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With a $508 billion GDP (2016), Massachusetts is among the top 20% in the country; it ranks 8th for its $67,861 median household income. As it has historically been, the state remains a major business magnet: twelve Fortune 500 companies are headquartered here, including Liberty Mutual, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, TJX Companies, EMC Corporation, Raytheon, Staples, Global Partners, Thermo Fisher Scientific, State Street Corporation, Biogen, Eversource Energy, and Boston Scientific. Bloomberg has called it the most innovative state in the US, and US News gives it top overall honors, based on metrics like education, infrastructure, opportunity, economy, and government. In addition to major business sectors for biotech, financial services, IT, and healthcare, Massachusetts has more than 33,000 nonprofits, a large tourism industry, a perhaps surprisingly large agriculture industry, and serves as a venture capital hub. Salaries tend to be above average, and managerial positions pay especially well:
MA Average Salaries for common MBA-holding roles
- Financial Analyst: $59,112
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO): $335,006
- Marketing Manager: $102,935
- Project Manager, Information Technology (IT): $85,190
- Operations Manager: $98,706
- Finance Manager: $124,856
Online Learning in Boston
Second only to New York, Boston is one of the East Coast’s primary business hubs, with thriving finance, consulting, banking, real estate, and venture capital sectors. In fact, with its $363 billion GDP, Boston has the sixth-largest economy in the country and 12th-largest in the world. Among its major companies include Fidelity Investments, General Electric Corporation, State Street Corporation, Santander Bank, publishing giant Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and apparel brands like Converse, New Balance, and Reebok. But nothing sets Boston apart quite like its world-class colleges and universities. Over 350,000 students from across the world descend on the city each year, contributing to nearly $5 billion to Boston’s economy, and providing an excellent source of innovation. For students interested in pursuing business degrees, several of the city’s most prestigious schools offer online tracks — in particular, Boston University, which offers a BS in Management and 8 master’s in areas like Banking & Financial Service, Database Management & Business Intelligence, Insurance Management, and IT Project Management. Northeastern University, Brandeis University, Lasell College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Suffolk University, and Lesley University are among several others.
Online Learning in Worcester
Worcester has evolved from one of New England’s major manufacturing cities into a modernized, diverse economy. Insurance has long been a staple, but recent years have seen exponential growth in biotechnology, technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and more. The city’s largest employers are UMass Memorial Health Care, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Saint Vincent Hospital, Hanover Insurance, Saint-Gobain, Reliant Medical Group, and Polar Beverages, which is the largest independent soft-drink bottler in the country. While Worcester is home to several schools offering online degrees, nearby Boston is the place for online tracks in business – in particular, Boston University, Northeastern, Brandeis, Lasell, and Wentworth Institute of Technology. Nichols College in Webster and Fitchburg State University are other quality options.
The 5 Best Online Business Schools in Massachusetts
In total, there are 16 online business degree-granting schools in the state of Massachusetts, including community colleges offering associates-level programming and the ability to transfer to a four-year university, to some of the best graduate business schools in the country. While potential students should first and foremost ensure that a university has the type of business degree they want to pursue, there are a few business programs that stand out. We’ve selected our five favorite online business degree offering schools below. To select these programs, we’ve used a methodology that equally weights the range of business offerings with the academic prestige of a university. The academic prestige is calculated using a number of metrics such as amount of financial need received, average class sizes, admissions standards, and the percentage of faculty holding terminal degrees in their field. Check out our top-five online business degree-granting universities in Massachusetts below!
Founded in 1839, Boston University has a total enrollment of about 32,000, making it one of the largest non-profit private schools in the country. It is also one the topanked universities in the U.S., according to US News, Forbes, Newsweek, Times Higher Education, Washington Monthly, and other publications. Further, US News ranks it among the best values: 36% of full-time students receive some form of financial aid, and the average percent of need met is 88%. Students interested in businesselated degrees will find several intriguing online master’s tracks in Applied Business Analytics, Financial Management, Insurance Management, Project Management, and Enterprise Risk Management; and more than a dozen graduate certificates are also available: Corporate Finance, Database Management & Business Intelligence, Investment Analysis, Supply Chain Management, and Global Marketing Management, among them. Having started online delivery in 2002, Boston has expanded its offerings and become a worldwide leader in distance education.
Northeastern University, founded in 1898, is ranked among the top 10 most innovative schools in the country by US News and a top-40 national university. Business students will find a wealth of online undergraduate and graduate options. First, bachelor’s in Management, Leadership, Finance and Accounting, Professional Communication, and Human Services. Next, at the master’s level, students will find degrees in Project Management, Leadership, Commerce and Economic Development, and more. With a total enrollment of 20,000, the 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports a small, intimate class size that guarantees individualized instruction and peer-to-peer learning. Over 60% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and just 7% have 50. For students interested in financial aid, 40% of full-time undergrads receive some form of aid, and the average need met is 80%.
Founded in 1863, University of Massachusetts Amherst has a total enrollment of 22,800. US News ranks it among the top 75 universities in the nation, with top 50 marks for veteran services. Students interested in business degrees can choose from several online undergraduate and graduate tracks, including bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism Management, an MS in Accounting, and an MBA. From there, UMass also offers online certificates in Casino Management, Meeting and Event Management, General Business Studies, and Sustainable Business Practice. With an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the university is able to provide intimate, individualized instruction paired with collaborative learning opportunities in a dynamic educational setting. Half of all classes consist of fewer than 20 students, and less than 20% have 50. Better yet, 60% of full-time undergrads receive some form of financial aid, and the average need met is 80%.
Founded in 1851, Lasell College is a Tier 1 regional university with a total enrollment of 2,200. For students interested in online businesselated degrees, Lasell has some of the most diverse offerings in the state at the graduate. First comes the Professional MBA, which can be completed in as little as 12 months on accelerated track; no GMAT/GRE score is required, the curriculum is comprehensive, and all classes are capped at 23 students. From there, Lasell offers an MS in Management with 4 available concentrations (HR, Hospitality & Event, Marketing, and Project Management), MS in Sports Management with 4 available concentrations (Leadership, Tourism and Hospitality, Parks and Rec, and Athletic Administration), and an MS in Communication with 3 available concentrations (Health, Integrated Marketing, and Public Relations). All courses are available 100% self-paced online and or on-campus. Through the Moodle learning platform, students have access to course material 24/7, plus group discussion boards, online orientations, how-to videos, events, and tech support.
Brandeis University, founded in 1948, is ranked 34th in the country by US News and 30th for overall value. Working business professionals can choose between online tracks in Technology Management or Project and Program Management. Each degree consists of 10 courses and is designed for maximum flexibility to accommodate busy schedules. Tech Management students will cover Professional Communications, Perspectives on Information Technology, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Leadership and Decision Making, and Strategic Information Technology, plus a range of electives to customize the curriculum. Meanwhile, the Project Management track aligns with PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge; again, students can tailor the degree through electives like Organizational Leadership and Decision Making, Agile Project Management, and Management of Virtual and Global Teams. All classes are capped at 20 students, ensuring personalized instruction while maintaining a collaborative environment.
Directory of Online Business Degrees in Massachusetts
Lasell College
Newton, MA
Extensive student support services- Master of Science in Human Resources Management
- Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication
- Master of Science in Management
- Master of Science in Marketing
- Master of Science in Non-Profit Management
- Master of Science in Public Relations (Pr)
- Master of Science in Sport Management – Sport Hospitality Management
- Master of Science in Sport Management – Sport Leadership
- Master of Science in Sport Management – Sport Non-Profit ManagementProfessional
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Science in Communication
Northeastern University
Boston, MA
- Bachelor of Science in Management
- Bachelor of Science in LeadershipBS in Finance and Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Organizational CommunicationBS in Human Services
- Master of Science in Project Management
- Masters on Finance
- MBA
- MS in Leadership
- MS in Nonprofit Management
- Master of Science in Engineering Management
Boston University
Boston, MA
- Management
- Banking & Financial Services
- Management
- Business Continuity, Security & Risk Management
- Database Management & Business Intelligence
- Insurance Management
- International Marketing Management
- IT Project Management
- ManagementProject Management
Bay Path College
Longmeadow, MA
- Master of Science in Leadership and NegotiationMBA
- MS in Accounting
- MS in Communications and Information Management
- MS in Cybersecurity Management
- MS in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA
- Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management Concentrations
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies Concentrations
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in General Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Hospitality And Tourism Management
- Master’s Degree in Business Administration
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA
- Associate of Science in Business Administration – Accounting
- Associate of Science in Business Administration Career
- Associate of Science in Business Administration Transfer
- Associate of Science in Hospitality Management
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA
- Bachelor of Science in Project Management
- Master of Science in Construction Management
- Master of Science in Technology Management
Suffolk University
Boston, MA
- Executive Master Business of Administration
- Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting
- Master of Business Administration
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management Concentration
- Master of Business Administration – Human Resources Management
- Master of Business Administration – Management
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA
- Master of Science in Information Technology Management
- Master of Science in Project And Program Management
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Master’s in Business Administration – Accounting
Nichols College
Dudley, MA
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Endicott College
Beverly, MA
- Master of Business Administration
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
- Bachelor of Science in Business Management
Westfield State University
Westfield, MA
- Bachelor’s in Business – Management
Northern Essex Community College
Haverhill, MA
- Associate of Science in Business Transfer