OSU online MBA earns top-20 recognition

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Media Contact: Terry Tush | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2703 | terry.tush@okstate.edu

Spears Business is No. 16 in U.S. News & World Report rankings

Oklahoma State University’s online MBA program is one of the nation’s best and it was validated with today’s release of the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Online Programs rankings. The online MBA at the Spears School of Business moves up to No. 16 in the 2024 rankings, earning a top-20 ranking for the first time.

“The Spears School of Business continues to demonstrate excellence in business education as exemplified by our recent U.S. News & World Report top-20 ranking of our online MBA program,” said Dr. Jim Payne, dean of Spears Business. “It is a testament to our dedicated faculty and staff who without question deliver a high-quality educational experience for our students.”

The Spears Business online MBA program is tied for No. 16 in the 2024 rankings of more than 1,600 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs using metrics specific to online learning, and it is the second best among Big 12 Conference schools. The online MBA program continues its ascent in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report rankings, climbing from No. 40 (2020), No. 32 (2021), No. 28 (2022) and No. 27 (2023) in the past five years.

In addition to the online MBA program receiving this outstanding recognition, the online MBA in business analytics, the online MBA programs for veterans and the overall online business master’s degree options at Spears Business were honored among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings consider quality of faculty and teaching practices as well as the value students receive.

OSU’s online MBA in business analytics is tied for No. 20 in the rankings. For services to veterans, OSU is tied at No. 14 for online MBA programs for veterans. In online graduate business programs, excluding the MBA, OSU is tied for No. 87.

“I am really pleased with the consistent rise in the rankings of our online MBA program,” said Dr. Ramesh Sharda, vice dean for research and graduate programs. “I attribute this jump in rankings to the hard work of our students, faculty, program administration and our MBA advisory board.

“I want to acknowledge support from OSU and Spears Business administration. Specifically, Dr Matt Bowler, director of the MBA program, Rodrigo Tello, Emily Murphy, Kenneth Kern and the rest of the Watson Graduate School of Management advisor and support team is to be congratulated. Shona Good and the team from Greenwood Center for Online Excellence play a crucial role in helping our faculty develop and deliver excellent classes. Of course, all faculty who teach in the MBA program, the department chairs and the deans are also appreciated.”

U.S. News & World Report annually ranks online programs that allow students to complete degrees using online learning technologies. The rankings are based on school surveys and include information such as faculty credentials, graduation rates, instructional best practices and technology, admission data and program reputation among accredited business schools.

At OSU, the MBA at Spears Business continues to see unprecedented growth as the online program has experienced a 209% increase in enrollment since 2020. Today, more than 330 individuals are taking online MBA classes through OSU.

Learn more about online graduate business education at OSU, including the MBA and view the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Online MBA Programs ranking online.