October 24, 2019
SIU’S online MBA program earns repeat national honors
CARBONDALE, Ill. — For the third consecutive time, Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s online MBA program has earned national recognition, moving up six spots to No. 27 on the Poets & Quants Top Online MBA Programs of 2020 list.
Just 35 programs across the country were featured on the list, which the publication calls “the best of the bunch” from more than 300 programs nationwide. Once again, SIU is the only ranked program in Illinois.
Notable ranking
SIU’s online MBA, accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, International is fairly new, launching less than a decade ago in 2010.
“Our team has worked very hard to improve our online MBA, and to have been named the top online MBA program in Illinois for three years in a row is a wonderful recognition of that effort,” Terry Clark, College of Business dean, said.
Poets & Quants analyzed three categories of information to determine the rankings: “admissions standards, the quality of the academic experience and the career outcomes of graduates.” Alumni surveys were utilized to determine part of the data.
Versatile
SIU’s College of Business online program is somewhat unique in that it can be completed 100% online in just 23 months.
It'’s geared toward working professionals as it allows them to complete their degrees without interrupting their careers. The online MBA is flexible, convenient, rigorous, and taught by many of the same faculty who present the full-time, on-campus master’s curriculum. Despite the program being totally online, students still go through the coursework together via an interactive online format.
Three program options
SIU’s online MBA is also unique in that it features optional concentrations, preparing people for advanced careers in specific areas. In addition to the traditional general MBA, students can also choose a concentration in analytics for managers or in agribusiness economics.
The analytics for managers concentration was introduced this year, just three years after the agribusiness economics concentration was added. Business analytics is one of the fast-growing employment fields.
The analytics for managers concentration assures graduates have the training necessary to help them identify, analyze and determine how best to use the endless streams of information available in the world today for the benefit of their employers. Program participants also have access to and receive support from top analytics experts through SIU’s Pontikes Center for Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence.
Apply now
Applications are now being accepted for the next online class, which begins in June 2020.
For more information, visit onlinegrad.business.siu.edu, email onlinerep@business.siu.edu or call 618/453-3030.