5 Online Business Schools in Missouri (MBA)

Columbia College, a private school of about 2,000 students, administers one of the best online MBA programs in Missouri. Designed for professionals in the early stages of their careers who want to advance to leadership positions, this program consists of 36 hours of coursework. Students can choose between two concentrations: accounting and human resource management. If students choose the accounting track, they must have a bachelor's degree in accounting, or possess the equivalent undergraduate credits.

Once enrolled, learners take classes that cover marketing strategies, business communication theory, organization theory, and information systems. Accounting students learn about taxes, and human resource students become experts in compensation and benefits.

In order to apply, candidates should have a 3.0 GPA at minimum from their undergraduate degree. Although Columbia College does not require students to submit entrance exam scores, the school recommends that applicants finish a few years of work experience before they begin the MBA program.

Concentrations

• Human Resource Management
• Accounting

Located in Canton, Missouri, Culver-Stockton College began educating students in 1853 as a Christian institution. Over 150 years later, the school now offers a master's in business administration entirely online. This online MBA program has three emphasis areas: finance, management, and accounting. Students may also pursue a dual MSN-MBA in tandem with the college's nursing school.

Terms last eight weeks, and the program generally requires two years for completion. High-performing undergraduate business students enrolled at Culver-Stockton may begin their MBAs during their senior years as part of the "3+2 MBA" program. The program, accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, provides students with career placement services before they graduate.

All applicants must possess an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.0 and a 1025 GMAT score at minimum. However, Culver-Stockton may waive the GMAT score for those candidates with substantive work experience.

Concentrations

• Accounting and Finance
• Management

The Catholic-affiliated and Saint Louis-based Fontbonne University offers an online MBA in Missouri. Students may choose between two concentrations, including a leadership and management track and a supply chain management track. The program requires students to complete 36 credits of coursework: 24 core credits and 12 concentration credits. Courses last eight weeks.

The school designed the program with flexibility for working professionals. Before graduation, learners must complete a seminar in administrative policy and strategic planning. Students implement the skills they learned during their MBA courses through presentations and written assessments of case studies.

Admissions requirements vary based on the applicant's intended concentration. If prospective students want to focus on leadership and management, they do not need to take entrance exams. If they choose to follow the accounting track, they must have a 475 GMAT score at minimum. Although Fontbonne typically does not set a minimum undergraduate GPA, the school waives the GMAT requirement for students who received a minimum 3.3 GPA.

Concentrations

• Management
• Supply Chain Management

Lincoln University operates as a historically black university in Missouri's capital, Jefferson City. Created in 1886 for African-American students after the Civil War, the public land-grant university now enrolls about 3,000 students each year. Lincoln also runs an online MBA program in Missouri.

The degree offers an emphasis in management. Students take courses in managerial accounting, international business, business strategy, managerial economics, and corporate finance. Students learn to understand markets and analyze data in order to make decisions. Each course equips students with the skills they need to progress their career and obtain leadership positions.

Lincoln's MBA program holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. If students previously earned their bachelor's degrees in business from Lincoln, they may apply nine credits to their MBA requirements. The school does not set a minimum undergraduate GPA, but applicants must submit GMAT scores.

Concentrations

• Management
• Public Administration/Policy

Located in the St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, Lindenwood University instructs nearly 9,000 students, both undergraduate and graduate. The schools online MBA in Missouri allows students to choose from several concentrations: accounting, entrepreneurial studies, finance, human resource management, international business, leadership, management, marketing, nonprofit administration, and supply chain management.

Students complete 39 to 54 credits, depending on past coursework, previous experience, and chosen emphasis area. Students without prior background in business must take nine credits of prerequisite coursework. Working professionals can enroll part time or full time. Lindenwood offers five terms per year, each lasting eight weeks.

The MBA program at Lindenwood holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and the Higher Learning Commission. Interested individuals should reach out to the admissions department at Lindenwood to ask about specific admissions requirements based on their previous experience.

Concentrations

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurial Studies
• Finance
• Human Resource Management
• International Business
• Leadership
• Management
• Marketing
• Supply Chain Management

Maryville University provides a fast-track MBA degree. Students who do not choose a concentration can graduate within one year. The St. Louis-based university administers one of the best online MBA programs in Missouri, which is meant to help working professionals advance their careers. Students can begin the program at six different starting points throughout the year.

Students may choose from nine specializations: accounting, human resource management, cybersecurity, information technology, financial services, marketing, general management, project management, and health administration. Several of these concentrations tailor courses around preparing students for certifications. For instance, the accounting track equips students for their CPA exams, and learners in the project management track prepare for the project management professional certification.

Maryville's admissions requirements do not include GRE or GMAT scores and the school does not demand a minimum undergraduate GPA. Maryville instead takes another approach, admitting potential students who hold the ability to succeed regardless of their previous experience.

Concentrations

• Accounting
• Cybersecurity
• Financial Services
• Healthcare Practice Management
• Human Resources Management
• Management
• Marketing
• Project Management
• Project Management Certification

Founded in 1957 in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, Baptist University educates about 5,000 students each year, both on campus and online.

At MBU, students can receive their online MBA in Missouri in 12 to 24 months. Students must complete 36 credits in order to graduate. Although the school waives some required credits, everyone enrolled must fulfill three credits of an introductory executive communications and business literacy class. Later in the program, coursework requires students to complete research and study advanced concepts, like markets for international firms and organizational behavior and leadership.

The curriculum also includes a capstone course where students create a project synthesizing everything they have learned throughout the course of their studies. Additionally, students take an exit exam during their capstone semester.

The Missouri State University online MBA program allows students to complete a graduate certificate in areas like entrepreneurship and forensic accounting, in conjunction with a master's degree. About a quarter of students choose to enroll in the MBA online, rather than on campus.

The Missouri State online MBA consists of 18 foundational credits and 33 MBA credits. Students with an academic background in business may bypass the foundational courses. Missouri State also offers an executive MBA option, but only allows individuals with at least five years of business experience to apply for this track.

Missouri State expects prospective students to submit undergraduate transcripts and a GMAT or GRE score. The school may waive the entrance exam requirement if applicants earned a 3.25 GPA or higher in previous business coursework from an accredited school. Bachelor's learners studying business at Missouri State may apply for the accelerated MBA program, which allows them to count undergraduate credits toward their graduate degrees.

Concentrations

• Graduate Certificate in Computer Information Systems
• Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity
• Graduate Certificate in Finance
• Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis
• Graduate Certificate in Project Management

Formerly known as the University of Missouri at Rolla, this school became Missouri University of Science and Technology, or Missouri S&T, in 2008 due to its reputation as a technological research university. Missouri S&T runs many other academic programs; however, not just science and technology, including one of the best online MBA programs in Missouri.

MBA students complete 36 credits of coursework, including classes like teambuilding and leadership, and managerial finance. The curriculum also offers courses that take advantage of Missouri S&T's strengths, like artificial intelligence, robotics, and information systems management. If individuals are interested but unsure about an entire master's degree, they can opt to enroll in one of the school's many business administration graduation certificates, like mobile business and technology or enterprise resource planning.

Applicants must submit their transcripts from previous coursework, three recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, and GRE or GMAT scores.

Concentrations

• Business Analytics And Data Science Certificate
• Business Intelligence Certificate
• Business Project Management Certificate
• Digital Media Certificate
• Digital Supply Chain Management Certificate
• Electronic And Social Commerce Certificate
• Enterprise Resource Planning Certificate
• Human-Computer Interaction Certificate
• Management And Leadership Certificate
• Mobile Business And Technology Certificate

At Northwest Missouri State University, students can choose to three different MBA directions: a general MBA degree, an MBA with an emphasis in human resource management, or an MBA with a marketing concentration. Regardless of specialization, all programs consist of 33 credits. Learners may complete all three options online, and generally finish the program in 12 to 18 months.

Nine hours of coursework must fall within the student's concentration area. Human resource students take classes like managing compensation and benefits. Students who pursue general management take quality improvement courses. The marketing concentration encourages students to take courses in global marketing management or advanced marketing communication.

To apply for this MBA program in Missouri, candidates must submit a transcript with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Northwest Missouri State often requires applicants to submit GRE or GMAT scores as well; however, the school waives entrance exam scores in certain cases. Applicants should contact the school for more information about the waiver.

Concentrations

• Management
• Marketing