Western Illinois University (WIU) Online MBA

Western Illinois University (WIU) offers a 100 percent online master of business administration (MBA) tailored to working professionals who want an AACSB-accredited program with flexibility. The program uses eight-week accelerated core courses, allowing students to take two courses per semester. The MBA can be completed in two years.

Students without a business background may need additional background coursework determined in consultation with the MBA director. The program is open to business graduates and those from engineering, liberal arts, science, mathematics, and other fields.

WIU offers 13 concentration areas, each consisting of nine credits of specialized coursework. The accounting concentration develops skills in budgeting, cost management, business analysis, and financial reporting. The agriculture business concentration combines business education with specialized knowledge of the agricultural industry, including supply chain management, agribusiness finance, and sustainable practices. The business analytics concentration prepares graduates to apply analytics for solving complex business problems.

The corporate security concentration equips students to protect assets, ensure business continuity, and manage organizational risk through study of risk assessment, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and crisis management. The economics concentration builds on economics for managers and helps students explore consumer behavior, resource allocation, and market forces, preparing graduates to make decisions with an economist’s mindset. The finance concentration explores key financial practices and principles with focus areas in portfolio management, real estate finance, risk management, and security analysis.

The health services administration concentration provides knowledge in healthcare management, including organizational administration, policies, industry challenges, and legal considerations. Recognized by SHRM, the human resource management concentration equips students with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage human capital. The information systems concentration prepares students to manage and leverage technology for strategic advantage and equips graduates for careers as senior business analysts, IT managers, chief information officers, or IT project managers.

The international business concentration covers global marketing, international trade, multinational accounting, human resource practices, and financial and foreign exchange management. The management concentration develops skills in strategic decision-making, organizational dynamics, and leadership and equips students to solve complex business problems, drive innovation across industries, and lead teams.

The marketing concentration equips graduates with skills for strategic, market-based decision-making and covers topics such as mobile marketing, CRM, pricing, and direct and interactive marketing. The supply chain management concentration prepares graduates for global management roles in production, sourcing, inventory, logistics, risk, and operations.

The program is designed for working professionals seeking a high-value, low-cost graduate credential with flexible scheduling. All requirements may be completed purely online, with no in-person requirement for any of the MBA courses.

Western Illinois University, located in Macomb, Illinois, is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The master of business administration program is fully accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). The online MBA is part of the College of Business and Technology (CBT).

What to Expect from Western Illinois University (WIU) Online MBA

Admission Requirements: Admission to Western Illinois University’s online MBA is based on academic background and professional experience. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and meet graduate admission standards. To apply, students apply online and request that official transcripts be sent to the School of Graduate Studies. The program requires a GPA of 3.0, or a last two years’ GPA of 3.0.

Applicants whose cumulative undergraduate GPA falls below 3.0 may still be considered for admission. To strengthen their application, such candidates are encouraged to submit additional documentation that demonstrates readiness for graduate-level study. All supplemental materials are reviewed holistically to assess the applicant’s potential for success. Additional documentation may include official GMAT or GRE scores, evidence of significant and relevant professional experience, or professional certifications such as CPA, CFA, or PMP.

Study Plan: The Western Illinois University online MBA requires 33 total program credits: 18 credits of core courses, three credits of directed electives, nine credits of concentration courses, and three credits for the integrative capstone course, strategic management. Working professionals typically graduate in two years, but the program offers customized timelines for degree completion that can be accelerated or decelerated to fit individual needs.

The program uses eight-week accelerated online modules for the MBA core, allowing completion of two courses per semester without overlapping content or deadlines. Core courses are offered across five sessions within a calendar year: January, March, June, August, and October, providing multiple entry points to start the MBA.

Rolling admissions and five start dates per year allow students to begin their MBA experience immediately. Students without a business background may need additional background coursework in areas such as finance, accounting, statistics, and economics, determined in consultation with the MBA director.

Curriculum: The Western Illinois University online MBA requires all students to complete the same core courses. These include corporate financial reporting and analysis; applied business forecasting and planning; economics for managers; financial management: theory and practice; corporate information systems; and decision making for global markets. Students also complete three credits of directed electives, nine credits of concentration courses, and a three-credit integrative capstone course, strategic management.

Students without a business background may need additional background coursework in areas such as finance, accounting, statistics, and economics, determined in consultation with the MBA director.

  • Accounting concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in areas such as budgeting, cost management, business analysis, and financial reporting. Learners can tailor their studies with courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, or taxation. The managerial accounting course provides solid preparation for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential.
  • Agriculture business concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework combining business education with specialized knowledge of the agricultural industry, including supply chain management, agribusiness finance, and sustainable practices.
  • Business analytics concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in forecasting, information systems, and statistical analysis, with specialized courses in predictive modeling, big data, visualization, and data mining.
  • Corporate security concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in risk assessment, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and crisis management to protect assets, manage organizational risk, and ensure business continuity.
  • Economics concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework building on economics for managers, with courses in areas like monetary policy, strategic interaction, and behavioral economics.
  • Finance concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in key financial principles and practices, with focus areas such as portfolio management, real estate finance, risk management, and security analysis.
  • Health services administration concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in healthcare management, including organizational administration, policies, industry challenges, and legal considerations.
  • Human resource management concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework covering legal compliance, staffing, organizational development, leadership, and international HRM, with options for internships or independent projects.
  • Information systems concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in business intelligence, IT innovation, data management, project management, and digital transformation through practical case studies.
  • International business concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in global marketing, international trade, multinational accounting, financial and foreign exchange management, strategic management, and human resource practices.
  • Management concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in operations management, organizational behavior, and leadership to develop skills in strategic decision-making, organizational dynamics, and leadership.
  • Marketing concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in pricing, mobile marketing, direct and interactive marketing, CRM, and international marketing, with options for internships and independent projects.
  • Supply chain management concentration: Students complete nine credits of specialized coursework in production, sourcing, inventory, logistics, risk, and operations, combining core classes, electives, and experiential learning such as internships, industry engagement, and certifications.

Online Experience: The Western Illinois University online MBA delivers all coursework through accelerated eight-week online modules via D2L, the university’s learning management system. Rolling admissions and five start dates per year allow students to begin their MBA experience immediately. The program is designed for working professionals, with a typical graduation timeline of two years, though customized timelines can be accelerated or extended to fit individual needs.

On-Site Requirements: The Western Illinois University online MBA has no on-site or campus visit requirements. All coursework, including core courses, directed electives, concentration courses, and the integrative capstone, is completed fully online.

Paying for the Western Illinois University (WIU) Online MBA

Western Illinois University’s online MBA program tuition costs are listed in the tables below. Interested students should contact the admissions department for cost clarifications and updates.

Financial aid is available to eligible students. Options may include federal student aid, private loans, scholarships, or employer tuition assistance. The first step in applying for financial aid is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to contact the university’s Office of Financial Aid for personalized support and guidance.

Western Illinois University Master of Business Administration (MBA)

  • Completely online
  • Customized timelines for degree completion, accelerated or decelerated to fit your needs
  • Choose from a wide variety of concentrations
Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration MBA (General)
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Accounting

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Accounting & Taxation
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Agriculture Business

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration MBA (General)
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Business Analytics

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Business Analytics
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? Considered.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Corporate Security

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration MBA (General)
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Economics

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Economics
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Finance

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Finance
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Health Services Administration

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Healthcare Management
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Human Resource Management

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Human Resources Management (HRM)
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Information Systems

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration High Technology & IT Management
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - International Business

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration International Business
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Management

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration General Management
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Marketing

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Marketing
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

Western Illinois University MBA - Supply Chain Management

Program Essentials
Degree Level Master's Degree
Program Start Dates 5 - January, March, June, August, and October
Credits Needed to Graduate 33
Time to Complete? Graduate in as little as 1 year for full-time basis and approximately 2 years for working professionals.
100% Online? Yes
Program Accreditation AACSB
Areas of Concentration Operations & Supply Chain
Program Admissions
Level of Education Required? Bachelor's Degree
GPA Required? 3.0 or Higher
GRE or GMAT Required? GMAT waiver available for qualified applicants.
Work Experience Required? No, but considered for GMAT/GRE waiver.
Program Tuition
Credit Hours 33
Average Cost Per Credit 543.34
Estimated Program Tuition * $17,930

* Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the out- of- state, part-time student rate. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Total cost of tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please see the school website for the most up-to-date tuition costs.

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).