LOS ANGELES—The USC Online MBA (OMBA) from the Marshall School of Business has been recognized yet again by U.S. News & World Report in 2020 as one of its top 5 Best Online MBA Programs. USC’s online MBA launched in 2015, and has quickly become one of the most competitive programs in the market. The OMBA program was also ranked among the top three online MBA programs by Poets & Quants, and #4 top online MBA programs by Princeton Review.
“The students’ interaction with their faculty and their classmates via weekly video conferences creates a valuable learning experience, as well as a strong sense of community,” said Patricia Hughes Mills, J.D., L.L.M., Vice Dean of Online Learning and Executive Education, Marshall School of Business.
“In addition to an on-campus week at the beginning of the program where students meet and work with their cohort and team members face-to-face, weekly synchronous video meetings enhance consistent student engagement throughout the program. Our award-winning production of online materials coupled with the ongoing interaction with faculty and classmates ensures that we deliver the highest quality Marshall Education.”
The U.S. News rankings are based on the following five categories:
- Engagement (28 percent)
- Student Excellence (25 percent)
- Expert Opinion (25 percent)
- Faculty Credentials and Training (11 percent)
- Student Services and Technologies (11 percent)
USC’s comprehensive online MBA program was built with the future of business in mind. Each course in the OMBA program was designed by USC Marshall faculty members, specifically for online learners, with coursework that is relevant to current and aspiring business leaders.
“As an online MBA student you become a member of the Trojan family,” said Brittany Hawkins, Associate Director, Online MBA Program, Marshall School of Business. ”With over 300,000 alumni worldwide, your connection with USC does not cease upon graduation. Instead you are part of an even greater lifelong and worldwide community that can only enhance your future business relationship.”
The program also provides students with skills applicable to forward-thinking leaders and executives, like managing remote employees on long-distance teams, or utilizing entrepreneurial thinking to drive business growth. USC’s online MBA has been built to facilitate camaraderie and collaboration, enabling students to build meaningful, professional connections that extend beyond graduation.
USC Marshall School of Business alumni have found success in business ventures across the globe. The Trojan alumni network is 390K members strong, including 88K from USC Marshall, giving OMBA students access to an abundance of networking opportunities and other resources.
“The USC Marshall Online MBA program attracts accomplished working professionals who need online flexibility; we are impressed year after year by the quality of our students, their passion for business, their commitment to learning, and their diverse perspectives,” said Sandra Chrystal, Marshall vice dean for online education. “It is very gratifying to provide them with an advanced business education that is personalized, experiential, innovative, and rigorous.”
The OMBA, launched in 2015, has quickly risen to the top of an increasingly competitive online degree market. The number of business schools offering online MBA programs rose from 91 to 140 between 2012 and 2017, according to accreditation body AACSB International.
Marshall built its online MBA to take full advantage of the latest technological learning tools, providing students not only with an exceptionally engaging online learning experience, but also with practical skills in virtual communication and analytics. Program leaders consulted closely with business leaders to ensure the curriculum prepares students for the challenges ahead in an increasingly global and digitally driven business landscape.
Faculty members continually update coursework, introducing new knowledge, collaboration tools, and learning experiences. Students enjoy direct access to teachers and commonly form close bonds with their online classmates, beginning during their residential week and continuing throughout the program.
“Camaraderie has been a common theme since the program’s inception,” said Miriam Burgos, OMBA academic director and associate professor of clinical marketing. “Each student brings their own area of expertise to their cohort and leverages their strengths to help their fellow classmates succeed.”
Networking is another central component of the OMBA, and distance learners become full-fledged members of the Trojan Family, which is more than 412,000 members strong and includes 89,000 Marshall alumni in 90+ countries.
About the USC Marshall School of Business
USC Marshall is one of the premier business schools in the U.S. and internationally recognized as a home for path-breaking research that emphasizes entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and social responsibility. The USC Online MBA from the Marshall School of Business is built to help students succeed in the digitally driven business landscape, providing a curriculum focused on the practical skills expected of today’s global leaders. Marshall brings undergraduate and graduate students a unique perspective on the world, including global opportunities for experiential learning. The vibrant and active Trojan alumni community includes more than 89,000 people in 92 countries.
Consistently ranked among the nation’s premier schools, USC Marshall is internationally recognized for its emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, leadership, social responsibility and path-breaking research. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, one of the world’s leading business centers and the U.S. gateway to the Pacific Rim, Marshall offers its 5,700-plus undergraduate and graduate students a unique world view and impressive global experiential opportunities.
