Spears Business online MBA program again recognized in 2018 U.S. News & World Report rankings

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Oklahoma State University’s business school, an early trendsetter in online learning, continues to push the pace with its online programs, especially among Big 12 universities.

The Spears School of Business tops all Big 12 schools and repeats as a member of the nation’s top online MBA programs in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings, released Tuesday.

The OSU online MBA program ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 and is tied at No. 30 overall.

“We’ve been at this game a long time,” said Ramesh Sharda, vice dean for the Watson Graduate School of Management at Spears Business. “I’m really pleased that we continue to get recognized as one of the top-30 programs. This is a very credible list of competitors.

“We’re No. 1 within the Big 12, so that’s always a plus.”

Other Big 12 schools in the rankings: No. 36 Kansas State, No. 47 West Virginia and No. 61 Kansas.

Spears Business also ranked No. 42 in Best Online Graduate Business Programs (excluding MBA).

Sharda said Spears Business remains committed to always improving the online learning experience, contributing to regular rankings recognition. Recently, that has involved making what could be an impersonal experience highly personal, carrying the Spears Business motto of “Power of Personal” online.

“On the one hand, the program offers the flexibility and the convenience of scheduling,” Sharda said. “Students can listen to the lectures and do their homework when they want to, where they want to. But at the same time we are certainly trying to be more connected and paying attention to them through the advisement process and with our faculty being more responsive to their questions. So there’s the Power of Personal and the flexibility online.

“And we’re financially affordable; very competitive compared to the other schools on the list.”

In last year’s rankings, OSU ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and tied for No. 29 overall.

OSU’s Watson Graduate School offers degree programs via online learning in:

MBA
MS. in Business Analytics
MS. in Entrepreneurship
MS. in Information Assurance
MS. in Management Information Systems
Graduate Certificate in Business Data Mining
Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance
Graduate Certificate in Non-profit Management
Graduate Certificate in Business Sustainability
Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Graduate Certificate in Marketing Analytics

“I am delighted that once again this year, our online MBA program ranks as one of the best in the country and the best in the Big 12,” said Ken Eastman, dean of Spears Business. “We work hard to ensure that students receive a high quality, online education and it is gratifying to see our efforts be recognized publicly.”

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking colleges and universities for more than 30 years. The organization ranks degree-granting online programs at accredited institutions by evaluating student engagement, admissions selectivity, peer reputation, faculty credentials and student services and technology.

The U.S. News & World Report ranking of Best Online MBA Programs is available at https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/mba/rankings