Flexible Online MBA Programs
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“Online MBA programs are every bit as academically rigorous as in-person programs. The expectations, workload, and learning outcomes are aligned; what differs is the mode of delivery, not the academic standard.”
Ioannis Bellos, PhD, Associate Professor, George Mason University’s Costello College of Business
In today’s business world, a master of business administration (MBA) degree can prove a valuable tool to help professionals advance into executive, leadership, or managerial roles.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), top executives often have an MBA. However, committing to earning an MBA can be time-consuming. The traditional on-campus, full-time MBA program requiring students to attend classroom sessions at set times during business hours may be a commitment impossible for the working professional or an unattractive option for those who understand the importance of continuing to cultivate real-world experience. Fortunately, flexible MBA programs allow working professionals to advance their careers without sacrificing their current occupation.
Flexible MBA programs are designed and scheduled specifically to fit around the life a student has already built. Flexible MBAs offer options such as evening and online courses, alternate admissions deadlines, and the ability to complete coursework one class at a time rather than multiple courses simultaneously.
In addition, flexible MBA programs are not rare, and high-quality institutions across the country are beginning to translate on-campus MBA programs into more flexible MBA offerings. This means that students can pursue 100 percent online degrees or hybrid degrees that combine on-campus and online requirements. Additionally, out-of-state students can enroll in reputable programs without relocating.
Flexible MBA programs offer various delivery options tailored to individual learning styles. Asynchronous, fully online programs are appropriate for students with advanced time management skills whose main priority is the ability to learn at their own pace. Hybrid programs or synchronous online flexible MBA programs have more rigid schedules, and students are required to log in at a particular time or visit campus for specific courses. In flexible MBA programs, these requirements are often structured so that these times fall outside business hours or on weekends. Hybrid or synchronous programs may best suit students who do their best learning through interpersonal interaction and excel with more frequent deadlines.
Anyone who doesn’t want to entirely sacrifice the life they’ve built to gain the knowledge necessary to advance their business career can consider a flexible online MBA program.
The following highlights outstanding flexible MBA programs across the country.
| Featured Flexible & Part-Time MBA Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina | MBA@UNC Online MBA | View Full Profile |
| George Mason University | Online MBA | View Full Profile |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Flex Master of Business Administration (MBA) | View Full Profile |
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For the latest academic year, we have over 250 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details. |
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Meet the Expert: John Fowler, PhD
Dr. John Fowler is the Motorola Professor of International Management in the NASPO Department of Supply Chain Management in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. He served as the department chair of supply chain management from 2011-2016 and currently serves as the assistant dean for MBA programs.
Dr. Fowler’s research interests include discrete event simulation, deterministic scheduling, and multi-criteria decision making, particularly applied to manufacturing and service systems. He has published more than 135 journal articles and more than 100 refereed conference papers.
Dr. Fowler is the editor-in-chief of Applied Operations & Analytics and was the founding editor-in-chief of IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering. He previously served as editor of the Journal of Simulation and associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing. He is a fellow of INFORMS and of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. He is a former vice president of both INFORMS and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. He served on the Winter Simulation Conference board of directors from 2005-2024. He was also the program chair for the 2002 and 2008 Industrial Engineering Research Conferences and the 2008 Winter Simulation Conference.
BSchools.org: What do you wish the public understood about flexible online MBA programs?
Dr. Fowler: Here are the things I wish the public understood about the [online program] options in Arizona:
- Some programs use different faculty; ASU uses the same faculty that teach face-to-face.
- There are only a few synchronous sessions, so students can mostly manage their studies and take exams around their work and personal life. While there is flexibility, weekly due dates help keep students from falling behind.
- In most classes, there is some element of teamwork, allowing students to learn from their peers.
- There are plenty of opportunities to engage and connect with fellow students through orientation and online networking events.
- There is flexibility to gain in-depth knowledge in one or more of the core business disciplines, such as accounting, computer information systems, finance, marketing, and supply chain management.
BSchools.org: What advice would you give to aspiring online MBA students?
Dr. Fowler: Recognize that, while the program is highly rewarding, it requires dedication and hard work. Be sure to plan with others in your life (e.g., family and friends) to set aside time for schoolwork. Lastly, develop and practice teamwork skills, as effective collaboration plays a key role in the program’s success.
Meet the Expert: Ioannis Bellos, PhD
Dr. Ioannis Bellos is an associate professor in the information systems and operations management area and the director of the MBA, MSM, and business certificate programs at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business. His research examines sustainable and service-oriented operations, with a particular focus on business models that emphasize access over ownership, including sharing-economy innovations and product-service systems. His work appears in leading journals in operations and management science.
Dr. Bellos teaches operations management at both the MBA and undergraduate levels and is a multi-year recipient of the MBA Faculty of the Year award. Through his teaching, program leadership, and research, he advances understanding of how organizations can design more efficient, environmentally responsible, and customer-centered operations.
BSchools.org: What do you wish the public understood about flexible online MBA programs?
Dr. Bellos: One thing I wish the public understood is that online MBA programs are every bit as academically rigorous as in-person programs. The expectations, workload, and learning outcomes are aligned; what differs is the mode of delivery, not the academic standard.
For example, the same faculty that teaches the in-person Costello College of Business MBA core and elective courses is also teaching the in-person MBA core and elective courses. There is no change in faculty quality or the expectations of what the students will need to do to be successful in each course.
At the same time, the tremendous flexibility that online MBA programs provide comes with trade-offs. The most obvious one is networking: it is possible to build strong professional relationships online, but it requires more intentional effort than walking into a physical classroom.
Another trade-off that people often overlook is the self-discipline required to succeed in an asynchronous format. In an in-person MBA program, the structure and social environment naturally help keep students on track. In an online setting, you have more autonomy, which means that time management and a proactive approach to coursework become even more important.
In short, online MBA programs provide access and flexibility without sacrificing academic quality, but students should be conscious that more of the responsibility to get the most out of their academic experience, staying on top of coursework, and being aware of networking opportunities, is on them. There are opportunities for online students, but it is up to the student to determine their own level of engagement.
BSchools.org: What advice would you give to aspiring online MBA students?
Dr. Bellos: My advice to aspiring online MBA students is to consider programs that offer both flexibility and access to in-person touch points. Choosing an online MBA from a school that is geographically close can be an excellent way to get the best of both worlds: you can chip away at coursework on your own schedule without the commute, while still having access to in-person networking events, workshops, career services, and other on-campus resources.
This advantage should not be overlooked. At Costello, for example, we host speaker series, industry panels, alumni gatherings, and professional development events that online students can attend. Being close enough to participate occasionally can significantly strengthen your network and overall experience.
Many online MBA programs are asynchronous, meaning students are not required to participate in live sessions. However, faculty often offer optional real-time classes or discussions. My advice to online MBA students is to take advantage of these opportunities whenever possible, as they provide valuable interaction, clarification, and connection that enrich the learning experience.
Ultimately, success in an online MBA comes from being intentional. Look for a program that fits your lifestyle but also gives you opportunities to engage, both virtually and, when possible, in person. At the end of the day, your degree will read master of business administration, not “online” master of business administration, but the value that each student can really derive from their MBA is how much they were able to tap into their MBA community.
Featured Online Flexible MBA Programs
Fortunately for aspiring students, many reputable institutions currently offer online flexible MBA programs, including the following:
George Mason University’s fully online MBA equips students with a diverse skill set and global perspective to solve various complex organizational challenges. Students develop their managerial, interpersonal, and analytical skills in a rigorous, engaging business and management curriculum. Students will also have the option to participate in their Global Residency program. Moreover, an optional business analytics graduate certificate can be integrated into the MBA curriculum.
This 48-credit program includes courses such as statistics for business decision-making, organizational behavior, managerial economics and decisions of the firm, marketing management, operations management, managerial finance, managing costs and evaluating performance, and management of information technology.
| Location: Fairfax, Virginia |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 16 months to three years |
The online MBA program at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University was ranked among the best business online MBA programs in the country in 2025 by U.S. News & World Report. The flexible MBA program offered by ASU allows students to study in a hybrid format or take classes entirely online. The MBA can be completed in as few as 21 months, but students can earn the degree at their own pace to accommodate their professional schedules.
Course offerings include organizational theory: leading people, teams, and organizations, statistics for managers, financial performance reporting, operations and supply management, decisions, market structure, and games: managerial economics, create and deliver customer value: marketing management, finance: the art of managing resources, ethical issues for managers, and managerial accounting.
This online MBA program provides students with the opportunity to hone their studies in their interests and sets them apart from the competition with an optional concentration option. Students pursuing a concentration will be required to take at least 3 elective courses in one subject area and may be required to take a combination of on-campus and online electives. Concentrations are available in business data analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, leadership, marketing, and supply chain management.
| Location: Tempe, Arizona |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 21 months or more |
Middle Tennessee State University offers a flexible online MBA program in several concentrations: healthcare management, strategic marketing analytics, music business, legal and ethical governance, risk management, and human resources management. To qualify, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Core courses in the MBA program include accounting information for managers, leading organizations, economic decisions for managers, managerial finance, marketing strategy, IT applications for decision making, supply chain operations, applied business analytics, and strategic business consulting. This program requires 31 to 40 credits, depending on one’s concentration, and offers hands-on experiences across various business settings.
| Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two to 2.5 years, on average |
Walden University’s online MBA prepares students to be socially minded, high-impact change agents in business settings and to become capable, socially conscious, and confident business leaders. This program’s unique format allows students to progress at their own pace, on their schedule, and without any set weekly deadlines. The program also offers a one-year fast-track MBA option, allowing students to double up on courses and earn their degree in half the time.
The program also allows students to choose one of the several available specializations: healthcare management, human resource management, and a self-designed MBA option. The program consists of 50 credits. The curriculum includes instruction in business essentials, dynamic leadership, managing people and promoting collaboration, fostering a culture of innovation, managing business information systems, improving business performance, and accounting for management decision-making.
| Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 24 months |
The University of North Carolina offers an online MBA that prepares graduates to become exceptional leaders who can think strategically, build strong global organizations, and analyze problems effectively.
In addition to covering traditional MBA competencies, students in this STEM-designated program can customize their curriculum according to their goals. Concentration options are available in data analytics and decision-making, management and leadership, entrepreneurship, strategy and consulting, finance, and marketing.
Notably, students will also have the option to participate in summits. Summits are immersive, in-person experiences held in cities around the world and on campus in Chapel Hill that expose students to new business perspectives and strengthen their relationships with classmates and professors.
Made up of 62 credits, the program includes courses such as analytical tools for decision making, leading and managing, financial accounting, operations, finance, corporate financial strategy, business modeling, data analytics, design and delivery of healthcare systems, global finance & emerging markets, managerial decision-making, and mergers and acquisitions.
| Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 18 to 36 months |
Lamar University offers a fully online master of business administration program, providing students with a strong business background and the opportunity to tailor their degree to their interests with several in-demand concentrations. Graduates will gain strategic and leadership-savvy skills while being equipped to address both the human and technical sides of the management equation.
Applicants to the program must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university and submit a completed online application along with official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Comprising 30 credits, the program includes courses such as managerial accounting, managerial decision-making, managerial economics, financial management, international business, strategic management, ERP overview, and marketing management.
Apart from the general MBA program, Lamar University also offers several concentration options in accounting, business analytics, construction project management, criminal justice management, enterprise resource planning, financial management, healthcare administration, management, management information systems, marketing, and leadership.
| Location: Beaumont, Texas |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 months |
The Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University offers a flexible, online MBA program through one of the most respected academic institutions in the world. This 54-credit-hour program takes an average of 2.5 years to complete and allows students to focus on different concentrations, including business analytics and risk management, digital marketing, entrepreneurial marketing, entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology, financial management, healthcare management, innovation, and technology, investments, and public and private sector leadership.
Most courses are delivered asynchronously, although some involve real-time learning activities. While much of the coursework is delivered online, students in certain concentrations will be required to attend an in-person residency at the Baltimore campus to complete their degree, lasting between 1.5 and three days.
The curriculum of this 54-credit program includes courses such as corporate finance, entrepreneurial ventures, data analytics, fixed income, marketing research, managing in a diverse & global world, power and politics, wealth management, and social media analytics.
| Location: Baltimore, Maryland |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 to 36 months |
Established in 2017, the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte now offers students the opportunity to complete an online flexible MBA. Most of these accredited programs can be completed entirely online. However, students must visit the campus for two residencies, one at the beginning of the program and one at the midpoint.
Students must complete between 30 credits. Available areas of concentration include leadership and change, healthcare administration, finance, executive coaching, global business management, business data analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, leadership, marketing, and supply chain management. This online flexible MBA program can be completed in just 11 to 20 months.
The curriculum includes courses such as organizational behavior, investment analysis, conflict & negotiation, and innovation, change, & entrepreneurship, among others.
| Location: Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 11 to 20 months |
Greenville University‘s Briner School of Business offers an online MBA that prepares working professionals for in-demand leadership careers. Combining hands-on study with a comprehensive study of advanced business management, the program’s curriculum emphasizes practical knowledge, so students can gain skills that can be directly applied to their current jobs.
Admission requirements to the program include a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or other recognized institution from another country, a completed online application, transcripts from all previously attended institutions, a grade point average of 3.0, and an up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae.
The program comprises 40 credits, including coursework in accounting management, strategic management, organizational theory and practice, values-based leadership, human resource strategies, legal and ethical environments, project management, international business & global strategy, financial management, and economic thinking for managers.
| Location: Greenville, Illinois |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 months |
The University of New Haven offers an online MBA that prepares graduates to lead teams to success and navigate organizational challenges. Emphasizing hands-on skill development and global business perspectives, students will learn to solve problems, collaborate, and make data-driven decisions.
With career-focused concentration options in data analytics, global supply chain management, and business analytics, this program empowers students to specialize and pursue their professional interests.
The program comprises 30 to 34 credits, includes courses such as leadership and team building, managerial accounting, applied statistical methods, corporate finance, strategic management, and leading organizational strategy and change.
| Location: West Haven, Connecticut |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 18 months |
The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University offers an online, flexible MBA program ranked third in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2025). Throughout the program, students must attend access weekends between each mini-semester to connect with faculty, classmates, and alumni. Outside of this requirement, courses can be completed online in synchronous and asynchronous formats.
The program generally takes three years to finish for online, part-time students and includes courses on subjects such as probability and statistics, managing people and teams, managerial economics, financial and managerial accounting, global economics, operations management, managing networks and organizations, corporate strategy, and ethics and leadership.
| Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two to six years |
The UCLA Anderson School of Management offers an online flexible MBA program that can be completed in as few as 27 months. Still, many students complete three years to accommodate their professional schedules. While much of the coursework can be completed online, this 80-credit-hour program is more of a hybrid option as on-campus participation is required throughout much of the experience.
Assignments are delivered both in person and online, and students must complete a core course at the beginning of the program and a global access capstone project.
As part of the program, students will delve into data & decisions, managerial economics, marketing management, organizational behavior, business strategy, operations & technology management, foundations of finance, and financial accounting.
| Location: Los Angeles, California |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 27 months or more |
At the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, students can complete an online flexible MBA program focusing on one of six different areas of study, including business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare administration, marketing, and sports management. The program can be completed 100 percent online, meaning students are never required to set foot on campus to complete their degree.
The program requires students to take 11 core courses and various electives within their chosen specialty. Some of the topics students will delve into include the foundation of accounting, the foundation of finance, strategic information management, economic analysis for managers, organizational strategy, career and professional development workshop, data management for business leaders, and business intelligence and analytics.
| Location: Amherst, Massachusetts |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 months |
Students at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah can pursue an online, flexible MBA ranked 15th in the world by the Princeton Review. Students can finish in 24 months by taking two classes at a time and can complete all coursework at a distance. If desired, students can also study in a hybrid format, taking some classes online and others on campus. Online students have an optional three-day on-campus residency at the beginning of the first year.
In this program, online MBA students can also pursue an additional graduate certificate in information systems, business analytics, or operations & supply chain management.
Comprising 48 credits. The program includes courses such as business communication, information technology, business ethics, managerial accounting, competitive strategy, managerial economics, data analysis, managing and leading in organizations, financial accounting, and marketing management.
| Location: Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 months |
