Inside 2024’s Top Online Master’s Degrees in Business

Why Earn an Online Master’s Degree in Business?

Several advantages come with earning an online master’s in business. These advantages include the ease of earning a degree online and what the degree can do to help you earn that promotion, gain more responsibility, or increase your salary.

Learning flexibility

Many programs are 100% online, which means students never have to set foot on campus to earn their business master’s degree. Additionally, students can typically choose the pace at which they take their classes. This flexibility is imperative in business programs because many students will want to continue working full time while getting their master’s degree. Many employers may expect that.

Networking opportunities

Business is about who you know, almost as much as it is about what you know. Attendance in an online business master’s program offers the chance to create new connections. Whether it’s a faculty member, classmate, or alumnus, the connections made in business school have a good chance of boosting career prospects in the future.

Professional advancement

Earning a master’s degree can drastically improve your chances of making a big leap forward in your business career. Not only does the business curriculum at the master’s level offer opportunities to specialize in a particular area, but it also provides management training. This is critical if you want to take on a leadership role in your profession.

Accounting

As one of the more popular business concentrations, a master’s degree in accounting provides the analytical skills and highly technical knowledge to understand today’s complicated accounting principles and concepts. In addition to learning the underlying concepts, this concentration will also teach students how to effectively communicate accounting information to individuals without specialized training. And after graduating, most students will be ready to take the Certified Public Accountant Exam.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in accounting and online master’s degrees in taxation

Business Analytics

One of the newer areas of the business world has to do with quantitative analysis and analytics. This area of focus will teach students how to gather business data, whether it’s from customers or the market as a whole, then take that data to gain a competitive advantage. Courses will also prepare students to create financial and business models based on data and statistical analysis.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in business analytics

Finance

With this specialization, students will obtain the skills necessary to quantitatively analyze financial data. From there, they can draw conclusions and inferences to make short-term tactical and long-term strategic business decisions. This concentration will include courses about macroeconomic principles, financial management, risk analysis, and capital markets. Much of the curriculum will also cover topics to help prepare students to sit for the CFA exams.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in finance

Entrepreneurship

Much of the curriculum in any business degree focuses on increasing shareholder value, with the student working for that company. The entrepreneurship concentration changes that dynamic, putting the student in a place of ownership. Here, students will learn what it takes to start a new business, including developing a business model and acquiring investment capital.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in entrepreneurship

Human Resources

The key to success in business is to effectively manage employees and other workplace personnel. This specialization covers improving workforce performance and employee morale by addressing different methods of recruitment, compensation, talent development, worker assessment, and employee discipline.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in human resources

Marketing

Marketing continues to be one of the most important business functions. Identifying the right customers for a product or service, understanding their wants and needs, and finding effective ways to convince them to make a purchase is essential for success. Earning an online master’s in marketing can help you learn the latest marketing strategies, from search engine marketing to social media marketing, while also building your skills in areas like marketing research, marketing analytics, consumer behavior, and international marketing.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in marketing

Organizational Leadership

Organizational leadership is a sub-field of business that examines the human aspects of a business organization. Coursework will cover the principles of communication, company culture, leadership, and interpersonal interactions, but from the psychological perspective. While many business classes focus on these things from a profitability point of view, this concentration takes a more personal approach.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in organizational leadership

Project Management

Project management refers to managers’ skills and knowledge to ensure that a project goes not just according to plan but moves as quickly and efficiently as possible. In this major, students will learn the risk management and critical thinking skills necessary for significant decisions necessary during all phases of a project. This includes the design and start of a project, as well as its execution.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in project management

Sports Management

The sports management concentration teaches students how to take business principles, like marketing, finance, law, and event planning, and apply them to sports. Specifically, students will learn how to apply these skills to various athletic environments, including college, professional, high school, and non-profit organizations.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in sports management

Supply Chain Management

One of the biggest challenges for business managers in today’s economy is supply chain management. Organizations are pushing their employees to find a way to improve efficiency and lower cost in their supply chains. Skills taught in this specialization include supply sourcing, inventory management, logistical operations, and accounting.

Learn more about online master’s degrees in supply chain management