Online Business Degrees

AIU OnlineReview: Online Business DegreeGo to Site | Back to Chart

AIU Online is the online arm of American InterContinental University, an international university with campuses in the United States, England and the United Arab Emirates. AIU has one of the highest quality educational programs and the best graduation rate of any of all the colleges and universities that we reviewed at 63%.

AIU has an excellent post graduate employment rate with 83% of alumni finding employment in their chosen field. Graduates are given both traditional job placement assistance as well as real world coaching in every aspect of the interview process that is tailored to their chose profession. Employers of AIU alumni give them very high marks in areas such reasoning and problem solving, communication skills and technical knowledge.

AIU offers excellent benefits to active duty or vetrans of the armed forces. Over 3,000 of AIU's current students are active duty military in the US or abroad.

Overall, AIU's high graduation rate and impressive employment and employer satisfaction rates make it a great option for most students. They are our top pick for members of the armed forces that are continuing their education either during or following their active duty service.

MBA Program Detail: AIU's Master of Business Administration degree is constantly being updated, allowing AIU to prepare relevant, timely coursework for students that will benefit them in the real world upon graduation. This helps ensure that AIU graduates will be professionally up-to-date upon earning a timely, industry-current MBA.

A Master of Business Administration degree online can be earned in a relatively short period of time. This accelerated, team-based program can be completed as little as 10 months.

Transfer Credit Policy: Transfer credit may be awarded by AIU for course work completed by a student at a postsecondary, degree-granting institution that is accredited by an institutional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In accordance with AIU's residency requirement, students transferring to AIU under established articulation agreements may transfer in a maximum of 50% of the required program credits.

Accreditation: The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges

Kaplan UniversityReview: Online Business DegreeGo to Site | Back to Chart

Kaplan University is one of the oldest institutions we reviewed with over 27,000 predominantly online students and roots back to 1837 when it was originally founded as The American Institute of Commerce.

With over 150 degree programs, Kaplan has the most areas of specialization of any of the schools we reviewed. Additionally, Kaplan has one of the highest alumni satisfaction ratings with 90% of their graduates reporting that they would recommend Kaplan to a friend or colleague.

Kaplan University is part of the Kaplan family of companies which includes the well known test preparation service. As such, Kaplan offers many unique and innovative learning techniques leveraging their refined methodology such as online quizzes following most class sessions that give you immediate feedback on what you have just learned as well as how well you have retained the information. Kaplan also offers one of the largest web based research centers of any of the schools we reviewed with over 325,000 volumes, 20,000 periodicals and other research materials available to their students.

Overall, Kaplan is an excellent web based option for students that are looking for a wide variety of specialized MBA programs, particularly in project management, healthcare management, human resourec management or other specialty. In addition, Kaplan's tuition fees are competitive, particularly when you consider that all text books and course materials are included in the cost.

MBA Program Detail: The Kaplan University MBA Program is 52 credits/13 courses (Students without a background in economics, accounting or finance are recommended to take 2 additional courses, Foundation of Mathematics and Economics and Foundations of Accounting and Finance.) Students can also add a concentration to their degree plan which requires an additional 4 courses. The 6 possible concentration options are: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, IT, Entrepreneurship and Management, Communication and Quality.

Transfer Credit Policy: Transfer credits are evaluated and accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association

Walden UniversityReview: Online Business DegreeGo to Site | Back to Chart

In addition to its 35 year operating history, Walden University is part of the Laureate International Universities network which encompasses 35 campuses and a large online learning program that collectively serve over 270,000 students.

Walden University is focused on fostering 'scholar-practitioners', or graduates that not only have the academic knowledge to succeed in their chose field, but also the hands on experience to do so. Their goal is to give graduates the background that allows them to effectively apply their scholarly learning skills they develop during their education against real world problems and situations.

Walden's primary focus is these advanced programs, such as MBA degrees. As such, they offer a very in-depth and focused curriculum.

Walden also offers a wide variety of student support tools including faculty mentors, librarians and a unique student concierge service. The primary role of the concierge service is to provide support to the online learner throughout their degree program.

Overall, Walden University is our top pick for general business MBA degrees.

MBA Program Detail: Walden University, ranked among the top 10 largest online graduate programs for business by U.S. News & World Report and Financial Times. Through Walden's membership in the Laureate International Universities network you will have access to exclusive opportunities and resources. Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to address challenges within your own business so that what you learn in class has an immediate impact on your organization's bottom line.

Transfer Credit Policy: Transfer of credit from other institutions is encouraged. Applicants may request an unofficial evaluation of transfer of credit prior to admission. This can be completed with unofficial or official transcripts. Official notification of credits that have been accepted for transfer to a program normally occurs at the time an offer of admission is made or during the student's first term of enrollment.

Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association

Programs: Business, Public Administration, Education, Psychology, Health, Human Services, Engineering & IT, Counseling and Nursing

Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association

Capella UniversityReview: Online Business DegreeGo to Site | Back to Chart

Capella University is an online only educational institution that offers the best overall cost to education quality ratio of any of the schools we reviewed.

In addition to offering one of the highest quality overall educational programs based off of alumni feedback, Capella University also offers one of the most technologically advanced online learning programs. They offer online libraries of research materials to existing students as well as an advanced but easy to use online classroom system that makes it easy to interact with classmates and instructors.

Alumni are supported by Capella University's job placement program, which ranked the highest of any of the online education providers we reviewed. In addition, Capella offers an online networking community for its alumni. Over 94% of Capella alumni reported that their degree has increased their overall career options leading to upward mobility and salary increases.

Capella offers a range of financial options. In particular, they offer discounts and other benefits to former members of the armed forces and employees of over 120 corporations including Walmart, Wells Fargo, Johnson & Johnson, US Bank and Xerox.

Overall, Capella University's high rankings in both job placement assistance and quality of education make it a great option for potential students that are looking to leverage a degree to get a new job in a new industry or make a significant advancement in their current field of employment.

MBA Degree Detail: According to the school, Capella's online MBA program will help you build professional effectiveness skills that advance your career - with courses on topics such as managing change, negotiation, and ethical leadership. Throughout the MBA program, a professional coach will help you set and achieve professional goals, giving you a competitive edge in your workplace even before you graduate. Capella's online MBA curriculum is respected: leading corporations, including Johnson & Johnson, Farmers Insurance and Xerox, recommend Capella University to their employees as a flexible, high-quality education solution.

Transfer Credit Policy: Many Capella students save substantial time and money by transferring previous academic course work into their Capella degree program. Credits from regionally accredited or internationally recognized institutions may transfer into Capella's degree programs. Up to 75% of the required credits for a particular degree may be transferred from previous academic work.

Degrees: Certificates, Bachelor's, MBA, Master's, PhD

Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association