If you are a working professional, have a sense of urgency to execute an ardent desire for educational and career advancement, and are willing to exert extra effort and energy to reach that goal, pursuing an accelerated MBA online program would be the best decision you can make!

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program holds a certain level of prestige because of its applicability in most industries. It is also lauded for preparing students for positions of leadership in different organizations.

If you think two to three years is too long for an MBA and you have what it takes to cope with the challenges of accelerated MBA programs without giving up your job, consider Accelerated MBA Online Programs that take only 12 months to complete. It is unarguably shorter than the standard 24-month MBA program.

Accelerated MBA Online Program: What Is It?

A master’s degree in business administration is fast becoming a standard requirement for several leadership positions in most industries.

In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says the need for financial and management analysts will rise by 9% and 11% respectively, from 2021 to 2031. The minimum qualification for these jobs is a bachelor’s degree and two or more years of relevant work experience.

Accelerated MBA programs online allow you to finish your graduate studies one year earlier than traditional MBA students. These are the salient features and benefits of an Accelerated Online MBA:

They have the same educational value as traditional MBAs but cost less,
Ideal for experienced working professionals with undergraduate degrees in business,
Also ideal for experienced working professionals who want a shorter yet equally advanced business education to propel their careers.

Typically, accelerated online MBA programs online may not provide the right set-up for holders of non-business bachelor’s degrees and those with non-relevant professional experience.

The 20 Accelerated Online MBAs Leading the Way

These 20 fast-track online MBA programs are key to starting your journey to a brighter professional future:

University of South Florida

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 16 Months
Accreditation: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

The 16-month Online MBA program at the University of Florida is designed for students who meet specific requirements, particularly graduates of undergraduate studies who have completed their education in the past seven years.

The class sessions of UF’s online accelerated MBA program are asynchronous. They allow students to attend their classes anytime they feel comfortable with them. It encompasses weekly discussions that make way for network building which is a primary element of a great MBA experience.

As a student of UF’s online accelerated MBA programs, you will work with an advisor to choose electives relative to your area of interest. These are:

Compliance, Risk, and Anti-Money Laundering
Cybersecurity
Data Analytics
Finance
Healthcare Analytics

Longwood University

MBA – General Business Online

Program Duration: 15 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The General Business online accelerated MBA program of Longwood University is one of the cheapest accelerated MBA online programs in the United States. It prepares you for management roles designed to adapt to the modern business world.

Longwood’s online accelerated MBA program is delivered 100% online. It aims to allow you to pursue advanced studies in business to provide you with knowledge and skills in:

Critical Thinking and Analysis
Data Analytics and Management
Financial Accounting
Economics
Marketing
Human Resource Management, and
Other vital knowledge and skills online programs in business can offer to advance your career.

Old Dominion University

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 21 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

If you have a flair for learning sound technology management principles and techniques, you should consider pursuing accelerated MBA programs online at Old Dominion University.

Old Dominion’s accelerated MBA online program provides you with the same knowledge you will get from a standard semester – in less time. The program consists of five areas of concentration that are all intended to strengthen your professional qualifications:

Business Analytics
Maritime and ports management
Project management
Public procurement and contract management
Supply chain management

North Carolina State University

Professional Online MBA

Program Duration: 21 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

NCSU’s Professional Online MBA programs are a powerful yet flexible investment that you can make now to shape a brighter future. They are flexible in the sense that it allows you to attend classes online at your convenient time, but they provide an option to allow you to take your courses on-campus, particularly at Raleigh or Research Triangle Park.

The university’s accelerated MBA program allows you to complete your entire MBA degree in 21 months. It is the program you should take if you are chasing time-sensitive career goals. This accelerated MBA program online also introduces you to the same world-class faculty that teaches the university’s traditional on-campus accelerated MBA students. NCSU guarantees to give you the value you’re looking for in modern-day management education.

University of Delaware

Online MBA Degree Program

Program Duration: 16 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The University of Delaware’s accelerated MBA programs is designed to provide you with industry insights and business analytics tools to prepare you for executive leadership and financial management, and human resource management roles in business organizations. Its flexible, fully online course format is designed for working professionals who aspire to educational and professional advancement through an MBA degree.

UD offers five areas of specialization that are all designed to help you succeed in your chosen field:

Business Analytics
Healthcare Management
Strategic Leadership
Finance
International Business

Shippensburg University

Ship MBA Online

Program Duration: 18 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

Shippensburg University’s Ship MBA Online is an accelerated MBA program designed to equip you with the business and financial management knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in domestic and international Markets. It is delivered 100% online and intends to provide you with quality, affordable, and convenient synchronous and asynchronous accelerated MBA sessions.

Shippensburg’s accelerated MBA online encompasses the following concentrations:

Accounting
Business Analytics
Finance
Health Care Management
Management Information Systems
Supply Chain Management

University of North Texas

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 14 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The accelerated MBA programs of the University of North Texas are flexible, easy-to-manage graduate programs in business. It offers 8 MBA programs in the following fields:

Organizational Behavior
Marketing Analytics
Marketing
Strategic Management
Human Resource Management
Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Analytics, and
Sport Entertainment Management

Norwich University

Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 18 Months
Accreditation: ACBSP

Norwich University takes pride in announcing that it has produced some of the “finest business leaders in the world.” Its accelerated MBA online program aims to equip you with the right tools to engage in business from a global viewpoint.

Using a dynamic curriculum, teaching industry-relevant specializations, and applying hands-on learning techniques guided by an expert faculty, you will develop a deep understanding of how the modern global business world operates. That’s what Norwich University’s online MBA programs want to impart to you.

Norwich offers seven areas of concentration. Choose which one of these fits your interest and career goals. You may also want to take the General MBA if you don’t intend to specialize.

Energy Management
Finance
Organizational Leadership
Project Management
Supply Chain Management
Technology Management, and
Construction Management

Emporia State University

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 18 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The online accelerated MBA program of Emporia State University intends to develop and hone your critical thinking and analytical skills, provide you with a deep understanding of organizational behavior from a manager’s viewpoint, and teach you sound business and financial management techniques that are necessary for the smooth operation of an enterprise.

Emporia State’s 100% accelerated MBA programs online are taught by expert faculty members with real-world experience in marketing, information systems, financial management, and managerial economics. The skills and knowledge you’ll gain from Emporia State’s accelerated online MBA program will make you an effective leader and decision-maker.

Emporia State’s MBA program consists of three areas of specialization. These are:

Accounting
Information Systems
Marketing

Fitchburg State University

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 17 Months
Accreditation: International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)

Fitchburg University’s online accelerated MBA programs are designed to allow you to complete a master’s degree in business without compromising your work and other aspects of your life.

All of its MBA programs are delivered 100% online. They are all designed to cater to working professionals who aspire to pursue a master’s degree in business and financial management at their own pace. But that’s not all. Fitchburg has accelerated its MBAs to enable you to finish the program faster than traditional MBA students.

Fitchburg offers online MBA programs in:

Accounting
Business Analytics Management
Finance
Healthcare Management
Human Resource Management
Management
Marketing
Supply Chain Management

University of Florida

Online One-Year MBA

Program Duration: 16 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The University of Florida is offering a one-year MBA degree which is an accelerated online MBA program intended to meet the needs of working professionals.

UF’s online accelerated MBA is one of the first online master’s degree programs to receive full accreditation. You need to have two years of relevant, full-time work experience to qualify for admission to UF’s accelerated online MBA program.

University of Arizona

Business Administration (MBA) – Online

Program Duration: 14 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The online accelerated MBA program of the University of Arizona commits to providing you with robust critical thinking and communication skills to solve problems in the real business world. It also aims to equip you with a sense of confidence to articulate your solutions to different stakeholders who may have varied beliefs and interpretations of the company’s issues.

The program is delivered 100% online and offered with six areas of concentration:

Entrepreneurship
Finance
Marketing
Management Information Systems
Management, and
Organizations

University of Colorado – Colorado Springs

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 18 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

“We offer the quality and prestige that comes with AACSB accreditation at an affordable price.” This is how the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs describes itself in the meta description of its website.

True enough. While the university’s accelerated MBA program is not super cheap, it is within the affordable level while it delivers quality online education. As an online student, you will be mentored by the same world-class professors and earn a graduate business degree from a respected institution.

The university offers a flexible and convenient accelerated online MBA that you can complete in just 18 months. The program also allows you to choose from 11 areas of specialization, which includes:

Cybersecurity Management
Finance
General MBA
Healthcare Management
Innovation Management
International Business
Management
Marketing
Operations & Supply Chain Management
Project Management
Sport Management

Clarkson University

Online MBA

Duration of the Program: 21 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The accelerated MBA Online programs at Clarkson University are designed for maximum flexibility and intended to cater to the needs of the industry and fulfill the desires of working professionals aspiring for educational and professional advancement.

It is delivered 100% online, is flexible, and provides value to students who want to gain advanced knowledge in business and management.

Furthermore, at Clarkson’s MBA programs, you’ll learn to formulate practical and theoretical business solutions, develop and hone your problem-solving, leadership, and critical thinking skills, and design solutions to real-world business problems. Clarkson’s online MBA prepares you for a successful career in the business world.

These are some of the vital courses you’ll come across if you study online MBA at Clarkson University:

Managerial Economics
Global Supply Chain Management
Business Information Systems
Marketing Management
Financial Management
Decision Analysis and Supply Chain Modeling
Financial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Leadership and Organizational Behavior,
Corporate Ethical and Social Responsibility
Strategic Management/Capstone

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Online MBA

Program Duration: 18 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The online MBA programs at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School have had a reputation for molding effective leaders since 2011.

The online MBA programs of UNC allow you to tailor your advanced business education to suit your schedule and field of interest. It guarantees to connect you to a 42,000-strong alumni network.

UNC-Chapel Hill offers five areas of concentration:

Entrepreneurship
Finance
Marketing
Data Analytics and Decision Making
Strategy and Consulting

Baylor University

Online MBA

Program Duration: 12 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The accelerated MBA Online programs at Baylor Baylor University are designed to shorten your career path to 12 months via a 100% online and flexible curriculum. The accelerated online MBA isn’t just about business management. It also aims to instill Christian values in its students to ensure that they will become ethical and level-headed future decision-makers.

Baylor University offers four areas of concentration. These are:

Cybersecurity.
Executive Communication
Global Trade and Supply Chain Management
Marketing

Colorado State University – Fort Collins

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 21 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

Colorado State University – Fort Collins delivers its online MBA to allow working professionals to experience graduate business education via an extensive distance-learning curriculum that carries the same value as a traditional, on-campus MBA program.

The university’s accelerated online MBA is designed to enable you to obtain a graduate degree without giving up your job. Its lessons are delivered and administered by outstanding professors with real-world business experience. They are the same instructors who teach on-campus students. CSU’s online MBA graduates will receive the same degree and learn the same knowledge and skills recognized in the business world.

Arizona State University

W. P. Carey Online MBA

Program Duration: 21 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The Online MBA of Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business is designed to equip you with leadership knowledge and skills at a schedule and location convenient to you. It allows you to pursue a graduate business degree and continue with your current career at the same time.

ASU’s online MBA courses are delivered 100% online by the same faculty who mentor its full-time MBA students. Graduates of the program will also receive the same degree conferred to on-campus MBA graduates.

Walsh University

Online Master of Business Administration

Program Duration: 12 Months
Accreditation: AACSB

The accelerated 100% online MBA program of Walsh University helps you to succeed at the executive level in your career. It provides you with the knowledge, skills, and tools you’ll need to meet the demands of the modern global business – and this happens while you’re working. With Walsh’s flexible online MBA, you don’t need to quit your job to pursue your educational and career goals. The university commits to developing your business, leadership, and strategic human resource management skills. It also commits to cultivating your adaptability to work with people from different levels of the organization.

Walsh’s master of business administration program offers four specializations. These are:

Management
Data Analytics
Healthcare Management, and
Marketing

Fayetteville State University

Online MBA Program

Months to Completion: 12
Program Accreditation: AACSB

Aside from being flexible, the accelerated MBA online programs at Fayetteville University are probably the cheapest master’s degree programs in the country. It is designed to cater to and meet the academic and career goals of working professionals.

The program makes it possible by giving you consistent access to live and recorded lectures of an outstanding faculty – via the latest and most efficient online learning software and tools.

Fayetteville University is a best-value world-class university. It guarantees that the cost of its accelerated online MBA program is only a fraction of the cost of other AACSB-accredited universities.

Take advantage of Fayetteville’s affordability. Research its online accelerated MBA curriculums and see if one of these concentrations suits your academic and career goals:

General Business
Management
Marketing
Finance
International Business
Entrepreneurship
Project Management
Healthcare Management
Supply Chain Management
Health Informatics
Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
Digital Enterprise and Cloud Management

Choosing The Right Accelerated MBA Online Program For You

Once you decide to take accelerated MBA programs online, be sure to identify a good college that not only equips you with knowledge and skills but possesses the integrity that employers respect. When you do your research for schools that offer excellent accelerated MBA programs online, look for these factors:

Accreditation

A school’s accreditation is the first and foremost aspect you should look for in a business school. It is one of the most important facets of a learning institution, especially in the accelerated online MBA programs that they offer. Accreditation by a colleges and schools commission or agency signifies the school’s compliance with the educational standards and guidelines of its accrediting body.

Coursework and Curriculum

There are not many issues with these, especially if the school you want to consider is regionally accredited. But you need to know the coursework you’ll be taking just to be sure that what you’ll be learning is relevant to your educational and career goals.

Cost and Value

Cost is an accepted aspect of pursuing advanced education. But you need to make sure you can afford it, and it wouldn’t bring you excessive debts. Great accelerated MBA online programs should be affordable, and they should provide value for the time, effort, and money that you spend.

Financing Options

Consider the availability of financing options for a school’s online MBA program. This includes financial aid, school grants, or scholarships if you need financial assistance for your accelerated MBA education.

Course Delivery

The school’s method of delivering its online MBA lessons plays a major role in your ability to learn and hurdle its accelerated MBA programs, especially if you have a definite work schedule. That said, you should know if their classes are synchronous or asynchronous.

Academic Support

Accelerated MBA programs online can be complicated without assistance and support from your school. Online students need academic support from their university from time to time. It includes providing them with online resources like tutorials, references, etc., and assigning staff to answer their questions about accelerated MBA classes and other concerns.

Student Feedback

Asking current and previous students about the school’s accelerated MBA programs will allow you to know some important details about their experiences. Don’t make it a basis for your final choice, though. You may use it if you have only two or three schools to choose from.

Prestige/Reputation

Choosing a school with respected accelerated MBA programs online can help to give you better internship and job opportunities moving forward. Several companies honor schools with a reputation for excellence in their accelerated online MBA programs.

Networking Opportunities

Networking and making professional connections is one of the most important parts of pursuing either a traditional or accelerated MBA program. A solid alumni network is an invaluable contribution a school can provide its graduates with, especially to accelerated online MBA students who are racing with time to attain professional advancement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between traditional and accelerated MBA programs?

While both programs lead to the same MBA degree, they have different duration and levels of pace. Traditional MBA programs or regular MBAs are conducted at a normal pace and they are less hectic, but they require 24 months to complete.

Accelerated MBA programs, whether they are conducted online or on-campus, are shorter at 12 to 18 months, but they are fast-paced, demanding, and allow you only a little time to relax. They have lesser costs, though, and most are designed for experienced working professionals who are highly committed to achieving their academic objectives at the earliest time possible.

What careers can I possibly enter after earning an online accelerated MBA?

As we have said before, regular MBA, online MBA, and online accelerated MBA programs lead to the same Master of Business Administration degree. They also promise the same job opportunities, but the possibility of getting the good ones can depend on your experience, academic performance, and your school’s reputation. That said, here are some of the most popular careers you can make after completing an accelerated online MBA:

Chief Financial Officer
Financial Advisor
Portfolio Manager
Business Analyst
Business Operations Manager
Management Consultant
Chief Information Officer
Director of Marketing
Marketing Analyst
Marketing Manager
Entrepreneur

What are some popular areas of concentration/specialization I should consider in an accelerated online MBA programs?

These are some of the most popular specializations offered in universities with accredited accelerated online MBA programs across the United States:

Financial Accounting
Business Administration
Business Analytics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Healthcare Administration
Human Resource Management
Information Technology
International Business
Management
Marketing
Nonprofit Management
Organizational Leadership
Project Management
Public Administration
Supply Chain and Logistic

Which industries are top recruiters of graduates of online MBA programs?

The master’s degree in business administration covers and impacts significant aspects of business management. But some businesses or industries need the services of MBA degree holders more than others. The industries that benefit more from the leadership skills and business acumen of MBA graduates include:

Energy/Utilities
Healthcare
Consulting
Technology
Finance/Accounting
Manufacturing
Banking
Information Technology
Retail /E-commerce
Supply Chain

Does work experience matter in our pursuit of an online MBA degree?

Yes. While some schools are not particular about work experience in their MBA programs, a majority of good business universities require students to have at least two years of professional experience.

The apparent reason why some business schools require students to have work experience is to ensure that they can relate to their lessons in advanced business management courses. You need to have some understanding of how the business world operates to make an accelerated online MBA easier for you.

MBAs are generally intended to hone and polish existing skills instead of developing them from nothing. They provide experiential, hands-on learning drawn from past professional experiences of student participants.

The absence of work experience will compel professors to rely on theory. It deprives you of the opportunity to learn from past professional mistakes and successes.

Is an accelerated degree program for me?

An accelerated degree program may be an excellent option for you if you are looking for a way to earn a degree faster or if you are looking for a way to get more out of your educational experience by taking more classes and learning more in a shorter amount of time. However, it is essential to consider whether or not you have the time and resources to dedicate yourself to an accelerated program before you decide to pursue one.

Wrap Up

Like regular MBAs, accelerated online MBA programs consist of curricula that lead to a master’s degree in business administration. But some universities make them shorter and deliver them fully online to cater to the needs of working professionals. It welcomes graduates of undergraduate and graduate programs in Business without requiring them to give up their jobs or compromise other commitments.

Furthermore, accelerated MBA online programs allow students to complete the master’s degree in as short as 12 months – as long as they have the commitment and capability to comply with its requirements.

Taking accelerated MBA online programs is the cheaper way to obtain a master’s degree in business administration. It also gives graduates the potential to find better career opportunities and higher wages earlier than regular MBA students.

If you have an ardent desire for academic, professional, and financial advancement but are prevented from pursuing it by your work, need to relocate, or other commitments, you should consider enrolling in an accelerated MBA online program. Its curriculum is shorter and cheaper, but it carries the same weight and prestige as a regular MBA.

There’s no easy way to emerge in a rigid academic environment like the accelerated MBA online program. But there’s no reason to complain about it. Everything you come across in your chosen MBA programs online is part of your metamorphic stage. It is slowly but steadily developing you into an effective business leader of the future.