IE Online MBA Review | Cost, Requirements & Class Profile

The IE Online MBA ranks as the world’s best Online MBA program, according to the Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2025. It’s no surprise, then, that the top MBA program attracts a wealth of ambitious MBA grads from across the globe.

Based in Madrid, Spain, IE Business School offers a flexible learning experience for MBA students, with 100% online or hybrid study options. 

What can you expect from the IE Business School Online MBA? Here’s what you need to know:

IE Online MBA: Requirements 

As the IE Global Online MBA is so highly ranked, you’ll need more than just a shining resume to land a coveted spot in the program.

The IE Business School admissions team looks for ambitious, motivated, and creative learners. The school aims to take a holistic approach to reviewing candidates.

To be successful, students will need to have a minimum of three years of professional experience in a relevant field.

As part of your online application, you’ll need to submit a university academic transcript, a resume, two letters of recommendation, an employment verification letter, and a personal statement. 

IE Business School accepts the GMAT, GRE, IE Global Admissions Test, or Executive Assessment. 

There is an online assessment that asks candidates to answer two video-format questions and one written-format question. If you succeed in this round, you’ll then be invited to a personal interview with a manager of the admissions team, which can take place online or in person.

Overall the entire application will be evaluated holistically, and it will take up to three weeks for the admissions committee to get back to you with their final decision.  

IE Online MBA: Cost

The admissions fee for the IE Online MBA costs €150 ($160) and is non-refundable.

The tuition fees for the September 2025 intake are €62k ($67.4k) and the school also requests a €1.2k ($1.3k) contribution to the IE Foundation. 

Applicants have the option to pay their tuition fees in up to 12 consecutive installments, however, a €400 ($430) fee will charged for administrative services to those that pay in more than three consecutive installments. 

Hybrid students also have access to scholarships. On average these cover approximately 15% of the total tuition cost and are issued on financial need, academic merit, and diversity. 

Class Profile—Who is the IE Online MBA for?

As the IE Online MBA offers flexible learning options, allowing students to complete the program in 18 or 24 months, the program attracts a variety of students from diverse backgrounds. 

Many students in the program come from mid- or top-level managerial roles

28% of students bring an academic background in business administration while a further 28% come from engineering, with 13% from humanities and social sciences.

The most popular employment sector for graduates is banking, insurance, and financial services (21%), along with "other" (21%), which includes industries that are not easily categorized. This is followed by education (12%), consulting (10%), and healthcare (10%).

Some of the top companies where Online MBA students come from are Adidas, Citi, Uber, and KPMG.

On average, there are 38 different nationalities in the program, and the average age for IE Online MBA students is 31.

IE Business School Online MBA: Curriculum 

Since the IE Online MBA is a global program, the curriculum offers students a deep dive into global business matters.

The curriculum is centered around three core focus areas: developing a digital mindset, making an impact in a world of change, and boosting your employability.

Courses are taught via a mix of online video conferences, forums, and face-to-face learning. Students can study a portion of the course in the Madrid campus during the residential weeks.

In the first term of the program, IE Online MBAs will study courses such as Financial Reporting and Analysis, Marketing Management, and Leading People and Change.

In the second term of the Online MBA, you can expect to learn about areas such as negotiation, influence, business, government, and sustainability. 

Meanwhile, in the virtual period, students can take courses in Digital Transformation, Data Analytics, and Entrepreneurial Venturing. 

The third term will culminate with an experiential learning project that focuses on entrepreneurship. This is where you’ll work in teams on an entrepreneurial project that you started in the second term. 

In the face-to-face week, you’ll present your project to a panel of experts. Alongside this, there are electives on Financial Market and Fintech, Strategic Management and Marketing. 

Hear from IE Online MBA alumni

The IE Business School helped one successful Online MBA alum accelerate her career and navigate working online. 

Stephanie Robles is a Global Client Partner at GroupM Nexus. She used her Online MBA from IE to propel her career forward during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

She initially decided to join an MBA to enhance her knowledge of the business sphere from a new perspective.

“You always run out of time to learn, so I wanted to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. After the merge, an MBA felt like it was the right thing to do.”  

Being able to join an Online MBA meant that Stephanie didn’t have to take time out of her career.

Attracted to the program’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, she knew she was in the right place.

She says some of her key learnings were learning to work alongside people and lead others in a virtual setting.

“I have to network with my team and work very closely with them even though some of us have never met in person. You can still network and work from a distance, that’s something I learned from the MBA program,” she says.