Online MBA in Kentucky

Welcome to our online MBA programs in Kentucky guide! Kentucky might be famous for bluegrass and bourbon, but it is also home to several excellent business schools and MBA programs. To help you in your online MBA search, we have done the research for you. Below, you will find every business school in Kentucky – plus, additional helpful information such as scholarships and financial aid. So, go ahead and begin your search for the right online MBA program in Kentucky – and take your career to the next level.

Online MBA Programs in Kentucky

Kentucky is gaining popularity with its education programs. The state shows promise of great opportunities for new businesses and job potential. Many universities in the state offer online or distance MBA programs, in addition to on-campus, traditional programs. Accredited online MBA programs in Kentucky are often cheaper than their full-time counterparts since online students do not generally utilize the campus services as much as on-campus students. These help working professionals make their leap into management. These online MBA programs can help working professionals cross over into management while allowing them to continue working while pursuing their MBA.

(The six online MBA programs in Kentucky listed below are in alphabetical order.)

1. Eastern Kentucky University

EKU offers an MBA online through its College of Business and Technology
that is comparable to its on-campus counterpart. The program, whose campus is located in Richmond, Kentucky, gives online students access to advisors who will help guide you through it based on their unique needs. The online MBA program is ideal for business administration graduates, but students without a business degree can also enroll. The program comprises 30 credit hours and offers three concentration options: General MBA, Accounting, and Integrated Communications.

2. Morehead State University

Morehead State University’s online MBA offered through its College of Business and Public Affairs is ideal for working professionals. All courses and coursework can be accessed through the internet. Students must complete 24 core credit hours and six hours of electives, for a total of 30 credit hours to complete the program. Online students can access the institution’s career services, which offer career counseling and internship placement. The Association accredits Morehead’s program to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. It offers concentrations in Accounting, Bank Management (Finance), Computer Information Systems, Human Resource Management, and Management.

3. Murray State University

Murray State University’s Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business has offered an accredited online MBA since 2005 and has maintained AACSB accreditation since 1981. Murray State’s MBA program focuses on helping working professional students move into management. The online program features the same quality of education as its on-campus counterpart. Thirty credit hours are required to complete the program, which usually takes students with a business degree for about 18 months. The MBA program does not offer any concentrations.

4. University of Kentucky

The Carol Martin Gatton College of Business and Economics of the University of Kentucky offers a hybrid MBA program in the form of a unique one-year accelerated MBA program online. Accredited by the AACSB since 1926, UK’s program allows students to work on hands-on projects with established businesses and provides them with a global and multidisciplinary perspective. Accredited by AACSB International, UK’s MBA program requires 51 credit hours for its one-year accelerated track. The college also provides five-year dual and joint degree programs: One-Year Accelerated MBA, Professional Evening MBA, Executive MBA, and Professional Greek MBA.

5. University of Louisville

The University of Louisville’s College of Business offers a online MBA program to students all over the world. Accredited by AACSB International, the Full-Time MBA is a 13-month program requiring no pre-requisite courses and comprising 60 credit hours. The university also offers a Dual MBA program, an Executive MBA program, a Professional MBA, and an Entrepreneurship MBA.

6. Western Kentucky University

The AACSB accredited program at the Gordon Ford College of Business of Western Kentucky University trains graduates for high-ranking careers in various organizations. Students at WKU can choose between a full-time and a part-time program, allowing working professionals to choose three to 12 hours per semester. The courses are available in full-time, online, and professional options. The online program lasts between 18 months to five years, while the professional MBA program is a two-year program ideal for candidates who have five or more years of management experience.

MBA Programs in Kentucky

As mentioned, Kentucky is a good state for students looking to pursue an MBA. The business schools profiled below all offer accredited programs in Kentucky. Continue reading to find out more about each program.

(The eight MBA programs in Kentucky listed below are in alphabetical order.)

1. Bellarmine University

Bellarmine University is an independent liberal arts institution located in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a private Catholic university that caters to local and global students. Bellarmine offers more than 50 majors and is home to students from across 50 countries around the world. Bellarmine University’s W. Fielding Rubel School of Business was the first college in Kentucky to receive AACSB accreditation. There are three MBA options – Weekend, Weeknight, and Executive programs. The MBA programs’ duration is between 16 months and three years, and most require 48 credit hours to graduate. Currently, there are about 150 students enrolled in the business school. Concentration options include Finance, Marketing, Healthcare Leadership, Strategic Consulting, and Taxation.

2. Eastern Kentucky University

Located in Richmond, Kentucky,
the MBA program at EKU is AACSB accredited and is suitable for students with or without undergraduate degrees in business administration. Concentration options include General, Accounting, and Integrated Communications. All MBA programs require a maximum of only one night a week to be spent in class, and both online and hybrid options are available.

3. Morehead State University

Morehead State University is a public institution founded in 1887 and it is the first institution to offer an MBA program completely online. Students with MBA degrees need to take a minimum of 30 semester hours to complete the program. All students have access to career services, which offers career counseling and internship placement.

4. Murray State University

Murray State University’s Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business MBA program has been accredited by the AACSB since 1981 and its online MBA program has been available since 2005. The online program features the same courses and materials as its on-campus counterpart.

5. Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University is a public institution located in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The college’s Haile/US Bank College of Business offers an MBA degree, along with a Master of Accountancy program and a Master of Leadership and Organizational Change (ELOC) program. NKU’s MBA program can be completed in as little as two years and covers topics such as leadership, project management, strategy, and analytics.

6. University of Kentucky

Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the University of Kentucky, or the UK, is one of the state’s two largest universities. The AACSB has accredited it since 1926, and it offers about 120 master’s degree programs. UK’s Gatton College offers a unique one-year accelerated MBA program, which allows students to get hands-on experience and make important connections with potential future employers.

7. University of Louisville

The University of Louisville offers a a 15-month Global MBA program that is accredited by the Foundation of International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA). Program options include the Full-Time MBA, Entrepreneurship MBA, Professional MBA, Dual MBA, and Executive MBA.

8. Western Kentucky University

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The university is popular for its affordable MBA programs that are accredited by AACSB International. Full-time, online, and professional options are offered at WKU. The full-time MBA program can be completed in as little as 12 months, the online program can be completed in 18 months to five years, and the professional MBA program can be completed in two years.

Additional MBA Programs in Kentucky (Non-AACSB Accredited)

Fewer than 10% of colleges and universities in the USA are AACSB-accredited. Besides AACSB, there are two other accreditation bodies for B-schools, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The following list is comprised of schools that are accredited by these bodies.

Campus MBA Programs in Kentucky

1. Thomas Moore College

The MBA program at Thomas Moore College is ideal for the working professional. Thomas Moore College’s Adult and Professional Program is ACBSP-accredited and provides its students with the ideal environment for professional growth. Students are allowed to hone their business research skills through a hands-on approach.
The program lasts for 18 months, and the schedule is comprised of 39 semester hours. Applicants should have taken previous coursework in Economics, Accounting, Finance, Calculus, and Statistics. The program is available on-campus only, and campuses are located in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, and Blue Ash, Ohio. Coursework is highlighted by a Master Project, a group project that allows students to work as a consulting firm for a real company.

Online MBA Programs in Kentucky

1. Campbellsville University

The MBA program at Campbellsville University is a completely online program that ranks among the top 100 online MBA programs in the country Campbellsville is SACSCOC-accredited. Students learn advanced techniques and strategies they can use in the business world. The program offers six specializations: Church Management, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, International Business, Marketing, and Accounting. The program at Campbellsville comprises 36 credit hours, which can be completed by working professionals in less than two years.

2. Sullivan University

The program at Sullivan University trains students to handle the evolving world of business. It helps students learn strategic planning, critical thinking, financial analysis, and reasoning. The program offers five concentrations: Accounting, Conflict Management, Healthcare Management, Hospitality Management, and Strategic Human Capital Management. Applicants need to have strong analytical, interpersonal, and language skills. Sullivan’s MBA degree is an accelerated MBA program taking 18 months to complete.

3. Thomas Moore College

Thomas Moore College’s online MBA program was started in 1996 and s available as an online program and an on-campus program. Accredited by ACBSP, the Thomas Moore College Adult and Professional Program (TAP) guides students toward professional growth. This is an 18-month program comprised of 39 semester hours. Applicants should have a background in economics, accounting, finance, calculus, and statistics.

Kentucky MBA Salary and Job Outlook

Several successful companies have recognized Kentucky as a great place to begin their business. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average pay for top executives in Kentucky was $173,490 per year ($83.41/hour) in 2016. ¹ Kentucky is home to several Fortune 500 companies’ headquarters. The primary enterprises in Kentucky’s economy are livestock (horses and cattle), crops (tobacco and soybeans), manufacturing (motor vehicles), and mining (coal).² Companies in these industries may offer good employment options for management-level jobs. The cities of Louisville, Lexington-Fayette, and Bowling Green offer the highest level of employment.¹

The following occupations in in Kentucky are often held by MBA holders. Their average salaries are listed below:

Chief Executive Officer: $173,490
General and Operations Manager: $90,820
Financial Manager: $107,950
Financial Analyst: $74,620
Marketing Manager: $112,000
Operations Manager: $46,816 – $111,871
Advertising and Promotions Manager: $88,660
Sales Manager: $122,190
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager: $84,680
Computer and Information Systems Manager: $113,300

Other Popular Online MBA Program Pages

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Kentucky: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ky.htm
2. Netstate, Kentucky Economy: https://www.netstate.com/economy/ky_economy.htm