In the 2022 U.S. News ranking of online MBA programs, Indiana University–Bloomington’s Kelley School of Business, UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, and USC’s Marshall School of Business shared first place. It was a three-way tie—not a single winner—and it is a historical ranking, not a current top-three list.
Which online MBA programs ranked No. 1 in 2022?
U.S. News named three programs as tied No. 1 in its 2022 Best Online MBA Programs ranking: Indiana Kelley, UNC Kenan-Flagler, and USC Marshall. The ranking provides one basis for identifying programs to investigate; it does not determine which is best for a particular student’s finances, career plans, or schedule.
| Program | 2022 U.S. News result | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana University–Bloomington, Kelley School of Business | Tied No. 1 | Kelley Direct Online MBA. The school’s current curriculum page describes 54 credits, a 12-week integrated core, in-person experiences, electives, and a typical two-year completion period. See Kelley’s curriculum details for current requirements. |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School | Tied No. 1 | The historical ranking establishes the tie. Current tuition, duration, and in-person requirements are not established here; check the official program site for current details. |
| University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business | Tied No. 1 | USC lists a 2026–27 tuition estimate of $137,091, with program fees and other expenses additional. This is a current estimate, not a 2022 cost. See USC’s tuition and financial aid page. |
The programs should not be assumed to have equivalent delivery formats, admissions standards, time commitments, or overall costs simply because they shared a rank.
What the 2022 ranking measured
U.S. News said its online rankings covered programs designed to be administered online, rather than courses that shifted online temporarily during the pandemic. The rankings used data gathered from institutions and considered factors including student engagement, faculty credentials, and student services and technology. West Chester University reported the 2022 online MBA weights as follows:
| Factor | Weight in the 2022 online MBA ranking |
|---|---|
| Engagement | 30% |
| Expert opinion | 25% |
| Faculty credentials and training | 15% |
| Student excellence | 15% |
| Services and technologies | 15% |
The U.S. News announcement said that edition evaluated more than 1,700 online bachelor’s and master’s programs overall; that figure covers all programs in the announcement, not just MBAs. Poets&Quants reported that 328 online MBA programs received numerical ranks, while 358 programs appeared in the list overall. Some schools and newer programs were absent, so the list was not an exhaustive census of every online MBA.
Rankings can also move considerably from year to year. Poets&Quants cautioned against treating the list as definitive. A position in the 2022 ranking is evidence of how a program placed under that edition’s criteria, not a guarantee of educational quality, career results, or fit.
Other programs appearing in the 2022 list
Several schools reported additional placements in the 2022 U.S. News ranking. These are historical results and are attributed to the schools’ reports:
- Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business reported that its online MBA ranked No. 7.
- The University of Iowa reported its online MBA ranked No. 78 overall and No. 15 in online MBA finance.
- West Chester University reported a No. 56 placement, tied with five other institutions.
How to compare online MBA programs before applying
Compare the actual commitments and costs for your situation rather than relying on the rank. Details can vary by entry year and may change, so confirm them directly with each school.
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- Total cost: Ask for tuition and mandatory fees for your intended entry year, and identify additional program expenses. Check whether employer or personal tuition support applies.
- Required travel: Find out whether residencies, campus visits, or other in-person experiences are required, how often they occur, and what travel costs you would pay.
- Weekly schedule: Distinguish live, synchronous class sessions from asynchronous coursework. Confirm whether work, caregiving, or time-zone constraints are compatible.
- Time to completion: Compare the typical completion period with the maximum time allowed, and ask how course sequencing or pauses affect both.
- Curriculum: Review core courses, electives, and specialization choices against the skills you want to build.
- Admissions: Check current academic, professional, testing, and application requirements, along with deadlines for your intended start date.
- Career and networking resources: Ask what coaching, recruiting support, alumni access, and student networking opportunities are available to online students.
U.S. News’ managing editor of Education, Liana Loewus, said students can use the ranking data “to research their options and make informed decisions about their academic future.” Treat that data as a starting point for investigation, then verify program details and decide whether the trade-offs make sense for your own budget and goals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 2022 ranking does—and does not—tell you
The ranking identifies three tied leaders under U.S. News’ 2022 methodology. It does not establish that any one of them is the best choice for every applicant, nor does rank alone establish salary gains, employment outcomes, or return on investment. Those questions require school-specific, current evidence and a comparison with your own costs, career plans, and alternatives.
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