QS Online MBA ranking 2026 | World's top-ranked programs compared

Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in Bloomington offers the best Online MBA in the US, according to the 2025 US News and World Report Best Online MBA Programs ranking. 

For the fourth consecutive year, Kelley's Direct Online MBA sits at the top of the list. The school has placed top of the ranking 10 times since US News began ranking online programs 13 years ago. 

This year, the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) Kenan-Flagler Business School rose to second place, moving up one rank, while Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business fell from second to third.

The US News Best Online MBA Programs ranking uses five categories to determine each school’s place: Engagement (30%), Expert Opinion (25%) Faculty Credentials and Training (15%), Student Excellence (15%), Services and Technology (15%).  

Within these larger categories are metrics including graduation rate, preparedness to teach distance learners, acceptance rates, and support services. 

So far, the US News list is the first major Online MBA ranking of 2025. 

Best Online MBA programs in the US

There was a significant rise in interest in Online MBAs during the pandemic. While no longer as popular as they once were, online programs, particularly those offered by elite institutions such as The Wharton School and the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business, continue to grow.

However, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council 2024 Corporate Recruiter Survey, 44% of US employees believe in-person programs impart stronger technical skills and about two-thirds of them believe they provide better leadership and communication skills.

While studying Online MBAs, students do get the chance to develop a wide range of skills including those that can be adapted to the modern workplace, such as remote communication and leadership.

The presence of the Kelley School of Business at the top of the US News Online MBA ranking can be explained by various indicators, including a student excellence score of 100, a 29% acceptance rate, and an average of nine years of teaching online courses among faculty. 

The school also comes out on top in specific Online MBA rankings, securing first place in the best Online General Management MBA Programs and the best Online MBA Programs for Veterans.

The number two school in the ranking, Kenan-Flagler, earned a student excellence score of 85 and a first-placed finish for the best Online MBA in Finance.

US News Online MBA Program Ranking 2025

US Best Online MBA Ranking | winners and losers

The biggest winner in 2025 is Indiana Kelley, which retained its title of the best US Online MBA for the third year running. North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler also made significant progress this year, moving up from third place last year to second.

Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper dropped to third place, after finishing in second place in 2024. Washington State University’s Foster School of Business also fell, moving from third to fourth place, which it now shares with the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, previously ranked sixth.

Despite the slight reordering, the schools in the top 10 remained largely the same, with the University. of Wisconsin MBA Consortium still unable to regain its position in the top 10 since dropping out in 2023.

Is an Online MBA worth it? 

Online MBA programs are usually significantly cheaper than traditional MBAs.

Students can also benefit from the flexibility to continue working while studying for an Online MBA from the comfort of their own home. 

With the rise in Online MBA programs, recruiters are becoming more and more accepting of hiring those with an online qualification. 

The rise in the number of AACSB-accredited business schools offering fully online MBA programs over the years also shows that many online MBA programs provide high-quality education.