Top 25 Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership Degree Programs for 2019

Established in Denver, Colorado in 1864, not long after the founding of the city itself, the University of Denver is the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region. The institution has since become a leader in offering innovative online programs, such as the master of science in leadership and organizations with a concentration in organizational development. This 48-credit master's degree program teaches aspiring leaders to create a productive culture within any type of organization. With multiple start dates throughout the year, students take part in courses that are delivered asynchronously within 10-week terms.

Since 1819, Norwich University has been an innovator in the field of education. While the school was founded in Norwich, Vermont, the addition of online programs has enabled Norwich University to have a more global reach. As the first private military college in the United States, Norwich University has a long tradition of teaching future leaders, a tradition continued with its online Master of Science in Leadership. This program is designed in such a way that each course coordinates with the course before it and the course after it. Students take one course at a time, studying during the hours of the day that suits them best. This seminar-style degree program allows students to complete the degree in as little as 18 months.

Grown from the small local college it was founded as in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1912 to the global university it is today, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is an institution dedicated to serving the diverse learning community of the world. Like many of the school's degree programs, the online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership is designed to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The 36-credit master's degree helps mold professionals into adaptable and ethical leaders, organizational managers able to make real and lasting change. The online master’s degree in leadership consists of five semesters of themed courses that build off of each other. The fully online program is delivered asynchronously and the schedule is flexible, though most graduates complete the program in 20 months. Additionally, every online student at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is set up with an iPad preloaded with the school’s mobile learning platform.

Since 1945, Piedmont International University has been offering its Christian-based higher learning out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2004, the institution merged with Spurgeon Baptist Bible College and began offering online programs. Now, a program like the Master of Arts in Leadership is available online to students across the world. In this 36-credit master's degree program, students prepare to take on leadership roles in a variety of organizational settings. With a range of leadership electives to choose from, students focus their learning in the areas of business and leadership they are most interested in. The flexible online delivery allows for program completion in less than two years. Successful applicants have at least a 2.5 GPA and a bachelor's degree.

More than 130 years ago, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit established Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today, as the only Spiritan university in the nation, Duquesne University wears its roots and traditions proudly but also seeks out innovative ways to bring its programs to the world. Online courses, like the Master of Science in Leadership, allow students to study after work or whenever is most suitable. The 30-credit MS in leadership from Duquesne University has a heavy focus on ethical leadership, teaching students to lead in an evolving professional landscape. With start dates in August, January, or May and self-paced learning, the program is one of the more flexible programs available. Depending on the course load, it is possible to complete the entire degree in less than two years.

Since 1907, Olivet Nazarene University has offered education with a Christian foundation to students in the Bourbonnais, Illinois area. Throughout the years, Olivet Nazarene University has grown at an enormous rate, now with more than 100 different locations in the country and offering online degree programs. The Master of Organizational Leadership is a 36-credit-hour online degree that offers accelerated classes and a degree completion time of less than two years. Students are taught to lead while sustaining a community culture, utilizing resources effectively, and developing innovative and ethical leadership approaches for their respective organizations. There are several start dates throughout the year, and the master’s in organizational leadership online consists of twelve eight-week courses. Applicants are eligible to transfer up to six credits from another graduate-level program and must have a 2.5 GPA from their undergraduate degree.

Founded in 1920, Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christian university of The Wesleyan Church and the largest private university in Indiana. With a main campus in Marion, 15 regional education centers, and online degree programs available, Indiana Wesleyan's programs are available to almost everyone. The online master of arts with a major in organizational leadership offered by the School of Service and Leadership is one of the more popular programs for aspiring leaders. The 36-credit degree is designed for completion in under 23 months. The program fosters authenticity and integrity in future leaders and integrates concepts of wisdom, followership, and stewardship into foundational leadership principles. Successful applicants earned a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate degree and are in a position of leadership currently or aspire to assume one in the near future.

For more than 100 years, Crown College has been preparing students for a future of Christian service and community leadership at its St. Bonifacius, Minnesota campus. In recent years, Crown College has expanded its offerings to include online degree programs, such as the online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. This 36-credit degree typically takes two years to complete if students take only one course at a time. Participants learn different leadership philosophies from a Christian perspective and prepare for a career in leadership in any public, private, and/or nonprofit organization. Crown College also has various emphasis tracks available, including community development, nonprofit leadership, and social science research.

California Baptist University (CBU), located in Riverside, California, has long been one of the nation's top private Christian institutions. To meet the demands of today's students, CBU introduced CBU Online, an online university that offers more than 40 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs online. The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership is one of those programs, an online master's degree teaching professionals how to properly manage and motivate people and how to best create change within an organization. The organizational leadership master's degree consists of 30 credits and typically requires 12 months to complete. Eligible applicants must have a 2.5 GPA from their undergraduate degree and management and/or professional work experience.

When it was founded in Baker City, Kansas in 1858, Baker University became the first university in the state. While history and tradition play a big role in Baker University's mission, the institution is also dedicated to innovation. That's why online programs, like the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, are so important to the university. Students from all over the world can now receive a Baker University degree without ever leaving their home. The 39-credit-hour online master's degree in organizational leadership takes approximately two years to complete (22-24 months) and has start dates every seven weeks. Courses are taught asynchronously, which enables students to study at the times that best suit their lifestyle. The degree program also offers concentrations in finance, health care administration, and human resources, for a more focused learning experience.

Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, Illinois, was originally designed to teach the future leaders of the Christian church. Over time, that mission evolved into teaching future leaders of the nation with a Christian foundation in their education. The online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership exemplifies this mission. Students enrolled in this program learn what makes the best leaders in this country great. The program teaches strategies for interpersonal leadership and gracious conflict resolution, and students learn all of this completely online, studying anytime of the day or night. Once enrolled, students take one class at a time for approximately 21 months.

Point Loma Nazarene University is one of the premiere Christian universities in the nation. Students in the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership have the option of studying 100% online or taking courses at the Mission Valley campus in San Diego, California. In this 36-credit online master’s in organizational leadership, students join a cohort and work their way through 12 six-week courses of asynchronous learning online. Graduates learn the problem-solving and decision-making skills necessary of leaders while gaining the ability to support leadership practices with Christian virtues. Though students are eligible to transfer in credits to shorten the completion time, the organizational leadership master's degree is designed to be completed in less than two years (approximately 20 months).

The University of Mary is a Catholic University in Bismarck, North Dakota that prepares its students to be ethical leaders in their careers. The online master's in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in virtuous leadership is perfect example of this mission in action as the program provides students with the understanding and ability to apply ethical leadership to their professions. In addition to the required MBA curriculum, students take courses in social teachings, virtuous leadership, and philosophy of happiness. With start dates every five weeks and an accelerated online program option, the online virtuous leadership concentration is completable within 18 months. This program is also partnered with the Havard Virtuous Leadership Institute. Together, these institutions host a four-day leadership immersion seminar for students in the program at several different locations across the country.

In 1996, the private Christian university, Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU), expanded its degree offerings to include graduate degrees. Today, most of those degrees are available online to accommodate working professionals. The 36-credit Master of Organizational Leadership is one such program. This two-year degree allows students to take six credits per semester for six semesters as part of a cohort. At the beginning of each semester, the cohorts come together on the beautiful 70-acre SAGU campus in Waxahachie, Texas and participate in a three-day meeting, attending lectures and discussion groups led by various industry leaders.

Pfeiffer University is an institution built of a network of North Carolina campuses, such as the Misenheimer, Charlotte, and Raleigh-Durham regional locations. The addition of online programs has allowed students from all over the world to study with this United-Methodist-Church-affiliated university. The Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) is a popular option for future leaders looking for teachings in advanced organizational behavior science and conflict resolution. The 27-semester-hour program offers concentrations in human resources management and international management and is completable in as little as 15 months. The asynchronous classes at Pfeiffer University enable students to control their schedules, studying when it's convenient for them.

For the last 100 years, Colorado Christian University (CCU) has provided higher learning to students in the Colorado and Rocky Mountain region. Online courses have enabled CCU to provide even more students with continued learning opportunities. The online master's degree in organizational leadership, for instance, incorporates the teachings of Jesus Christ into contemporary leadership issues, helping future leaders learn how to approach real leadership concerns with care and grace. This 36-credit-hour online master’s in organizational leadership is made up of courses that are typically completed in five-week blocks, meaning the average degree takes less than two years to complete. At CCU, however, up to six graduate credits are eligible for transfer and the online program schedule is very flexible. Students complete courses at their own pace, finishing the degree in as short as 14 months or as long as four years.

For more than 140 years, Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania has prepared students to give back to humanity and their communities. With online programs now available, such as the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership, Juniata College has expanded its reach. The online master's degree offers two options, a 30-credit program for experienced professionals and a 42-credit program for those with little leadership experience. Students may transfer up to six credits into the program as well, allowing the 30-credit option to be completed in less than one year. Most of the online courses at Juniata College are taught synchronously with scheduled meeting times to offer students a similar experience to traditional courses, with the added comfort of studying from home and after work.

Since 1883, Cleary University has been dedicated to fostering vital business skills in its students. Recently, the specialized business university in Howell, Michigan has expanded its offerings, but the business focus is still there. The 33-credit online Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership provides graduates with the skills necessary to lead in a globalized market. Students within each cohort take one course every seven weeks, taking a one-week break between courses and completing the program in 22 months. Graduates learn management strategies for many business sectors, including marketing, accounting, economics, finance, and global operations.

Founded by the Christian church in 1981 on Chicago's north side, North Park University still holds its Christian roots close. In its online master's degree in organizational leadership (MOL), North Park University prepares future leaders with the understanding and awareness to be competent and impactful in their leadership positions, but still remain socially responsible. The 36-semester-hour online master’s in organizational leadership provides various leadership techniques and is completable in less than 21 months. Graduates of this program are eligible to take any other business courses, certificates, or degrees at North Park University at a 50% tuition discount.

UW-Platteville's online MS in organizational change leadership prepares graduates to navigate and lead positive change in a constantly evolving global business environment. The program introduces students to several subject areas, such as communication, conflict resolution, critical thinking, and problem solving. Students may also select one of several concentrations, including healthcare, human resources, project management, and safety risk control. The program is 30 to 39 credit hours, depending upon one’s concentration.

Applicants only need to submit transcripts from the school from which they received their bachelor's degree -- there are no GRE or GMAT scores required. Once enrolled, students can complete their coursework without ever visiting campus. Distance learners also pay the same tuition rates as their on-campus counterparts, regardless of their state of residence.

UW-Platteville is located in southwestern Wisconsin and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The school is part of the University of Wisconsin System, which includes 26 public two-year and four-year institutions across the state.