The 2024 US News and World Report ranking has revealed Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in Bloomington to offer the best Online MBA in the US, solidifying its position in the top spot. This year’s ranking saw Indiana’s Kelley Online MBA stand alone at first place, a marked improvement from last year when it shared the position with UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. The US News Best Online MBA Ranking utilizes five categories to determine each program’s ratings, including engagement, peer assessment, faculty credentials and training, student excellence, and services and technology.
The Graduate Management Admission Council 2023 Corporate Recruiter Survey indicated a drop in the percentage of US employers valuing online and in-person degrees equally, from 29% in 2022 to 27% in 2023. Despite this, Online MBAs provide students with valuable skills applicable to the modern workplace, like remote communication and leadership. The presence of the Kelley School of Business at the top of the Online MBA ranking is justified by various indicators, including a student excellence score of 100, a 27% acceptance rate, and an average of nine years of teaching online courses among faculty. It is notable that Kelley also secured the top spot in specific Online MBA rankings for best Online Finance MBA and best Online MBA in Marketing.
The biggest winner in the 2024 US Best Online MBA Ranking is Indiana Kelley for retaining its title as the best US Online MBA. Carnegie Mellon Tepper also saw significant success by moving up to second place from fifth in the previous year. However, the ranking also witnessed schools like Kenan-Flagler slipping to third place after sharing the top position the previous years. This year’s ranking showcased the staying power of Kelley, despite slight shuffling within the top 10 positions.
Online MBA programs have become increasingly popular and accepted by recruiters, offering students flexibility and cost-effectiveness. With the rise in the number of AACSB-accredited business schools offering fully online MBA programs, the quality of education in online programs is becoming more evident. This signals the competitive advantage of online MBAs alongside traditional programs, making them a valuable investment for prospective students.