Today’s global economy needs professionals in every sector who can tackle issues of international trade and commerce. A master’s in international business can help you get the training you need to succeed in the field, and, when you’re ready, make the jump to leadership. But which schools offer the program you need? How does online learning work in international business? Will you have access to all services if you’re an online student? What about cost? This guide answers these questions and more to help you make the best decision you can on your graduate student journey. Get the basics and learn key details about today’s online master’s degree programs in international business.
Ranking the Top Online Master’s in International Business for 2024
Dozens of colleges and universities have master’s degree programs in international business. More and more are beginning to offer them online. But which one is right for you? To help, we researched more than 7,000 schools and identified the top online international business master’s programs for 2024. Explore accreditation, course lists, tuition and fees, and student and career services to see which program might be your best fit as you work toward an online master’s in international business.
The Master of Business Administration in International Business Online program at Texas A&M International University deepens a student’s knowledge of sociocultural and demographic diversity, global business ethics, legal and regulatory issues, and national environmental matters. Students also learn about business research methods, strategic management, financial statement analysis, managerial economics, and financial management. Those who don’t already hold an undergraduate degree in business can also enroll in prep-module courses that build on concepts such as finance, economics, accounting, information systems, management, and marketing. Additionally, some applicants may qualify to have their GMAT or GRE requirements waived.
Program Highlights:
Master of Business Administration in International Business Online
- Credits: 30
- Length: 21 months
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: AACSB
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Tiffin University offers an online Master of Business Administration in International Business program that equips students with specialized knowledge to function effectively as managers in a competitive global economy. The program has nine concentrations, including data analytics, finance, sports management, and human resource management, among others. Courses focus on international trade and investments, financial management, and organizational design and operation. Students also study how multinational organizations work and thrive in various cultural environments. Additionally, they have access to instructors who help them find internships and employment. Students can also attend guest speaking events and other on-campus engagement programs.
Program Highlights:
Master of Business Administration in International Business
- Credits: 32-36
- Length: 14 months
- Mode: Fully online, on campus
- Accreditation: ACBSP
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Those seeking to become business leaders or work in government, the military, or nonprofit organizations either in the U.S. or overseas can earn their Master of Business Administration in International Management at Troy University. The program focuses on various business disciplines including accounting, finance, marketing, management, and strategic thinking. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0, and they must complete a research requirement and capstone courses with a grade of “B” or better. Those who haven’t earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from an accredited institution within eight years of enrolling are required to complete prerequisite courses.
Program Highlights:
Master of Business Administration in International Management
- Credits: 30-36
- Length: Two years
- Mode: Fully online, on campus
- Accreditation: AACSB
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
A Closer Look: Accredited International Business Master’s Programs
Below, we’ve spotlighted three accredited online master’s in international business degree programs that help you get an idea of what a high-quality university should offer. These programs feature all the important elements you should expect from your international business master’s program, including affordability, study convenience and flexibility, experienced faculty, and access to quality student support services.
Florida International University
The Online Master of International Business program at Florida International University allows students to complete all degree requirements with 12 months of full-time study. The 30-credit curriculum is presented in a “lock-step” cohort format where students begin and work through the entire program to graduation as a single cohort. This allows students to share their academic and professional experiences and to support each other throughout the program. All courses are presented online asynchronously, so you can access and complete your coursework at times most convenient to you.
A major feature of FIU’s international business master’s program is the inclusion of an international trip that allows students exposure to a foreign business environment. Countries visited by MIB students include India, China, Vietnam, Spain, UAE, Thailand, and the Czech Republic.
The current estimated program cost is $33,000 for Florida residents and $36,600 for out-of-state residents. Financial aid, including $2,000 and $5,000 merit scholarships, is available.
University of Delaware
Study convenience and flexibility are key features of the University of Delaware’s Online Master of International Business. This 30-credit program is a non-cohort model with courses entirely online in an asynchronous format. Both full-time and part-time study options are available with full-time students able to complete all degree requirements in as few as 18 months.
The curriculum is in a two-module format. The first module consists of six core international business courses covering topics like business strategies, ethics, globalization, and market research. In the second module, students choose four courses based on their areas of interest. Courses options include Operations Management and Management Science, Leadership and Innovation in Population Health, and Managing People, Teams, and Organizations.
The estimated total cost for UD’s master’s in international business is $28,500, not including textbooks, supplies, loan fees, or personal expenses. Financial aid is available to qualifying students including a range of UD scholarships for which MIB students are automatically considered upon admission into the program.
American University
American University is a private, federally-chartered research university located in Washington, D.C. Offered jointly by its School of International Service and Kogod School of Business, AU’s Online Master of Science in International Relations and Business degree takes advantage of its location to connect students and graduates with D.C. and globally-based organizations as well as with AU alumni working for companies worldwide. The 36-credit-hour program combines weekly online class sessions and didactic coursework with an in-person global immersion experience to provide a comprehensive understanding of the policies and strategies needed to succeed in the global economy.
Students can gain real-life experience and develop relationships by working virtually as pro-bono consultants with local companies aligned with their career goals. These connections can also lead to employment after graduation.
The program is full-time and takes 18 months. Per-credit tuition is $1,866, substantially higher than rates for similar degree programs at public institutions. However, qualifying AU students are eligible for a range of substantial financial aid opportunities.
Advantages of Earning an Online Master’s in International Business
There are many advantages to earning your online master’s in international business. Here’s a look at three of the biggest.
Global Skills Mean Greater Opportunities
Despite all the economic challenges of the last few years, the global economy is slowly returning to normal and even starting to grow once again. A master’s in international business can provide you with the knowledge and skills you and your organization need to take advantage of this new growth.
Earn Your Degree While Keeping Your Job
You don’t have to be a full-time working professional to take advantage of the benefits of online study. However, the study convenience and flexibility built into an online master’s in international business program do make it possible for many students to remain in their current jobs while pursuing their degrees.
See the World
If one of your goals is to travel the world as part of your professional life, a master’s in international business can certainly help you reach that goal. With many MIB programs featuring international trips and global immersion experiences as part of their curricula, you won’t necessarily have to wait until after graduation to start traveling.
What You’ll Learn in an Online International Business Master’s Program
A master’s in international business provides a cross-functional global perspective on business that combines didactic coursework and experiential learning across all major business disciplines. These include accounting, finance, management, marketing, supply chain, and more. The degree prepares students for leadership roles with global-reaching organizations, both public and private, dealing with the many current and future challenges of the international marketplace.
Below are descriptions of five courses currently offered as part of most international business program curricula to give you an idea of what you can expect to learn in your online MIB program. It’s not uncommon for programs to offer all or most of these courses entirely online. However, some programs also include immersion experiences and/or capstone projects that require in-person participation.
Popular Courses
Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation
This course examines the basic concepts and critical nuances concerning cultural differences to facilitate effective cross-cultural communication in the workplace and throughout the international business community. Included are discussions of the effects of these cultural differences on management practices within international organizations and strategies employed in negotiations between international organizations.
Global Economics
A survey of fundamental concepts in macroeconomics and the global economy, this course introduces students to the full range of factors and trends influencing international trade and finance with a special focus on geopolitics. Specific topics include national and international industrial policy, ethical reasoning and social responsibility, ecology and environmental challenges, and current sources and locations of international political and economic conflict.
International Finance
Courses on international finance study financial management in the global marketplace and its relationship to the multinational firm. Topics covered include international funding sources, foreign investment decision-making, the international monetary system and banking, foreign exchange markets and exchange risk management, international trade and balance of payments, international taxation and transactions, investment alternatives, and more.
International Marketing
International marketing introduces students to the development and management of marketing programs starting with the determination of organizational objectives and continuing through all aspects of the marketing process. These include research of international markets, production, advertising, and distribution. Market functions are considered in relation to the cultural, economic, political, social, and physical differences in each country.
Capstone Project
Some MIB programs culminate with the completion of a capstone project to allow students to apply the knowledge, skills, tools, and methodologies acquired throughout the program. It’s typically a team-based study to resolve a real-world problem for an emerging or existing international organization.
Accreditation for International Business Master’s Degrees
Postsecondary accreditation is the process used to determine that higher education institutions and the programs they offer meet specific acceptable levels of quality. Proper accreditation is your way of being assured that both your school and degree program are worth your time, effort, and money. There are two types of accreditations, institutional and programmatic, to look for when choosing your online master’s in international business degree program.
Institutional accreditation concerns the quality of the school itself taken as a whole and is overseen by several regional and national accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The second accreditation type, programmatic accreditation, focuses on the quality of individual degree programs. Programmatic accreditation of master’s in international business programs is administered by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
You’ll likely discover that all of the MIB programs you consider have both institutional and programmatic accreditation. Accreditation information can usually be found on the degree program webpage or the school’s accreditation webpage. You can also check current accreditation with the Department of Education and AACSB.
What You Can Do with a Master’s in International Business
The master’s in international business degree is all about versatility. Since it’s designed primarily for those with a non-business undergraduate degree, students can apply the high-demand business skills gained to leadership positions in practically any professional field in government, non-profit, and the private sector. Below are five of the most common career choices made by MIB degree holders. In addition to descriptions for each, annual salary estimates taken from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics are also included to give an idea of how much you might earn once you’ve obtained your international business master’s degree.
Business Development Manager
Business development managers manage the expectations of their organizations, including identifying and resolving problems those organizations encounter. Specific tasks include planning and overseeing budgets, staff training programs and other staff-related activities, managing client accounts, and ensuring organizational goals and sales objectives are met.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$64,370 | $120,130 | $207,420 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts determine how to best invest an organization’s earned income in ways that generate profits and maximize organizational wealth. Specific responsibilities include assessing the performance of investments (e.g., stocks, bonds, etc.), studying historical and current financial data, evaluating past and current business and economic trends, examining organization financial statements, and preparing written reports.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$57,900 | $91,580 | $166,560 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Marketing Manager
Marketing a company’s goods and services is the primary job of the marketing manager. Marketing managers oversee the creation and development of advertising and merchandising sales campaigns, conduct and study research to identify and develop new markets for the sale of goods and services, and monitor and analyze the performance of current marketing programs to improve future efforts.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$77,680 | $135,030 | $208,000 + |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Operations Manager
Operations managers oversee the production side of a business’s activities, including all related departments like purchasing, manufacturing, warehousing, and, in some organizations, product transportation and distribution. Specific tasks include the planning and management of daily operations, effective allocation of materials and human resources, and supervision of subordinate administrative staff.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$43,260 | $97,970 | $208,000 + |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Project Management Specialist
Project management specialists plan, organize, and supervise specific, often complex, projects for private businesses or public agencies. They typically work on-site on a project from inception to completion, ensuring that all work is done properly while reducing costs and maximizing efficiencies. Project management specialists may work for a single company or organization or be employed as independent contractors on a per-project basis.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$49,750 | $94,500 | $159,140 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Costs and Financial Aid for Online Master’s Degrees in International Business
Earning an online master’s degree in international business, as tuition figures prove, is an expensive undertaking. Fortunately, there are plenty of significant financial aid resources to help MIB students fund their education. These include scholarships and grants (both public and private), fellowships, employer tuition assistance, and work study programs. There’s also the most popular source of all, the student loan.
What Your International Business Master’s Could Cost
| School | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Est. Tuition* |
|---|---|---|---|
30 | $530.69 $1,255.41 | $15,920.70 $37,622.30 | |
33 | $800 | $26,400 | |
30 | $489.94 $779.88 | $14,698.20 $23,396.40 |
*Tuition only.
**Higher rates apply to non-NC residents receiving coursework within NC and part-time students (regardless of residency status).
Frequently Asked Questions About Online International Business Master’s Degrees
What are the admissions requirements for an online master’s in international business?
Admissions requirements are different for every online master’s in international business program, but most MIB programs include ones similar to the following:
- Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is the foundational requirement of all MIB programs. All undergraduate majors are typically welcome, and most MIB programs are geared toward individuals with non-business bachelor’s degrees. There are a few exceptions, though, such as the University of Florida’s program that requires an undergraduate major or minor in business.
- Minimum GPA: All programs have a minimum GPA requirement for undergraduate coursework. The minimum varies by program but is typically between 2.75 and 3.2 with 3.0 being the most common. However, it is possible to get into some programs with a low GPA.
- Work Experience: Some online master’s in international business programs require some (typically two years) of previous business-related work experience. Others simply consider work experience as one of several factors weighed for acceptance. Still others have no work experience requirement whatsoever.
- GMAT/GRE Test Scores: Some MIB programs require GMAT or GRE scores, and usually either test will suffice. Minimum scores may also be stated. Some programs, Florida International University, for example, waive test score requirements for applicants meeting other criteria, such as having another graduate degree, high undergraduate GPA, or business-related work experience.
- Additional Requirements: Other common application requirements include a resume, a personal essay or statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation (typically two).
How long will it take to finish my master’s in international business?
Most online master’s in international business programs require 30 to 36 credit hours of coursework. Program length depends on which school you attend and whether you study full-time or part-time. Some full-time programs, like those at Florida International University and the University of Florida, take 12 months, while others, like those at American University and the University of Delaware, take 18. Part-time MIB programs are typically asynchronous and allow some degree of flexibility, often 24 months or longer, in their completion times.
Can I earn a master’s in international business 100% online or do I need to visit campus?
In many cases, students in most online master’s in international business programs do complete all course requirements entirely online with no campus visits. This is just one of the many advantages of earning an online masters degree. Keep in mind, though, that most online MIB programs also include in-person participation in global immersion experiences that require travel to an international location.