The Colorado State University College of Business’ Online MBA program has been recognized as the No. 1 online MBA in Colorado by U.S. News & World Report, a best-in-state distinction the program has held since 2018.
The Online MBA ranked No. 32 among public institutions and No. 44 across all institutions nationwide. The Online MBA climbed eight positions overall since last year’s ranking, placing the program among the top 15 percent of Online MBAs in the nation. U.S. News & World Report also rated the College of Business program No. 21 for veterans among all public institutions.
The latest rankings affirm the program’s innovative approach to helping professionals advance their careers. The program replicates the on-campus experience of a nationally accredited Research 1 university, offering learning from faculty who bring both real-world professional experience and cutting-edge research into the classroom. The program’s high ranking reflects student opportunities to connect with faculty and their peers, faculty academic excellence, students’ professional achievements as well as the breadth and efficacy of the program’s support services and learning technology.
“I am proud that our Online MBA continues to be ranked among the nation’s best programs and rose eight positions this year. This achievement reflects the caliber of our world-class faculty, individualized academic support and best-in-class technology designed to provide online students with the same high-quality learning experience as their peers on campus. Ultimately, our MBA helps graduates advance their careers and use business for a better world.”
What makes the CSU College of Business Online MBA the top in Colorado and among the best in the nation?
See why in this video.
A flexible program for every career goal
Flexibility and customization are the foundation for the Online MBA’s ability to effectively serve students, supporting their career goals ranging from advancing to leadership positions, re-entering the workforce or shifting their current directions. The MBA focuses on developing hard and soft skills across five key competencies that employers consistently seek: innovation, finance, leadership, data analytics and using business to build a better world.
In addition to being able to choose from more than 20 electives, students may also pursue one of the College’s 12 graduate certificates as part of their MBA. Credits they earn toward certificates also apply toward their MBA, allowing them to complete their degree with no additional coursework. Graduate certificate programs cover a wide range of topics, such as cybersecurity, business intelligence or organizational leadership, and are available to non-degree seeking professionals as well.
Similarly, the program’s schedule is tailored to fit comfortably among students’ professional and personal commitments. Five start dates each year extend the opportunity to begin when it’s convenient – even when that doesn’t align with a traditional academic calendar. Students opt for a course load that suits their lifestyle and may complete the program in as little as 21 months or as long as five years, allowing students flexibility to balance existing obligations from other areas of their life.
“The online program gave me the flexibility to navigate classwork in the evenings at my own pace while I continued to work full time and spend time with my family.”
– Greg Neff, 2018 Online MBA graduate
This flexibility removes many of the obstacles to achieving an MBA and has made the College of Business Online MBA accessible to students who are not often included in traditional MBA programs. In the year ending June 30, 2022, 45% of Online MBA students were women and 13% were veterans or active-duty members of the uniformed services.
College of Business Online MCIS Named #1 in Colorado
U.S. News & World Report ranked the College of Business’ Online Master of Computer Information Systems program the top in Colorado for the fifth year in a row.
“Our students come to the Online MBA from widely varied professional backgrounds with highly individualized personal and professional goals,” said Travis Maynard, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. “They require the flexibility to pursue their individual intentions as well as the confidence that employers value the graduates of a nationally accredited research institution like the CSU College of Business.”
Prioritizing student engagement and success
The College of Business Online MBA was developed to mirror the on-campus MBA experience. The College of Business’ best-in-class technology immerses online students much more deeply into the classroom than traditional voiceover PowerPoint presentations used by many other Online MBAs. A dedicated video production team captures 360-degree video of classrooms, weaving views of instructors, whiteboards and students into seamlessly produced videos available as a livestream or on demand to suit online students’ schedules.
“The class delivery method was one of the biggest things that attracted me to the CSU Online MBA. It made such a huge difference for me to watch my professors teach, the interaction with fellow students and the feeling that even though I was sitting in my home, I wasn’t going through the program alone. I was part of something.”
– Teri Ditsch, Online MBA graduate
Those who seek unparalleled classroom immersion may opt to join the Mosaic Online MBA. Harnessing collaborative video technology, Mosaic Online MBA students engage with instructors and peers in the classroom in real time. The frictionless experience enables students from anywhere in the world to join the classroom as if they’re attending CSU’s Fort Collins campus.
Technology is fundamental to the Online MBA’s success in preparing students to advance in their careers, and students also benefit from the same high-touch support services as their on-campus peers. Online students receive one-on-one counseling from academic advisors throughout their academic careers, ensuring their course selection and graduation plan always align with their career goals – even when those goals evolve. Instructional coordinators with industry experience offer additional online learning support to students, while career counselors from the College’s Career Management Center provide career development and placement services to help graduates leverage the power of their new MBAs.
“There are countless valid reasons it’s impossible to attend courses on campus,” Maynard said. “They shouldn’t preclude students from acquiring the skills and mindset a high-quality MBA imparts. Our Online MBA’s unique flexibility and format allow those students to balance lifestyle commitments while attaining a career-changing degree without sacrificing the quality of their education.”
The College of Business at Colorado State University is focused on using business to create a better world.
As an AACSB-accredited business school, the College is among the top five percent of business colleges worldwide, providing programs and career support services to more than 2,500 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students. Faculty help students across our top-ranked on-campus and online programs develop the knowledge, skills and values to navigate a rapidly evolving business world and address global challenges with sustainable business solutions. Our students are known for their creativity, work ethic and resilience—resulting in an undergraduate job offer and placement rate of over 90% within 90 days of graduation.
The College’s highly ranked programs include its Online MBA, which has been recognized as the No. 1 program in Colorado for six years running by U.S. News and World Report and achieved No. 16 for employability worldwide from QS Quacquarelli Symonds. The College’s Impact MBA is also ranked by Corporate Knights as a Top 20 “Better World MBA” worldwide.
