Top Online MBA Programs

There are many things to consider when making the decision about whether an online MBA is the right choice for you. Of course, if you do decide to complete an MBA online, chances are that you will want to get that important degree from the most reputable school possible. Some online MBA programs are known for having lax admission criteria and granting a degree to virtually anybody. Unfortunately, finding out which online MBA programs are best can be somewhat problematic. Since this method of course delivery is relatively new and the correspondence programs of the past had a somewhat less than stellar reputation, the notion that an online MBA degree can be every bit as valuable and rigorous as a full-time one is still not universally accepted.

Business Week, for example, is the premiere authority on which MBA programs and schools are best. Although they rate a variety of MBA programs, including full-time and part-time ones, they still have not begun to rate online programs, so determining which is the top one can definitely be a challenge. However, they do provide profiles of dozens of distance programs, which you can view free of charge by visiting www.businessweek.com/bschools/02/distance.htm

These profiles allow you to look at average salaries, the average number of years of work experience of admitted students, average GMAT scores (if the test is required), and the percentage of applicants who were admitted to the program, along with other types of information. So, while the publication does not rank these schools, it is possible, with a little research, to identify the ones that offer the best programs.

For example, if the school does not require GMAT scores, it is probably a good idea to avoid it, as every B-School and most other reputable schools do. If the school does require GMAT scores, look at the average score of admitted applicants. Keep in mind that applicants for top business schools usually require a score that is in the mid-600s. If the average score is much lower, you may want to look elsewhere. Looking at the rate of acceptance can also be telling. Great business schools may turn away over 90 percent of applicants, so if your prospective online program accepts 90 percent of applicants, it is a good sign that their standards for acceptance are not extremely high.

The good news is that online learning is increasingly being recognized as a legitimate way to obtain an MBA, so, in the coming years, Business Week and other respected publications that compile rankings will probably begin to take a closer look at online learning. For now, however, it is necessary to take the time to do the research to find a great online school.