The Best Online MBA Programs In Illinois

Program summary

Admission is performance-based: students begin with three short courses, and earning at least a B in each brings acceptance into the 36-credit online MBA.

Illinois Tech delivers its Master of Business Administration 100 percent online through a partnership with Coursera. The degree requires 36 credits and is delivered over 12 to 24 months. It runs separately from the in-person MBA, and transfer between the two programs is generally not allowed.

Because the program is delivered entirely online through Coursera, it is open to learners from throughout the world.

Program summary

Each course pairs self-directed, asynchronous material with weekly live sessions, and learners complete three group capstones, including a four-week program capstone in the final semester.

The iMBA is fully online with no on-campus commitments and takes 24 to 60 months, at a pace the student sets. Courses run four to eight weeks, students take one to four per 16-week semester, and starts are offered in January, March, May, August and October. All learners complete four Core Specializations, then either two of the six Focus Area Specializations or one focus area plus an elective path.

GMAT and GRE scores are not required for admission. Each course combines pre-recorded videos and readings with weekly live sessions in a virtual classroom, and students generally spend 10 to 15 hours per class each week. The capstone sequence includes two specialization capstones and a program capstone, and the diploma reads Master of Business Administration rather than online MBA.

Program summary

Ten 8-week courses totaling 30 credit hours can be finished in as few as 12 months, and students can add a certificate in a specialized area.

The program requires 10 courses totaling 30 credit hours, 21 in core courses and nine in electives, and runs on 8-week online courses with multiple start dates per year. Electives can be almost any 500-level course in the college (ACC, BUS, FIN, MGT or MIS), and the core includes a capstone course on formulating organizational missions and implementing the policies and strategies to achieve them. Courses are taught by the same professors who teach on campus.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a 2.5 GPA or higher, or a master's degree or higher. A business major is not required, but students with a non-business bachelor's degree complete the gateway prerequisite courses BUS 501 Business Perspectives and ACC 505. Professional work experience is not required for applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Program summary

Five concentrations, including Human Resource Management with a SHRM-aligned curriculum, fit into a 42-credit program of eight-week courses with no campus visits required.

The Online MBA requires 42 credit hours: 26 credits of core courses and 16 credits of electives, typically used to complete one of five concentrations (Business Analytics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Management or Marketing). All courses run in eight-week sessions with five starts a year (August, October, January, March and May), and the degree can be completed in as little as 14 months of full-time study or about two years part time. Course content is accessible 24/7 through structured modules, and students connect with faculty through optional live sessions.

GMAT and GRE scores are optional, and a 3.0 GPA is preferred, though applicants with lower GPAs who show strong professional experience are considered. Work experience is valued but not strictly required, and applicants submit a personal statement, a current resume and two letters of recommendation from professional references. Courses are taught by the same professors who teach on the Chicago campus.

Program summary

No foundation courses are required regardless of undergraduate background, and the 36-credit program of 7-week courses can be completed in as few as 12 months.

The curriculum totals 36 credit hours, 24 in MBA core courses and 12 in electives, with students choosing four electives. Courses run seven weeks, are delivered 100% online and offer six start dates each year. The core includes an embedded capstone course focused on strategic management and the interrelationships between firms and their external environments.

Admission weighs undergraduate GPA, a professional resume and previous graduate work; applicants need a completed bachelor's degree, a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.50 and at least a 3.0 in any graduate coursework. Applicants at 2.75 or higher are considered more competitive, while those between 2.50 and 2.75 go through a holistic review that can weigh grade trends, professional experience and quantitative preparation. The curriculum was developed with regional business professionals, many of whom serve on the program's advisory board.

Program summary

Built around the general manager role, the 36-credit-hour curriculum covers leadership, operations management and international business and can be finished in as little as 18 months.

The MBA totals 36 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 18 months, with full-time and part-time pathways. The curriculum is structured to prepare students for a general manager role in any business organization, building capability in critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, operations management and international business.

No GMAT or GRE is required. Applicants submit official undergraduate transcripts from all schools attended, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references, a two-page statement of intent describing their career goals and relevant experience, and a current résumé. The program is designed for working professionals and career-focused students.

Program summary

Admission rests on a 2.7 GPA plus any one of three years of professional experience, a business degree or a personal statement, with no GMAT or GRE.

The 33-credit-hour curriculum consists of 11 courses, seven core courses and four electives, taught as 8-week courses in a 100 percent online format, and can be finished in as few as 14 months. BA 598 serves as the capstone for the core, and the four electives are drawn from concentration courses covering topics such as brand management, digital marketing and supply chain analytics.

Two foundation areas (Accounting, Finance and Economics, and Business Analytics I) are prerequisites for certain core courses and can be met through prior coursework at a grade of C or higher or through same-titled workshops that take about two weeks on average.

Program summary

Core courses run as 8-week modules, two per semester without overlapping deadlines, so students focus on one course at a time across five entry points a year.

The MBA is 33 hours of graduate coursework, and students without a business background may need additional courses in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and statistics. Core courses are offered in five sessions a year (January, March, June, August and October), all requirements can be completed online with no in-person requirement, and working professionals typically graduate in two years. Students choose from ten concentration areas available online, including business analytics, supply chain management, finance and health services administration.

The program is open to business graduates and to those from fields such as engineering, health care and law enforcement, and admission is based on academic transcripts and professional experience. The GPA requirement is 3.0 overall or 3.00 over the last two years; applicants below 3.0 may still be considered and are encouraged to submit materials such as GMAT or GRE scores, evidence of relevant professional experience or professional certifications. Courses are taught by the same faculty who deliver the on-campus MBA.

Program summary

One of two online options pairs business study with GIS tools and spatial analysis; the other, Applied Management, runs 11 courses and includes a Management Simulation course.

The Online MBA totals 33 credit hours across 11 online courses, with a fall or spring semester start and two online options, Applied Management and Geographic Information Systems. In the Applied Management option, students take six core courses, three applied management courses (Strategic Management, Accounting from a Management Perspective and Management Simulation) and two approved electives, and full-time students can follow a three-semester model. The Accountancy concentration is offered in a hybrid format, with core MBA courses online and accounting courses completed in person.

The program is built for working professionals, recent graduates and career changers, and applications go through the EIU Graduate School via the MyEIU account. Students without an undergraduate business degree from an AACSB-accredited institution may need the prerequisite MBA 5002: Fundamentals of Graduate Business Study, which can be taken in the first semester alongside other MBA courses. Elective areas include business analytics, supply chain and project management, and information systems and cybersecurity.

Program summary

A professional development experience, run like a conference with speakers and break out sessions, connects students with Chicagoland business leaders willing to serve as mentors.

The MBA is 12 courses (36 credit hours): five core courses on business fundamentals, four business administration courses and three electives or specialization courses, plus a professional development experience. Courses are asynchronous; taking one course every session leads to the degree in two years, and a one-year (12-month) MBA starts each fall. Students can begin in the fall, summer or spring semester.

Students may earn a general MBA or specialize in International Business, Human Resource Management or Financial Management, with 9 credits of elective or specialization courses. Required courses include MBUS 500 - Data Analytics for Managers and MBUS 609 - Global Supply Chain Design and Management, and online courses are taught by experienced, full-time faculty through Canvas. The professional development experience features keynote speakers and networking with business professionals, classmates and faculty.