Top 25 Online Master's in Management Programs for 2019

Earning a bachelor's degree in a specialized field like engineering, marketing, or finance is an excellent foundation for professional success; however, if you have aspirations to lead a team of engineers, manage a marketing department, or become a chief executive officer (CEO), earning a business management master's degree online may also be a worthwhile investment. The courses you complete in this type of program teach you the leadership, organization, and business skills needed to succeed in a variety of roles. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), leadership roles in every industry are expected to grow by 6% by the year 2024.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS?

Top 25 Online Masters in Management Programs

1. Harvard University — Cambridge, MA

Admissions Rate

6%

Graduation Rate

98%

Online Enrollment

7%

Retention Rate

98%

Default Rate

1%

Through its Extension School, Harvard University offers close to 800 online and hybrid courses. Working professionals are attracted to the Extension School because it affords them the flexibility of an online degree, along with the prestige of an Ivy League institution. The online master's in management degree solidifies student's understandings of management theory and includes topics on digital media, corporate responsibility, and marketing strategy. The curriculum includes 12 courses, and learners must take at least four of them on-campus. Students have the option to take on-campus classes during the week or on the weekend. Learners can take courses in the fall, spring, or summer. Graduates walk with fellow Harvard students at commencement and become members of the Harvard Alumni Association.

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2. University of St Francis — Joliet, IL

3. Stevens Institute of Technology — Hoboken, NJ

4. University of Scranton — Scranton, PA

5. Endicott College — Beverly, MA

6. Messiah College — Mechanicsburg, PA

7. University of La Verne — La Verne, CA

8. Norwich University — Northfield, VT

9. Concordia University-Portland — Portland, OR

10. Webster University — Saint Louis, MO

11. Greenville College — Greenville, IL

12. Bethel University — Saint Paul, MN

13. LeTourneau University — Longview, TX

14. DeSales University — Center Valley, PA

15. Rivier University — Nashua, NH

16. The University of Alabama — Tuscaloosa, AL

17. Crown College — Saint Bonifacius, MN

18. Minot State University — Minot, ND

19. King University — Bristol, TN

20. Goucher College — Baltimore, MD

21. California Baptist University — Riverside, CA

22. Dallas Baptist University — Dallas, TX

23. Azusa Pacific University — Azusa, CA

24. Spring Arbor University — Spring Arbor, MI

25. The Sage Colleges — Troy, NY

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How to Choose an Online Master's in Management Program

• Prospective students should consider a degree program's length when deciding which school to attend. Some of the best online master's in business management programs take as little as a year to complete, although the average program requires two years of full-time study.

• Do you want to focus on business administration, operations, or human resources? Some programs provide concentrations that help students hone their management skills for a specific profession upon graduation.

• The cost of earning an online master's in management depends on the length of the program and the cost per credit hour. This can range from as little as $450 per credit hour to $1,500 per credit hour. The average program consists of about 36 credits.

• Some of the best online master's in business management programs require one or more courses to be completed on-campus; therefore, if you can only attend classes remotely, you should be sure to carefully check the curriculum guidelines at every school you consider.

Careers for Graduates of Master's in Management Programs

With a degree as diverse as an online master's in management, students can pursue work in virtually any industry. Some students who attend one of the best online master's in business management programs take on leadership roles right out of college, while others build towards management positions in the future. Some of the highest paid professionals in businesses around the world hold a master's in management.

Job Outlook and Salary for Graduates of Management Master's Degrees

According to the BLS , the number of job opportunities for graduates of online master's in management programs is expected to grow by 6% from 2014 to 2024; this is comparable to the average for all occupations in the U.S. and should lead to about 505,400 new jobs. Because management roles vary, your expected salary depends on your specific career path, with top executives earning the highest amount. The size and success of an organization also impact your salary, with certain industries paying less than others. As an example, educational management may not pay as highly as consumer goods or financial planning.

Salary Growth By Experience For Graduates Of Management Master's Programs

In most cases, the more experience a worker has in a particular field, the more money they can expect to make; this is the case for management positions across all industries. Earning a business management master's degree online helps increase your earning potential after graduation and leads to higher salaries at all points in your career. Many management professionals see their salaries double over the course of a 20-year career.

To determine the best online Master's in Management programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online Master's in Management programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.