- Working professionals who need to keep earning while they study
- Candidates committed to a career in organizational leadership
- You want the in-person cohort and on-campus recruiting of a full-time program
- You want a generalist MBA and aren't set on organizational leadership
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The online MBA in Organizational Leadership graduate degree enables business and non-business professionals to lead and manage a wide range of organizations in an effective, efficient and responsive manner. These professionals possess strong leadership skills including effective decision-making and problem-solving skills and strategic thinking skills suitable for diverse organizational dynamics.
Students in these MBA in Organizational Leadership programs study business administration principles and practices, including organizational behavior, corporate social responsibility, and human resources management. Their future leadership roles as organizational leaders include training and development managers and HR managers.
At a Glance
Students pursuing an online MBA in Organizational Leadership degree build a robust foundation of business management skills through core courses in finance, marketing, and operations management. Then, their skill sets are strengthened by concentration courses in organizational leadership, usually focused on the best principles and practices of training and development management, organizational strategy, and organizational culture. In the process, students in organizational leadership programs explore the different effective leadership styles and develop their own!
Every online organizational leadership program enables its graduate students to pursue an MBA degree while maintaining full-time employment and meeting personal obligations. The benefits of flexibility and convenience are complemented by the comparative affordability of its total cost of attendance, partly thanks to financial aid availability.
Best Online MBA in Organizational Leadership Programs
World-class business education is guaranteed in the 15 online MBA in Organizational Leadership programs featured here. These online programs are offered by regionally accredited colleges and universities, and most are accredited by one of the following accreditation agencies for business and accountancy programs:
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
When looking for on-campus and online MBA programs, regional and programmatic accreditation is necessary for financial aid availability, particularly filing the FAFSA, in addition to the guarantee of academic quality.
01University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Online MBA in Management and Leadership Program
- Total Tuition: $125,589.06
- Units Required: 62 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, veterans benefits, scholarships and fellowships
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Management and Leadership program prepares working professionals for senior-level and executive-level positions requiring effective organizational leadership skills. Students learn the best practices for maximizing overall organizational health, team collaborations, and change management. Graduates possess business competencies that make them confident and competent in their leadership roles.
Graduate students enjoy experiential learning opportunities including quarterly summits with choices in personal leadership and team leadership tracks. The optional STAR course enables students to apply their skills in management consultancy projects under the guidance of their professors.
Courses:
- Leading Diverse and Inclusive Organizations
- Managerial Decision Making
- Leading in the Middle: Organization and Culture & People and Politics
- Storytelling to Influence and Inspire
- Negotiations
Students then develop organizational leadership competencies including negotiations and conflict resolution, inclusive leadership, and motivation.
02Oregon State University
College of Business
Online MBA in Organizational Leadership Program
- Total Tuition: $52,080
- Units Required: 60 credits
- Program Length: 2 years
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, Beaver for Life scholarship, and named scholarships and fellowships
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Organizational Leadership program encourages students to become effective and charismatic leaders in business and non-business settings. Students learn advanced principles and practices, such as evidence-based decision-making, which contribute to sustained organizational success.
Global leadership, project management, and human resource management are the focus of the online MBA in Organizational Leadership program. Students are also encouraged to share their team and organizational leadership experiences and, thus, enrich the learning opportunities for their peers.
Courses:
- Managing Projects
- Cross-Cultural Management
- Organizational Behavior
- Strategic Human Resource Management
- Negotiations
The organizational leadership curriculum includes an integrative capstone experience and applied projects.
03Southern Utah University
Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business
Online MBA in Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $485
- Units Required: 33 credits
- Program Length: As few as 12 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and grants, and private loans
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Leadership program emphasizes transformational leadership and the principles and practices that make it possible. Students engage in diverse learning activities for professional and personal leadership skills development with applications in the for-profit and nonprofit industries.
As an MBA program, the organizational leadership track features contemporary business administration coursework in accounting, finance, and economics, among other topics. Students build strong business competencies valuable in finding, implementing and evaluating strategic solutions for organizational issues.
Courses:
- Authentic Leadership
- Effective Teams
- Investments
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Marketing Analytics
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 GPA, minimum. There are no GMAT requirements.
04Eastern Washington University
School of Business
Online MBA in Organizational Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $350
- Units Required: 44 credits
- Program Length: As few as 10 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal and state financial aid, scholarships, grants and loans
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Organizational Leadership program welcomes working professionals and even pre-career individuals who want to develop their personal leadership style, build business competencies and develop their business acumen. The intensive coursework of the organizational leadership MBA program explores core business concepts that contribute to effective organizational leadership. There’s a strong emphasis on social responsibility and social justice in business and organizational practices, topo.
Courses:
- Team Leadership
- Organizational Theory and Culture
- Social & Emotional Dimensions of Leadership
- Leading in an Intersectional World
Professionals who earn the organizational leadership degree are sought-after by for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations for their above-par business competencies.
05Florida Gulf Coast University
Lutgert College of Business
Online MBA in Management - Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $373
- Units Required: 33 credits
- Program Length: As few as 12 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal, state and institutional aid
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Management - Leadership program is known as the training ground for confident, competent and conscientious business professionals. Students, many of whom are already business professionals in supervisory roles, broaden their business skills in organizational leadership, human resource management, and finances. Graduates possess strong organizational leadership skills that can be applied in a wide range of industries, from service to manufacturing.
Courses:
- Financial Management
- Strategic Leadership
- Human Resource Management
- Org Development & Change
- Global Organization Issues
Students in the MBA program must complete a capstone course in business strategy where cross-cultural skills development is encouraged and demonstrated. Graduates possess professional competencies in solving problems, communicating solutions, and applying strategic thinking.
06University of Central Missouri
Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies
Online MBA in Management and Organizational Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $413.50
- Units Required: 33 credit hours
- Program Length: 2 years or less
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, business school scholarships, grants and loans
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Management and Organizational Leadership program has an intensive curriculum guaranteed to build a contemporary knowledge base in business principles and practices. Then, students move forward with the basics of advanced organizational leadership concepts with immediate and impactful real-world applications. Indeed, there’s a strong emphasis on classroom-to-workplace transfer of knowledge in the organizational leadership MBA program!
Courses:
- Employment and Development
- Leading and Guiding Change
- Learning Organization
- Strategic Organizational Communication
- Building Leadership Credibility
Students in the MBA in Organizational Leadership track build real-world skill sets through unique hands-on learning opportunities. Internship opportunities are offered that enable students to hone their skills as business executives, such as human resources managers. Students can also participate in special projects and become members of student associations.
07Queens University of Charlotte
McColl School of Business
Hybrid MBA in Leadership and Change Program
- Tuition per credit: $1,165
- Units Required: 39 credits
- Program Length: 2.5 years
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, military benefits, alumni discount and scholarships
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Leadership and Change program prepares students for the challenges of transformational leadership amidst organizational change. Leadership skills are taken a step higher that, in turn, allows students to become better leaders, whether they are aspiring for leadership positions or are already organizational leaders. Students adopt an introspective approach in a SWOT analysis of their leadership skills and business acumen.
Students in the MBA program learn at their own pace (i.e., non-cohort model) but must be enrolled full-time (i.e., no part-time enrollment).
Courses:
- Introduction to Organization Development
- Organizational System Change
- Conflict & Negotiation
- Transformational Change
- Interpersonal & Group Dynamics
Graduates of the organizational leadership program attain professional success in C-suite positions and in consultancy occupations.
08Widener University
School of Business
Online MBA in Organizational Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $1,132
- Units Required: 33 credits
- Program Length: As few as 12 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, assistantships, employer discounts and tuition reimbursements, alumni discounts
The AACSB-accredited MBA in Organizational Leadership program empowers students to pursue career advancement opportunities with competitive credentials. Students learn the best practices in organizational leadership, from operations management to change management. The organizational leadership concentration has a results-oriented focus that allows students to immediately apply their didactic lessons to real-world situations.
Courses:
- Management of Change
- Project Management
- Developing Management Skills
- Managing Human Capital
The MBA Organizational Leadership program provides students with excellent opportunities for networking among their peers, professors and the extensive alumni network.
09Eastern University
College of Business and Leadership
Online MBA in Organizational Management Program
- Annual Tuition + Fees: $9,900
- Units Required: 30 credits
- Program Length: As few as 10 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, partner grants, and military benefits
The ACBSP-accredited MBA in Organizational Management program welcomes students from diverse backgrounds but with a common desire for extensive career advancement opportunities. Working professionals agree that with start dates offered every seven weeks and the LifeFlex modality, it’s easier to maintain their full-time occupations while pursuing the MBA degree.
Courses:
- Strategic Human Resource Management
- Marketing in the 21st Century
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Economics
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
Students report the numerous benefits that come with excellent student support services from the faculty and staff members.
10Liberty University
School of Business
Online MBA in Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $565 (Full-time); $615 (Part-time)
- Units Required: 45 credits
- Program Length: 2 years, on average
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, military, first responder, small business, and corporate tuition discounts, scholarships, grants and loans
Yet another ACBSP-accredited 100% online program is Liberty’s MBA in Leadership program where students learn modern principles and practices of operations management, organizational leadership, and change management. Because Liberty is a private Christian university, the curriculum has a strong Christian perspective that emphasizes ethical business practices.
Courses:
- Servant Leadership
- Leadership Theory
- Leading Organizational Change
- Organizational Design and Structure
Students enjoy the convenience of asynchronous courses, eight-week sessions, and hands-on learning experiences. There’s a capstone course where students can demonstrate their mastery of business concepts.
11Grand Canyon University
Colangelo College of Business
Online MBA in Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $640
- Units Required: 54 credits
- Program Length: 22 months
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships, grants and loans
Students in the ACBSP-accredited MBA in Leadership program explore the different organizational leadership styles and create their own distinctive leadership style. Competence and conscientiousness are emphasized as the foundation for confidence as an organizational leader, too, and students are equipped with above-par communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Courses:
- Leadership and Organizations
- Strategic Management
- Leadership Styles and Development
- Organizational Development and Change
Students are encouraged to adopt a Christian perspective in their profession, too, particularly in practicing business as a ministry for the promotion of the common good. Conscious capitalism is emphasized, as are the positive values of free markets and servant leadership.
12Regent University
School of Business and Leadership
Online MBA in Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $695
- Units Required: 42 credits
- Program Length:
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid and institutional scholarships and grants
The ACBSP-accredited MBA in Leadership program enables students to combine the theories and practices of 21st-century business and use them for better organizational development. Students learn not just from the didactic coursework but from the useful insights and mentorship offered by credentialed professors. Regent has an excellent Executive Mentor Program for this purpose.
Courses:
- Managerial Economics
- Innovation and Technological Success
- Marketing Management
- Managing People
- Managing Organizations
Each course has an embedded project requirement that allows students to build their portfolio that can be used for career advancement purposes. Many students and graduates have reported using their projects to demonstrate their business skills in front of investors, employers and partners!
13Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Jetter School of Business
Online MBA in Organizational Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $498
- Units Required: 36 credits
- Program Length: 19 months
- **Financial Assistance Options:**Federal financial aid and institutional scholarships and grants
Students in the ACBSP-accredited MBA in Organizational Leadership program are passionate about meeting organizational issues head-on with their business skills. Students may already have business skills, thanks to their professional work experiences, but their stay in the graduate program takes these skills up a notch.
Courses:
- Strategic Programming In Human Resource Management
- Operations Management
- Change Management
The core business courses complement these three concentration courses and, thus, result in a well-rounded business education that organizations seek in their managers and leaders.
14Oral Roberts University
Fenimore & Fisher College of Business
Online MBA in Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $515
- Units Required: 35.5 credit hours
- Program Length: 24 months (Full-time)
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, scholarships and loans, and military discounts
The ACBSP-accredited MBA in Leadership program prepares working professionals and pre-career professionals with the knowledge and skills vital to their success as change leaders. The holistic approach in business education means students and graduates possess the best of hard and soft skills, as well as a Christian perspective of business affairs. Students receive admission-to-graduation support services, benefit from the user-friendly learning management system, and start on the right foot with a graduate orientation class.
Courses:
- Accounting and Financial Leadership
- Global Management Concepts
- Economic Leadership
- Marketing Leadership
- Strategic Organizational Leadership
The MBA program has a synchronized cohort model. Leveling courses may be required for students without business degrees and/or backgrounds.
15John Brown University
Soderquist College of Business
Online MBA in Organizational Leadership Program
- Tuition per credit: $625
- Units Required: 36-45 credits
- Program Length: 2 years, on average
- Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, loans, scholarships and grants
The ACBSP-accredited MBA in Organizational Leadership program emphasizes the right combination of business know-how and organizational leadership skills. Students receive top-of-the-line business education with an international, intercultural perspective with a strong emphasis on Christian values.
Courses:
- Leading Organizational Transformation
- Ethical Decision-Making in Organizations
- Organizational Management and Leadership
- Managerial Economics
- Marketing Strategies
Students choose between a location-specific international business practicum and a graduate business seminar as their culminating requirement.
Admission to Graduation: Important Things You Must Know About the Best Online MBA in Organizational Leadership Programs
It’s always important to check the specifics of online MBA programs that you’re considering, particularly in relation to your unique life circumstances and academic needs.
Admission Requirements
Online MBA programs have the same admission requirements as on-campus MBA programs with the minimum being:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum GPA, usually 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts
- Resume or curriculum vitae, usually highlighting post-baccalaureate professional work experience
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- GRE/GMAT scores
Curriculum and Courses
The typical curriculum of online MBA programs features core courses in business administration including financial and managerial accounting, operations management, marketing management, and human resource management. These core courses are intended to build versatile business knowledge and skills with wide-ranging applications in leadership, even C-suite, positions.
The organizational leadership concentration courses are different from online MBA programs. But there are common threads that run through their learning outcomes, such as leadership skills development for executive-level positions. The common concentration courses include:
- Organizational behavior is a course tackling group and individual behavior within organizations with a focus on organizational culture, communication and collaboration.
- Leadership and Ethics, a course exploring leadership styles and their ethics and values.
- Strategic Management, a course on the formulation, implementation and evaluation of strategic plans.
- Leading Organizational Change, a course on the theories, practices and strategies of change management in organizations.
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, a course on the principles and practices underlying effective negotiation and conflict management on the organizational level.
- Leadership Development, a course on effective strategies for personal and professional leadership skills development including making a personalized leadership development plan.
Capstone and/or Thesis Requirements
The best online MBA programs require students to complete a culminating requirement that can either be:
- A capstone course and a corresponding integrative project that highlights a student’s mastery of key business administration and organizational leadership concepts. Students may be asked to submit a capstone project as an individual or as a group.
- A master’s thesis that demonstrates a student’s business research skills and organizational leadership knowledge. The final result is a formal paper with contents that add to the existing body of knowledge in these fields.
Throughout either the capstone project or the master’s thesis, students are guided by their academic advisors. Both culminating requirements require significant research and the research skills that come with it.
Typical Time-to-degree
Online MBA degree programs usually have a two-year time-to-completion for full-time students, but it can vary depending on the program of study and the course load per semester. Accelerated online programs have a 12-month time-to-degree while part-time students can earn the degree in 3-4 years.
Online Learning Experiences
Business schools with online MBA programs use a specific learning management system - UNC Chapel Hill uses Sakai while Oregon State University uses Canvas - in their learning activities including:
- Online classes, which can be synchronous or asynchronous, where students access their learning materials and interact with their peers and professors
- Evaluation activities like exams, quizzes and assignments as well as projects, presentations and case studies
- Recorded student-led presentations and professor-led lectures, among other multimedia content
- Discussion boards, threads and forums where students participate in productive discussions
Online students also have access to student support services and career services, such as digital library services, technical support services, and career development services. Online MBA programs also encourage online students to visit the campus and take advantage of its resources.
Online communities, alumni associations, and job fairs are among the best examples of networking opportunities available for online MBA students.
Residency Requirements
Online MBA programs may or may not have in-person residency requirements so be sure to ask for more information. In the case of in-person residency requirements, these can be on-campus events, local internships, and domestic or international study opportunities. On-campus residencies are typically for orientation and onboarding purposes, as well as for in-person completion of workshops, modules, and capstone presentations or master’s thesis defense.
Note that traveling and other incidental expenses for in-person residencies are usually shouldered by the concerned students. Only a few programs include these expenses in the total tuition and fees.
Development of Hard and Soft Skills
Students in online MBA programs develop technical and transferable skills through didactic coursework and hands-on learning experiences. The hard skills include financial analysis, strategic planning, data analysis, project management, and operations management. The soft skills are more wide-ranging including leadership skills, communication, critical thinking and collaboration skills, and emotional intelligence.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Earning an online MBA degree is an expensive endeavor with the total cost of attendance ranging from $30,000 to $120,000 and more! According to NCES, the average graduate tuition and required fees are $19,749 (2020-2021).
Financial aid availability can result in significant reductions in the total cost of attendance. Federal financial aid via FAFSA is the first option followed by institutional scholarships, grants and assistantships, student loans, and military benefits. Executive MBA programs may have corporate affiliate discounts and employer tuition reimbursement schemes.
Popular Career Paths
Professionals with an MBA in Organizational Leadership degree possess unique skill sets that make them well-qualified for leadership positions. Their career opportunities are among the fastest-growing, too, with a 7% projected growth rate for the 2021-2031 period! Their median annual salaries are also among the highest at $76,570 (May 2021), far higher than the $45,760 for all occupations.
Chief Executive Officers
Being the top executives, Chief Executive Officers are in charge of overall leadership including setting goals and making strategic decisions. Their abilities include initiating, implementing and evaluating organizational change, too.
Human Resources Managers
Talent acquisition, employee relations, and training and development management are among the primary responsibilities of human resources managers. Their programs and projects must be aligned with the organization’s strategic goals, too, considering that human resources are crucial for organizational success.
Organizational Development Consultants
Organizations benefit from the work that organizational development consultants do - giving recommendations that improve organizational effectiveness, efficiency and productivity.
Leadership Development Specialists
By performing assessments of employees’ and managers’ leadership abilities, identifying gaps in their skills, and developing training and development programs, leadership development specialists promote organizational performance.
Change Management Specialists
By developing effective strategies in implementing organizational change management, such as decreasing resistance to change, change management specialists contribute to maintaining organizational health.
Other career opportunities for professionals with MBA in Organizational Leadership degrees are training and development managers, project managers, and operations managers. Many also choose the entrepreneurial path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between an MBA in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Science or Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree?
For one thing, a master’s degree emphasizes an in-depth and more specialized study of organizational leadership while an MBA degree provides a comprehensive business education with an introduction to the advanced topics of organizational leadership. For another thing, a master’s degree program usually has a more academic approach with emphasis on theories and research while an MBA degree has a more applied approach (i.e., capstone projects).
What are the benefits of earning an MBA in Organizational Leadership?
Students benefit from the holistic business education, practical applications, and skills development that come with pursuing an MBA degree. The career advancement and networking opportunities are also better and wider than, say, pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate.
What professional organizations can students and graduates of online MBA in Organizational Leadership join?
Look into membership with the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, International Leadership Association (ILA), Project Management Institute (PMI), and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
