Online MBA Programs in Rhode Island
This page reviews the many online MBA programs in Rhode Island as well as schools in neighboring states available to Rhode Islanders.
The best MBA programs in Rhode Island are easy to find below. Other program characteristics, such as concentrations and program admission requirements, are also provided to help you determine your eligibility to decide the business school in Rhode Island that fits your learning goals.
Although Rhode Island does not have any AACSB-accredited online MBA programs, there are many MBA programs offered in states nearby, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts. With an online MBA program, you can complete your coursework from the comfort of your own home or attend on-campus classes through blended learning. This section details some of the online MBA programs accredited by the AACSB that accept residents from Rhode Island.
Connecticut
1. Quinnipiac University – School of Business
The online MBA program at the Quinnipiac University School of Business is AACSB-accredited and tied for 50th place in the country by US News & World Report. The program curriculum focuses on the importance of decision-making in the business world and teaches students innovative decision-making tools. You will complete 46 credit hours towards a general business degree or one of three specializations in Chartered Financial Analyst, Health Care Management, or Supply Chain Management.
MBA Program Admission
Quinnipiac University admits students into the online MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Your application must include transcripts from every university you have attended, two recommendation letters, a resume, and a personal statement. You will also need to send your scores from the GMAT or the GRE unless you qualify for an exemption due to experience or qualifications.
Foundational Coursework
Core Curriculum (28 credit hours) – Foundations for Decision Making, Managing the Decision Making Process, Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making, Organizational Behavior and Leadership for Decision Makers, Decision Making for Business Operations, Financial Decision Making, Marketing Decision Making, Decision Making in a Global Economy, Integrated Strategic Decision Making Capstone Project, and one of the following: Managerial Economics, Information Systems Strategy, or Business Decision Analysis
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
- Chartered Financial Analyst (18 credit hours) – Financial Statement Analysis, Global Investment Analysis, Fixed Income Investments, Derivatives, Portfolio Theory, Capstone Seminar in Investment Analysis
- Health Care Management (18 credit hours) – Foundations of Health Care Management, Quality Management in Health Care Facilities, Integrated Health Systems & Managed Care, Financial Management in Health Care Organization, Legal Aspects of Health Care Delivery, and choose one elective from Corporate Compliance in the Health Care Industry, Organization & Management of Long-term Care Facilities, Consulting Practicum I & II, Project Management, Legal Aspects of Health Care Delivery, Operations & Supply Chain Management
- Supply Chain Management (18 credit hours) – Strategic Sourcing & Supply Management, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Transportation Management, Managing Marketing Channels, and six credit hours of approved electives
2. University of New Haven – College of Business
The University of New Haven College of Business offers several MBA programs. The Flexible MBA program can be completed fully online either full-time or part-time and is accredited by the AACSB. Eight concentration options are offered and require 30 to 48 credit hours to graduate, depending on whether you completed any business courses in your undergraduate study.
MBA Program Admission
Students are accepted into the program for either fall or spring start dates. Several factors are taken into account in the application process. You will need to submit two recommendation letters, transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores, and a resume with your application form.
Foundational Coursework
Core Courses (18 credit hours; can be waived with proof of comparable undergraduate study) – Financial Accounting for Managers, Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, Financial Management, Probability and Statistics, Management Process, Marketing
< intense>Advanced Courses (18 credit hours) – Managerial Accounting, Managing in Global Markets, Finance Strategy and Valuation, Management of Human Resources, Business and Society, Strategic Management
Massachusetts
3. Northeastern University – D’Amore-McKim School of Business
Northeastern University has been offering an AACSB-accredited MBA fully online for 10 years with the option to complete either an international or on-campus study experience. The program was tied for 36th place among similar programs across the country by US News and World Report in 2016. The program requires 50 credit hours and has eight different concentration options for you to customize your learning experience, or you can complete a dual degree with a Master of Science (MS) in Finance.
MBA Program Admission
You must have an undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). When you apply, you will need to send transcripts, a resume, two recommendation letters, a personal essay, and the application fee. Unlike many other MBA programs, GMAT or GRE scores are not required; however, you need at least five years of professional experience.
Foundational Coursework
Core Curriculum (35 credit hours) – Financial Statement Preparation and Analysis, Identifying Strategic Implications in Accounting Data, Enterprise Growth and Innovation, Value Creation through Financial Decision Making, Managing People and Organizations, Managing the Global Enterprise, Global Competition, and Market Dominance, Managing Ethics in the Workplace and Marketplace, Information Analysis, Managing Information Resources, Management of Service and Manufacturing Operations, Creating and Sustaining Customer Markets, Strategic Decision Making in a Changing Environment.
4. Simmons College – School of Management
The online MBA degree offered by Simmons College is accredited by the AACSB, consists of 54 credit hours, and focuses on women’s leadership in business. You can combine online classes with on-campus classes in the Boston area or complete the entire degree online. The program is offered part-time and can be completed in as little as 24 months.
MBA Program Admission
You can apply to Simmons College at any time for many different start dates throughout the year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The application requirements include the online form, three essays, two recommendation letters, transcripts, a resume, and the application fee ($75). GMAT or GRE scores are not required but can be submitted at your discretion if you have taken either exam.
Foundational Coursework
Core Curriculum (54 credit hours) – Financial Reporting and Analysis, Leading Individuals and Groups, Quantitative Analysis, Strategic Thinking, and Analytical Decision Making, Economic Analysis for Managers, Managerial Accounting, Marketing Management, Technology, and Operations Management, Finance, Leading Organizational Change, Negotiation and Problem Solving, Business, Government, and the Global Economy, Strategic Management Capstone Project, Financial Strategies, and two electives
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
The program offers a general business degree focused on women’s leadership in business, but no specific concentrations are presented.
5. Suffolk University – Sawyer Business School
The Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University has been open since 1937. Now the school has over 3,000 students and 100 faculty members. The online MBA program is AACSB-accredited and you can complete the degree in general business or with one of many different concentrations. The program requires up to 49 credit hours. Courses are offered through the online platform, and you will also participate in a live chat with professors and classmates each week for 90 minutes. You can complete the degree fully online or combine online classes with on-campus classes in the Boston area.
MBA Program Admission
For admission into the MBA program, you will need the application form and fee with your undergraduate transcripts, personal statement, resume, letter of recommendation, and GMAT or GRE scores.
Foundational Coursework
Core Curriculum (15 credit hours but may be waived with proof of equivalent study) – Economics, Managerial Statistics, Operations Management: Design and Analysis, Corporate Financial Reporting and Control, Value-Based Financial Management, Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value
Required Courses (18 credit hours) – Collaborate: Ethics, Teams & Project Management, Innovate: Entrepreneurial Thinking, IT & Business Law, Immerse, Building Global Connections, World-Class Strategies, Leading and Implementing Change
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
The online MBA program at Suffolk University offers the following six concentrations, although you do not need to complete a concentration to graduate.
- Accounting (12 credit hours) – Choose four from Graduate Financial Accounting II, Graduate Financial Accounting III, Cost and Managerial Accounting, Auditing and Assurance Services, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Advanced Topics in Managerial Accounting, Accounting Information Systems, International Accounting
- Entrepreneurship (12 credit hours) – Choose four from Business Startups, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Writing the Business Plan, Global Innovation & New Product Development in Virtual Team, Business Opportunities Using Design Thinking and Biomimicry, Problem Solving for Small Business, Green and Sustainable Business
- Finance (12 credit hours) – Money & Capital Markets, Investment Analysis, Options and Futures, Multinational Financial Management
- International Business (12 credit hours) – Choose four from International Accounting, Managing in the International Legal Environment, Multinational Financial Management, Global Innovation & New Product Development in Virtual Team, International Strategy, International Marketing
- Marketing (12 credit hours) – Marketing Research for Managers, Strategic Marketing, Sales Management, International Marketing
- Strategic Management (12 credit hours) – Choose four from Corporate Entrepreneurship, Corporate Innovation, Strategic Marketing, Mergers and Acquisitions, International Strategy
6. University of Massachusetts Amherst – Isenberg School of Management
The Isenberg School of Management has offered the online MBA degree for over 10 years. In 2016, US News and World Report ranked the online MBA program in a tie for 12th across the country. The program requires at least 39 credit hours to graduate and offers five focus areas to customize your degree.
MBA Program Admission
Many applicants have at least three to five years of experience when applying to the program, but the experience is not mandatory. To apply for the online MBA program, you will need to send the application form, a personal essay, transcripts from all your previous university studies, two letters of recommendation, and a resume. A GMAT score is also required unless you meet extensive academic and professional experience requirements.
Foundational Coursework
Foundation Courses (two credit hours but may be waived with proof of equivalent study) – Foundations of Accounting, Foundations of Finance
Core Curriculum (34 credit hours) – Strategic Information Management, Business Data Analysis & Statistical Methods, Marketing Strategy or Service Marketing Management, Leadership & Organizational Behavior, Business Law, Human Resource Management, Economic Analysis for Managers, Operations Management, Finance & Managerial Accounting, Corporate Finance, Organizational Strategy
7. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth – Charlton School of Business
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus offers a fully online MBA degree”. US News and World Report ranked the program in a tie for 62nd among all online MBA programs across the country in 2016. The degree can be completed full-time or part-time, depending on your needs and the required courses’ availability. It requires you to complete 30-39 credit hours depending on whether you have completed the necessary prerequisite courses before starting the program. Most students study part-time. The university is also designated as a Military Friendly School.
MBA Program Admission
To apply to the program, you need a bachelor’s degree in any subject; however, if you have a bachelor’s degree in business, you may be eligible to waive the program’s prerequisite courses, which will save you time and money. You will need to submit your transcripts, GMAT score, two letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and a resume with your application to be considered.
Foundational Coursework
Core Curriculum (21 credit hours) – Accounting for Decision Making, Marketing Strategy, Finance for Decision Making, Information Technology Management, Advanced Operations Analysis, Advanced Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
The program offers the following specializations: Accounting, Finance, International Business, Organizational Leadership, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Information Systems, Environmental Policy, Public Management, Sustainable Development, and Health Systems Management. For any of the specializations, you must complete three approved electives in the same area.
8. University of Massachusetts Lowell – Robert J. Manning School of Business
The University of Massachusetts Lowell offers an AACSB-accredited MBA online. The program requires 30-42 credit hours depending on whether you completed any business classes as part of your bachelor’s degree and can be done as a general business degree or with a concentration in Finance, Accounting, Information Technology, or Marketing. The entire degree can be done online, or you can combine the online classes with on-campus classes.
MBA Program Admission
It would help if you had a bachelor’s degree in applying for the online MBA program and took courses in microeconomics and statistics. The application process is done online, and afterward, you must send your transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores, three recommendation letters, a resume, and a personal essay. The GMAT or GRE score may be waived on a case-by-case basis if you have at least eight years of professional experience.
Foundational Coursework
Foundation Courses (12 credit hours, may be waived if you have taken similar courses in your undergraduate degree) – Financial Accounting, Business Financial Analysis, Marketing Fundamentals, Operations Fundamentals, Organizational Behavior, Global Enterprise and Competition
Core Courses (21 credit hours) – Accounting Information for Management Decisions, Corporate Finance, Customers and Markets, Management Information Systems, Operations Management, Managing Organizational Change, Strategy Formation, and Implementation
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
- Accounting (9 credit hours) – Choose three from Advanced Management and Sustainability Accounting, Advanced Cost Management, Tax Factors in Business Decisions, Globalization and Accounting, Contemporary Accounting Issues, Taxation of Business Entities, Financial Accounting Theory and Research, Fraud Exam & Forensic Accounting, Special Topics in Accounting
- Finance (9 credit hours) – Choose three from Financial Markets/Policy, Fixed Income Securities, Financial Derivatives, International Financial Management, Advanced Portfolio Management, International Financial Management, Current Topics in Finance
- Information Technology (9 credit hours) – Choose three from Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure, Systems Design and Software Project Management, Electronic Business for Managers, Enterprise System Management, Current Topics in Management and Information Systems, Managerial Quality Control, Independent Study in Management Information Systems
- Marketing (9 credit hours) – Choose three from Market Research for Entrepreneurs, International Marketing, New Product Development, Sales Management, Digital Marketing, Sustainable/Green Marketing, Current Topics in Marketing
9. Western New England University – College of Business
The MBA program at Western New England University is accredited by the AACSB and consists of 36 credits. You can study either full-time or part-time and study fully online or through a combination of online and on-campus classes. The university also offers an optional Leadership Certificate Program for students interested in leadership opportunities or currently employed in leadership positions in business organizations.
MBA Program Admission
Students can begin the program in the fall, winter, spring, or summer term. It would help if you had either a bachelor’s degree in business or proof you have taken courses in accounting, finance, and statistics to be eligible for the program. You will need to submit your transcripts, GMAT scores, two recommendation letters, two personal essays, and a resume with your application.
Foundational Coursework
Core Curriculum (27 credit hours) – Accounting for Decision Makers, Information Technology Management and Applications, Decision Support Models, Business and Its Environment, Strategic Management, Managerial Finance, Leadership, Problem Solving & Decision Making, Organizational Behavior, and Theory, Marketing Management
Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
The program has a general business focus, and no specializations are offered. You will take nine credit hours of electives based on your interests.
Rhode Island MBA Salary and Job Outlook
Rhode Island’s economy is expected to grow by 10.4% from 2012 to 2022, and jobs in the Management and Business, and Financial Operations sectors are expected to grow even more, at 10.9% and 14.5%, respectively.1 If we look at the total number of openings expected by 2022, 726 new positions for General and Operations Managers, 685 new positions for Management Analysts, and 404 new positions for Market Research Analysts & Marketing Specialists are expected among others in the business area. 1
Pursuing an MBA in Rhode Island or nearby programs available to Rhode Islanders may be the best way to enter the business sector with the skills and knowledge in demand in the coming years. Despite the small size of the state, Providence is one of the country’s larger urban centers and offers opportunities for business careers. MBA graduates typically make higher than average annual salaries and enjoy other benefits than their peers in other sectors. If you want challenges, teamwork, and fast-paced work environments, an MBA degree may help you further develop your existing business career or make a change to a new, growing industry.
Here are some statistics on specific business careers in Rhode Island according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Chief Executives make a median salary of $187,200+ and these positions are expected to increase by 3% by 2022.2
- General and Operations Managers earn a median salary of $121,500 and opportunities in this position will grow by 13% by 2022.3
- All other types of Managers earn a median salary of $108,300 and positions are projected to grow by 7% by 2022.4
- Management Analyst positions will grow by 22% by 2022 and offer a median salary of $78,400.5
Payscale.com also has many statistics on MBA wages:
- The average salary for an MBA graduate in Rhode Island is between $53,577-$141,116.
- The average salary for MBA graduates with a concentration in Finance is between $51,842-$158,561.
- MBA graduates from Bryant University earn an average of $62,900 after graduation and this salary increases to $118,000 after 10 years of experience.
- Brown University graduates earn comparable salaries: $61,200 in the early career stage and $110,000 after accumulating 10 years of experience.
- The early career salary for a University of Rhode Island MBA graduate is $54,000 and this increases to $98,300 after 10 years.