The University of Mississippi’s online Master of Business Administration program is ranked No. 9 nationally by U.S. News & World Report. Photo by Nathan Latil/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s online Master of Business Administration program has been named as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings, released today (Jan. 15), place Ole Miss in a four-way tie for No. 9 nationally.
UM is tied with Auburn University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium for the No. 9 spot. The University of Florida, at No. 4, is the only other Southeastern Conference school ranked among the Top 25.
“We are excited for this recognition of our online MBA program that reflects the outstanding education and value of the degree,” said Ken Cyree, dean of the UM School of Business Administration. “We have dedicated our efforts to create the best online experience possible that mimics our on-campus program with scheduling flexibility so students can keep their job while earning their degree.
“This ranking also reflects the dedication of the faculty, staff and alumni, who are devoted to providing an excellent graduate education that creates competitive opportunities for our students.”
MBA programs have a greater enrollment than any other type of graduate business degree program in the country, the U.S. News release noted. Prospective students often narrow their research exclusively to programs that award MBAs.
To aid their efforts, the publication compiles annual rankings of distance education MBA programs. This year’s rankings include 282 schools nationally.
The 2019 rankings evaluate schools solely on data related to their distance education MBA programs.
“The reputation of our online program is results from the hard work of our faculty to create an inclusive and engaging online learning community for our students,” said Walter Davis, faculty adviser for the MBA program. “The curriculum for the online program is the same as the campus program.
“While students in our online program are always welcome on campus, all course requirements can be completed online.”
For the 2019 edition, U.S. News ranked online MBA programs using five categories: student engagement and excellence; expert opinion; faculty credentials and training, and student services and technologies.
The publication selects factors, known as ranking indicators, to assess each program in the five categories. A program’s score for each ranking indicator is calculated using data that the program reported to U.S. News in a statistical survey and from data collected in a separate peer-reputation survey.
The strength of the Ole Miss curriculum is a plus for businesses in the state, said Ashley McGee, the program’s director.
“When I ask current students what made them choose our Ole Miss MBA program, I hear a similar response,” McGee said. “They were looking for a highly-ranked, accredited, reputable institution with a competitively-priced tuition.
“We check all of those boxes. The value of an Ole Miss MBA is hard to beat.”