Best Online Master’s in Management

Q: MBA or MS in Management?–

An MBA with a Management concentration is a great master’s degree for online students who need a solid business knowledge foundation while also focusing on management or management in specific area. But the number of electives to really dig into a specialization are limited because of the number of more general business courses you must take. An MS in Management is a master’s degree program that can take you much deeper into management issues and offer you opportunties to specialize in a particular area of management, like engineering, production, healthcare, etc. An MS in Management will likely assume you have a background in business or some other field like healthcare or engineering. In such cases you don’t need to spend time on business courses that won’t be related to your area of work, giving you more time to focus on your area of interest. We’ve included a few online MBA in Management degree programs in our ranking below. To find more online MBA options, check out our ranking focused on online MBAs.

By James Barham

Published: Jul 6, 2021
Updated: May 22, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in management degree programs to prepare students for managerial roles in fields like healthcare, marketing, finance, and manufacturing.

Top 10 Online Management Master's Degrees

Cornell University

81%

New York University

81%

Johns Hopkins University

77%

Duke University

74%

University of Texas at Austin

73%

University of Southern California

72%

Boston University

69%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

67%

University of Arizona

66%

Michigan State University

65%

University of Kentucky

94%

Arizona State University

88%

University of Arizona

87%

University of Cincinnati

85%

Michigan State University

83%

University of Arkansas

83%

University of Alabama

79%

University of Missouri

77%

University of Massachusetts Amherst

66%

University of Houston

66%

University of Houston

23 to 1

Florida State University

21 to 1

University of Alabama

20 to 1

Texas A&M University

19 to 1

University of Cincinnati

19 to 1

University of Arkansas

19 to 1

University of Missouri

18 to 1

Arizona State University

18 to 1

University of Texas at Austin

17 to 1

University of Massachusetts Amherst

17 to 1

University of Southern California

$61,503

Cornell University

$61,015

Duke University

$60,244

Boston University

$59,816

Johns Hopkins University

$58,720

Syracuse University

$57,591

Vanderbilt University

$56,966

$56,500

$56,161

$54,944

$89,550

University of Southern California

$60,446

Johns Hopkins University

$58,720

Boston University

$58,560

Duke University

$57,900

Vanderbilt University

$51,600

$41,616

$39,834

$35,982

$29,500

39%

University of Arkansas

54%

University of Kentucky

58%

University of Houston

59%

University of Cincinnati

60%

University of Massachusetts Amherst

60%

Fordham University

60%

University of Alabama

60%

Arizona State University

61%

University of Missouri

61%

Duke University

Vanderbilt University

Johns Hopkins University

Cornell University

New York University

13%

University of Southern California

13%

Boston University

19%

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

20%

Babson College

25%

University of Miami

28%

Duke University

6 to 1

Johns Hopkins University

6 to 1

New York University

8 to 1

Vanderbilt University

8 to 1

University of Southern California

9 to 1

9 to 1

10 to 1

12 to 1

13 to 1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

13 to 1

Florida State University

$4,640

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

$7,019

University of Arkansas

$7,666

Texas A&M University

$8,578

University of Houston

$8,685

University of Missouri

$10,017

University of Cincinnati

$10,099

Arizona State University

$10,710

University of Alabama

$10,780

University of Arizona

$10,990

Texas A&M University

$6,885

University of Arkansas

$7,875

University of Houston

$8,713

Florida State University

$9,684

University of Missouri

$9,950

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

$10,552

University of Alabama

$10,780

Arizona State University

$11,720

University of Texas at Austin

$12,050

University of Arizona

$12,106

Key Takeaways

Almost any professional can benefit from an online master’s in management since it is a highly-applicable graduate degree. It can elevate your resume significantly.
An online master’s in management (MiM) degree provide you with the critical leadership and interpersonal skills you need to operate a successful business.
Compared with online MBA degree programs, getting accepted into an online MiM program is easier. No previous work experience or GMAT/GRE scores are required for most programs. Additionally, they don’t require a business background, so the MiM is a great option for people working outside or adjacent to the business world who want to step into a leadership role or for those seeking a career change.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Benefits of an Online Master’s in Management Degree Program

A broad range of industries are experiencing rapid changes in the job market due to COVID-19. However, management positions remain in high demand no matter what. A master’s in management degree, otherwise known as a MiM degree, can be a great stepping stone into a career in management.

Graduates who earn an online master’s in management degree, have ample opportunities to advance their careers. This degree prepares students for leadership positions within companies.

Students without years of work experience may benefit from an online MIM degree. Because this degree program focuses on teaching leadership and management skills, it is a great choice for someone lacking in those skills.

The online master’s in management degree is also a logical choice for business professionals who may have years of experience, but need a career boost. An online MiM degree could help you to grow your leadership skills or to make a career change.

Management positions exist in nearly every business sector, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industried with the highest levels of employment include:

Management of companies and enterprises
Management within elementary and secondary schools
Computer systems design
Government positions
Management positions within the real estate sector

Bottom Line: Earning a MiM degree is a great choice whether you are a new graduate with no real work experience or you are a seasoned professional interested in a career boost.

Why an online Master’s in Management Degree is a Great Alternative to an Online MBA

A master’s in management degree is designed to provide advanced general management knowledge regardless of your bachelor’s degree or previous business study. An MBA often has a more specific focus, or concentration, such as an MBA with a Finance concentration, and admission often requires a background in business.

There are several reasons why an online MIM degree can be a great alternative to an online MBA:

Gain International Experience

An online master’s in management degree program can provide the opportunity to gain international experience and insights from leading national and international experts thanks to partnerships between top business schools and corporations worldwide.

No Required Work Experience

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s in management degree program is a great way to advance your business knowledge. And you’re not required to have work experience to qualify for the master’s program, unlike an MBA.

An MBA degree, for example, usually requires between 3 and 5 years of work experience to be considered for admission. Work experience is not usually required for admission into an MiM degree program, or may be limited to one year.

Reasonably Priced

There are generally lower tuition costs for master’s in management degree programs than for master’s of business administration degree programs. Tuition fees for international MBAs can reach $100,000. MiM tuition fees range from $35,000 to $40,000.

Even when tuition fees are at their highest, MiM degree programs offered by business schools in the United Kingdom and the United States typically cost half as much as an MBA program.

Gain Diverse Managerial Skills

Management positions require a broad knowledge of a variety of related topics. To meet this need, master’s in management programs offer a variety of courses. Future managers must understand the complex interrelationship between relevant business topics to contribute to relevant discussions.

Fortunately, online MiM degee programs are designed and built to train you for such needs. You will learn to apply managerial theory to the real business world through an online MiM degree, which helps you develop great interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and become a quick thinker.

Even better, by learning how businesses operate in a socially and economically diverse environment helps graduates to meet the challenges of globalization.

Bottom Line: Earning an online MiM degree can help to prepare you to become a manager and hit the ground running with the skills you acquire through coursework in this program. And as an added bonus, students can typically complete this degree for significantly less than an online MBA degree.

Frequently Asked Questions About Management Degrees

An MBA with a Management concentration is a great master’s degree for online students who need a solid business knowledge foundation while also focusing on management or management in specific area. But the number of electives to really dig into a specialization are limited because of the number of more general business courses you must take. An MS in Management is a master’s degree program that can take you much deeper into management issues and offer you opportunties to specialize in a particular area of management, like engineering, production, healthcare, etc. An MS in Management will likely assume you have a background in business or some other field like healthcare or engineering. In such cases you don’t need to spend time on business courses that won’t be related to your area of work, giving you more time to focus on your area of interest.

We’ve included a few online MBA in Management degree programs in our ranking below. To find more online MBA options, check out our ranking focused on online MBAs.

A master’s degree in management provides growth in leadership and organizational skills. This 30- to 45-credit degree is ideal for working professionals in a number of fields who want to pursue supervisory roles and advance in their careers.

Most programs are available either online or on campus, and can be completed in about two years.

Courses will cover topics like management communication, strategic thinking, project management, transformational leadership, and more. Students will also learn how to gather and analyze data, become strong decision makers, and manage business finances. Some programs may require a thesis, and some may offer specializations, like construction management or project management.

Upon graduation, students will be ready for managerial roles in fields like healthcare, marketing, finance, and manufacturing.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s degree in communication.

Best Online Master's in Management Degree Programs

How do we determine the best online management master's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Marketing Managers in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

119400Fundraising Managers

138000Public Relations Managers

142390Sales Managers

142860Advertising and Promotions Managers

153440Marketing Managers

Best Online Master’s in Management Degree Programs

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Best Online Master’s in Management

Top 10 Online Management Master's Degrees

Key Takeaways

Featured Programs

Benefits of an Online Master’s in Management Degree Program

Why an online Master’s in Management Degree is a Great Alternative to an Online MBA

Gain International Experience

No Required Work Experience

Reasonably Priced

Gain Diverse Managerial Skills

Frequently Asked Questions About Management Degrees

MBA or MS in Management?

Why get a master’s in management?

How long does it take to get a master’s in management?

What do you learn when getting a master’s in management?

What can you do with a master’s in management?

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

Best Online Master’s in Management Degree Programs

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What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

What are the disadvantages of online classes?+

What are the advantages of online classes?+

Resources for Prospective Grad Students