Executive MBA Programs Online

A master’s of business administration (MBA) equips graduates with a valuable skill-set, paying thought to general strategies for success in management or entrepreneurship. Experienced professionals with high leadership aspirations, however, might consider earning an executive MBA (EMBA)—a degree which may even be sponsored by an employer.

In general, traditional MBA programs are designed for students who currently possess a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, and who already have some work experience. EMBAs, in contrast, are specifically tailored for students who are not only interested in top leadership roles, but also are relatively established in their careers. Of course, there are other differences that distinguish a traditional MBA from an EMBA program. For one, the admissions requirements for EMBA programs are often more rigid than they are for MBA degrees, which may engender a more competitive atmosphere; for example, students in the MBA program at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania scored, on average, between 570 and 760 on the GMAT, while the EMBA students had a range of 640-760. Furthermore, students in the MBA program had an average work experience of four years, while those in the EMBA had been working for an average of 11 years before beginning their degree.

The two types of programs also share some similarities, including the time it takes to complete each degree. For example, students at the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech can complete an EMBA in 17 months—a similar time frame to a traditional MBA program. In addition, the EMBA and MBA curricula may boast significant overlap, depending on the institution.

Ultimately, EMBA programs attract seasoned business professionals and these days, one need not live close to a campus to complete these studies. In fact, there’s a growing number of reputable business schools bringing their EMBA programs online to accommodate working professionals, people living far away from campuses, or those with other time commitments.

This guide explores eight reputable online EMBA programs, as well as three well-known professors leading courses at these institutions.

Professors to Know in Online Executive MBA Programs

Business schools with online EMBA programs are led by many talented, experienced professionals. Here are three standout educators from schools with highly regarded distance-based executive MBAs.

  • Allison J. Bryant, PhD

    Dr. Allison J. Bryant is an associate professor within the School of Business at Howard University, where she also serves as the chair of the Department of Information Systems & Supply Chain Management. Her research focuses on online health information, human information-searching behavior, diversity of the information technology workforce, and the socio-cultural impact of technology. Notably, her work appears in a number of impactful peer-reviewed publications, including the Health Systems Journal, the International Journal of E-Health and Medical Communications, and the Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing.

  • Ananth Iyer, PhD

    Dr. Ananth Iyer is a senior associate dean at the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, where he also works as the Susan Bulkeley Butler Chair in Operations Management. Dr. Iyer is also the current director of the Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises (DCMME) and the Global Supply Chain Management Initiative (GSCMI). He is the author of four books, including a textbook on managing supply chains, as well as trade books on Toyota Supply Chains. Furthermore, Dr. Iyer served as the president of the MSOM Society of INFORMS in 2001-03.

  • Chip Hunter, PhD

    Dr. Chip Hunter is the dean of the Carson College of Business at Washington State University. In recognition of his research and leadership, he was recently elected vice-president of the Industry Studies Association. He has authored numerous articles, book chapters, and presentations. His work has been featured in Perspectives on Work, the Academy of Management Journal, and the International Journal of Human Resource Management, among other estimable publications.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani
Writer

Farheen Gani is an expert in online MBA programs, having covered MBA programs in computer science, economics, healthcare management, and fraud and forensics, among others, since 2018. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).