B-School Search
With a number four ranking on U.S. News and World Report’s Best States for Business Environment, a number eight ranking on the Forbes 2018 list of Best States for Business, and #12 on Chief Executive’s 2019 list of Best and Worst States for Business, Colorado is high-ranking state in which to do business.
Ranked first for economy by US News and World Report, Colorado is experiencing an influx of venture capital at a rate of 700 percent of the national average and is predicted to have the second-fastest rate of job growth in the nation over the next five years.
Industries like marijuana, agriculture, livestock, tourism, and mineral extraction are soon to be joined by aerospace as key industries in Colorado. Ten Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in Colorado, including DaVista, DISH Network, Molson Coors Brewery, Qurate Retail, Liberty Media, Western Union, Arrow Electronics, Ball Corp., DCP Midstream, and Newmont Mining. With a rate of college attainment at 41 percent of the adult population, the talent pool in Colorado is second only to Massachusetts.
MBA programs based in Colorado can give professionals the insight needed to succeed in local industries and beyond. In an online era, busy professionals who wish to become more competitive in the job market, more effective in their current job, or advance into managerial positions have the opportunity to expand their business skills through online MBA programs.
Most online MBA programs are the same quality as their campus-based counterparts and are designed to fit within the existing lives and busy schedules of working professionals who can’t stop working, or relocate, to continue their business education. Some online MBA programs also offer in-person networking opportunities through on-campus orientations, short-term residencies, or intensives.
Keep reading to learn more about online business schools based in Colorado, the distinguished professors offering students learning opportunities, and hybrid on-campus/online programs for those students who want a best-of-both-worlds learning experience.
Featured Online MBA Programs in Colorado
The online MBA offered through the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver is for professionals who wish to become purpose-driven leaders driving ethical and sustainable businesses. Those enrolled in the [email protected] can choose a generalized MBA track or can opt for a concentration in finance or marketing.
Coursework in the 60-credit-hour program includes leading with integrity, business law and public policy, global business, and entrepreneurship: ideation to creation. Students enrolled in this program are expected to complete two three-day immersions, which are offered on-campus, domestically, and abroad.
While it is preferred that applicants to the [email protected] program have 36 months of full-time work experience, professionals with a minimum of 24 months can apply. GMAT/GRE scores are required for admission, unless an applicant has five or more years of professional full-time work experience. Also, GMAT/GRE waivers may be available to those with a 3.2 undergraduate GPA, an accredited graduate degree, or two or more completed quantitative courses through the Daniels Continuing Education Program with a “B” grade or higher.
Location: Denver, Colorado |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Expected Time to Completion: As few as 21 months |
Estimated Tuition: $1,350 per credit-hour |
Offered online since 1996, the Graduate School of Business Administration at UCCS provides a high-quality online MBA option accessible to those without a degree in business. Students in the program can choose a general business degree or can opt for an emphasis in one of ten areas: accounting, finance, healthcare administration, innovation management, international business, management, marketing, operations management, project management, or service management.
Coursework in the 36-credit-hour program includes corporate financial management, leading and managing in changing times, marketing strategy, and operations: competing through capabilities. GMAT/GRE scores are required to apply to the UCCS online MBA program. Waivers may be available to those with an advanced degree with a 3.0 GPA; five years of relevant full-time professional work experience and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA; or ten years of work experience with a 2.75 undergraduate GPA. Depending on academic backgrounds, some students may have to complete foundational quantitative coursework.
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Expected Time to Completion: 18 months to five years |
Estimated Tuition: $2,575 per three-credit course (non-resident) |
The 100 percent online MBA offered through the Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado prepares graduates for corporate management in an evolving global marketplace. Those enrolled in the program can choose a general MBA or can take one of two emphases in healthcare administration or human resources management.
Coursework in the 36-credit-hour program includes data analytics and visualization, economics of managerial decisions, advanced international business, and marketing management. Regardless of educational background, students are also expected to complete three free foundational modules in economics, finance, and accounting. GMAT/GRE scores are required to apply to the UNC online MBA program, although waivers may be available to those with a graduate degree, a professional certification (CPA, CFA, PE, or Actuary), those with two continuous years managerial experience plus a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, or those with four years of continuous managerial experience plus an undergraduate GPA above 2.75.
Location: Greeley, Colorado |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Expected Time to Completion: As few as 12 months |
Estimated Tuition: $21,492 for the program |
The Business School at CU Denver offers a 100 percent online professional MBA that can be taken full- or part-time, and can be customized to fit each individual’s lifestyle and career goals. Students enrolled in the program can choose between five fully online specializations in business intelligence, enterprise technology management, finance, information systems, and managing for sustainability.
Coursework in the 48-credit program includes leadership, information systems, strategic management, accounting, and law and ethics. GMAT/GRE scores are required to apply, but waivers may be available to qualified candidates. Applicants without work experience, and those with a non-business degree are welcome to apply to the program.
Location: Denver, Colorado |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Expected Time to Completion: 16 months to five years |
Estimated Tuition: $731 per credit-hour (out-of-state) |
Colorado Mesa University’s Department of Business offers a 100 percent online MBA degree program that prepares students for ever-changing business landscapes through rigorous coursework and a practicum project. Students enrolled in CMU’s program can choose between three tracks of study, including a professional track, a management information systems track, and a sports management track.
Coursework in the 36- to 45-credit program includes advanced business law and ethics, operations management, leading organizations, and business strategy. GMAT/GRE scores are required to apply to Colorado Mesa. GMAT/GRE waivers may be available to those with substantial managerial experience. Students with non-business backgrounds may apply to the program but are required to take leveling coursework in accounting, finance, the principles of management and marketing, information technology, and statistics.
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years |
Estimated Tuition: $500 per credit-hour |
The 100 percent online MBA offered by Adams State University is designed for busy professionals who want to advance in their careers without halting their professional or personal lives. Students enrolled in the program can choose between five emphasis areas, including finance, health administration, leadership, public administration, and sport leadership.
Coursework in the 36-credit program includes leadership skills for managers, creating consumer value, managerial economics, and financial analysis. GMAT/GRE scores are required for admission to the program unless a student demonstrates a 3.5 or higher undergraduate GPA. Students must have a 3.0 GPA in the previous 30 credits (undergraduate or graduate) completed in order to apply. Also, foundational coursework in accounting and finance must be completed either before or while enrolled in the MBA program. Depending on GRE score, some students may need to complete an undergraduate course in business quantitative techniques.
Location: Alamosa, Colorado |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Expected Time to Completion: Two years |
Estimated Tuition: $420 per credit-hour |
The online MBA offered through the Hasan School of Business at CSU Pueblo helps students to understand business from a varied perspective and prepares graduates for positions in high-level management.
Coursework in the 36-credit-hour program includes economics for managers, management policy and strategy, advertising and promotion research, and business ethics and environment. GMAT/GRE scores are required for admission, but waivers may be available and prospective students can contact the MBA director for details. Prospective students without an undergraduate business degree may apply, but are expected to take leveling coursework in accounting, statistics, microeconomics, finance, management, and marketing.
Location: Pueblo, Colorado |
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
Expected Time to Completion: One to two years |
Estimated Tuition: $1,650 per credit-hour |
Hybrid MBA Programs in Colorado
Students living close to a college campus who are interested in expanded networking opportunities in their MBA program may want to consider looking into MBA programs that offer a hybrid experience. Most didactic coursework is available online and hybrid programs maintain the flexibility that busy professionals need. By providing on-campus intensives, residencies, and/or orientations, hybrid programs also offer face-to-face networking opportunities with faculty, fellow students, and business professionals in the region. Two programs in Colorado from our list of featured programs offer hybrid on-campus/online programs: