Best Online MBA Programs in Kansas

What’s the Difference between an Online MBA and Traditional MBA?

Learn more about what you can do with an online MBA.

Career and Salary Outlook for Online MBA Graduates in Kansas

There are many opportunities available for graduates with an online MBA in Kansas. According to the Kansas Commerce, the top industries in the state are

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Corporate & Professional Services
• Logistics & Distribution
• Food Processing and Manufacturing
• Aerospace & Defense
• Animal Health
• Bioscience
• Agriculture
• Energy & Natural Resources

You can find many employment opportunities since all of the industries above require the expertise of business majors in running and expanding the sector.

Specific MBA salary varies from factors such as location, level of experience, and sector. However, the average annual salary of employed online MBA holders in Kansas is $112,416.

While this figure is lower than the national average of $137,407, you can still accumulate ROI more quickly if you apply to high-paying positions. Top MBA earners in Kansas earn as high as $192,799. Nevertheless, Kansas provides financial security and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Popular Online MBA Program Concentrations in Kansas

Popular online MBA majors in Kansas are defined by the state’s most thriving economic sectors (which were mentioned above). The most popular and valuable concentrations for an online MBA program in Kansas include:

Management

This online MBA program concentration emphasizes leadership and organizational management skills. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for roles in executive leadership, general management, and strategic planning in various fields, perhaps all fields.

Accounting

Students interested in accounting, auditing, tax planning, or financial management positions should consider including an accounting emphasis in their online MBA program. It covers sophisticated accounting concepts and procedures.

Finance

Investment management, financial analysis, risk evaluation, and corporate finance are just a few subjects covered in the finance specialization. This online MBA program concentration can significantly benefit individuals interested in professions in Kansas’s corporate and professional services.

Marketing

A marketing concentration in an online MBA program strongly emphasizes market research, customer behavior, and digital marketing. Careers in brand management, advertising, or marketing analytics are popular for recent graduates.

International Business

Students interested in international trade, cross-cultural management, and worldwide company operations should consider an international business concentration in their online MBA program. It trains people for positions in multinational corporations and global organizations. This online MBA concentration can help you apply for Kansas companies expanding their products and services globally.

General Business

A general business specialization in an online MBA program is appropriate for those seeking a well-rounded business education because it provides a comprehensive overview of numerous business disciplines.

Supply Chain

Logistics, operations, procurement, and supply chain optimization are the main areas of study in a supply chain management concentration in an online MBA program. Graduates are qualified for positions in logistics and supply chain management.

Data Analytics

Students who pursue this emphasis in their online MBA program learn how to gather, examine, and understand data to make rational business decisions. For individuals considering data-driven positions across many industries, this concentration is especially helpful.

Economics

The study of economic theory, quantitative analysis, and economic policy are included in an economics focus in an online MBA program. It may benefit careers in economic research, public policy, or economic consulting.

Top Employers in Kansas of Graduates with an Online MBA

Numerous well-known businesses and organizations in Kansas could be appealing employment for MBA graduates. Although Kansas has fewer Fortune 500 businesses than some other states, there are still plenty of job prospects for graduates of online MBA programs across various industries.

Undoubtedly, talented graduates of online MBA programs can find employment in all industries, but the following employers hire more Kansas residents than any other in the state.

Sprint Corporation (now part of T-Mobile US)

Despite having its corporate offices in Overland Park, Kansas, Sprint is a subsidiary of T-Mobile US following a merger. Opportunities are available at this telecom corporation in areas like marketing, finance, and strategic planning.

Spirit AeroSystems

A major aerospace firm, Spirit AeroSystems, is based in Wichita, Kansas. Supply chain, finance, and operations management opportunities are available to graduates of online MBA programs.

Cerner Corporation

Leading healthcare technology firm Cerner is headquartered near the Kansas state line in North Kansas City, Missouri. Project management, strategic consulting, and healthcare IT are possible career paths for MBA graduates.

Koch Industries

One of the biggest privately held businesses in the United States is Koch Industries, headquartered in Wichita. They work in various sectors, including manufacturing, chemicals, and energy. Jobs in operations, strategy, and finance are available to MBA graduates.

Dillons

Dillons is a regional supermarket chain headquartered in Hutchinson, Kansas. This company offers a variety of products, including groceries, fresh produce, deli items, bakery goods, pharmacy services, and general merchandise. MBA graduates can apply for various roles in management, operations, and strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online MBA Programs in Kansas

What is an online MBA?

MBA degrees are the most popular advanced degree in American higher education. This versatile degree offers a variety of specializations that can help working professionals build leadership skills, expand their network, and enhance their overall business knowledge. MBA degrees are excellent options for anyone needing business fundamentals covered while having the chance to study more in a selected concentration. An MBA in Marketing is different than a MS in Marketing because the MBA degree doesn’t assume previous business education, whereas the MS program likely would.

Do Online MBA Programs Require the GMAT?

Go to Online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer-responsive test designed to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and English reading skills used by graduate management programs, such as MBA programs, to assist with admissions selections.

The GMAT is still required by many graduate schools of all shapes and sizes—elite research universities, public universities, liberal arts colleges, online colleges, etc. There’s no real common denominator for which types of schools require the GMAT or don’t.

If you are considering a graduate business school that requires the GMAT, then you certainly want to do well on the exam. Even if schools you’re considering don’t require it, you may want to take the test because a high score could still help your application and because there may be another college that suddenly interests you, and it might require successful completion of the GMAT.

If you’re going to take the test, at minimum, you’ll want to study with solid guidance provided by quality resources. People have many different opinions about which GMAT test prep resources are the best. Therefore, we recommend that you start looking at and comparing the best-selling GMAT test guides.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you are aspiring to be admitted into an elite university’s program, you may want to work with a graduate or business school admissions expert. An admissions consultant can give you the most customized information about your prospects, and many will work with you on whatever specific need you might have – test prep, applications, personal essays, and even help with finding meaningful internships.

There is a growing number of high-quality MBA programs that don’t require the GMAT. Furthermore, there are a lot of highly reputable colleges and universities offering online MBA programs that do not require the GMAT. If standardized testing isn’t a strength of yours, you may want to move your search to focus specifically on online MBA programs with no GMAT requirements.

What are the admission requirements for online MBA programs in Kansas?

Program-specific admission requirements for online programs vary from school to school. However, the following are the most common admission requirements prestigious MBA programs require from their applicants:

Bachelor’s Degree

Most online MBA degree programs require applicants to earn an undergraduate business degree from an accredited institution. Some programs accept students with diverse undergraduate backgrounds, while others strictly require applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree in business or closely related fields, such as management, marketing, finance, and accounting.

Work Experience

Prestigious MBAs with demanding admissions processes generally require MBA applicants to have at least one year of relevant work experience. This requirement ensures the school that the MBA student can easily catch up with their rigorous MBA curriculum.

Transcripts

Applicants must submit official transcripts demonstrating a strong academic record from all previously attended colleges or universities.

Standardized Tests

Business schools required GRE and GMAT scores before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to restrictions, these exams were waived by most universities. GRE and GMAT scores are now often optional and are only used to compensate for students’ lack of other requirements, such as low undergraduate GPA or not meeting the required years of work experience.

Letters of Recommendation

This requirement allows the admissions officer to know you better from other people’s perspectives. It attests to your credentials, abilities, and skills, which is highly helpful in determining your suitability for the MBA program.

Statement of Purpose or Essay

Applicants are often asked to provide a statement explaining their career goals.

Resume or CV

These requirements detail your work experience, educational background, and relevant achievements. This provides admissions officer insights into the level of your expertise.

Interview

Some programs may require or offer optional interviews as part of the application process. Some online MBA degree programs may require you to complete the interview in person, over the phone, or via video conference.

Application Fee

MBA applicants are usually required to pay an application fee, which can vary in amount.

TOEFL or IELTS

For international applicants or non-native English speakers, an English proficiency test may be required to demonstrate language proficiency.

Prerequisite Courses

Some MBA programs may require applicants to complete specific prerequisite courses in accounting, economics, or statistics before beginning the online MBA program.

How long does it take to get an online MBA in Kansas?

Typically, online MBA degrees can be earned in about two years. However, specializations range from healthcare management to entrepreneurship to international business. Because an online MBA offers so many educational paths, program requirements can vary greatly, from 30 to 60 credits, which means this degree may take anywhere between two and four years to complete.

What are the courses like in a Kansas online MBA program?

MBA courses are available both online and on campus, and many programs require a thesis or professional experience component. Students will study topics like corporate law, organizational behavior, and negotiations.

Most online MBA programs will be asynchronous for maximum flexibility. This means students watch lectures and read when they can and likely join web forums for class discussions. While online MBA courses can be “self-paced,” there usually are still mid-term and end-of-term deadlines. Typical online MBA courses will have multiple deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments.

What can you do with a Kansas online MBA?

MBA graduates can advance to leadership roles in accounting, finance, human resources, organizational administration, and more. Online MBA programs are popular because of their versatility. With so many choices of concentrations, your online MBA can prepare you for leadership or executive roles in virtually any industry.

Is MBA accreditation in Kansas important?

The most prestigious accreditation an American higher education institution obtains is regional accreditation. However, within business education, accreditation from national organizations is as crucial as the university’s regional accreditation. Business schools with national accreditation offer better opportunities than non-accredited business degree programs.

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
• International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP)

AACSB-accredited institutions have positioned themselves as research-focused organizations. On the other hand, ACBSP and IACBE-accredited institutions emphasized teaching excellence and outcomes-based evaluation. The AACSB accreditation is highly coveted and is awarded to less than 5% of business schools worldwide.

Nationally accredited business schools are often called “feeder schools” or “core schools.” They offer extensive alumni networks and more financial aid opportunities. Some employers might even cover half your tuition fee if you get into AACSB-accredited MBA programs.