Online MBA in North Dakota

    On this page, you will find information about admission requirements, foundational coursework, and concentration options for each online MBA in North Dakota that will help you understand the different options available to you.

    Online MBA Programs in North Dakota

    1. The University of North Dakota – College of Business and Public Administration

    In addition to the on-campus MBA degree, the University of North Dakota also offers an AACSB-accredited MBA degree fully online. The online MBA has been ranked highly among similar programs across the country; US News & World Report ranked the program in a tie for 31st, and the Princeton Review ranked the program 13th. This is a part-time program, which can be completed in as little as two years. Online students take the same classes as on-campus students; therefore, you will need to be available at specific times in the evening to participate in live classroom lectures and discussions with on-campus students and other online participants. Students complete at least 33 credit hours and can choose to complete a thesis or a concentration in International Business, although neither is required. As an online MBA student, you can enjoy the financial benefits of paying in-state tuition regardless of where you live. The college also offers additional support to veterans, with the online MBA being tied for 25th place by US News & World Report in the “Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans” category.

    MBA Program Admission

    Applications to the program are accepted through the Graduate School’s online portal. To be eligible for the program, you need a four-year bachelor’s degree including nine business prerequisites: Elements of Accounting I & II, Information Systems in Enterprises, Business & the Legal Environment, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Introduction to Business & Economic Statistics, Principles of Management, Operations Management, Principles of Financial Management, Marketing Foundations, and Applied Calculus (or equivalents from other universities). Your application package should include university transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a statement of goals, the $35 application fee, and your GMAT scores (unless you are permitted to submit your GRE scores instead). The minimum accepted GMAT score is 450, although a score of at least 500 will make your application more competitive.

    Foundational Coursework

    Core Curriculum (24 credit hours) – Advanced Managerial Theory, Managerial Finance, Accounting Information for Decision & Control, Strategic Market Planning, Macroeconomic Decision Making, Quantitative Analysis for Management Decisions, Information Systems, Advanced Strategic Management

    Program Concentrations and Specialization Options

    • Thesis Option with No Concentration (10 credit hours) – One 300-, 400-, or 500-level business elective, one from Advanced Univariate Statistics, Research Methods, or Advanced Research Design, and one four-credit hour thesis
    • Non Thesis Option with No Concentration (9 credit hours) – Three approved 300-, 400-, or 500-level business electives
    • Thesis Option with International Business Concentration (13 credit hours) – Three international university approved electives, and one four-credit hour thesis
    • Non-Thesis Option with International Business Concentration (12 credit hours) – Four international university approved electives

    MBA Programs in North Dakota

    Suppose you want to go to a traditional business school in North Dakota, you have two options: The University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University. These MBA programs offer many flexible learning options.

    1. The University of North Dakota – College of Business and Public Administration

    The University of North Dakota has an AACSB-accredited MBA program and a combined MBA and Law program. In fact, it was the first school in the state to gain this prestigious accreditation. You will complete at least 33 credit hours of study and complete the degree in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to meet working professionals’ needs; most classes are offered in the evenings. As part of the program, you will create a portfolio of your work that demonstrates your learning and skills. At the end of the MBA program, you will submit your portfolio and give a short professional presentation to a faculty panel as part of your graduation requirements. You can also complete a thesis and a concentration in International Business as part of your program, although neither is required to graduate. The International Business concentration requires you to study abroad, including the BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, one of the university’s partner institutions.

    MBA Program Admission

    To apply to the program, you will need to submit an online application with the $35 application fee. The application requirements include transcripts from any undergraduate and graduate studies, three letters of recommendation, a statement of goals, and your GMAT scores (unless you receive express permission to submit GRE scores instead). The college also requires proof that you have completed several business prerequisites, including Elements of Accounting I & II, Information Systems in Enterprises, Business & the Legal Environment, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Introduction to Business & Economic Statistics, Principles of Management, Operations Management, Principles of Financial Management, Marketing Foundations, and Applied Calculus (or equivalents from other universities).

    Foundational Coursework

    Core Curriculum (24 credit hours) – Advanced Managerial Theory, Managerial Finance, Accounting Information for Decision & Control, Strategic Market Planning, Macroeconomic Decision Making, Quantitative Analysis for Management Decisions, Information Systems, Advanced Strategic Management

    Program Concentrations and Specialization Options

    • Thesis Option with No Concentration (10 credit hours) – One 300-, 400-, or 500-level business elective, one from Advanced Univariate Statistics, Research Methods, or Advanced Research Design, and one four-credit hour thesis
    • Non Thesis Option with No Concentration (9 credit hours) – Three approved 300-, 400-, or 500-level business electives
    • Thesis Option with International Business Concentration (13 credit hours) – Three international university approved electives, and one four-credit hour thesis
    • Non-Thesis Option with International Business Concentration (12 credit hours) – Four international university approved electives

    2. North Dakota State University – College of Business

    North Dakota State University also offers an AACSB-accredited MBA degree on campus in Fargo. The MBA degree has been offered since 1980 and has been accredited since 2000. The curriculum includes at least 30 credit hours, including core courses and electives. The program accommodates working professionals by offering all the core courses during the evenings. Electives can also be taken in the evenings, during the day, or the summer term. The program has two concentration areas; it is also possible to combine your MBA studies with a PharmD degree in the joint degree program. To help with the financial burden and provide hands-on experience, the college offers graduate assistantships, including a tuition waiver and stipend in exchange for 10 hours of work per week.

    MBA Program Admission

    It would help if you had a bachelor’s degree in any subject and GMAT scores to apply. You should send your transcripts and scores, along with your application form, three reference letters, and a letter of intent, to the graduate school to apply for the program.

    Foundational Coursework

    Core Curriculum (24 credit hours) – Strategic Cost Management, Advanced Financial Management, Advanced Organizational Behavior, Advanced Operations Management, Strategic Marketing Management, Information Resources Management, Business Conditions Analysis, Business Policy and Strategy

    Program Concentrations and Specialization Options

    • General Business (no concentration) (6 credit hours) – Two approved electives
    • Supply Chain and Logistics (9 credit hours) – Advanced Supply Chain Planning and two from Logistics Systems, International Logistics Management, Technology Advances and Logistics, Adaptive Planning in Logistics, Logistics Decision Analysis
    • Health Care Industry (9 credit hours) – Leading and Managing Public Health Systems and two from Health Care Delivery in the US, Environmental Health for Public Health Professionals, Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health, Cultural Competence in Health Professions, or Independent Study: Health Care Industry Research Project or Community Project
    • MBA/PharmD – MBA core curriculum completed after the PharmD core curriculum, electives can be taken from either the MBA or PharmD offerings

    Additional MBA Programs in North Dakota

    It is also possible to complete a non-accredited MBA, either on-campus or online, in North Dakota. Non-accredited MBA programs also offer general business content and concentrations in specific areas to customize your experience.

    1. University of Mary – Gary Tharaldson School of Business

    The University of Mary is a Catholic institution offering an MBA degree through evening or online study. The evening program is offered at the Bismarck, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks Air Force Base, and Watford City campus locations. You can complete the degree on-campus, online, or through a hybrid of both options in as little as 18 months by completing at least 45 credit hours. Several concentration options are offered, including traditional business areas such as Executive, Healthcare, Human Resource Management, Project Management, Public Administration, and more unique concentrations, such as Energy Management, Healthcare Informatics, and Virtuous Leadership. Not all the concentrations are offered at every campus location, but they can be completed online or through the hybrid program. All students complete a capstone project as part of the graduation requirements.

    MBA Program Admission

    You must have a bachelor’s degree in any subject to apply to the program. The minimum accepted Grade Point Average (GPA) is 2.5 overall, 2.75 in the final two years of study, or 3.0 in the major field. You should submit your statement of goals, transcripts, two reference letters, and a resume with your application form. The GMAT is not required at the time of application; however, it needs to be completed before beginning MBA classes unless you take prerequisite classes in Finance, Accounting, and Economics. Scores from comparable graduate exams, such as the GRE, may also be accepted instead of GMAT scores.

    Foundational Coursework

    Core Curriculum (36 credit hours) – Portfolio and Defense, Operations Management, Management, and Organizational Behavior, Human Resources, Marketing, Law in the Managerial Environment, Project Management, Managerial Finance, Statistics and Research, Executive Economic Analysis, Managerial Accounting, Ethics

    Program Concentrations and Specialization Options

    • Energy Management (13 credit hours) – Foundations of Energy Management, The Economics and Markets of Energy, Financial Management in the Energy Industry, Legal Issues in Energy Management
    • Executive (9 credit hours) – Information Systems for Managers, Organizational Communication and Transition Management, Strategic Planning and Execution
    • Healthcare (9 credit hours) – Current Issues in Healthcare Administration, Healthcare Law and Policy, Healthcare Organization and Finance
    • Healthcare Informatics (12 credit hours) – Principles of Informatics in Healthcare Professions, Ethics and Informatics, The Human Technology Interface, Applied Clinical Informatics in Patient-Centered Care
    • Human Resources Management (9 credit hours) – Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations, Strategic Compensation: A Human Resources Management Approach, Human Resource Development
    • Project Management (9 credit hours) – Project Planning, Project Execution and Control, Project Closeout
    • Public Administration (9 credit hours) – Foundations of Public Administration, Leadership in the Public Sector, Government Fund and Non-Profit Management
    • Virtuous Leadership (9 credit hours) – Virtuous Leadership Immersion, The Search for Happiness, and either Business and Catholic Social Teaching or Culture and Public Service

    North Dakota MBA Salary and Job Outlook

    You may want to pursue an online MBA in North Dakota for many reasons – more significant earning potential, career advancement, earning new skills, or specializing in an area of interest. One of the many MBA programs and concentrations available in the state may also match your career goals and interests or highlight emerging areas in the business world. Because so many business-related professions show promising growth in North Dakota, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you may decide that this is an excellent time to gain new skills or study toward an area of specialization. MBA graduates typically earn higher-than-average salaries and enjoy many other benefits, such as ongoing professional development opportunities. Across the US, individuals in top executive positions usually have an MBA degree and earn a median salary of $102,750. These positions are expected to grow by 6% by 2022 across the nation.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19,250 individuals are employed in management occupations in North Dakota and earn an average salary of $97,320.1 Many types of business professions are expected to grow by 2022, often at faster rates compared to the country overall. Here is some more information on business positions according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

    • Chief Executives earn a median salary of $145,300, and these positions are expected to grow by 10% in North Dakota by 2022 compared to a 1% decrease across the country overall.4
    • General and Operations Managers make a median salary of $88,600. This profession is expected to grow by 16% by 2022 in North Dakota, compared to 7% in the US overall.5
    • Marketing Managers earn a median salary of $95,000 and these positions are expected to grow by 17% in North Dakota compared to 9% in the US by 2022.6
    • The median salary for Financial Managers is $96,300. This field is projected to grow by 17% by 2022 compared to 7% across the US.7
    • The “Managers, All Others” category has a median salary of $85,400, and is projected to grow by 7% compared to 4% in the US overall by 2022.8
    • Management Analysts earn a median salary of $58,200, and are projected to grow by 21% by 2022 compared to 14% across the nation.9

    The state has many industries where you may be able to use your MBA skills. Manufacturing remains a key industry, accounting for 10% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing over 25,000 people in 2015. The state continues to develop new programs and incentives to attract manufacturing businesses to the region2. For example, several recent investments have included Northrop Grumman aviation manufacturing, Bobcat equipment, National Information Solutions Cooperative software development, and General Atomics aerospace training. Other important industries include energy, agricultural innovation, technology, aviation, and life and biomedical science; therefore, there may be many different ways to use your business skills and knowledge in this state. Key employment areas in the state also include Public Administration (22,450 employed), Finance and Insurance (18,143 employed), and Management of Companies & Enterprises (5,358 employed).3 The largest metropolitan areas are Fargo, Bismarck (the state capital), and Grand Forks, although opportunities also exist in rural areas.3

    Here are some other statistics provided by Payscale.com:

    • MBA graduates in North Dakota earn a median salary of $55,000.
    • Both North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the University of North Dakota (UND) offer similar salary potential.
    • NDSU MBA graduates earn $53,700 in the first five years, while UND graduates earn $56,100; however, both groups earn $85,300 after gaining ten years of work experience.

    Finally, here are a few more resources with useful information:

    Other Popular Online MBA Program Pages