Best Online Business Schools in Virginia 2022 (MBA)

Boasting one of the best online MBA programs in Virginia, Averett offers students three concentration options: marketing, leadership, or human resource management. The MBA program invites working professionals from different backgrounds who earned at least a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate studies to apply. Admission to the program does not require GRE or GMAT scores.

Students begin programs with core business courses in management, legal and ethical issues, and business research methods. Classes remain small to support better peer and faculty interaction. Each major includes a specialized set of courses, followed by a final capstone research project or case study that demonstrates students' mastery of content and skills. Students take one course every seven weeks, with a total of 40 credits required for program completion. Averett's online MBA is available to students who live in a SARA state.

Concentrations

• Marketing
• Online Leadership
• Human Resource Management

William & Mary offers one of the best online MBA in Virginia programs through its Raymond A. Mason School of Business. The school's business programs hold accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Alumni work in C-level positions at companies that include Deloitte, IBM, and the U.S. Armed Forces. The online program includes a three-day residency experience on campus for students to connect with peers and faculty. This weekend-long event takes place in a professional conference style, with social networking events and lectures led by business leaders. The program hosts residency experiences twice a year, though students only need to attend one.

Throughout the program, students seek an innovative solution to a "wicked problem" -- an existing business problem with an unknown solution. Graduate students choose practical problems to solve during the first MBA course then continue to work on solutions throughout the remainder of the program.

The online MBA from Mason ranks among the best online MBAs in Virginia. Students receive a broad leadership and business education through a global lens. Faculty and students come from all over the world, with a global residency option available to all online students. This international residency takes place in a different location each year, with opportunities to meet business and government leaders and visit national and multinational companies within a country. Students must first finish all core requirements prior to beginning electives. Past residency locations include Beijing, China, and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Students choose from one of nine concentration areas, which include international business, financial management, and real estate. Alumni of this 33-month program gain lifetime access to a career management center that offers one-on-one career consultations. Applicants need at least two years of professional experience to gain admission into Mason's MBA program.

Concentrations

• Executive - Global
• Executive - Critical Infrastructure
• Executive - National Security

JMU's Virginia college online MBA program benefits those students looking to step into C-level positions in the Department of Defense, national intelligence agencies, or private industries. With an information security emphasis, the MBA curriculum combines business strategy with an in-depth study of data and system security, risk management, information protection and related topics. MBA students benefit from special tuition rates and professional credit transfers through JMU's external partnerships with the National Defense University and the Booz Allen Hamilton corporation. Students also receive formal (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional Common Body of Knowledge training as part of the curriculum.

Students join a small cohort that completes a total of 14 courses together over 28 months. Each course lasts eight weeks. Program cohorts meet in person two separate times during the eight weeks: the Saturday before a course begins and the Saturday after the course ends. The remaining instruction takes place entirely online, blending both synchronous and asynchronous class sessions.

Concentrations

• Information Security

Liberty's Virginia college online MBA program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, offers two options: a 45-credit hour track with multiple specialization choices or an accelerated 36-hour general MBA degree. The 45-credit hour option offers 16 diverse specialization choices, including more traditional options like accounting and finance or unique options like public administration and international legal studies. The 36-hour program includes management courses, such as international business, business research methods, and organizational design and structure.

Each asynchronous course lasts eight weeks, with eight start dates offered throughout the year. Liberty accepts program credits from other qualifying graduate work, up to 50% of MBA requirements. Most students finish Liberty's MBA program within two years. Active-duty military members and veterans receive a per-credit tuition discount, and those who also serve as civilian emergency responders receive an additional discount. Admission requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Concentrations

• Accounting
• Criminal Justice
• Healthcare Management
• Human Resources
• International Business
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Project Management
• Public Administration
• Public Relations

The online MBA in Virginia program at Longwood offers three different degree paths: a two-year path for part-time students, an 18-month path for full-time students who enroll in spring, and a 15-month path for full-time students who enroll in summer. All programs start with students taking one seven-week course. The full-time path then builds to students completing two to three courses by the final term. Both the part- and full-time options require an extended weekend residency on campus during the summer.

Students can choose either a general business or real estate emphasis. Core courses for both degree options cover topics in accounting, marketing, and strategic decision-making. Students without an undergraduate degree in business can apply but must first complete a series of business foundation courses.

Applicants with another graduate degree, those providing evidence of at least seven years in a professional environment and growth in job responsibility, or those with other qualifying professional certifications do not need to provide GMAT or GRE scores.

Concentrations

• Real Estate

Marymount University offers what it calls an integrative MBA, as the program prepares students to apply business principles and strategies in an evolving, global business environment. This Virginia college online MBA takes place in a fully online or hybrid format and caters to both full- and part-time students. Depending on background and any relevant graduate work, students can earn the degree in as few as five semesters.

Students interested in a dual MBA degree can also earn a master's in one of five areas, such as cybersecurity, healthcare management, or information technology. Potential applicants can sign up for a one-on-one appointment with a dedicated program director to discuss degree options. Marymount accepts applications for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. All students receive access to a full-service career center, including job search assistance and career coaching.

One of the leading online MBA programs in Virginia, ODU's online MBA has held accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business since 1964. The program offers four unique add-on certification options: maritime; ports and logistics management; public procurement, and contract management; modeling, simulation, and visualization; and business analytics and big data. The MBA program requires the completion of at least 40 core credits in topics like managerial economics, financial management, and marketing strategy. Students without a business background also complete five credits of introductory business courses. All students complete a final capstone that integrates international business issues and strategic management.

Students may be eligible for a GMAT or GRE waiver with evidence of another graduate degree, three years of qualifying military or professional experience, or an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5. Students can apply to the program in the spring, summer, or fall. Though tuition remains competitive for all students, in-state residents receive a per-credit discount on tuition.

Part-time students who want to complete one of the best online MBAs in Virginia while continuing to work may find Radford's MBA program an ideal fit. Students who take two classes during each of the three semesters throughout the year can complete all requirements in about two years. The 21 credit hours of core courses cover topics like organizational behavior, operations management, and accounting for decision-making.

Students choose five elective courses, which allow learners to tailor degrees to professional interests like entrepreneurship and business consulting. The MBA curriculum includes a research thesis. Additionally, Radford offers optional experiential opportunities, such as study abroad trips during the summer, practical experience projects, and internships.

The school accepts applications to the online MBA program on a rolling basis. Applicants must provide two recommendation letters, including one from an employer that describes the candidate's leadership or management impact on an organization.

A private, Christian institution, Regent offers a 42-credit online MBA in Virginia. Students choose from 11 degree concentrations, including cutting-edge options in healthcare management, entrepreneurship, and innovation management. Regent graduates in the entrepreneur concentration show particular growth in exceeding assessment benchmarks once finished with the program. Courses take place over accelerated eight-week terms, with six program start dates throughout the summer, fall, and spring. Courses divide into four sessions over two weeks. Students gain access to course syllabi and assignments almost a month before the courses' start date, allowing learners to get ahead if they desire.

Regent offers online informational sessions for its MBA program, during which prospective students can ask questions about the admission process, financial aid, and related topics. MBA graduates can transfer up to nine graduate-level credits toward Regent's doctor of strategic leadership program.

Concentrations

• Economics
• Kingdom Business
• Servant Leadership
• Small Business Data Analytics
• Small Business Information Technology