Accelerated MBA Degrees and Online Programs

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Accelerated MBA degree programs give you the option to earn your degree in less time by taking more classes per term. Therefore, they can be the best option for professionals who don’t want to dedicate two years to pursuing their degree or for students who have recently earned an undergraduate degree.

While shorter in length than traditional Master of Business Administration programs, accelerated MBAs may require a greater time investment because of the additional course load. Some of these may be one year accelerated MBA programs.

Continue reading to learn more about accelerated MBAs and find universities that offer these programs, including accelerated MBA online programs, or check out 11 partner programs below to get you started!

What is an Accelerated MBA?

Accelerated MBA degree programs offer students the ability to earn their degree in less time than it would normally take by asking students to commit to taking more credits per term.

While the specific structure varies from school to school, the majority of programs are designed so that you can earn your MBA in as little as one year, though other programs may take anywhere from 15 to 24 months.

Accelerated MBA programs online may offer flexible study schedules through distance learning convenience as well.

List of Accelerated MBA Programs

Available MBA Degrees / ConcentrationsProgram Length
1. Southern New Hampshire University

MBA Concentrations in 20 areas, including finance, internet marketing, operations

management, economics and more

Just over a year
2. Sacred Heart UniversityMBA1 Year
3. Canisius CollegeMBA1 Year
4. Benedictine UniversityAccelerated MBA1 Year
5. Penn State University

MBA Concentrations include Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Corporate Innovation,

Marketing Analytics, and more

12-18 Months
6. St. Mary’s University of MinnesotaAccelerated MBA18 months
7. George Mason UniversityMBA18-33 Months
8.Tennessee Technological UniversityMBA Concentrations include HR, International Business, MIS, Accounting, and moreFlexible
9.Drexel UniversityMBA Concentrations include Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, and more12-24 Months

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What’s the Difference Between an Accelerated MBA and a Regular MBA?

Usually, the biggest difference between the two is the format. Traditional MBAs typically take at least two years and follow a normal college schedule with summers off.

Though accelerated MBAs have a variety of options they are still the academic equivalent to regular MBAs, but are usually designed for full-time students because of the additional time requirements. However, some programs only ask that you can commit four evenings a week to take classes.

On the other hand, accelerated programs are more intensive year-long programs, which usually means that you also take courses during the summer.

List of 11 Accelerated MBA Programs

Below are 11 institutions that offer accelerated MBAs including online programs. These sponsored listings are in no particular order and have different requirements and structure, so be sure to check with a few options before applying.

Click on any of the links to learn more about each program and to request information directly from the school about when the next starting date is and how to apply.

Over the years, Southern New Hampshire University has reinvented higher education to fit the needs of today’s students and workforce to ensure that students keep pace with new technologies and professional requirements.

While pursuing an MBA, you’ll examine the different aspects that may give you the expertise and freedom to move across industries, locations, and departments. The curriculum analyzes all parts of the business world and teaches how to adapt on the fly, assess resource constraints, and provide solutions to complex problems.

SNHU offers more than 20 concentrations for your MBA, which include:

The mission of Sacred Heart University is to educate the whole person while preparing students to lead and serve in the world today through the Catholic intellectual tradition of rigorous search for truth and wisdom.

For full-time students able to attend classes four evenings per week, the dynamic Welch Master of Business: Administration (MBA) can be completed in one calendar year.

One of only 28 Jesuit, Catholic colleges in the nation, and the premier private university in Western New York, Canisius College is named for St. Peter Canisius, a renowned Dutch educator and one of the original members of the Society for Jesus.

The One-Year MBA Program at Canisius has an integrated curriculum designed around the business decision-making process. Typically, you move through the program with a cohort of 25 to 30 students that provide a support network and fosters team-building skills.

Benedictine University believes that a broad-based, liberal arts education provides students with a concrete foundation for a lifetime of change and is the best preparation for life-long learning.

The Accelerated MBA at Benedictine is designed for motivated professionals who can take two classes during each session as opposed to one. This program includes business foundation courses as well as managerial studies in critical analysis and decision-making that will prove essential in the 21st century workforce.

With twenty-four campuses, 100,000 students, over one-half million active alumni, and an online World Campus, Penn State University teaches students that the real measure of success is what you do to improve the lives of others.

PSU offers a fast-track MBA to students who earned their undergraduate degree at Penn State, or they offer a variety of other Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs, including those that can be completed in as little as 12 to 18 months for full-time students.

As a private, nonprofit university, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota always keeps students as their main focus. Created as a mission-driven institution committed to abandoning elitism, St. Mary’s is the choice for students who are ready to grow and who know that with the right opportunities they can build the future they want.

The Accelerated MBA program at St. Mary’s is designed to meet the rapidly changing business world demands and to teach a deeper understanding of today’s business issues that you can immediately apply to your career.

George Mason University is a young higher education institution that has more than 34,000 students from more than 130 countries around the world. As Virginia’s largest public research university, GMU is setting the benchmark for a bold, progressive education that serves the needs of its students and communities.

The accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at George Mason teaches a diverse skill set to prepare graduates to assume critical leadership roles through a rigorous, stimulating business and management curriculum.

Students who attend Tennessee Technological University get more than just a top-notch education. They learn how to be leaders in their communities, in their chosen careers, and how to be lifelong learners.

The MBA options at Tennessee Tech include the option of choosing from six concentrations. Plus, the school offers an Online MBA that strives to develop general managerial competence through extensive use of case studies, simulations, and research projects.

Drexel University is a world-class, comprehensive research institution committed to combining research with real-world applications. Plus, the interdisciplinary approach to applied education is just one of the ways that Drexel stands out.

The Online MBA – Accelerated program at Drexel incorporates the same coursework and faculty as the full-time MBA option, but features the flexibility of online curriculum and is offered to students who can commit to taking six credits each term over a two-year period.

However, the school provides a number of delivery options for their MBA programs, including part-time and study at your own pace options, which may provide more flexibility.

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Did You Know?

The Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration established the first MBA program in 1908.

What are the Benefits of Accelerated MBA Programs?

Some of the benefits of pursuing an accelerated MBA are:

  • Small class size
  • Cohort based
  • Career-building and networking opportunities
  • Various concentrations
  • Fast-paced environment
  • Designed for working adults
  • May cost less

A cohort means something different at every school, but often, it includes between 12 and 30 students who all start at the same time and work their way through the program together. This helps develop strong bonds with your peers and increase your networking opportunities.

Most accelerated MBAs ask that applicants have a certain number of years of business or management experience, but be sure to check with any of the school’s above, as each university has unique admissions requirements.

Fun Fact

According to research conducted by Financial Times, salaries commanded by MBA graduates after three years back in the workplace have increased by the largest amount in a decade.

Top MBA programs, Master of Business Administration
Did you know? The median annual salary for management occupations was $107,360 in May 2022, the highest salary of all major occupation groups according to BLS.gov.

Potential Salary & Careers with an MBA

Many of the careers you may pursue after earning your MBA are related to management. Some of these options, including the 2022 median annual salary for each, are:

Apply to an Accelerated MBA Program Today!

Thinking about pursuing an accelerated MBA? Check out any of the sponsored listings on this page, including those listed above.

Or, complete the form on this page and get matched to the perfect program for you today!

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32.6% of graduate students were enrolled exclusively in online courses in 2019*.

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