Online MBA in South Carolina
Welcome to our online MBA programs in South Carolina guide.
In this guide, you will find a quick snapshot of each online MBA program offered. Each program has been researched in detail and includes information on program structure, admissions, core courses, and completion options (if applicable). For greater detail about a program, you can easily click through to an official school website. All the best as you pursue your accredited MBA online!
Online education has grown leaps and bounds in the last 5-10 years. Many excellent programs are delivered by top-notch schools entirely, or partly, online. If you are looking for AACSB-Accredited online MBA programs in South Carolina, you will find two options: Francis Marion University and the University of South Carolina. Take a look below and see if either fits your criteria!
Online MBA Programs in South Carolina
The below online MBA programs in South Carolina are listed in alphabetical order.
1. Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University offers a hybrid MBA that includes both online and campus-based instruction. It is designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals who need flexibility while pursuing an MBA. Francis Marion is AACSB Accredited, and its classes are taught by professors who hold Ph.D.’s and have extensive experience in their respective fields.
The program is 30 credit hours and consists of 10 courses. Students typically study for five consecutive semesters with two courses each semester. Students are required to visit campus no more than three times each semester in terms of campus participation. The remaining classwork is done online and is self-paced. An Accelerated schedule can be followed for students who have more time on their hands or wish to graduate sooner. The accelerated schedule enables students to take four courses per semester and complete the program only 15 months.
Professionals use technology to deliver and manage course content, allowing them to balance the demands of work, personal life, and academic requirements.
Program Admission
Admission is rolling, and students are required to submit an official transcript from all previously attended colleges or universities and an official GMAT score. Class starts on August 24 for the fall semester, January 12 for the spring semester, and May 10 for the summer semester.
Foundational Coursework
Standard Coursework (30 Credits) – Accounting Analysis, Applied Corporate Finance, Applied Marketing, Business Analytics, Contemporary Issues in Business, Economic Analysis, Leadership & Management, Operations Management, Systems Design, and Strategic Planning.
2. University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina offers a Professional MBA that is designed for working professionals who want to earn an MBA but need to maintain their career and family lives. The program is AACSB Accredited and makes use of a hybrid delivery format. The curriculum is rigorous, and professors work hard to bring real-world case scenarios and relevant classroom discussions.
Students can finish the program in 28 months by taking one course every seven weeks. The program comprises 16 courses (10 core courses and six electives) and does not require and prerequisites. Class meets one night per week, Mondays to Thursdays, from 6 – 9 pm. Start dates are in January and August.
Foundational Coursework
PMBA Standard Coursework (10 courses) – Competing Through People, Financial Accounting, Financial Policies, Information Systems, Managerial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Quantitative Methods, Strategic Management.
Program Admission
The Darla Moore School of Business seeks qualified and well-rounded working professionals from a variety of career tracks. The following criteria are set for admission: two-year post-bachelor work experience, an official transcript of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, valid GMAT/GRE score.
Online MBA Program Concentrations and Specialization Options
- IMBA – Finance (4 courses) – Example Courses: Advanced Financial Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Investment Management.
- IMBA – Global Supply Chain & Operations Management (5 courses) – Example Courses: Business Process Analysis Design & Implementation, Global Sourcing: Strategies & Applications, Models in Supply Chain Management.
- IMBA – Marketing (4 courses) – Example Courses: Advanced Marketing Research, Marketing Communications, Theory & Analysis of Consumer Behavior.
- IMBA – Strategic Management (4 courses) – Example Courses: Data Resource Management, Global intellectual Property Strategy & Management, Product/Branding Policies.
- PMBA – International Business Concentration (4 courses) – Example Courses: International Finance, Managing Cross-Border Teams, Survey of International Business.
South Carolina Online MBA Salary and Job Outlook
If you are looking to graduate and work in South Carolina, it’s important to know what your job outlook might look like. Thankfully, there is a lot of data that can help paint a picture.
First, let’s look at the state as a whole. According to the BEA, South Carolina’s GDP growth ranking has not changed at all in the last ten years – it sits at 27th in the nation with a 2014 GDP of $189.3 billion. Also, per capita personal income (PCPI) sits at 80% of the national average at $38,041 – the national average is $47,669. However, its PCPI did grow at a slightly faster rate from 2014-2015 than the national average, at 3.7 vs. 3.5 percent. According to BLS data (April 2016), South Carolina’s unemployment rate sits at 5.8% – or 41st in the nation. At 5.8%, South Carolina is tied with Washington and slightly edges out other southern states such as Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and West Virginia.
South Carolina is home to many top-notch companies and currently has one Fortune 500 company in Fort Mill: Domtar. Domtar is a pulp and paper company that sits on the Fortune 500 list at 470. Its headquarters are in Montreal, but its operations center is in South Carolina. The company employees nearly 10,000 people serving more than 50 countries worldwide. Other large employers in South Carolina include both the private and public sectors. Private sector companies include Boeing Corporation (8,000 + employees), retail giant Walmart (2500 + employees), automotive giant Robert Bosch (2,000+ employees), and software company Blackbaud Inc. (1,300 + employees).
From generating higher returns to creating hiring policies and leveraging resources, MBA students’ skills are useful to each of the above companies – and countless more.
Apart from state economic data and major state employers, your job outlook is also impacted by the school you choose to enroll. The fact is, each school is a “brand,” and employers value some brands more than others. Think of Harvard. Then, think of your local community college. Chances are, a future employer will likely value a Harvard degree more than a degree from your local college. Why? The perceived value of the brand. School brand also impacts your potential salary – and it can have a large impact.
All in all, though, South Carolina is home to many top-notch, rigorous and well-respected MBA programs, including programs offered at Clemson University and The University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business. Each program is unique but offers a well-structured and excellent education. For example, The University of South Carolina’s MBA program for international business is ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report. At the same time, Clemson is widely known for its innovative approach to its MBA program.
However, as stated above, a school’s brand does affect your pay potential. Take a look at data provided by Payscale.com for business schools in South Carolina.
- Clemson University – early career pay: $68,800; Mid-Career: $106,000
- University of South Carolina – early career pay: $68,400; Mid-Career: $124,000
As the last point, let’s take a look at job positions MBA graduates typically fill. These include Chief Executives, Financial Managers, Marketing Managers, and others. Pay for these positions typically outperform the annual mean wage by at least double – if not triple. That’s a fantastic ROI! According to the BLS, the annual mean wage for 2015 in South Carolina is $40,580. Look below and compare this wage with what MBA grads can expect to receive in various positions. Not too bad!
- Chief Executives – $159,240
- General and Operations Managers- $96,040
- Managers, All Other- $87,840
- Financial Managers- $114,030
- Marketing Managers- $107,210