Find The Best Kentucky MBA Programs and Degrees

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EARN AN ONLINE MBA DEGREE TODAY

If you want consideration for the top jobs – and top salaries – in business, an MBA is a necessity. If you are already working fulltime, traveling for your job and/or caring for a family, finding time to attend a conventional MBA program may prove difficult or impossible. An online MBA offers you the flexibility to pursue your degree at your own pace without sacrificing educational quality.

WHY CONSIDER AN ONLINE MBA?

If you plan to continue living and working in Kentucky after receiving your MBA, having a degree from a Kentucky university is an advantage. These schools focus their MBA programs on businesses and industries in the state, so what you learn as you study for your degree is a good fit for a future career in the Bluegrass State.

Percentage of students enrolled in online programs in Kentucky

MBA Concentrations

Besides a general masters’ degree in business administration, some online MBA programs offered by Kentucky universities also have career concentrations students can choose between. Rather than became a generalist, as with a standard MBA, you become a specialist. In-demand concentrations can increase the student’s potential earning power. Online MBA concentrations available in Kentucky include:

Finance

Every company needs managers with financial expertise. A finance concentration allows students to develop expertise in technical finance (fintech) as well as other skills necessary to work in the financial or related industries.

Health Systems Management

This concentration prepares those planning a career in health services for leadership roles in hospitals, other medical organizations, or businesses engaged in healthcare services or products.

Human Resources Management

HR managers are as responsible for a company’s success – or failure – as anyone. Management, employees, and the company culture are all related to HR management expertise. The best companies want the top people working in HR, and a concentration in HR management is a significant asset.

Information Technology

This concentration focuses on how IT can make businesses function effectively and maintain a competitive edge.

International Business

Business is increasingly global. With this MBA concentration, the student can find work in globalized companies anywhere in the world.

Accreditation in Kentucky

Look for online MBA programs in Kentucky accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). This accreditation is considered the gold standard for business schools, and is viewed as such by corporate employers.

The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) is recognized by the Council on Higher Education as an accreditation organization. In Kentucky, schools are also regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

CAREER AND JOB OUTLOOK FOR GRADUATES

Kentucky’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, manufacturing, and mining. Top agricultural products include thoroughbred racehorses, beef cattle, tobacco, and soybeans. Manufacturing is led by motor vehicles and equipment, followed by chemicals and machinery. The mining industry includes coal, natural gas, and petroleum production.

The state’s leading service industries include healthcare, hotels, law firms, and wholesale and retail trade. Between 2016 and 2026, management occupations are poised to grow substantially. Healthcare jobs will experience double digit percentage growth, and health occupations are expected to make up nearly 10 percent of all jobs in the state by 2026.

Company Industry Headquarters City Number of Employees
Ft. Campbell City Offices Government Ft. Campbell 23,227
Cincinnati International Airport Transportation Hebron 11,000
Humana, Inc. Healthcare Louisville 10,000
UK Chandler Hospital Healthcare Lexington 10,000
Toyota Motor Mfg. Kentucky, Inc. Automobiles Georgetown 6,974

EARNING POTENTIAL WITH AN MBA DEGREE IN Kentucky

Top MBA Careers in Kentucky

Often working in IT or project management, business analysts combine business and technological knowhow to implement problem solving solutions.

This job involves identifying business opportunities, evaluating the business current state, and working to drive the business to its full potential.

This position involves supervising a company or a particular area of a company.

This individual oversees goods and services production, and is charged with making this aspect of the organization run as smoothly as possible.

In this role, a person oversees a company’s external and internal programs.

The senior financial analyst not only uses data to make investment recommendations, but builds on industry relationships and meets with clients.

TOP ONLINE MASTERS PROGRAM CHOICES

Location:

Campbellsville, KY

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • campbellsville_university_logo
  • Tuition

    17,244

  • % receiving financial aid

    90+% overall

  • Student population

    4,365

  • Public or Private

    Private

Location:

Morehead, KY

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • morehead_state_university_logo
  • Tuition

    17,370

  • % receiving financial aid

    95% overall

  • Student population

    10,584

  • Public or Private

    Public

Location:

Murray, KY

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • murray_state_university_logo
  • Tuition

    23,184

  • % receiving financial aid

    87% overall

  • Student population

    1,381

  • Public or Private

    Public

Location:

Highland Heights, KY

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • northern_kentucky_university_logo
  • Tuition

    16,995

  • % receiving financial aid

    87% overall

  • Student population

    around 2,000

  • Public or Private

    Public

Location:

Bowling Green, KY

Tuition:

$ $ $ $ $

  • western_kentucky_university_logo
  • Tuition

    24,410

  • % receiving financial aid

    61.6% overall

  • Student population

    2,621 Graduate students

  • Public or Private

    Public

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST MBA PROGRAM

Choosing the right online MBA program in Kentucky is a personal decision, based on your career goals and requirements. When making a decision, take every aspect of the MBA programs you’re interested in into account and figure out the strengths and weaknesses when it comes to your needs. The right online MBA program for you may not prove to be the right program for a colleague, and vice versa. If you have questions, contact the school directly for answers.

1

Concentration

If you want to focus your career in a specific field, look for an online MBA program offering that concentration. Perhaps a concentration was not part of your original educational plan, but you realize you are interested in a certain career path or it is a concentration valued greatly by your employer. If you are interested in only a general MBA, you have more options when it comes to deciding on an online program. If you want to pursue a concentration, compare the programs offered by different schools to see how they measure up.

2

Experiences Available

Even though you are not attending a brick and mortar school, that does not mean online MBA programs do not provide numerous opportunities to gain experience through internships or group projects. Employers want to know about the type of projects you worked on while obtaining your MBA. Find out what sort of projects you can expect to work on while an MBA student and what types of experiences you will likely receive. Keep in mind that an online program can make it a bit more difficult to complete group projects than a standard program, but that just means working harder at communication. If a program doesn’t offer the kind of opportunities you seek, keep looking until you find one that does.

3

Perform Due Diligence

An online MBA program may take up two years of your life or more. That’s why it is crucial to perform your due diligence when deciding on an MBA program. Make sure the online school has proper accreditation. What sort of technology is used in their program, and is it state-of-the-art? Does the program offer rolling admission, so you can apply and start when it is convenient for you, or is the admissions process more structured? Are there long breaks between semesters, or can you work almost continuously on your MBA, allowing you to complete the degree more quickly?

4

Tuition Costs

In a perfect world, the cost of an MBA wouldn’t weigh that heavily. You can expect to earn enough money after receiving your degree to pay off student loans relatively quickly. That is certainly a possibility, but in the real world tuition costs – and the availability of financial aid – may rule out some schools. If your employer is paying for your MBA, you must adhere to any tuition limits imposed, unless you can supplement the overage yourself. Fortunately, online tuition is generally more affordable than conventional MBA tuition, and you do not have to factor in transportation costs when you are taking classes online.

5

Work Experience

Most MBA programs are geared for those with work experience, and often require a specific number of years of such experience to qualify for the program. If you do not have sufficient work experience, you can either decide to wait to pursue an MBA or find a program that accepts the number of years you currently have under your belt. For example, if one program requires five years of experience and you have only three years, if you don’t want to wait another two years your choice of programs has been narrowed to those who will accept three years of experience.

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