Friday, May 11, 2012

5 Top Resources for Online MBA Program Rankings

Choosing an MBA program can be difficult. Students must consider a number of factors, such as cost, convenience, legitimacy and future employment potential. Aspiring e-learners can peruse online MBA rankings in order to find an online graduate business program that is right for them. However, some lists are decidedly more informed than others.

US News & World Report

This prominent New York City-based magazine has been ranking American colleges since 1983 -- and today, online programs are also rated. For online MBA programs, results are based on four factors: admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement and accreditation. In order to be considered in the USNews ‘Honor Roll’ of online business degrees, the program must rank in the top third for at least three of these four categories. For the 2012 ranking, more than 960 regionally accredited schools were considered.

Financial Times

This worldwide ranking of business schools which includes online programs is based on factors like post-graduation salary, cost-benefit analysis and student experience. To be considered, a program must be at least four years old, with at least three years since its first graduating class. It must also be accredited by a legitimate organization, typically either Equis or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The list includes a research rank, which measures faculty contributions to more 45 different academic journals, points are awarded to the school where the author currently teaches. And because this is an international ranking, all monetary costs have been converted to dollar amounts.

The Best Schools.org

This comprehensive list of top online MBA programs is aggregated from data by other publications -- including Forbes, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine – that rate business school programs overall, both traditional classrooms and online. According to a 2011 poll by GMAC, many employers value an MBA program’s ranking over the quality of the school’s curriculum and faculty. As a result, each entry in The Best Schools’ list of 10 is accompanied by previous rankings in other publications. Other information provided about each school includes program details, tuition costs and admission requirements.

Super Scholar

The Smart Choice ranking from Super Scholar is limited to AACSB institutions and schools that have been regionally accredited. Other factors taken into consideration include selectivity, cost and awards and recognitions, as well as market reputation. The list includes several schools with MBAs that are earned entirely online. Ranked entries include school profiles, MBA program details and ‘bottom line’ tuition costs. The site also features rankings for dozens of other online degree categories.

The Princeton Review: The Best 294 Business Schools 2012 Edition (book)

Every year, The Princeton Review surveys tens of thousands of students to determine the best business school programs nationwide. This year’s list of 294 is subdivided into 11 separate rankings. Though all business programs are considered, the in-depth school profiles contained in this book make it a valuable resource for those who wish to pursue an online MBA.

If a student wishes to look into web-based business school, he or she must consider a number of important factors. These factors should be reflected by lists and rankings that the student uses to make their academic selection. There are dozens of websites that rank online MBA programs – but the most valuable resources, like those mentioned above, use published comprehensive methodology to arrive at their results.

2 comments:

  1. How about Harvard University? Is that true that to be accepted you need to be an extraordinary person? online forensic psychology degree

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