Accelerated MBA programs are popular for those looking to fast-track their education and careers. These programs, including one-year online MBA formats, allow you to earn an MBA in less time and potentially climb the career ladder faster.
Business schools typically design accelerated MBA programs to build on your business fundamentals while providing new skills and knowledge. However, many programs expect students to hit the ground running because they cover a lot of material quickly.
This guide provides a list of top accelerated online MBA programs to help you find the right one. It also explores the pros and cons, available concentrations, earning potential, and more.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Accelerated MBA Programs
#1 The Best Accelerated Online MBA Programs
University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Nationally recognized as one of the top public colleges, the University of Florida is especially known for its business education. UF's Warrington College of Business holds accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
UF MBA Online
The University of Florida's online MBA program features an accelerated 16-month option. It is open to students who have earned an undergraduate business degree in the past seven years.
Structured across five terms, the curriculum covers essential business concepts including operations, brand management, and financing. Students can take electives in marketing or technology, finance, and international business.
The program also includes a mandatory experiential learning component. Depending on the term, experiential learning options may include stints at the Washington Campus, a Global Immersion Experience, or an online project.
UF's Specializations
General Business
UF's Affordability
UF's MBA Online program carries a total cost of less than $50,000. Students can take advantage of flexible payment schedules and options. UF has two financial aid officers to assist MBA students.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Public
- Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
- Tuition: $48,000
- Required Credits: 32
- Program Length: 16 months
- Delivery Format: 100% online coursework with in-person experiential learning options
- Admissions
- Process: UF has a rolling admissions process and reviews applications as candidates submit them.
- GPA: 3.3 (average student GPA)
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE are optional
- Cost: $30
Percent Online Enrollment
57%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#2 The Best Accelerated Online MBA Programs
Western Governors University
- Salt Lake City, UT
- 2 years
- Online
WGU offers a unique take on education innovation by offering self-paced programs. It was founded during the mid-1990s. Nineteen U.S. governors convened to found WGU as a private nonprofit institution.
MBA Degree
Western Governors University's mba degree program holds special accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The program's curriculum supplements its strong focus on business management with courses in accounting, economics, finance, leadership, marketing, and strategy.
The program culminates in an intensive capstone project, which guides students to synthesize and apply their gained knowledge.
Designed for optimal flexibility, the program features an asynchronous structure that allows students to learn at their own pace. WGU also uses a unique competency model enabling students to move quickly through material on which they have a strong grasp. Degree-seekers can take course-concluding competency assessments as soon as they feel ready.
WGU's Specializations
General Business | Healthcare Management | Information Technology Management
WGU's Affordability
WGU charges tuition per term, not per credit. As such, learners on accelerated schedules pay less to complete their studies.
MBA students who finish in one academic year pay less than $9,500 for their degree. Such an affordable cost profile is very rare for an AACSB-accredited program.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Private
- Accreditation: NWCCU, AACSB
- Tuition: $4,530 per term
- Required Credits: 34
- Program Length: 12 months
- Delivery Format: 100% online (asynchronous)
- Admissions
- Process: Applicants must submit academic transcripts indicating the completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution.
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE scores are optional
- Cost: $65
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Students Enrolled
150,116
Percent Online Enrollment
Not provided
Accreditation
Yes
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
#3 The Best Accelerated Online MBA Programs
Babson College
- Wellesley, MA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Babson College focuses on entrepreneurship. It's ranked as one of the country's leading schools for business students and emerging entrepreneurs.
Full-Time MBA
Babson's AACSB-accredited full-time MBA programs feature one-year and two-year options. Learners pursuing accelerated education typically choose the intensive one-year program.
Babson's tagline is "business as usual has no business here." That sentiment captures the school's innovative approach to business education. Students engage in intensive workshop-style courses led by successful entrepreneurs and business professionals with advanced real-world insights.
At Babson, online MBA students follow part-time schedules that can lead to graduation in as little as 18 months. Alumni have gone on to successful careers with high-profile organizations including Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, and many other major corporations.
Babson's Specializations
Business Analytics | Business Analytics and Machine Learning | Entrepreneurship | Global Management | Finance | Quantitative Finance | Marketing
Babson's Affordability
Babson offers merit scholarships to both full-time and part-time students. The institution also offers in-house loan and financing programs. Babson alumni also qualify for an automatic 20% discount.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Private
- Accreditation: NECHE, AACSB
- Tuition: $1,990 per course credit
- Required Credits: 45
- Program Length: 18-48 months
- Delivery Format: 100% online (synchronous)
- Admissions
- Process: Applicants must submit a resume, one letter of recommendation, transcripts, and answers to short questions supplied by the school. Interview requests may apply for some candidates.
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE scores are optional
- Cost: $100
Percent Online Enrollment
43%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
New England Commission on Higher Education
#4 The Best Accelerated Online MBA Programs
Texas A & M International University
- Laredo, TX
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Situated at the U.S.-Mexico border, TAMIU doubles as an educational and cultural institution. This multicultural, multilingual school traces its operational history to 1970 and hosts more than 100 degree programs.
Master of Business Administration Online
TAMIU's A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business holds AACSB accreditation and offers seven specialized online MBA programs, including a unique criminal justice option. Each of the programs applies a core focus on foundational business topics to concentrated areas of enterprise management.
Coursework blends theory and practice, covering various management philosophies alongside leadership, ethics, organizational behavior, and HR management essentials. Learners from non-business backgrounds are welcome to apply. Students with undergraduate degrees in other areas can complete preparatory course sequences designed to bridge knowledge gaps.
TAMIU makes the program more accessible by offering six start dates throughout the calendar year. Courses run on compact seven-week terms, with scheduling options that make it easy to balance studies with work and other commitments.
TAMIU's Specializations
Criminal Justice | Healthcare Administration | Information Science | International Banking and Finance | International Business | International Trade and Logistics | Management
TAMIU's Affordability
TAMIU has affordable flat rates for all online MBA programs. Learners qualifying for in-state status pay just over $11,000 for their degree. Out-of-state learners still pay under $31,000. Students can pay per course.
Program at a Glance
- School Type: Public
- Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
- Tuition: $11,010 for the entire MBA program (in-state), $30,900 for the entire MBA program (out-of-state)
- Required Credits: 30-33
- Program Length: 21 months
- Delivery Format: 100% online
- Admissions
- Process: TAMIU offers automatic admission to high-achieving students with a bachelor's degree in business and relevant experience. Other applicants must submit test scores, a personal statement, and multiple letters of recommendation.
- GPA: 3.25 (for automatic admission)
- Standardized Tests: GMAT or GRE scores required for applicants not meeting automatic admission eligibility guidelines.
- Cost: $35
Percent Online Enrollment
62%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
How We Choose Programs
At OnlineMBA.com, we rely on reputable sources to rank the best MBA programs. We use trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to find standout programs. We consider four metrics: affordability, reputation, academics, and program availability.
This list has not been updated for 2024. Visit our rankings methodology page to learn more about how we rank programs.
Why Pursue a One-Year Online MBA Program?
An accelerated online MBA program is one of the quickest ways to earn a master's degree. If students can commit to full-time study and a more intensive workload, they can finish an MBA in 12-21 months, rather than the traditional 2-3 years.
Business schools often design accelerated MBA programs for those who have already earned relevant degrees or have prior work experience. Accelerated programs move through material quickly, so a strong base of existing knowledge can set students up for success.
Accelerated MBA programs can also be less expensive, and lead to the same career opportunities and pay as traditional MBA programs. According to Payscale, MBA degree-holders earned an average of $97,000 per year as of May 2024.
Pros and Cons of Accelerated MBA Programs
Accredited MBA programs come with pros and cons. The following are among the most important to consider.
Benefits of One-Year MBAs
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Save Time
You can enter the workforce, begin earning money, and start making progress toward your career goals more quickly.
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Save Money
You can sometimes save money on your degree by spending less time in a program. You may pay less tuition and start earning a professional MBA salary sooner.
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Easier Transition
Shortening the time spent in education and entering the professional business world helps to reduce the stresses related to searching for employment.
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Same Outcomes
Accelerated MBA students typically receive the same career opportunities and earn similar salaries as those who complete traditional MBA programs.
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Professional Classmates
Students enrolling in accelerated MBA programs tend to be older and further along in their professional careers than those in traditional MBA programs.
Trade-Offs With One-Year MBAs
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Less Time to Build Relationships
MBA programs foster deep friendships and help to promote extensive networking opportunities. A one-year MBA reduces the time available to develop these beneficial connections.
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Can't Work Simultaneously
A one-year MBA requires a major time commitment in the short term, so you probably won't be able to work while in school.
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Too Intense
An accelerated MBA program may offer too much information in a short period for those who need additional time to process what they learn.
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No Internship
You likely won't complete a summer internship. Experiential learning opportunities, like traditional MBA summer internships, often lead to professional connections and jobs after graduation.
Accelerated Online MBA Concentrations
Like most MBA programs, accelerated MBA programs allow you the opportunity to choose a concentration.
MBA concentrations allow you to specialize in a specific area of business, potentially giving you a competitive advantage in the job market. Common MBA concentrations include finance, marketing, operations management, and entrepreneurship.
Such specializations provide in-depth knowledge and expertise in a particular industry, function, or skill set. You can tailor your MBA experience to align with your career goals and interests.
Business Analytics
In the "big data" age, businesses have become increasingly reliant on analyzing data to extract strategic and competitive insights. Business schools have responded by creating specialized MBA programs that concentrate on data analytics. These programs combine management-focused business education with advanced data analysis training.
Entrepreneurship
Accelerated MBA programs in entrepreneurship concentrate on the unique skills self-starters need to launch businesses. Coursework typically covers business concept development, product and service design, and finance and marketing for startups. Students emerge with the knowledge and leadership skills required to guide entrepreneurial ventures to success.
Finance
This popular, traditional MBA concentration covers the technicalities of business finance. Students learn about budgeting, capital markets, financing sources and considerations, and enterprise financial management. Coursework also covers investing and accounting from business perspectives, along with finance-focused aspects of compliance.
Healthcare Management
MBA programs in healthcare management learn about business administration for the healthcare industry. In addition to a standard set of business topics, students engage with specialized learning in areas including health informatics and healthcare ethics and law. Students also focus on optimizing patient outcomes and maximizing quality of care.
Human Resources
Concentrated MBA programs in human resources cover business administration from a personnel perspective. Students build advanced insights into organizational psychology, workplace culture, and how people function within corporate structures. Coursework also focuses on optimizing employee productivity and job satisfaction, workplace ethics, and the legal and ethical aspects of HR administration.
International Business
In the age of globalization, the corporate world is international. Accelerated MBA programs in international business concentrate on the unique management needs of cross-jurisdictional and cross-cultural organizations. Learners also study international supply chain management and issues like trade, finance, investment, and compliance from global perspectives.
Marketing
MBA programs in marketing build advanced and specialized market research, consumer analysis, and sales skills. They also focus heavily on specific strategies businesses use to price and sell their products and services, and to build long-term relationships with customers. Some business schools offer further marketing concentrations in areas such as e-commerce, social media marketing, and international marketing.
Supply Chain Management
Most manufacturers rely on supply chains to source their raw materials and get their finished products to consumer markets. MBA programs in supply chain management focus on the logistics of supply chains. Coursework covers demand planning, sourcing strategies for raw materials, supply chain analysis, and supplier relationship management, among other specialized topics.
Common Questions About Top Accelerated Online MBA Programs
Are accelerated MBA programs worth it?
Accelerated MBA programs can be a more time- and cost-efficient option than traditional MBA programs. They can also lead to the same career opportunities and pay. However, many accelerated MBA programs expect students to be full time, so taking a year off from work may be necessary.
Is an accelerated MBA the same as a regular MBA?
Accelerated MBAs cover the same business and management concepts as standard MBA degree programs at a faster pace. Thus, they are best suited for learners with bachelor's degrees in business and/or multiple years of relevant professional experience.
What is the fastest you can get an MBA?
The most fast-tracked MBA programs last about one academic year and require intensive full-time study. At minimum, you should expect to spend 12 months working toward your accelerated degree.
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