B-School Search
Maine (ME) ranks as #35 on Chief Executive’s 2019 list of Best and Worst States for Business, #48 on the Forbes 2018 list of Best States for Business, and #46 on U.S. News and World Report’s Best States for Business Environment. A high corporate tax burden, projections of slow job- and income-growth, a median population age of 45, and a strict regulatory environment are all reasons why Maine is a difficult state in which to do business.
Key industries in Maine include pulp-paper production, manufacturing, and tourism. There are no Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Maine and no companies amongst the top 1,000 in sales. That said, some bigger businesses do have a measure of influence in the state, including L.L. Bean, Unum Provident, athenahealth, Bath Iron Works, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Group, TD Bank, N.A., and Cianbro.
Notably, the state is looking to creep out of the bottom of the rankings by offering incentives for businesses to extend major headquarters into the state through long-term tax credits. Maine is offering cash equity to those who invest in the state’s business environment, especially companies in research and development, commercialization, and technology development.
For those looking to learn more about business but do not live close to a physical campus, attending a distance-based business school in Maine can be an ideal solution. Online MBA programs are designed for working professionals who don’t want to stop working, can’t relocate for school, or wish to have complete control over when and where they learn, without sacrificing the quality of education.
Because online coursework is provided by the same professors who are teaching on-campus courses, professionals who graduate from online MBA programs gain the same skills and knowledge they need for career change and/or career advancement. In most cases, the degree does not designate whether the degree was earned online or on a campus.
Keep reading to learn more about online MBAs offered by universities in Maine, the option to combine online and on-campus learning, and the highly-qualified professors driving the learning experiences in online MBA programs.
Featured Online MBA Programs in Maine
The online MBA offered through the Husson University College of Business prepares graduates to become analytical, effective leaders with astute decision-making capacity. Those enrolled in the online program can choose a general MBA or can pursue an MBA in one of four concentrations: biotechnology and innovation, data analytics, healthcare management, or organizational management.
Coursework in the 36-credit program includes strategic change management, global strategic management, research methods in business and education, and management communication. GMAT scores are not required to apply to Husson. Those without a background in business may be required to complete a leveling course prior to beginning core coursework.
| Location: Bangor, Maine |
| Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $497 per credit-hour |
A program focused on real-world applications, the online MBA offered through the Maine Business School at the University of Maine prepares graduates to excel in creative leadership.
Coursework in the 30-credit-hour program includes statistical analysis and modeling for organizational operations; creating and capturing value in the digital economy; the management of contemporary organizations; and law, business and society. GMAT scores are required to apply to the University of Maine.
GMAT waivers may be available to those with a terminal degree from an accredited program, those with a CPA or CFP, or strong candidates with five years of management experience and an undergraduate degree. Applicants must have completed a core set of undergraduate courses in accounting, marketing, economics, statistics, and finance to be considered. Free online tutorials are offered online for those without an undergraduate background in business.
| Location: Orono, Maine |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two years |
| Estimated Tuition: $563 per credit-hour (out-of-state) |
A Catholic University of the Mercy Tradition, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine offers two online MBA programs designed to help professionals advance their careers.
The foundation MBA—designed for recent graduates, career-changers, and emerging leaders—is a 39-credit program. Concentrations within the foundational MBA include health sector management, human resources, sport administration, financial management, training and development, accounting, ethics in business, intercultural/cross-cultural studies, and quality and continuous improvement.
The leadership MBA is for those with two years of professional work experience. This 42-credit program is specifically designed to help students become both technically skilled and prepared for the interpersonal requirements of effective leadership.
Coursework in both programs includes ethical, social, and environmental responsibility; systems thinking; financial principles and policy; and the economy as a system. Notably, St. Joseph’s also offers an online 60-credit dual MSN/MBA degree. GMAT scores are not required to apply. However, prerequisite coursework in accounting, finance, and economics may be required before students can begin core coursework.
| Location: Standish, Maine |
| Accreditation: New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Expected Time to Completion: As few as 18 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $557 per credit-hour |
Hybrid MBA Programs in Maine
Hybrid MBA programs are best suited to those looking for the flexibility of online coursework combined with the networking opportunities provided by in-person interactions.
In the case of the Maine, the online MBA offered through the Husson University College of Business allows students to choose an experience that is completely online, or can choose to complete their program partially online and partially on campus. In this case, the hybrid option may be best for those students who are living close to the college campus, and have the scheduling flexibility to attend courses on-campus.
Professors to Know in Online MBA Programs in Maine
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Nory Jones, PhD, MBA Maine Business School
Dr. Nory Jones is a professor of information management systems in the Maine Business School at the University of Maine. She leads courses in information systems and technology for business, electronic commerce, creating and capturing value in the digital economy, the principles of marketing, and knowledge management and decision support systems.
Dr. Jones is a published scholar with works appearing in peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of Virtual and Personal Learning Environments, the Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, the Journal of Business & Economic Policy, and the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.
In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Jones is the co-author of Knowledge Transfer and Innovation—a book focused on how managers can stimulate innovation through effective knowledge transfer. She earned her master of science from the University of Idaho, her MBA in marketing and finance from the University of Massachusetts, and her PhD in information systems and knowledge management from the University of Missouri. -
Brien Walton, JD, EdD Husson University
Dr. Brien Walton is the Director of the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business and an assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the college of business at Husson University. Dr. Walton brings a strong background of practical knowledge to his teaching through experience as a serial entrepreneur and active startup mentor. Also, he served as the chairman and CEO for Acadia Capital Management Consortium, an economic development and strategy company.
Dr. Walton is a highly credentialed professional, earning a master of science in education in workforce development and a doctorate of education in organizational learning leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a JD from the University of the District of Columbia, a master of laws from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a master of liberal arts in educational technologies from Harvard University. Additionally, Dr. Walton has an Effective Teaching Practices credential from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and earned an Emotional Intelligence Administrator & Executive Coach credential from Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
