Top 30 Business Management Programs

25. Manhattanville College - School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $35,685

Accrediting Agency: Middle States Commission of Higher Education; IACBE

Student Enrollment: 2,921

This college is accredited through the Middle States Commission of Higher Education, and also ranks on the Princeton Review’s list for the Best Northeastern Colleges. The School of Business itself is quite well-known for its result-focused approach to teaching. It is accredited through the IACBE. The tuition cost for this business program is also considered to be considerably lower at $35,685, compared to other colleges of its caliber. The curriculum is well-rounded, combining various core courses with specific electives to ensure that the students enrolled get a comprehensive understanding of management, business tactics and leadership methods. A few courses that you might get to study in this program include Global Business, Operations Management, Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

24. Texas A&M University – Commerce College of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $11,508

Accrediting Agency: AACSB International; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Student Enrollment: 12,928

The programs in this university are accredited by the AACSB International while the University holds an accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In terms of tuition cost, TAMUC offers one of the most competitive packages with just $11,508. The potential for high return on investment is great. To apply to this school, applicants must have an undergraduate CGPA of at least 3.0, along with official GMAT/GRE transcripts. Admission requirements and forms are available on the university’s official website.

23. The New School – Milano School of International Affairs, Management & Urban Policy – New York

Estimated Tuition Fee: $66,780

Accrediting Agency: Middle States Commission of Higher Education

Student Enrollment: 10,254

This New York based business school is truly a class apart. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education. The tuition cost is $66,780, which is affordable in terms of return on investment and average salaries for business graduates in and around New York. The 42 credit hour program for the Master of Science in Organization Change Management at The New School exposes students to a variety of different courses. These include Management and Organizational Behavior, Foundations of Organizational Chance and Organizational Assessment and Diagnosis. In addition to core courses, students are also required to take 12 credit hours of elective courses to complete the degree.  

22. Wake Forest University – School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $45,678

Accrediting Agency: Southern Association of Colleges and School; AACSB International; Commission on Colleges

Student Enrollment: 7,500

The Master of Arts in Management degree offered by the Wake Forest University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, AACSB International and the Commission on Colleges. The estimated tuition fee of the degree is considered highly affordable and a genuinely solid investment at $45,678. The courses offered under this prestigious program include Financial Management, Business Analytics, Operations Management, Business Strategy and Planning and Business Modeling. For application into this program, students must have completed a bachelor’s degree or should be close to completing it, in a field related to Liberal Arts, Engineering or Sciences.

21. Saint Joseph’s University College of Arts & Sciences

Estimated Tuition Fee: $30,708

Accrediting Agency: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Student Enrollment: 6,500

This Philadelphia based university has a well-reputed Masters of Science program in Organizational Development and Leadership that is offered through its prestigious College of Arts and Sciences. This program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The estimated tuition fee of the Organizational Development Program is at affordable $30,708. This highly focused degree is designed to mainly deal with professionals who are looking for relevant learning in various aspects of organizational and leadership capabilities. Students in this program will be taught about general leadership skills, how to cope with major organizational changes, organizational psychology, personal development and adult education and training.

20. Azusa Pacific University – School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences

Estimated Tuition Fee: $24,660

Accrediting Agency: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; IACBE

Student Enrollment: 9,975

This California based school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as the IACBE. The tuition fee at Azusa Pacific is at a highly affordable figure of $24,660, making this program one of the best options in terms of high return on investment. The Master of Arts in Leadership program is a faith based degree offered through the prestigious School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences at the University. It is a 36-credit hour program and can be completed online, as well as by taking classes during evenings and weekends. Its online option makes this degree a highly convenient option for working professionals.

19. University of San Diego – School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $59,940

Accrediting Agency: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; Senior College and University Commission; AACSB Global

Student Enrollment: 8,251

The Master of Science in Executive Leadership program offered at the University of San Diego holds the prestigious accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission and also through the AACSB Global. The estimated tuition fee for the program that lasts a total of 36 credit hours is $59,940, which is good as far as return on investment is concerned. This particular program is made specifically according to the needs of professionals who are already working in the field and are looking for a convenient way to advance their skills and education. Classes are offered in a convenient format and at flexible timings.

18. Pepperdine University – Graziadio School of Business and Management

Estimated Tuition Fee: $56,304

Accrediting Agency: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; Senior College and University Commission; AACSB

Student Enrollment: 7,632

The Master of Science in Management and Leadership program offered at the Pepperdine University is a convenient option for professionals who work full-time. The entire program can be completed in merely 16 months, in a part-time format. The estimated tuition cost for this program adds up to approximately $56,304. The Management and Leadership Program is designed to give students detailed knowledge and the necessary tools to become well-rounded business leaders. To enter into this program, students will be required to complete an online form, followed by the submission of an essay, official transcripts and resume.

17. University of Miami – School of Business Administration

Estimated Tuition Fee: $57,000

Accrediting Agency: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Commission on Colleges, AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 16,825

Students enrolled in this school can earn a highly sought-after Master of Science degree in Management Studies with a Specialization in Leadership. The estimated tuition fee for this program is around $57,000. This program is specifically designed for people who hold management or leadership positions and want to work towards the advanced development in a variety of areas. However, this program is not a replacement for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Students will be exposed to courses such as Business Analytics and Operational Excellence, Business Planning Fundamentals and Communications and Leadership across Cultures.

16. Pace University – Lubin School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $37,045

Accrediting Agency: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 12,843

This New York based university offers a Master of Science in Strategic Management. The program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the AACSB International. The program can be completed in 31 credit hours and costs an estimated amount of $37,045. The courses included in this program are Competitive Business Strategy, Venture Initiation and Entrepreneurship, Government Institutions and Business Strategy and Global Corporate Governance. To get admission into this program, students must first apply online and complete the given form, followed by the submission of two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, official college transcripts and a resume.

15. George Mason University – School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $33,606

Accrediting Agency: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 33,000

The Master of Science in Management is offered at the George Mason University through their School of Business. The University is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools while the School of Business has an accreditation through AACSB International. The tuition fee for the college is at a competitive $33,606, offering a great return on investment. The core courses in this program include the likes of Statistical Analysis for Management, Managing Business Operations in a Global Environment and Fundamentals of Behaviors in Organizations. To apply, students must complete an application and submit their official transcripts, current resume and official GMAT or GRE score, along with a personal statement and at least one letter of recommendation.

14. Case Western Reserve University – Weatherhead School of Management

Estimated Tuition Fee: $48,939

Accrediting Agency: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 10,700

This Ohio based university offers a highly specialized Master of Science in Management program through its Weatherhead School of Management. This school is accredited through the AACSB International, which is the top accrediting agency for higher education specifically in the field of business. The University holds an accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This unique program offers several courses related to the business management field, such as Business Analytics, Operations Research and Supply Chain. To get admission into this program, you will need to submit a completed application, along with two essays, official transcripts that include your GPA, current resume, GMAT or GRE score along with proof of proficiency in English language.

13. Rochester Institute of Technology – Saunders College of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $52,260

Accrediting Agency: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 16,639

This New York based college offers a prestigious Master of Science in Management program, which is accredited by the AACSB International, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The program costs an estimated amount of $52,260 and offers a really good return on investment. Courses that you can expect to find in this program include Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, Advanced Topics in Technology Management and Managing for Environmental Sustainability. To get admission into this school, you will have to fill out an online application for the program and submit the documents listed there.

12. Stanford University – Graduate School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $125,336

Accrediting Agency: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 16,000

The Graduate School of Business at Stanford University offers a highly prestigious Master of Science in Management, which is accredited by the AACSB, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This one-year program is a full-time, intensive and accelerated degree that also offers an optional global study component. The total cost for this degree amounts up to $125,336. The return on investment is also quite high, which serves as a justification for this tuition fee.

11. Boston University – Questrom School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $50,980

Accrediting Agency: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Commission on Institutions of Higher Education; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 32,000

This Massachusetts based university offers a globally ranked Master of Science program in Management Studies under its Questrom School of Business. The program offers an excellent rate of return on the investment of a tuition fee of $50,980 for the nine-month long business program. The high return on investment is not only owed to the higher initial salaries, but also to the 100% employment rate that the university boasts of. To apply to this business program, you will need to submit a fully online application available on the university’s website.

10. University of Southern California – Marshall School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $46,228

Accrediting Agency: Western Association of Schools and Colleges; AACSB International; Senior College and University Commission

Student Enrollment: 43,401

This Los Angeles based university offers a Master of Management Studies degree through its Marshall School of Business. USC has more than 375,000 alumni that include some famous names such as George Lucas, Marcus Allen, Forest Whitaker and Will Ferrell. Students enrolled in this program would have the option of a full-time program or part-time classes, as is suited to their individual needs. To get admission into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, one year of MBA education, GPA of 3.3, at least two years of professional work experience and GMAT or GRE score within the 80th percentile.

9. Yale University – School of Management

Estimated Tuition Fee: $66,650

Accrediting Agency: AACSB International; New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

Student Enrollment: 11,000

Yale University has a widely recognized Master of Advanced Management program that is offered via its School of Management. This program can be completed in one-year on a full-time basis and is designed to instill leadership qualities in graduates along with useful managerial skills from a global perspective. The courses focus on the bigger picture and international markets and how trends in cultures can affect organizations. To be eligible for application into this program, students must have an MBA from a Global Network of Advanced Management member school. Along with this, an application form will need to be submitted, along with one professional letter of recommendation.

8. Duke University – Fuqua School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $49,900

Accrediting Agency: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Commission on Colleges; AACSB International

The Master of Management: Foundations of Business degree offered at Duke, through its Fuqua School of Business is ideal for students coming in from different business backgrounds. It engages students and allows them to learn by experience and understand the challenges of being in the business world. With the cost of a master’s level program at Duke at an impressive $49,900, the expected return on investment is typically very high.

7. Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management

Estimated Tuition Fee: $53,864

Accrediting Agency: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 21,500

Northwestern University offers a comprehensive Master of Science program in Management Studies that offers a high return on investment. The main campus of the college is in Illinois and it also has additional campuses in Qatar and Doha. This degree can be completed in 10 months and helps prepare students to take leadership roles in their careers.

6. University of Texas at Dallas – Naveen Jindal School of Management

Estimated Tuition Fee: $26,448

Accrediting Agency: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Commission on Colleges; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 24,554

The Master of Science in Management degree offered by the University of Texas at Dallas, under its prestigious Naveen Jindal School of Management is a 36-month long dynamic management program. It consists of courses from various aspects of business, including science, engineering, mathematics and technology. To apply to this program, you will need to submit your GMAT/GRE score, resume, letters of recommendation, personal statement and official transcripts.

5. University of Florida – Warrington College of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $16,982

Accrediting Agency: AACSB International; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Commission on Colleges

Student Enrollment: 52,286

Based in Gainesville, Florida, the University of Florida offers a highly sought-after Master of Science in Management program through its business school. This program is designed for students with non-business backgrounds in terms of academics. Part-time and full-time scheduling options are available. Courses covered include the likes of Organizational Behavior, Professional Communication and Global Strategic Management among others. No professional experience is required as a part of the application procedure into this program.

4. Penn State – Smeal College of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $21,294

Accrediting Agency: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 50,000

The Master of Professional Studies in Management and Organizational Leadership is among the most sought-after degrees at Penn State. This one-year program is an intensive approach to business management studies with classes taking place Monday through Thursday. Along with classes, the program also includes an immersion experience every semester that focuses on negotiation skills and leadership exercises.

3. Arizona State University – W.P. Carey School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $24,800

Accrediting Agency: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; The Higher Learning Commission; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 50,000

The Master in Management Science degree at the ASU is a full-time, on-campus program that lasts a total of nine months. The course structure for this program is designed to give students from different academic backgrounds, a solid understanding of business skills needed to succeed in high level management positions. To apply, prospective students will need to fill out an application, submit their resume, transcripts, letters of recommendation and test scores.

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management

Estimated Tuition Fee: $71,000

Accrediting Agency: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Commission on Institutes of Higher Education; AACSB International

Student Enrollment: 11,000

The Master of Science in Management Science is a nine-month long program that aims to give students a solid foundation of various business concepts. These include decision making skills, real world business challenges, managerial communication, marketing, teamwork, strategy, finance, economics and statistics, among others. With more than 150 years of experience in offering top notch education, MIT is certainly among the most prestigious universities for business management majors.

1. University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Estimated Tuition Fee: $45,223

Accrediting Agency: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, AACSB International and the Higher Learning Commission

Student Enrollment: 43,600

The Master of Management degree offered by the University of Michigan business school is a competitive 10-month long program. It gives students from different academic backgrounds a solid understanding of navigating leadership roles and management position in the world of business. To apply to this program, students need to complete an online application and submit GMAT or GRE score, along with official transcripts. An interview might also be conducted to determine the suitability of the applicant for the business program at the university.

The Ranking Factors

Ranking in this list was done for master’s level programs in business management and related programs, with a focus on leadership. Colleges were then evaluated on the basis of accreditation, with the most prestigious institutions being IACBE, AACSB and ACBSP accredited. Affordability was also a major factor in developing the ranking. Tuition cost for each program was taken into account as well. Average salary and prestige were also important factors taken into consideration.