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North Carolina (NC) is an excellent place for business. According to Forbes, North Carolina has been consistently ranked number one in the US for business since 2017 and has ranked in the top five overall for 14 consecutive years. One reason for the stellar ranking is that labor rates in North Carolina are 55 percent lower than the national average, some of the lowest in the country.
Still, the future looks promising for entrepreneurs and startups and ranks 13th in the nation for growth. To illustrate this, the Kauffman Foundation reports North Carolina is on par with the national average for entrepreneurship (.34 percent), scoring .31 percent and showing that 3.1 out of every 1,000 adults in the state became new entrepreneurs in 2020.
Thirteen Fortune 500 and 28 Fortune 1000 companies have headquarters in North Carolina, including Bank of America, HanesBrands Inc., Labcorp, and Lowes. Contributing to North Carolina’s stellar business climate are low tax burdens, four international airports, high quality of life with a mid-range cost of living, and several top-tier universities and business schools.
For those interested in business looking to capitalize on the vast opportunities available in North Carolina, pursuing an MBA can improve business savvy and connect graduates to the large business community in the greatest state for business in the US. Moreover, in 2021 an investment in MBA education remains lucrative. According to the U.S. News & World Report, MBA grads in the class of 2021 will earn starting salaries that are 11.3 percent higher compared to 2020. Finance, insurance, and real estate are the most prominent industries predicted to fuel this economic growth.
Although MBAs used to be only available to those who could reduce workload or completely stop working to attend classes on campus, universities in recent years have expanded MBA offerings to be more flexible for busy working professionals, parents, and those who prefer complete control over when their learning occurs.
Business programs that are 100 percent online, require minimally-disruptive campus visits, or are offered in a hybrid format have popped up all over the US, and North Carolina is no exception. For students living in other states who want access to the North Carolina business community without having to relocate, or for North Carolina residents who wish to take advantage of the educational opportunities in their region without having to rearrange their whole lives, online or hybrid programming can be an excellent option.
Keep reading to learn about online and hybrid MBA programs based out of North Carolina and the accomplished faculty ensuring the programs are high-quality.
Featured Online MBA Programs in North Carolina
Ranked among the top programs by US News and The Princeton Review, the master’s in business administration at the University of North Carolina online (MBA@UNC) is an elite program that provides students with innovative curriculum, excellence in academics, and real-world networking opportunities.
Students in the 62 credit-hour program can concentrate their studies in data analytics and decision making, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, or strategy and consulting.
Students in the MBA@UNC program need to complete core courses, elective courses, and have the possibility of taking cross-university classes for deeper customization. Coursework in the program includes consulting skills and frameworks, financial statement analysis, global supply chain management, and leading diverse and inclusive organizations.
The program requires students to attend two business summits (i.e., immersive learning experiences) throughout the program, domestically or abroad. To qualify for admission, students must submit GRE or GMAT scores to qualifStudentsved with six years or more of business experience.
| Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two years |
| Estimated Tuition: $133,691.58 for the program |
The Queens Flexible MBA is a US News & World Report-ranked online MBA program with an emphasis on leadership that promises to provide graduates with the in-depth knowledge and skills needed for visionary leadership and practical implementations throughout all aspects of business operations.
Students in the program can choose between four concentrations: leadership and change, finance, healthcare management, or executive coaching. In addition, coursework in the program includes economics for managers, managing in a global context, international financial management, and contemporary leadership: theory & application.
Students enrolled in the Queens MBA program must attend two three-day immersive residencies on campus at the beginning and midpoint of the program. GMAT or GRE scores are required for admission. Still, waivers may be available to students with seven years of full-time experience, three years of full-time experience, an undergraduate GPA higher than 3.0, a professional certification (CPA, CFP, etc.), or a relevant graduate degree.
| Location: Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two years |
| Estimated Tuition: $1,165 per credit |
A comprehensive, 100 percent online program, UNCP’s MBA prepares students to succeed in any business environment through building interpersonal and management skills and pushing students to examine business from a range of angles.
Students enrolled at UNCP can earn a general MBA or concentrate in supply chain management, financial services, or business analytics. Coursework in the 36-credit-hour program includes decision sciences, organizational theory and behavior, leadership and change, and human resources management. GRE scores are only required for students with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0.
| Location: Pembroke, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: One year or more |
| Estimated Tuition: $11,025.15 (in-state), $36,132.99 (out-of-state) |
Touted as a high value for the cost, the online MBA at UNCW prepares students to deliver value to customers, develop data analysis tools, manage business finances, and develop leadership skills at a lower cost than many AACSB-accredited programs.
Students can choose to complete a general MBA or specialize in business analytics, finance, healthcare management, or international business. UNCW also offers an executive MBA online program.
Courses in the 36-credit-hour program include global strategy and management, predictive analysis, programming for analytics, and investment management. Students must submit GMAT or GRE scores. Students with five years or more of managerial experience, a 3.2 (or higher) undergraduate GPA, or an advanced degree that includes completion of quantitative coursework may qualify for a GMAT/GRE waiver.
| Location: Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: One year or more |
| Estimated Tuition: $18,113.40 (in-state), $45,771.48 (out-of-state) |
Touted as an affordable program that maintains the quality of the on-campus program, NCSU’s professional MBA program—the Jenkins MBA—offers several realms of flexibility. For example, students can take courses face-to-face in Raleigh or Research Triangle Park; can choose an accelerated path and an area of emphasis; and also have the option to participate in an international immersion.
Courses in the 40-credit-hour program include managerial accounting, critical thinking and communications, operations/supply chain management, and analytics. While most coursework is 100 percent online, students must attend two three-day residencies in Raleigh throughout the program and are encouraged to participate in an optional seven-to-eight-day study abroad trip.
Students must submit GMAT or GRE scores to apply to NCSU’s program. Students who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.6 or higher, already have a graduate degree, have ten or more years of full-time experience, have nine or more hours of completed AACSB-accredited coursework (with a GPA of 3.4 or higher), or those with US military service may qualify for a GRE/GMAT waiver.
| Location: Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 21 to 72 months |
| Estimated Tuition: $55,655 (in-state), $88,599 (out-of-state) |
A consistent “best buy” in online education, ECU’s online MBA program is accessible to anyone interested in learning management skills to be more competitive in the job market—and no background in business is required.
In addition, the program is entirely asynchronous, customized to each student, can be pursued 100 percent online or in a hybrid format, and offers students the ability to take semesters off (when needed). Coursework in the roughly 54-credit-hour program includes accounting and finance principles, advanced taxation of partnerships, strategic supply chain management, and global marketing.
A GMAT score of 450 or greater is required for admission, although some students may qualify for a GMAT waiver.
| Location: Greeneville, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: Two years |
| Estimated Tuition: $1,242.83 per class (in-state); $3,434.33 per class (out-of-state) |
The MBA@FayState offers busy professionals the ability to advance their professional or academic careers in a 100 percent online program that costs a fraction of what other schools in the University of North Carolina (UNC) system cost.
With ten concentrations from which students can choose, the MBA@FayState also offers a high level of customization. Concentrations in the 36-to-39-credit-hour program include business intelligence and data analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, healthcare management, international business, marketing, management, project management, and supply chain management.
Coursework in the program includes instruction in business and society, leading organizations, modern marketing, and business policy and strategy. Students need to submit a GMAT or GRE-predicted GMAT score. GMAT waivers may be available to students with an undergraduate GPA of 3.6 or higher, ten years work experience, US military experience, nine or more credits of AACSB-accredited coursework with a 3.4 GPA or higher, or a completed graduate degree.
| Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 12 to 72 months (24 months on average) |
| Estimated Tuition: $224 per credit (in-state), $887.86 per credit (out-of-state) |
Hybrid MBA Programs in North Carolina
While most MBA students appreciate the flexibility provided by 100 percent online programs, many crave the kind of learning and connection that can only be accomplished through face-to-face interaction with professors, peers, and professional networks.
Prospective students with this need who live in North Carolina in proximity to a physical university campus may want to consider enrolling in a hybrid on-campus/online program. Hybrid programs create an intentional blend of the flexibility of online didactic coursework, with the on-campus learning opportunities designed to connect students to their learning community in person.
Prospective students looking for hybrid online/on-campus programs in North Carolina can consider the following programs:
- University of North Carolina Charlotte – Belk College of Business
- Western Carolina School of Business
