, and three hours of a Master’s Final Project. Core courses within this online MBA include Strategic Marketing, International Business, Financial Management, Managerial Economics and Forecasting, and Information Systems and Technology.

Affordability Score: 95.60
Convenience Score: 75.00
Reputation Score: 19.67

What is the State of Illinois Currently Known For?

Illinois is Full of Corn and Pumpkins

Not many are aware of this, but just about 85% of the state of Illinois is covered in farmland. One of the state’s most popular natural resources is corn. Corn is a highly adaptable crop and is used in many food products. In the town of Morton, Illinois you will find a successful canned pumpkin operation that produces most of the world’s pumpkin pie filling. Thanksgiving tables all over America should be thankful for this little town outside of Peoria.

Illinois is Where You Find Chicago

The city of Chicago has tons to offer the tourist. The city has a rich American history and many attractions to take in. Sports fans will enjoy visiting the ballparks and stadiums of the famous Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Cubs. In the culinary arts, the city of Chicago has its own style of pizza and hotdog.

Illinois is Huge in Higher Education

Some of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities happen to be planted in the state of Illinois. Some high-performing universities with a tradition for academic excellence include Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. These colleges offer many different programs from the liberal arts to business degrees. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in particular, has consistently been recognized for offering one of the best online MBA programs in the nation.

What Types of Jobs are Online MBA Students Qualified for in Illinois?

The demand for properly trained business professionals in the state of Illinois continues to be on the increase. In a recent poll of employers, it was discovered that the vast majority of business leaders looking to get hired attained an MBA. Because some online MBA students enter into a degree without a definite idea of what positions they will apply for after graduating, we will present some popular business management positions that MBA graduates qualify for.

Online MBA Graduates can Become Chief Technology Officers.

CTOs are responsible for overseeing the many aspects of an organization’s technological development. The tech team of a company is managed by a Chief Technology Officer, and it is her job to make sure all team members adhere to an organization’s technical standards.

Online MBA Graduates can Become Computer and Information Systems Managers.

The computer and information systems manager is responsible for all computer-related activities that take place within an organization. This overseer will coordinate the teams which are put in place to install and maintain network systems, software, hardware, and security systems. Due to its management and technical nature, a position as a computer and information systems manager can be very lucrative.

Online MBA Graduates can Become Health Services Managers.

Health services managers are also known as healthcare administrators and healthcare executives. These professionals in healthcare oversee, plan, and coordinate a number of healthcare initiatives in a number of healthcare settings, including private practices and hospitals. Managers within this professional field must stay up to date on constant changes in healthcare regulations, laws, and technology. Growth in the sector of healthcare management is expected to be much faster than the national average.

A degree like the online MBA is great for opening doors into a large number of potential career directions for business managers in Illinois. These are just a few career paths to consider after pursuing an excellent program like the online MBA.

Related Resources:

Best Undergraduate Business Programs
Best No-GMAT Online MBA Programs
Fastest Online MBA Programs
Best 1-Year Online MBA Programs

Ready to start your journey?

Ready to start your journey?