The Top 25 Online Business Management Degrees for 2019

Behind every sandwich, widget, emergency room visit, and day at the spa are professionals managing those services, ensuring everything goes according to plan. That vast network of business professionals makes earning an online degree in business management a safe bet.

Career options include working as a managing consultant or management analyst and helping companies streamline their organization as a helpful voice on the subject. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that this field will grow 14 percent between now and 2024. Employees in the field currently command a median salary of $81,330. Human resource managers are also in demand as labor laws and workforces become more diverse and complex; they typically make about $60,000.

What Can You Do With a Degree in Business Management?

Someone with a bachelor’s degree in business management can often find work in the mid-level range as an account manager, overseeing supply chains and other logistics. Degree holders can also be found working as hospital administrators and training and coordinating sales staff.

The Benefits of Earning a Business Management Degree Online

Many online business classes are structured to be taken at a student’s convenience whether synchronous, in which members of a class and the instructor are scheduled to be online simultaneously, or asynchronous, in which materials are posted online and can be accessed at any time. Some programs allow those already employed in the financial industry to obtain college credit for past work experience. Online degrees also give students the chance to attend programs many states away.

Opting to complete a business management degree online allows students with full-time employment, children, military obligations, and other realities to maintain their personal commitments. With so much being offered in distance education, this is the best time to get an online business management degree and take steps up the ladder of success.

What Are The Best Online Business Management Programs?

1

Northwest University Kirkland, WA

At Northwest University, you can get an online business management degree at either a bachelor’s or a master’s level. The undergraduate program is 120 semester credits, 6 of which must be Biblical or theological-based courses. Both online degree paths are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The MBA comes with a two-year tuition lock guarantee.

2

Regis University Denver, CO

The programs at Regis University are designed to help students get the most bang for their buck in the least amount of time. A bachelor’s and master’s degree in business management can be completed congruently, and offers a chance to earn a project management undergraduate certificate at the same time. Online courses are asynchronous. Undergraduates can specialize in human resource and project management, while MBA candidates can concentrate on operations management.

3

University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA

The Isenberg School of Management is one of the best places to complete a business management degree online. It has an asynchronous program with classes available at any time. The undergraduate management program includes 12 general education courses, 12 major courses, and 4 management courses, and three upper level business electives, as well as 21 credits of non-business breadth.

4

Champlain College Burlington, VT

If you’ve had some college experience prior to pursuing your online business management degree, Champlain is a good place to start. Human resource and supply chain management are their concentration areas. The undergraduate business management program includes courses in law, accounting, and finance. You can also earn an online business management certificate through completion of an 18-semester-hour certification program, but be advised that this is not available for federal financial aid.

5

Endicott College Beverly, MA

All undergraduate courses at Endicott College are available as either fully online or partially-blended formats. Getting your online bachelor’s degree in business management will require 125 semester hours. Internships are offered at Cummings Properties LLC; Northeast Health Care; First Investors, Inc.; Liberty Mutual; and MiddleOak Insurance. An MBA program is also available. Online education at Endicott College is asynchronous, with a rolling admission policy that lets you start and attend on your schedule.

6

Corban University Salem, OR

Corban University offers an undergraduate business degree with a focus in leadership and management. Topics of study include leadership, selling and sales management, operations management, and human resources administration. Graduates will have 51 semester credits of general education, 55 major-centric semester credits which includes 13 business core courses and 6 business concentration courses, and 23 semester credits of elective courses for a total of 129 semester credits. A graduate-level degree is also available through Corban University.

7

University of La Verne La Verne, CA

University of La Verne has three online undergraduate paths for business management. You can pursue a bachelor of arts in business administration, or a bachelor of science in either organizational management or public administration. The latter two offer slightly more robust courses for someone wanting to lead people in an increasingly diverse world. A master’s degree program is also available, having some unique concentrations. Currently, the online education programs are only available to California residents.

8

University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA

Getting an online business management degree from the University of Massachusetts makes you part of one of the highest-ranked online programs offered by a traditional university. Classes can be taken entirely online or in a blended format. They offer a degree in business management at three levels: an associate’s degree in management and bachelor’s or master’s degrees in business administration. The 65 semester hours of the associate’s degree in management path count towards the 120-semester-hour bachelor’s degree in business administration, making this a great program for a long-term education.

9

East Carolina University Greenville, NC

The online business management programs at East Carolina University are indistinguishable from their traditional counterparts. The bachelor of science in business administration program has four concentrations, including management and general business. The university encourages its prospective students to complete coursework at local community colleges before transferring to their degree program.

10

Webster University Saint Louis, MO

Webster University has a rigorous online business management program, requiring a minimum of 128 semester hours and a capstone project. The university offers a chance to take graduate courses while pursuing a bachelor’s degree, letting students finish a master’s program at a faster rate. Management concentrations include human resource management and security management.

11

Bethel University Saint Paul, MN

Earning an online bachelor’s degree in business management from Bethel University allows students to focus on general management or global business. In addition to management courses, three classes on spirituality and the Christian perspective are also required. The program requires students to earn 111 semester hours in foundation and concentration courses.

12

Florida International University Miami, FL

This is one of the more affordable programs to offer an online management degree. Tuition for the undergraduate program in either human resource or general management is only $212 per credit hour ($329 for out-of-state students). The general management program is 120 credits and includes courses in economics, accounting, and marketing, as well as assistance from a success coach with whom the online student will be paired. There are a variety of tracks for students wanting to continue onto their master’s, including engineering management and hospitality management.

13

LeTourneau University Longview, TX

LeTourneau University’s online business management degrees reflect the mindset of the working student. They have several paths for an undergraduate in business administration, including human resource management and nonprofit management. The nonprofit degree includes classes in leadership and management, grant writing, and fundraising. The human resource degree prepares students for careers as general managers, project managers, and more.

14

DeSales University Center Valley, PA

You can earn certificates and a bachelor’s in business management online through DeSales University. Tracks for bachelor’s degrees include human resource management and general management. The management degree prepares students for careers in human resource management, labor relations, and more. Three courses on Christianity and spirituality are required. Certification is available in business administration, financial management, and human resource management.

15

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Twin Cities, MN

University of Minnesota’s bachelor of science in management is a 120 credit hour program that’s delivered completely online. The program focuses on leadership, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. Courses include entrepreneurship and small business, business ethics, organizational behavior, and business writing.

16

Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI

Business is taught through a Christian worldview at Concordia University. Their 120-semester-hour bachelor’s program offers concentrations in basic management, healthcare management, criminal justice management, and human resources management.

17

Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University offers an online bachelor’s degree business management program with a Christian worldview that is 128 semester hours. The curriculum includes courses in interpersonal management, management theories, organizational behavior, and corporate finance. Graduates have the opportunity to complete a master’s in nonprofit management, among other advanced degree focus options.

18

Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN

You can get a business management degree online from Indiana Wesleyan University at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Students must earn at least 120 credits to graduate their bachelor’s program. The program can be completed in 18–20 months. All courses are taught with a biblical perspective. The online management degree program offers students a specialization in human resource management.

19

Minot State University Minot, NC

Minot State University offers a 120-credit-hour undergraduate business management degree. The curriculum includes courses in managerial accounting, human resource management, business, and strategic management. Students will learn how to attract employees to a business, work in groups, assess employees, and more. A management minor is also available.

20

Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA

Buena Vista University has bachelor’s and master’s degrees available for online students. The applied management major is 60 credits and emphasizes business, management, communication, and public policy strategies. Graduates will be prepared for jobs in wind energy, lab technology, digital forensics, and more.

21

University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield, IL

The University of Illinois is a top-ranked online program provider. Two options are available for online BBA students: business administration comprehensive and management informations systems. Both require the same foundation and core courses, and students must complete ten hours of the Engaged Citizen Common Experience initiative that teaches students interaction with communities. The program is offered as a concentration for the business administration program. The concentration requires students to select from a narrower group of courses for fifteen of their credits.

22

Brigham Young University Rexburg, ID

BYU-Idaho offers a bachelor’s in business management. The 120-credit-hour program features courses in financial accounting, career development, business statistics, and more. It’s important to note that to be eligible for the online management degree program you must have completed at least 15 on-campus credit hours from a Church Educational System, or CES, institution (BYU-Idaho, BYU, BYU-Hawaii, or LDS Business College), or successful completion of Pathway, a 1-year online program with weekly in-person meetings.

23

William Woods University Fulton, MO

William Woods University offers a 122-semester hour bachelor’s of science in business administration with the option to focus in either entrepreneurial management or leadership. In the entrepreneurial management focus, students learn how to start and run their own business. All graduates are equipped with a range of skills suitable for success in many different business career paths.

24

University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD

The University of South Dakota is a fantastic place to get an online business management degree. The bachelor’s program includes all the standard courses that will prepare students for the more diverse and demanding master’s program.

25

Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA

Be advised that you can only complete a bachelor’s in business management online at Old Dominion University if you already have 60 credits to transfer over. They have an entirely online program to help you finish with a bachelor of science in business administration focused on management. The courses are synchronized with the university’s regular class schedule. Students are required to earn 120 credits to graduate. Graduates are prepared for careers in employee relations, human resource management, and more. The initial 60 credits can be attained online through partnership with either Northern Virginia Community College’s Extended Learning Institute or John Tyler Community College.


To determine the best online business 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 25 best online business management degree 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.