2025 Online MBA Ranking: How Graduates Rated The Degree’s Career Impact
Kristy Bleizeffer
20 min read
How do alumni from our 2025 ranking of top online MBA programs rank their schools for career impact?
No way around it, most people pursuing an MBA are looking for tangible impacts on their careers. That’s true for the online population as well, the vast majority of whom are working professionals who can start to leverage their program’s lessons and degree promise while still technically a student.
That’s why career outcomes account for one third of the total score in our annual ranking of the best online MBA programs. (See 2025’s full ranking here.)
Each year, we ask recent graduates eight questions about their career results and their satisfaction with the career services and resources offered to them through the online MBA program.
This year, we surveyed alumni from the Class of 2024, those graduating between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. The survey was sent to 7,823 eligible alumni at 57 ranked programs with 1,293 returned surveys. That’s a 17% response rate.
Below, and on the following pages, we show how Class of 2024 alumni from each of the 57 participating schools rated their programs in terms of career impact. Click through each page or go to a particular linked category:
According to alumni responses, 50% of graduates gained promotions as a result of their degree at 15 of the 57 schools in our 2025 ranking.
University of Michigan Ross School of Business scored the highest in this category, with 75% of its alumni reporting a promotion either during their online MBA program or shortly after. It was third in the category with 65.71% of alumni reporting promotions.
Did you gain a promotion as a result of the online MBA program?
Question Rank
School
Percent ‘Yes’
1
University of Michigan (Ross)
75.00%
2
Santa Clara University (Leavey)
70.00%
3
University of North Texas (Ryan)
66.67%
4
University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal)
62.50%
4
University of Utah (Eccles)
62.50%
6
University of Southern California (Marshall)
61.11%
7
Bryant University
60.00%
8
Rice University (Jones)
58.82%
9
Southern Methodist University (Cox)
57.89%
10
University of Denver (Daniels)
55.56%
10
University of Maryland (Smith)
55.56%
12
William & Mary (Mason)
51.85%
13
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
50.91%
14
University of South Florida (Muma)
50.00%
14
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
50.00%
16
University of California, Davis
47.37%
17
Lehigh University
44.44%
18
Indiana University (Kelley)
44.33%
19
University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium
43.75%
20
Hofstra University (Zarb)
42.86%
20
Kennesaw State University (Coles)
42.86%
22
University of Washington (Foster)
42.31%
23
Jack Welch Management Institute
41.57%
24
Auburn University (Harbert)
40.00%
25
Syracuse University (Whitman)
38.89%
26
Ohio University
36.84%
27
University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
35.19%
28
George Mason University (Costello)
33.33%
28
Rogers State University
33.33%
28
San Jose State University (Lucas)
33.33%
28
Texas Tech (Rawls)
33.33%
28
University of Cincinnati (Lindner)
33.33%
33
University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Isenberg)
30.56%
34
Pepperdine University (Graziadio)
30.00%
35
University of Connecticut School of Business
28.57%
35
Villanova University
28.57%
37
University of Florida (Warrington)
28.00%
38
University of Iowa (Tippie)
27.63%
39
North Carolina State University (Poole)
27.27%
39
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
27.27%
41
Fairfield University (Dolan)
26.67%
42
Clemson University
25.00%
42
Louisiana State University (Ourso)
25.00%
44
Florida International University
24.00%
45
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
23.73%
45
University of Delaware (Lerner)
22.73%
47
Baylor University (Hankamer)
20.00%
47
University of Michigan-Dearborn
20.00%
49
Bowling Green State University (Schmidthorst)
19.23%
50
University of Missouri (Trulaske)
18.18%
51
American University (Kogod)
17.65%
52
Seattle University (Albers)
16.67%
52
Wake Forest University
16.67%
54
SUNY Oswego
14.29%
54
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
14.29%
56
Drexel University (LeBow)
9.09%
57
Creighton University (Heider)
8.33%
Salary increases were even more prevalent, with half or more of the graduates from 30 programs reporting that they received a pay bump as a result of their online MBA degrees.
An impressive 83.33% of alumni of Wake Forest University reported pay raises while 82.35% of Rice University (Jones) graduates did the same.
Did your salary increase as a result of the online MBA program?
Poets&Quants asked two questions asking alumni to rate their satisfaction with their program’s career coaches and services. Career services are typically central to residential MBA programs and are becoming increasingly important for quality online programs as well.
Alumni from six programs rated their satisfaction with career coaches and mentors a 10 out of 10. Another 16 rated their satisfaction as a 9 or higher.
If you did work with a career coach and/or mentor as part of the online MBA program, rate your satisfaction.
Question Rank
School
Coach Satisfaction
1
Bryant University
10.0
1
Clemson University
10.0
1
Hofstra University (Zarb)
10.0
1
University of Denver (Daniels)
10.0
1
Wake Forest University
10.0
1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
10.0
7
North Carolina State University (Poole)
9.9
8
University of Cincinnati (Lindner)
9.8
8
University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal)
9.8
10
Louisiana State University (Ourso)
9.7
11
Rice University (Jones)
9.5
12
University of Utah (Eccles)
9.4
13
Auburn University (Harbert)
9.3
13
University of Iowa (Tippie)
9.3
13
University of Washington (Foster)
9.3
16
Jack Welch Management Institute
9.2
16
University of Michigan (Ross)
9.2
18
Indiana University (Kelley)
9.1
19
Drexel University (LeBow)
9.0
19
University of Delaware (Lerner)
9.0
19
University of Florida (Warrington)
9.0
19
University of South Florida (Muma)
9.0
23
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
8.9
23
Villanova University
8.9
25
Santa Clara University (Leavey)
8.8
25
Southern Methodist University (Cox)
8.8
25
University of Connecticut School of Business
8.8
28
University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
8.7
29
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
8.6
30
University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Isenberg)
8.5
30
University of Southern California (Marshall)
8.5
32
Creighton University (Heider)
8.3
32
Lehigh University
8.3
32
William & Mary (Mason)
8.3
35
Bowling Green State University (Schmidthorst)
8.2
35
Florida International University
8.2
35
San Jose State University (Lucas)
8.2
38
Baylor University (Hankamer)
8.1
38
University of California, Davis
8.1
40
University of Michigan-Dearborn
8.0
40
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
8.0
42
American University (Kogod)
7.9
42
Fairfield University (Dolan)
7.9
42
Syracuse University (Whitman)
7.9
45
University of Maryland (Smith)
7.8
46
Ohio University
7.4
46
Pepperdine University (Graziadio)
7.4
48
University of North Texas (Ryan)
7.3
49
University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium
6.9
50
University of Missouri (Trulaske)
6.7
51
SUNY Oswego
6.5
52
George Mason University (Costello)
6.0
53
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
5.9
54
Seattle University (Albers)
5.7
55
Texas Tech (Rawls)
5.3
56
Kennesaw State University (Coles)
5.0
57
Rogers State University
0.0
Regarding satisfaction with their program’s career services overall, alumni from five programs rated their schools as 10s. Thirteen other programs were rated as 9s or higher.
Rate your satisfaction with the career services office.
Career impact, of course, goes beyond a promotion or a raise. An MBA can also result in increased self-confidence on the job, greater respect and admiration from colleagues, or a change that leads to a more fulfilling job.
That’s why we also ask graduates of online MBA programs if they achieved their primary goal of getting the degree, whatever that may be.
On a 10-point scale, alumni at University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal) reported the highest rating for achieving their primary career-related reason for obtaining an online MBA degree at a perfect 10. Alumni from five other programs rated their programs at 9.8.
To what extent did you achieve your PRIMARY reason for obtaining an online MBA degree?
Question Rank
School
Primary Reason
1
University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal)
10.0
2
Bryant University
9.8
2
North Carolina State University (Poole)
9.8
2
University of Maryland (Smith)
9.8
2
University of Michigan-Dearborn
9.8
2
University of Utah (Eccles)
9.8
7
Clemson University
9.5
7
University of Michigan (Ross)
9.5
7
University of Southern California (Marshall)
9.5
7
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
9.5
11
Auburn University (Harbert)
9.4
11
Lehigh University
9.4
11
Rice University (Jones)
9.4
11
Santa Clara University (Leavey)
9.4
11
William & Mary (Mason)
9.4
16
Hofstra University (Zarb)
9.3
16
Indiana University (Kelley)
9.3
16
Southern Methodist University (Cox)
9.3
16
University of Connecticut School of Business
9.3
16
University of Washington (Foster)
9.3
16
Villanova University
9.3
22
University of Florida (Warrington)
9.2
23
Jack Welch Management Institute
9.1
23
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
9.1
23
University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
9.1
23
University of South Florida (Muma)
9.1
27
Rogers State University
9.0
28
American University (Kogod)
8.9
28
Bowling Green State University (Schmidthorst)
8.9
28
Syracuse University (Whitman)
8.9
28
University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Isenberg)
8.9
32
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
8.7
32
Florida International University
8.7
32
George Mason University (Costello)
8.7
32
University of California, Davis
8.7
32
University of Iowa (Tippie)
8.7
37
SUNY Oswego
8.6
37
University of Delaware (Lerner)
8.6
37
University of Missouri (Trulaske)
8.6
40
Fairfield University (Dolan)
8.4
40
Kennesaw State University (Coles)
8.4
40
University of Denver (Daniels)
8.4
43
University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium
8.3
44
Pepperdine University (Graziadio)
8.0
44
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
8.0
46
Baylor University (Hankamer)
7.8
46
Creighton University (Heider)
7.8
46
Drexel University (LeBow)
7.8
46
University of North Texas (Ryan)
7.8
46
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
7.8
46
Wake Forest University
7.8
52
Louisiana State University (Ourso)
7.6
52
San Jose State University (Lucas)
7.6
52
Texas Tech (Rawls)
7.6
52
University of Cincinnati (Lindner)
7.6
56
Ohio University
7.3
57
Seattle University (Albers)
4.8
Similarly, we asked alumni whether they achieved their secondary career-related reason for pursuing an online MBA. Here, North Carolina State University (Poole) alumni rated their school the highest at 10 while Bryant University followed with 9.8.
To what extent did you achieve your SECONDARY reason for obtaining an online MBA?
One of the most important aspects of any MBA is building a professional network that can connect you to opportunities far after graduation. Even in online programs where students may be looking to advance in their own companies or organizations, a good professional network can open opportunities you may not have previously imagined.
This year, 100% of 2024 graduates at an astounding 20 programs said they were able to create a strong network during the pursuit of their degree. Another seven programs had 90% or more of alumni say the same.
Were you able to create a network of contacts as a result of the program?
Question Rank
School
Percent ‘Yes’
1
Bryant University
100.00%
1
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
100.00%
1
Hofstra University (Zarb)
100.00%
1
North Carolina State University (Poole)
100.00%
1
Rice University (Jones)
100.00%
1
Rogers State University
100.00%
1
Santa Clara University (Leavey)
100.00%
1
Seattle University (Albers)
100.00%
1
Syracuse University (Whitman)
100.00%
1
University of Connecticut School of Business
100.00%
1
University of Denver (Daniels)
100.00%
1
University of Maryland (Smith)
100.00%
1
University of Michigan (Ross)
100.00%
1
University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
100.00%
1
University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal)
100.00%
1
University of Utah (Eccles)
100.00%
1
University of Washington (Foster)
100.00%
1
Villanova University
100.00%
1
William & Mary (Mason)
100.00%
1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
100.00%
21
Southern Methodist University (Cox)
97.22%
22
Indiana University (Kelley)
94.74%
22
University of California, Davis
94.74%
24
American University (Kogod)
94.44%
24
University of South Florida (Muma)
94.44%
26
University of Florida (Warrington)
94.00%
27
San Jose State University (Lucas)
91.67%
28
Clemson University
88.89%
29
University of Southern California (Marshall)
88.24%
30
Baylor University (Hankamer)
87.50%
30
Jack Welch Management Institute
87.50%
32
University of Iowa (Tippie)
84.42%
33
Lehigh University
84.21%
34
Wake Forest University
83.33%
35
University of Missouri (Trulaske)
81.82%
36
Auburn University (Harbert)
80.00%
36
Fairfield University (Dolan)
80.00%
38
Florida International University
78.26%
38
Louisiana State University (Ourso)
78.26%
40
Pepperdine University (Graziadio)
76.92%
41
Creighton University (Heider)
75.00%
42
Ohio University
73.68%
43
Bowling Green State University (Schmidthorst)
73.08%
44
University of Cincinnati (Lindner)
71.43%
45
University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium
68.75%
46
University of Delaware (Lerner)
68.18%
47
University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Isenberg)
68.06%
48
Kennesaw State University (Coles)
66.67%
49
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
63.64%
50
University of Michigan-Dearborn
60.00%
51
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
58.62%
52
Texas Tech (Rawls)
55.56%
53
University of North Texas (Ryan)
50.00%
53
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
50.00%
55
George Mason University (Costello)
44.44%
56
SUNY Oswego
42.86%
57
Drexel University (LeBow)
27.27%
Rating their satisfaction with these networks, 2024 graduates Worcester Polytechnic Institute gave their program a perfect 10. Alumni at Hofstra University (Zarb) and University of Utah (Eccles) rated their networks at 9.9.
Rate your satisfaction with your new network in terms of how valuable it is to you for encouragement, support, and career opportunities.
Question Rank
School
Network Satisfaction
1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
10.0
2
Hofstra University (Zarb)
9.9
2
University of Utah (Eccles)
9.9
4
University of Washington (Foster)
9.7
5
Rice University (Jones)
9.6
6
University of Michigan (Ross)
9.3
6
University of South Florida (Muma)
9.3
8
Southern Methodist University (Cox)
9.2
9
Syracuse University (Whitman)
9.1
10
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
9.0
10
Indiana University (Kelley)
9.0
10
William & Mary (Mason)
9.0
13
North Carolina State University (Poole)
8.9
14
University of Florida (Warrington)
8.8
14
University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
8.8
14
University of Southern California (Marshall)
8.8
17
Fairfield University (Dolan)
8.7
17
Florida International University
8.7
19
Santa Clara University (Leavey)
8.6
19
University of Maryland (Smith)
8.6
19
Villanova University
8.6
22
American University (Kogod)
8.5
22
Jack Welch Management Institute
8.5
24
Lehigh University
8.4
25
University of Michigan-Dearborn
8.3
25
University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal)
8.3
27
Seattle University (Albers)
8.2
27
University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Isenberg)
8.2
29
University of Connecticut School of Business
8.1
29
University of Denver (Daniels)
8.1
29
University of Iowa (Tippie)
8.1
32
Baylor University (Hankamer)
7.9
33
Bowling Green State University (Schmidthorst)
7.8
33
Clemson University
7.8
33
SUNY Oswego
7.8
36
Auburn University (Harbert)
7.6
36
Bryant University
7.6
36
University of California, Davis
7.6
39
Louisiana State University (Ourso)
7.5
39
Rogers State University
7.5
39
University of Cincinnati (Lindner)
7.5
39
University of Delaware (Lerner)
7.5
39
Wake Forest University
7.5
44
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
7.4
45
San Jose State University (Lucas)
7.3
46
Pepperdine University (Graziadio)
7.2
46
University of North Texas (Ryan)
7.2
48
University of Missouri (Trulaske)
7.0
49
Creighton University (Heider)
6.9
49
Kennesaw State University (Coles)
6.9
51
Drexel University (LeBow)
6.8
51
Texas Tech (Rawls)
6.8
51
University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium
6.8
54
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
6.7
55
Ohio University
6.4
55
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
6.4
57
George Mason University (Costello)
5.3
DON’T MISS THESE STORIES IN OUR 2024 OMBA RANKING PACKAGE:
