One-Year Online MBA Programs - Accelerated MBA (12-16 Months)
Among aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders, obtaining a master’s of business administration (MBA) is seen as a crucial stepping stone towards a successful career in the business world. Reputable MBA programs provide students with valuable knowledge and hands-on training to help them thrive in the job market upon graduation.
Of course, an MBA is widely recognized as a grueling pursuit—one that requires participants to make time in an already busy schedule to attend classes on campus. That said, a wide array of online MBA programs have emerged that allow students to attain this degree at a distance with more flexibility than traditional routes.
Many full-time online MBA programs take two years to complete, although this may depend on the background of the student and his or her intended specialization, among other variables. There’s a growing number of one-year online MBA programs, sometimes known as accelerated programs. In reality, accelerated MBA programs have been commonplace in Europe for some time, and are now gaining popularity in the United States. An accelerated online MBA can be the ideal choice for those who are able to commit to a rigorous, generally full-time, course of study in order to hone their ability to manage a business and refine their knowledge and skills in a particular field. Overall, a one-year program is viewed as equal to a two-year program in the eyes of recruiters.
Online one-year MBAs are extremely time-intensive and are best suited for students who already have a strong background in business fundamentals; in fact, in many cases, accelerated programs show preference for applicants who already possess a bachelor’s degree in business. The one-year online MBA program offered by Murray State University, for example, highlights the importance of approaching this type of degree with business school experience; specifically, the school mentions that students who have taken classes on financial accounting, managerial accounting, macroeconomics, microeconomics, business calculus, and other foundational classes will be able to finish the program in a much shorter amount of time.
It’s also important to note that an accelerated MBA may save students money since it only takes one year, providing a quicker return on investment than longer programs. As mentioned, however, attending a one-year or accelerated online MBA program generally requires a full-time commitment and it can be difficult to hold down a full-time job while completing such a program. Most business schools, in fact, recommend that those working full-time opt for a part-time or flexible MBA program instead. This guide highlights eight reputable accelerated online MBA programs, as well as three professors leading courses at schools that offer these online.
Note that BSchools.org extends the definition of “accelerated” to include online MBA programs that take 12-16 months to complete, as there are several that take an extra 2-4 months beyond the one-year mark, but can also be considered “accelerated” relative to other MBA programs. We display program duration for each online MBA in our list below.
Professors to Know in Accelerated Online MBA Programs
Courses in accelerated online MBA programs are generally led by talented educators who are renowned in their field. Here are three professors who currently work at schools offering online MBA degrees:
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S. Selcuk Erenguc, DBA
Dr. S. Selcuk Erenguc is the George W. and Lisa O. Etheridge, Jr. Professor at the Warrington College of Business, where he also serves as the senior associate dean. His research interests include manufacturing planning and control, project planning and scheduling, and supply chain management. He currently teaches mathematical modeling and operations management in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Erenguc has also authored a number of articles in various peer-reviewed journals, including the Naval Research Logistics Quarterly; the European Journal of Operational Research; Decision Sciences; and the International Journal of Operations and Production Management.
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John Delaney, PhD
Dr. John Delaney is a professor of management within the Kogod School of Business at American University, where he also serves as the dean. Dr. Delaney has received a number of awards and recognitions, including the he Society for Human Resource Management (University of Iowa, Hawkeye Chapter) Outstanding Professor Award (1994-1995); the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations Distinguished Alumni Award (2011); and the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business H.J. Zoffer Medal for Meritorious Service (2015). He is also recognized for his scholarship in dispute resolution, labor-management relations, and negotiations.
Featured Accredited One-Year Online MBA Programs
At the Kogod School of Business at American University, students have the opportunity to complete an online MBA program in as little as one year. This 48-credit-hour program includes 12 core courses, three elective courses, and two immersions. Although much of the program can be completed online, students must participate in two global immersions throughout the duration of their studies, each of which lasts three-to-four days. The program also allows students to specialize in various concentrations, including marketing, finance, cybersecurity, international business, business analytics, and consulting.
| Location: Washington DC |
| Expected Time to Completion:12 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $78,816 |
The John E. Simon School of Business at Maryville University, located in St. Louis, Missouri, offers an online MBA program that can be completed in as little as one year, although students have the option to increase the time frame in order to decrease their enrolled credit-hours each semester. This program is delivered entirely online, meaning that students are never required to visit the campus throughout the duration of their studies. In addition, six start dates are offered throughout the year, and students are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores, nor an application fee, when applying to this program. During the program, students have the option of specializing in one of eight different concentrations, including accounting, cybersecurity, financial services, human resources management, project management, health administration, general management, and information technology. Please note that pursuing a concentration may increase the time length required in order to complete the MBA degree.
| Location:St. Louis, MO |
| Accreditation: ACBSP |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 months |
| Estimated Tuition:$27,300 (for MBA without concentration) |
The School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton offers an online accelerated MBA program that can be completed in 12 months. This 30-credit-hour program consists of 13 courses and two immersions, although students who choose to specialize must complete 33 credit-hours in order to graduate. The program is delivered almost entirely online, although the immersion experiences are conducted in-person, one of which is held on the University of Dayton campus. In addition, students also have the option to take fewer credits per semester in this program in order to complete the degree in a longer time frame.
| Location: Dayton, OH |
| Accreditation: AACSB |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 months |
| Estimated Tuition: Between $37,500 and $56,250 |
The University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, which has been ranked a “Best Midwestern College” by the Princeton Review since 2005, offers an accelerated online MBA program that can be completed in one year. To be sure, students are never required to visit the campus, although they are invited to do so for graduation ceremonies. This 36-credit-hour program allows students to specialize in one of six difference concentrations, including leadership and organizational health, finance, general management, healthcare management, human resource management, and marketing and advertising management.
| Location: Leavenworth, KS |
| Accreditation: AACSB |
| Expected Time to Completion 12 months |
| Estimated Tuition $22,140 |
The College of Business and Economics at Boise State University offers an accelerated online MBA program that can be completed in as few as 12 months. This 49 credit-hour program was ranked among the “Top 20 Public Schools” in the West by U.S. News & World Report, and covers courses on business foundations, design thinking and strategic management, marketing strategy, corporate finance, and people and organizations, among a number of others. The school also prides itself on offering an MBA that includes 100 percent online coursework.
| Location: Boise, ID |
| Accreditation: AACSB |
| Expected Time to Completion:12 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $36,750 |
The business school at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi offers an accelerated online MBA program that can be completed in 12 months. It allows students to specialize in various concentrations such as healthcare, finance, or accounting. The traditional MBA includes 30 credit-hours, while the MBA with a concentration consists of 36 credit-hours; regardless the program selected, all students take courses on accounting topics, managerial economics, managerial finance, and organizational behavior and theory, among others. Please note that the school does not explicitly mention if any campus visits are required. In addition, individuals from some states may be ineligible to enroll, which is why potential applicants should learn more about the school’s state authorization status before moving forward in the process.
| Location:Corpus Christi, TX |
| Accreditation:AACSB |
| Expected Time to Completion:12 months |
| Estimated Tuition: Between $25,715.70 and $30,858.84 (nonresident tuition) |
Students at the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida can complete a hybrid online MBA program, which generally takes students 16 months to complete, only slightly longer than a true accelerated degree. This 32-credit hour program covers courses on managerial and financial accounting, micro and macroeconomics, principles of marketing, principles of management, and operations and supply chain management. It allows students to focus in one of four areas, including entrepreneurship, international relations, finance, or marketing. Although much of the degree can be completed online, students must attend weekend residencies every four months, as well as a mandatory on-campus orientation.
| Location: Gainesville, FL |
| Accreditation: AACSB |
| Expected Time to Completion: 16 months |
| Estimated Tuition:$48,000 |
Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio offers an online MBA program that can be completed in as little as 12 months, and that offers six intake dates throughout the course of the year. This program is 100 percent online, and consists of 42 credits covering areas such as sustainable ethical leadership, marketing, information systems, and others. Students also have the option to pursue additional specialization in either healthcare management, marketing, or management. In addition, the program allows students to work at their own pace, and does not require applicants to submit GMAT during the admissions process.
| Location: North Canton, OH |
| Accreditation: AACSB |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $28,770 |