University of Massachusetts Amherst - Isenberg School of Management

The Online MBA program at University of Massachusetts Amherst, a public school, was started in 2001. The application deadline for the Online MBA program is rolling. The Online MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The school rates the importance of the GMAT or GRE as very important in admission decisions and report an average GMAT of 613. The Online MBA program has a total of 1,418 students; it is represented by 19 foreign countries; 13% of Online MBA students are underrepresented minorities; 34% of Online MBA students are women. The total program cost is around $35,983 while average debt upon graduation is $30,226. Scholarships are available and the average annual aid package is about $15,757.

The Isenberg online MBA program has become “progressively more respected in Massachusetts and abroad over the last few years, along with UMass as a whole.” Strong “concentration in healthcare administration” appeals to many medical professionals looking to acquire leadership positions in their fields, however, the sports management, accounting, finance, and economics programs are all “top-notch” as well. “The coursework is rigorous, but what sets this program apart from others is the abundance of resources and support students have access to, which helps them grow professionally and offers new opportunities,” says a student. It is perfect for those that would like “to be able to continue to grow professionally” and minister to their employees “in new capacities.” The online program “directly mirrors the full-time MBA program, and it is much more cost-effective compared to Boston area part-time MBA programs.” While students agree that being able to procure an MBA completely online is a definite advantage, some express interest in having “opportunities for online students to come to campus during the semesters” in order to “attend learning sessions on campus” and experience “peer networking.” However, the school continues to build a “solid reputation and has been consistently improving its grad school ranking with U.S. News & World Report and other ranking entities.”