5 Online Business Schools in Maryland (MBA)
Updated October 2, 2023
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Earning an online MBA in Maryland is an excellent first step toward a lucrative business career in the state. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), business and financial professionals in Maryland earn a mean annual salary of $80,870 -- higher than the national mean salary for such professionals. Moreover, nearly 13% of Maryland residents hold a master's degree, and online education is gaining popularity in the state. Of Maryland's approximately 71,000 graduate students, more than 22,000 study in an exclusively distance format.
This page features a list of MBA programs in Maryland and provides the information you need to decide whether a Maryland business school would suit you. Read on to learn about Maryland's largest employers, the state’s booming industries, and which Maryland cities boast the most job opportunities. This page also offers an in-depth look at several possible business careers available to graduates of online MBA programs in Maryland.
Maryland's Best Online MBA Programs
Students researching online MBA programs in Maryland should aim for the best. We have done the research and compiled a ranking of the top five online MBAs in Maryland. All of these schools are accredited regionally or nationally, and individual programs may also hold industry-specific accreditation.
The accreditation process, conducted by independent organizations since the 1880s, ensures that a school provides high-quality education. Accrediting bodies for the schools on this list include:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
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Johns Hopkins UniversityLocation
Baltimore, MD
Graduation Rate93%
Established in Baltimore in 1876 as the United States' first research university, Johns Hopkins now serves more than 26,000 students each year.
Through its Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins offers a flexible online MBA for working professionals with strong related experience. Online students can choose from four concentrations: financial businesses, healthcare management, leading organizations, and marketing.
Online students must complete multi-day, campus-based residencies during three courses: business communication, leadership in organizations, and negotiation. Students may complete all other coursework fully online. In addition to their foundation and concentration courses, students fine-tune their experience with either a second concentration or 12 credits of electives.
Applying to Johns Hopkins
Admission requirements include official transcripts, a resume reflecting at least two years of full-time work experience, two essays, and 1-2 letters of recommendation. Applicants must also submit GRE or GMAT scores (waived through spring 2022).
Program at a Glance
School Type: Private
Accreditation: MSCHE, AACSB
Tuition: $1,650/credit
Required Credits: 54 credits
Program Length: 3 years
Delivery Format: Hybrid -
University of Maryland, College ParkLocation
College Park, MD
Tuition$16790
Graduation Rate86%
Founded in 1856, UMD grew into the largest university in the state and in the greater Washington, D.C. area. The university now welcomes more than 41,000 students annually.
Through its Robert H. Smith School of Business, UMD offers an online MBA with available specializations in accounting, marketing, finance, supply chain management, or information systems and business analytics. All students must visit campus twice for residencies: once at the beginning of the program and once before graduation. Core courses include entrepreneurship, supply chain management, and ethical leadership, followed by specialization classes.
Applying to UMD
Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or above and two years of related work experience. Admissions materials include official transcripts, an essay, a letter of recommendation, a resume, and GRE or GMAT scores (sometimes waived depending on application review).
Program at a Glance
School Type: Public
Accreditation: MSCHE, AACSB
Tuition: $1,708/credit (in state); $2,098/credit (out of state)
Required Credits: 54 credits
Program Length: 2 years
Delivery Format: Online with some in-person requirements -
Salisbury UniversityLocation
Salisbury, MD
Tuition$18163
Graduation Rate68%
Founded as the Maryland State Normal School in Salisbury in 1925, and now part of the University System of Maryland, SU enrolls nearly 9,000 students per year.
SU's Perdue School of Business offers a hybrid MBA for which students meet on campus one night per week. With a generalist focus, the program covers an array of business topics, including accounting and finance, marketing, and information systems. Students may study abroad for 2-4 weeks during the program. All participants must complete two capstone courses.
Applying to SU
Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA and a minimum 400 GMAT score or GRE equivalent. The department waives the GMAT/GRE requirement for those with a minimum 3.5 GPA, who completed a Perdue BS with a minimum 3.3 GPA, or who meet certain other criteria.
Applicants must also submit transcripts, a resume, an essay, and three letters of recommendation. Those lacking specific foundation courses must take them or pass a waiver exam before beginning the program.
Program at a Glance
School Type: Public
Accreditation: MSCHE, AACSB
Tuition: $775/credit
Required Credits: 30 credits
Program Length: 1-2 years
Delivery Format: Hybrid -
Frostburg State UniversityLocation
Frostburg, MD
Tuition$13980
Graduation Rate52%
A primarily residential university established in 1892 as The State Normal School No. 2, FSU took its current name in 1987. Now part of the University System of Maryland, the university serves close to 5,000 students each year.
FSU's College of Business offers an online MBA with three concentration choices: management, business analytics, and healthcare management. Open to those with or without an undergraduate business background, the program requires all enrollees to take the same eight core courses. These include managerial accounting and analytics foundations, along with four courses in the chosen concentration. Students lacking previous coursework in accounting and marketing must also complete a basic course in each.
Applying to FSU
Applicants must submit official transcripts and GMAT scores of at least 400, or equivalent GRE scores. The department waives the GMAT requirement for graduate degree-holders and those with a minimum 3.25 undergraduate GPA. GMAT requirements are also waived for applicants with a minimum 2.75 GPA and five years of work experience or a minimum 3.0 GPA and three years of work experience.
Program at a Glance
School Type: Public
Accreditation: MSCHE, AACSB
Tuition: $446/credit (in state); $574/credit (out of state)
Required Credits: 36-42 credits
Program Length: 12 months minimum
Delivery Format: 100% online -
University of Maryland Global CampusLocation
Adelphi, MD
Tuition$13672
Graduation Rate15%
Established as a distance and evening program in 1947 to serve returning World War II veterans, and now a member of the University System of Maryland, UMGC assumed its current name in 2019. Today, the primarily online university enrolls more than 90,000 students across the globe each year.
Through its School of Business and Management, UMGC offers an online MBA with a generalist focus. All students take the same six courses in the same order. These include leading organizations and people, financial decision-making, and innovation through marketing and technology. Students gain a strong understanding of evaluating leadership, proposing and implementing operational plans, and developing marketing strategies.
Applying to UMGC
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and submit official transcripts. GRE/GMAT scores are not required.
Program at a Glance
School Type: Public
Accreditation: MSCHE, AACSB
Tuition: $694/credit; $480/credit (military)
Required Credits: 36 credits
Program Length: 18 months
Delivery Format: 100% online
Online MBA Programs for You
Grow your career, leadership, and business acumen with an accredited online MBA program.
Careers and Salaries for MBA Graduates in Maryland
The Baltimore Workforce Development Board reports that Maryland’s fastest-growing careers include information security analyst, forensic scientist, and computer systems analyst. An MBA can serve as a starting point for graduates pursuing these careers. Moreover, online MBA programs allow students to take advantage of projected growth for these occupations, allowing learners to gain professional experience at their jobs while earning advanced degrees.
Centrally located on the East Coast, the biohealth and life sciences industry in Maryland offers opportunities throughout the state. These include over 2,360 life science firms and 500 biotech companies. Of Maryland's major metropolitan areas, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. offer the most job opportunities in biotech and cybersecurity. The state houses some of the leading security agencies for IT and cybersecurity professionals. Data indicates that Maryland offers around 110,000 open positions for professionals with advanced degrees in the field.
Furthermore, of the organizations mentioned on the Cybersecurity 500 list, 15 base their businesses out of Maryland. The advanced manufacturing industry comprises over 3,900 organizations, all demanding highly skilled leaders throughout the state. The Port of Baltimore is one the top deepwater ports in the country, delivering over one-third of America's products. Similarly, Maryland features four foreign trade zones and international airports that move manufacturing products.
| Company | Location | Main Industry | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patuxent Institute | Jessup | Statue Correctional Services | 15,000 |
| U.S. Social Security Administration | Baltimore | Social Services | 11,400 |
| University of MD Medical Center | Baltimore | Healthcare | 10,494 |
Source: Career One Stop
The careers listed in the above table reflect the largest employers in Maryland. Large-scale organizations need effective leaders who can improve and protect the bottom line. Professionals holding MBA degrees may qualify for opportunities offered by these organizations. MBA programs teach students to operate businesses efficiently and qualifying graduates to work with these employers, depending on their concentration.
Concentration options include MBAs in accounting, asset management, strategic operations management, homeland security, and innovation management.
Careers for MBA Grads in Maryland
Operations Manager
Operations managers plan and oversee various activities at organizations in the public and private sectors. They may direct operations related to human resources, purchasing, manufacturing, or sales. They sometimes assume responsibility for directing general activities that do not strictly fall under a specific department. An MBA offers wide-ranging business knowledge, preparing prospective operations managers to take on a variety of responsibilities.
According to the BLS, general and operations managers in Maryland earn a mean salary of $136,080 per year. Projections Central expects a 6.9% increase in job opportunities for operations managers in Maryland from 2016-2026.
Biotech Business Analyst
Maryland is home to more than 500 biotechnology companies, making the state an excellent location to launch a business analysis career in the biotech industry. Business analysts, sometimes called business development analysts, conduct research and analyze trends to grow their organization. They review current business operations and offer recommendations to improve efficiency and business performance.
Business development analysts in Baltimore earn $50,850 per year, while those in Bethesda take home $57,390 annually. According to Projections Central, market research analysts in Maryland earn an annual mean salary of $67,900 and should see a 7.5% increase in job opportunities from 2016-2026.
Program Project Manager
Program project managers are senior-level staff members who oversee teams and direct projects from start to finish. Project managers work in many industries, including some of the top sectors in Maryland. They manage schedules, budgets, and plans related to particular projects, and they can work with multiple departments. These professionals need skills in organization, communication, and leadership. They often hold master's degrees in fields like information technology or business administration.
According to data from PayScale, project managers in Maryland earn a median annual salary of $78,000.
Natural Sciences Manager
Natural sciences managers direct operations and research activities for organizations in the life sciences, mathematics, statistics, and physical sciences fields. They often work in scientific research, government agencies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. They need strong knowledge of their scientific field, and many choose to develop their general management abilities through MBA programs.
Since 2,700 life sciences companies operate in Maryland, the state is a great place to look for natural sciences management jobs. Natural sciences managers in Maryland enjoy an annual mean salary of $142,920. From 2016-2026, Projections Central expects 3.9% growth in job positions for natural sciences managers in Maryland.
Professional Services Manager
Professional services managers typically work in businesses that sell technical products, such as enterprise software. Professional services managers organize projects, meet with clients, and facilitate communication between technical and sales departments. They may collaborate with their organization’s research and development division, as well.
These professionals generally need an undergraduate degree in computer science, and they would benefit from the communication, management, and analysis skills developed by an MBA program.
Projections Central expects a 6.2% increase in positions for Maryland's computer and information systems managers over the next several years. These professionals earn a mean salary of $154,870 per year.
MBA Concentrations for Maryland Students
Students can pursue a concentration for their Maryland online MBA to prepare for a particular business administration career. When choosing a specialization, learners should consider their personal interests and career goals. They should also account for Maryland's growing occupations and most important industries.
Key industries in Maryland include information technology, cybersecurity, manufacturing, aerospace, financial services, and agriculture. Occupations in Baltimore with the most job openings include operations manager, management analyst, and business operations specialist. Visit this specializations hub to learn more about MBA focus areas.
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