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.

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN MANAGEMENT

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Published: Jul 6, 2021
Updated: Apr 8, 2024

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.
A master’s in management degree program with a bachelor’s degree from a different field who want to step into a leadership role or for those seeking a career change.

Top 10 Online Management Master's Degrees

Cornell University
New York University
Johns Hopkins University
Duke University
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
Boston University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Arizona
Syracuse University

Cornell University
New York University
Johns Hopkins University
Duke University
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
Boston University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Arizona
Syracuse University

University of Kentucky 95%
Arizona State University 90%
Michigan State University 88%
University of Arizona 87%
University of Cincinnati 86%
University of Alabama 80%
University of Arkansas 79%
University of Missouri 79%
University of Houston 66%
University of Massachusetts Amherst 64%

University of Houston 21 to 1
University of Arkansas 20 to 1
Arizona State University 19 to 1
University of Alabama 19 to 1
Texas A&M University 18 to 1
University of Texas at Austin 18 to 1
University of Cincinnati 18 to 1
University of Missouri 18 to 1
University of Massachusetts Amherst 18 to 1
Florida State University 17 to 1

University of Southern California $64,726
Cornell University $63,200
Duke University $62,688
Boston University $62,360
Johns Hopkins University $60,480
Vanderbilt University $60,348
Syracuse University $60,135
Fordham University $58,467
New York University $58,168
University of Miami $57,194

Babson College $89,550
University of Southern California $63,468
Boston University $61,050
Johns Hopkins University $60,480
Duke University $60,220
Vanderbilt University $53,160
Syracuse University $43,428
University of Miami $41,580
New York University $37,332
Cornell University $29,500

Babson College
University of Arkansas
University of Kentucky
University of Houston
University of Alabama
Texas A&M University
University of Cincinnati
Fordham University
Arizona State University
Florida State University

Babson College
University of Arkansas
University of Kentucky
University of Houston
University of Alabama
Texas A&M University
University of Cincinnati
Fordham University
Arizona State University
Florida State University

Duke University 6%
Cornell University 7%
Vanderbilt University 7%
Johns Hopkins University 7%
University of Southern California 12%
New York University 12%
Boston University 14%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 17%
University of Miami 19%
Babson College 22%

Duke University 6 to 1
Johns Hopkins University 6 to 1
Vanderbilt University 7 to 1
New York University 8 to 1
University of Southern California 9 to 1
Cornell University 9 to 1
Boston University 11 to 1
University of Miami 13 to 1
Fordham University 14 to 1
Syracuse University 15 to 1

Florida State University $4,640
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $7,019
University of Arkansas $7,666
University of Houston $8,685
Texas A&M University $8,815
University of Missouri $10,452
University of Cincinnati $10,656
Arizona State University $10,978
University of Alabama $11,100
University of Arizona $11,210

Texas A&M University $6,885
University of Arkansas $7,875
University of Houston $8,713
Florida State University $9,684
University of Missouri $10,447
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $10,552
University of Alabama $11,100
Arizona State University $12,014
University of Texas at Austin $12,036
University of Arizona $12,348

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Benefits of an Online Master’s in Management Degree Program

Management positions are always in high demand. 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.

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.

Best Online Master’s in Management Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Management Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Operations Management And Supervision

Degree Level: Master's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,695
Avg. Expenses*: $16,509
Avg. Starting Salary*: $77,404
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $95,349
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 4 years
Job Growth: 6.02%
Number of Jobs: 2,978,800
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	-8.21%	$161,191
Computer and Information Systems Managers	15.41%	$134,192
Compensation and Benefits Managers	1.71%	$124,492
Purchasing Managers	4.39%	$118,521
Sales Managers	4.06%	$117,002
Human Resources Managers	5.22%	$115,604
Training and Development Managers	6.54%	$111,455
Industrial Production Managers	1.62%	$106,425
Managers, All Other	3.35%	$106,040
Fundraising Managers	5.04%	$103,968

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$55,563	$92,094	$148,349

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 New York	5% higher than average	$116,372
#3 Virginia	5% higher than average	$104,589
#4 Michigan	15% higher than average	$90,047
#5 Georgia	13% higher than average	$90,306
#6 Illinois	7% higher than average	$96,596
#7 Delaware	2% higher than average	$106,159
#8 Ohio	14% higher than average	$88,985
#9 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$116,786
#10 Alabama	13% higher than average	$89,100
#11 Missouri	16% higher than average	$86,291
#12 Texas	10% higher than average	$91,909
#13 Colorado	3% higher than average	$105,194
#14 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$86,864
#15 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$95,799
#16 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$92,681
#17 Washington	7% higher than average	$105,360
#18 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$87,235
#19 Kansas	9% higher than average	$88,261
#20 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$82,807
#21 Indiana	11% higher than average	$85,766
#22 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$90,464
#23 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$87,188
#24 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$85,590
#25 Utah	4% higher than average	$90,368
#26 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$81,069
#27 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$82,432
#28 Florida	6% higher than average	$87,100
#29 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$86,635
#30 Arizona	5% higher than average	$87,855
#31 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$84,955
#32 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$76,800
#33 Iowa	9% higher than average	$82,805
#34 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$84,133
#35 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$108,149
#36 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$105,095
#37 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$72,688
#38 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$98,866
#39 Maryland	18% higher than average	$102,544
#40 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$106,805
#41 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$84,203
#42 California	26% higher than average	$107,572
#43 Montana	3% higher than average	$82,439
#44 North Dakota	average	$84,322
#45 Oregon	11% higher than average	$92,032
#46 Idaho	7% higher than average	$76,051
#47 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$120,672
#48 Maine	9% higher than average	$85,124
#49 Alaska	23% higher than average	$95,250
#50 Vermont	13% higher than average	$87,431
#51 Nevada	5% higher than average	$79,841
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$90,634

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	$161,191
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$134,192
Compensation and Benefits Managers	$124,492
Purchasing Managers	$118,521
Sales Managers	$117,002
Human Resources Managers	$115,604
Training and Development Managers	$111,455
Industrial Production Managers	$106,425
Managers, All Other	$106,040
Fundraising Managers	$103,968

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

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.

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.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Master’s in Management

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Management Master's Degrees

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

Best Online Master’s in Management Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Management degree at Cornell University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at New York University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at Johns Hopkins University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at Duke University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Southern California

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Texas at Austin

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at Boston University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Arizona

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at Syracuse University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at Michigan State University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at Vanderbilt University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Miami

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Missouri

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at Florida State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at Arizona State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at Fordham University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Cincinnati

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at Texas A&M University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Alabama

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Houston

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Kentucky

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at University of Arkansas

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Management degree at Babson College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Management Degree

Operations Management And Supervision

Degree Level: Master's