Learners pursue an MBA because the degree provides them with the management and leadership skills to advance their careers or excel in a new field. MBA graduates can land high-paying jobs in Texas’s most in-demand fields. Earning an MBA can even lead to C-suite positions like chief executive officer and chief financial officer.
Our guide provides valuable information on what to expect from MBA programs, career options for graduates, and how to choose the best program. To make selecting a program even easier, we ranked the top online MBA programs in Texas below.
Earning an MBA entails a substantial investment of time and money, but it usually comes with a high return on investment and new career opportunities. Benefits of an MBA include:
Grow your career, leadership, and business acumen with an accredited online MBA program.
The MBA experience varies by school, but programs usually share several common qualities. Typically, MBA programs take two years to complete with full-time enrollment, or about three years when enrolled part time. During those 2-3 years, students usually complete 30-60 credit hours, depending on program prerequisites and transfer credits. Some programs offer concentration options, which can lengthen completion times.
Students can also pursue an accelerated online MBA in Texas, allowing them to earn their degree in 12-18 months. Some programs have hybrid coursework, which blends on-campus and online learning, or evening-only classes, which let full-time employees attend classes in person.
Admission to the best online MBA programs in Texas requires more than just a solid undergraduate GPA. These schools seek students who demonstrate key leadership traits, strong academics, and work experience.
MBA programs require application materials like official undergraduate transcripts, a professional resume, letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and standardized test scores from the GRE or GMAT. The requirements for minimum GPAs and test scores vary; however, MBA programs often look for students who scored high on standardized tests with a 2.5-3.0 minimum GPA.
Some online MBA programs in Texas may require applicants to hold 3-5 years of prior work experience, while other programs have no such stipulations. Admission to an MBA program requires a bachelor’s degree, and those students with an undergraduate degree in fields other than business may need to complete additional prerequisite and foundational courses upon admission.
Explore MBA AdmissionsMany of the best online MBAs in Texas offer several concentrations, allowing learners to tailor their degrees to their career goals.
Common specialization options like general management, IT management, and entrepreneurship qualify learners for Texas jobs in fields with high demand — particularly computer support. Some online MBA programs in Texas offer concentrations in healthcare operations and administration, preparing students for the rapidly growing healthcare industry in Texas.
Pursuing a specialized MBA can make graduates even more marketable to future employers. The skills and knowledge from these concentration courses prepare professionals for in-demand, niche careers, so applicants stand out amongst other candidates for upper-level positions and higher salaries.
MBA programs in Texas typically include a core curriculum, elective options, and a culminating course or project like a capstone or thesis. Though each school’s class offerings vary, courses like those below are common across online MBA programs in Texas.
Most MBA programs require multiple courses in accounting, including classes in financial and managerial accounting. These courses prepare students to read and analyze financial documents and ledgers. Courses in accounting also explore tax law and policy.
Management and leadership courses highlight key leadership skills necessary for C-suite and managerial positions. Students explore topics in ethics, power, business relationships, and conflict management. Some management courses also cover topics in managerial finance and economics.
Students in economics classes learn about managerial economics, which explores microeconomics within a business or organization. This knowledge helps managers make financial and fiscal decisions based on economic trends and their business’s overall financial health.
Today’s businesses must continually evolve their marketing strategies to accommodate our digital world. MBA courses in marketing cover key marketing strategies based on market and consumer trends and best practices for using social media and internet platforms to reach specific consumer bases.
Online MBAs in Texas often require a culminating capstone project or thesis. Capstone projects ask students to apply program knowledge to real-world scenarios — students may work directly with a local business or develop and present a business plan, for example. Thesis projects are long papers that explore business issues in depth and require research and synthesis of program concepts.
Capstones are more common for MBA programs with culminating project requirements. These projects require more action and practice-based elements, allowing MBA students to employ the skills they learned during the program and gain valuable experience.
Research-based MBA programs are more likely to require a thesis. Thesis projects, more typical of research-intensive graduate programs, tend to include less actual practice and collaboration, instead requiring independent work.
Students generally complete their thesis or capstone during the final year of their program.
The MBA Capstone and Thesis GuideAn online MBA program in Texas is a substantial financial investment, but many programs offer affordable tuition rates and a variety of funding options to help ease the financial burden.
The overall cost of an MBA is more than just tuition. Students also pay other required fees and incur costs for materials like books and a laptop. Additionally, graduate programs like the MBA often cost more per credit hour than undergraduate programs.
Students from other states who enroll in an online Texas MBA program may incur out-of-state tuition fees, which increase the degree’s cost. However, some online programs offer in-state tuition for all learners. In the 2018-19 academic year, the average cost for tuition and required fees across all graduate programs in the country sat at $19,314.
Fortunately, schools often provide financing options to help cover tuition and fees, including financial aid, scholarships, fellowships, grants, and federal and private loans. Learn more about financial aid options below:
Learn More About Financial Aid OptionsCareer advancement and a higher earning potential are key advantages to earning an online MBA in Texas. Recent surveys show that employers highly favor candidates with a business degree, particularly an MBA. Applicants with MBAs stand out among other job candidates in a very crowded job market.
MBA graduates possess skills and knowledge that make them great candidates for careers in many industries. They serve as executives and managers in all kinds of organizations, handling a business’s operations and day-to-day management.
MBA-holders earn an average annual salary of $89,550 working in roles like operations manager, project manager, senior financial analyst, and CFO.
Top executives work in “C-suite” positions like CEO, COO, and CFO. These executives manage entire organizations or divisions of companies. They often serve as the outward face of those firms, acting as a liaison between the company and the public. They oversee all departments, manage budgets, and collaborate with other managers.
Required Education: Master’s degree
Job Outlook (2019-29): +4%
Median Annual Salary: $104,690
Average Annual Salary in Texas: $231,310
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers work with sales and budgeting teams to create marketing campaigns for the company. They handle advertising contracts, help design and manage websites, and run social media accounts.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +6%
Median Annual Salary: $135,900
Average Annual Salary in Texas: $111,140
Human resources managers oversee the recruiting and hiring of new employees. They identify candidates whose skills best align with the company’s needs and mission. They may also help mediate any staff issues, working as an unbiased liaison between employees and managers.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +6%
Median Annual Salary: $116,720
Average Annual Salary in Texas: $126,470
Financial managers oversee an organization’s financial wellbeing. They manage budgeting teams and monitor the company’s financial statements, ensuring accuracy and planning for future financial goals.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred
Job Outlook (2019-29): +15%
Median Annual Salary: $129,890
Average Annual Salary in Texas: $145,700
Financial analysts work for both large corporations and individuals to help them make informed financial decisions. They analyze market trends, evaluate data and finance records, and examine investment portfolios to create a strong financial plan for clients. These analysts may work as independent consultants or on staff for businesses and organizations.
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree
Job Outlook (2019-29): +5%
Median Annual Salary: $81,590
Average Annual Salary in Texas: $87,750
Earning an online MBA in Texas provides a wealth of career opportunities for graduates. Texas’s economy ranks 15th in the nation, according to data from U.S. News & World Report. In Texas, 37% of residents are college-educated, and the report ranks the state 13th for overall economic growth.
Even amid the COVID-19 economic dip, Texas’s economy has seen steady expansion for jobs in finance and professional and business services, fields that frequently employ MBA graduates.
The Texas Workforce Commission named computer user support specialists one of the state’s “targeted” occupations due to these positions’ rapid growth and the field’s demand for qualified workers. This is an especially lucrative field for MBA graduates: Nationwide, IT management offers some of the highest salaries for managers.
The Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas are two of the highest employment areas for financial and investment analysts, and the College Station-Bryan area ranks as one of the top-paying metro areas in the country for chief executives. Texas ranks second in the nation for the highest employment levels for financial managers.
Top MBA Employers in Texas
Apple designs and manufactures digital devices used around the globe by millions of consumers. In 2019, Apple announced a new campus in Austin, which would employ 5,000-15,000 people. MBA graduates possess skills in marketing and management, crucial to Apple's company and growth.
Google recently opened a campus in Austin. The company requires managers in many departments, and job openings on the new campus call for candidates with experience in business strategy, marketing and communications, and finance — all skills MBA grads excel in.
American Airlines is headquartered in Fort Worth, and the Dallas-Fort Worth airport serves as one of its central hubs. American Airlines frequently recruits MBA graduates from Texas universities. They also offer MBA internships in areas like financial strategy and commercial strategy. American Airlines typically hires a large number of business and IT professionals.
When choosing the best online MBA programs in Texas, our rankings offer a great place to start. However, prospective students should consider other factors when picking a program. We have outlined a few below:
The use of online learning has grown exponentially in recent years, particularly among college students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), more than one-third of graduate students enrolled in at least some online coursework in 2018. NCES data also reveals that almost 15% of students in Texas are enrolled exclusively online, demonstrating schools’ commitments to quality online learning.
Students in other states who want to attend a school in Texas can enroll online for accessible education. Some online MBA programs in Texas may offer in-state tuition for out-of-state students, lessening the financial burden of earning a degree.
Online programs often make use of asynchronous coursework, which allows students to complete assignments and watch lectures on their own time. This flexibility is ideal for full-time workers looking to earn an MBA without leaving their job.
Program length varies for MBAs based on program type and enrollment status. Accelerated programs may take as few as 12-18 months, while regular programs at part-time enrollment can take up to three years.
The overall cost of an MBA in Texas varies based on a variety of factors, including state residency, enrollment status, program length, and credit requirements. Most programs offer some form of financial aid, including federal and private loans.
Yes! Online MBAs provide the same education as their on-campus counterparts with the flexibility of completing coursework on your own time. Many prestigious schools in Texas offer rigorous online MBA programs.
Yes! Schools in Texas offer a wealth of online degree options, including fully online MBA programs.
The following top-ranked online master’s in business administration programs in Texas for 2021 carry regional accreditation, and some carry subject-specific accreditation as well. Accrediting bodies verify that a school or program confers degrees that are recognized by third-party entities, such as other institutions, employers, and professional boards.
The following accrediting agencies provide accreditation to the five programs on our list:
Our Ranking Methodology
Laredo, TX
$$$$$ Founded in 1970 as Texas A&I University at Laredo, TAMIU currently hosts over 8,400 students across five colleges. The institution recently completed a $250 million project, which included its new Academic Innovation Center with state-of-the-art laboratories. The A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business offers an online master of business administration program in four concentrations: management, international banking and finance, international business, and international trade and logistics. Students can complete the 30-credit required coursework in as little as 15 months at a total cost of just over $10,000. With six start dates through the year and a completely online format, the program best suits working professionals looking for additional graduate coursework flexibility. Coursework includes 21 credits of core MBA courses and nine credits of electives. Students without an undergraduate degree in business can complete three two-credit prep modules to ensure proper academic readiness. Management | International Banking and Finance| International Business | International Trade and logistics Applicants who submit an undergraduate or graduate degree in business, a minimum 3.0 GPA in upper-level courses, official transcripts, and a resume gain automatic admission. Other prospective students must submit GRE/GMAT scores, a personal statement, and two reference letters. School Type: Public Edinburg, TX
$$$$$ Created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas, UTRGV provides over 20 fully online programs and over 190 hybrid courses. The Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship offers a completely online master of business administration program with general coursework and three concentrations: financial planning, health-care administration, and international trade. The 36-credit curriculum includes core courses, MBA foundation courses, and electives. Specific coursework replaces electives for those pursuing a concentration. With an accelerated format and four start dates throughout the year, students can complete the degree in as little as 12 months. Coursework focuses on the leadership and project management skills required for success in today's competitive job market. General | Financial Planning | Healthcare Administration | International Trade Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, a minimum 400 GMAT or 146 on verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE, and short answer responses. School Type: Public Houston, TX
$$$$$ Chartered in 1891 as the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science, and Art, the private institution has grown into an integral part of Houston's identity. John F. Kennedy delivered his famous space race speech from Rice Stadium in 1962. The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business provides a top-ranked online MBA program, according to U.S. News & World Report. The program offers six concentrations: general, corporate strategy, corporate finance, investment management, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The completely online program combines asynchronous coursework with weekly synchronous live virtual classes, designed to enable face-to-face interaction and debate. The class offerings, professors, grading system, and office hours for online programs are the same as for in-person offerings. Each concentration carries its own club or organization should students choose to participate in extracurricular activities associated with their specialization. General | Corporate Strategy | Corporate Finance | Investment Management | Marketing | Entrepreneurship Prospective students must submit official transcripts, standardized test scores (GRE/GMAT), their professional work history, essays, and letters of recommendation. Candidates complete a virtual interview as part of the application process. School Type: Private Huntsville, TX
$$$$$ Founded in 1879, SHSU currently serves over 21,500 students. The Bearkat motto is "the measure of a life is its service," and the university offers eight departments, including online learning environments. At SHSU, online degrees and online program transcripts do not indicate whether the graduate earned their degree in an online format. This 36-credit program emphasizes the integration and synthesis of various disciplines and remains open to students of any academic background. Prospective students can apply to fall, spring, and summer terms with deadlines of Aug. 1, Dec. 1, and May 15, respectively. The curriculum includes 24 credits of core MBA coursework and 12 credits of electives. Admission requirements include a completed online graduate application form and associated fee, official transcripts, official GMAT scores, and a current resume. School Type: Public Denton, TX
$$$$$ With 14 schools and colleges offering 109 bachelor's, 94 master's, and 36 doctoral programs, UNT is one of the nation's largest universities. Accelerated online master's programs allow students to further their education in a flexible, fast-paced environment. UNT's business school offers 14 MBA concentrations, seven of which are available entirely online. Students can pursue the other concentrations in hybrid or in-person formats. Prospective students must complete four prerequisite courses prior to commencing the MBA syllabus, but they can still qualify for admission into the program without these courses. Those lacking prerequisite courses in micro- and macroeconomics, financial accounting, business law, and calculus must complete them prior to starting work on the main syllabus. Business Analytics | Business Studies | Finance | Health Services Management | Information Technology | Marketing | Management | Marketing Analytics | Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management | Sport and Entertainment Management | Supply Chain Analytics | Supply Chain Management | Strategic Management Prospective students complete an online graduate application and submit official transcripts. Additional requirements include an essay, a resume, three letters of recommendation, GMAT/GRE scores, and an interview. School Type: Public
Texas A&M International University
Location
Tuition
Graduation Rate
46%
A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business
TAMIU's MBA Specializations
Applying to TAMIU
Program at a Glance
Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
Tuition: $336/credit (in state), $974/credit (out of state)
Required Credits: 30 credits
Program Length: 15 months minimum
Delivery Format: 100% online
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Location
Tuition
Graduation Rate
46%
Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship
UTRGV's MBA Specializations
Applying to UTRGV
Program at a Glance
Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
Tuition: $472/credit
Required Credits: 36 credits
Program Length: 12 months
Delivery Format: 100% online
William Marsh Rice University
Location
Tuition
Graduation Rate
95%
Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business
Rice's MBA Specializations
Applying to Rice
Program at a Glance
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Tuition: $2,036/credit
Required Credits: 54 credits
Program Length: 24 months
Delivery Format: 100% online
Sam Houston State University
Location
Tuition
Graduation Rate
52%
SHSU College of Business Administration
Applying to SHSU
Program at a Glance
Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
Tuition: $321/credit
Required Credits: 36 credits
Delivery Format: 100% online or on campus
University of North Texas
Location
Tuition
Graduation Rate
53%
Brint Ryan College of Business
UNT's MBA Specializations
Applying to UNT
Program at a Glance
Accreditation: SACSCOC, AACSB
Tuition: $19,600/program (in state), $37,500/program (out of state)
Required Credits: 36 credits
Program Length: 14 months minimum
Delivery Format: 100% online (asynchronous), hybrid, or on campus
Online MBA programs offer a flexible path to a prestigious professional degree. Explore opportunities with this guide to the top-ranked U.S. programs of 2021.
Accelerated MBA programs help working professionals advance their careers without leaving work. Learn more about the top accelerated online MBA programs.
Earning an MBA should increase graduates' purchasing power, not cost them an arm and a leg. Learn more about the most affordable online MBA programs and how to apply.
View schools and degrees from across the country.
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