November 11th, 2014 by WCBC Radio

Frostburg State University has been listed as number 25 in Affordable Colleges Foundation’s ranking of 68 of the nation’s Best Online MBA Programs for 2014-2015, which were analyzed on several cost-, quality- and student support-related metrics, such as student-faculty ratio, percentage of faculty with doctorates, number of online MBA options, number of MBAs conferred and full tuition of the online MBA program. More than 500 colleges were analyzed.

“One of the most important goals of our AACSB-accredited College of Business has always been to offer our students an online Master of Business Administration degree that is one of the least expensive programs in the nation, without compromising our commitment to high-quality graduate education, and the academic support that our students need to succeed,” said Dr. Ahmad Tootoonchi, dean of the College of Business at FSU. “We have been able to achieve this goal through a strong collaborative relationship among our MBA coordinator, our highly qualified faculty and the director of Graduate Services at FSU.”

The foundation highlighted FSU’s efforts to allow working professionals to earn an advanced credential in a flexible learning environment. FSU offers rolling admissions for the online MBA program, so that students can begin in the spring, summer or fall term. The application process is open to individuals with bachelor’s degrees, even those without prior academic training in business. The program is geared toward business and non-business majors with work experience, but is also open to recent college graduates.

It also noted that FSU’s distance learning model offers opportunities to build connections and interact with professors. FSU’s graduate faculty also receive support to further their knowledge of online teaching techniques, and they regularly share this knowledge and ideas for improvement with one another.

FSU’s online MBA program costs only a third of the national average, the foundation said, making FSU a leader in the movement to leverage online learning to create a more affordable education system. The foundation estimates the cost of FSU’s MBA at $12,852. In addition, FSUs program is accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. FSU’s online MBA program requires 36 to 42 credit hours, depending on the student’s academic background. Academic experiences focus on developing communication skills, strategies for approaching professional challenges and a strong understanding of current business technology.

“Flexibility and affordability in online MBA programs are important, but quality cannot be ignored,” said Dan Schuessler, founder and CEO of Affordable Colleges Foundation. “The online MBA programs on our list offer students the same level of academic excellence and student support that is expected of campus-based programs.”

The foundation’s selections for the top online MBA programs offer not only flexibility, but academic rigor, student support and cost structures that rival – and in some cases surpass – their campus-based counterparts. The complete rankings can be found online at www.affordablecollegesonline.org/online-colleges/mba-programs.

Affordable Colleges Foundation, a leading resource for online learning and college affordability information, began in 2011 to provide quality data and information about pursuing an affordable higher education.