Business professionals wanting to enhance skill sets and advance careers look to online graduate business programs for their flexibility. Students enrolling in Harbert College of Business find that beyond the ease of access to streaming lectures is a surprisingly engaging learning experience.

“Pursuing an online graduate degree can be a solitary pursuit even with the support of family and co-workers,” said Executive Director of Online and Full-Time MBA Programs Jim Parrish. “We’ve invested in technologies that enable engagement with professors and classmates during live, streaming classes, but beyond that, we provide opportunities for online students to have a global business experience, attend on-campus events, and partner with their online and on-campus classmates on real-world business cases. Beyond engaged learning, we want them to know they are part of the Auburn Family.”

This interactive learning experience—the result of 30 years of experience providing distance learning to graduate students across the nation—is one reason Harbert College’s online programs consistently rank among the nation’s best by various rankings organizations.

Today, U.S. News & World Report released its 2022 survey of the nation’s best online programs and Harbert College is listed among the nation’s top 25 public schools for Best Online MBA Programs and Best Online Graduate Business Programs. Additionally, students with military experience gave high marks for affordability and accessibility, putting Harbert online MBA and graduate business programs among the top 20 public schools for veterans. Three specialized graduate programs were recognized in the top 15—Online Finance MBA, Online Business Analytics MBA, and Online General Management MBA. Harbert jumped to #10 after finishing outside the top 25 for general management in 2021.  

Harbert College online graduate programs consistently rank high in U.S. News & World Report’s surveys, as well as those of other organizations prominent in the graduate program space. Harbert College is listed #14 among Poets & Quant’s Best Online MBA Programs of 2022, its fifth straight top 15 finish, while its #22 placement on The Princeton Review’s list of Top 50 Online MBA Programs for 2022, marking six consecutive years in the top 25.  Harbert College also was on Princeton Review’s list of Best Business Schools on the strength of its Full-Time MBA. 

“Our consistent performance is in part due to our experience in online learning. We were among the first business colleges to step into the distance learning space 30 years ago when we started recording lectures on VHS tapes and mailing them to students,” said Associate Dean of Graduate and Executive Programs Michael Wesson. “Today, we provide a state-of-the-art learning experience that we feel is second to none in terms of student engagement with faculty and peers. The result is a robust curriculum delivered in a flexible format that enables us to produce skilled students that are highly valued by employers.”

Ranking organizations review statistical data and peer assessment surveys in their review of the nation’s best graduate programs. Surveys of online programs measure the quality and amount of student engagement with faculty and classmates, the aptitude of students enrolled, the strength of faculty, and the effectiveness of technology used to facilitate online learning.

In Poets & Quants’ 2022 survey of best online MBA programs, Harbert College graduates who took part in the survey rated faculty responsiveness and accessibility high with four out of five giving the highest possible ranking. When asked if they would recommend the business program to a colleague, friend, or relative, 85% responded with the highest ranking.     

In addressing consistently high student survey responses, Parrish said, “Our dedicated team of faculty and professional staff continue to exceed expectations in their care and support for our students and continue the tradition of welcoming new Auburn Family members with open arms.”

About the Harbert College of Business

The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business at Auburn University is a nationally ranked hub of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing business education that is inspiring the next generation of business leaders. Our world-class faculty deliver unparalleled academic rigor in the classroom, while our research-driven scholarship advances thought leadership and best practice in emerging business disciplines. Our alumni, friends, and corporate partners actively support and engage our faculty and students to integrate business theory with practical experience and instill the level of professional proficiency and personal integrity demanded by employers around the globe. Learn more at harbert.auburn.edu.