15 Best One Year MBA Programs [2024 Ultimate Guide]
By Joy Miller
Updated on September 5, 2024
One year MBA programs may mean more job opportunities, increased knowledge in your field, salary increase potential, and qualification for management and leadership positions.
Earning a 1 year MBA online may be the fastest, most convenient way to achieve these goals.
While wading through a more traditional 2 year program may give you more time to digest and implement the material and information, a 1 year program has significant advantages over a 2 year program that are worth considering before you apply for your MBA.
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Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer MBA programs that can be completed in 12 months or less and are available online or in a hybrid format.
Baker University offers an online MBA program with eight concentrations, including Finance and Transformational Studies. The program can typically be completed in 16-18 months, but some students finish in 12 months. This is made possible by the flexible schedule, 18-credit core coursework, and accelerated format, allowing for a more intensive study pace.
Baker is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Campbellsville University’s online MBA in Accounting generally takes two years to complete but can sometimes be finished in as little as one year. The program requires 36 credits and holds IACBE accreditation. There are nine other MBA concentrations available, all with the same 36-credit requirement, allowing for diverse specialization options.
Campbellsville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Delta State University’s online Integrated MBA can be completed in one year, requiring 30 credits. The program offers six concentrations: General Business, Health Care Administration, Human Resource Management, Information Systems Management, Nonprofit Management, and Entertainment Industry Studies. Designed for working professionals, it combines advanced business concepts with practical applications.
DSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Gannon University’s accelerated online MBA program, accredited by the ACBSP, can be completed in one year and requires 30 credits. The program offers flexibility with part-time and full-time study plans starting in fall, spring, or summer. The entirely online format allows working professionals to balance their studies with career commitments while gaining practical, experiential learning through integrated projects.
Gannon is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Lamar University offers an accelerated online MBA program that can be completed in as few as 12 months. The program, accredited by AACSB, requires 30 credit hours and offers 12 different concentrations. Designed for working professionals, it features fully online coursework and multiple start dates, providing flexibility to advance careers without interruption.
Lamar is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
LSU’s online MBA in General Business is AACSB accredited and can be completed in as few as 10 months. The program offers 10 concentrations and a fully online format tailored for working professionals. A GMAT/GRE waiver is available for qualified applicants. The curriculum covers essential business disciplines, preparing students for leadership roles across various industries.
LSU Shreveport is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Mississippi College’s accelerated MBA program, accredited by AACSB, can be completed in as little as one year and requires 30 credit hours. It offers flexible online and evening classes for working professionals.
Students can choose from three concentrations: General, Accounting, and Finance. The curriculum provides a comprehensive business education, equipping students with the skills needed for advanced career opportunities.
MC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Northwest Missouri State University offers several online MBA programs that are AACSB accredited. These programs require 30 credit hours and can be completed in 12-18 months. With a fully online format, they provide flexibility for working professionals. There are 10 different concentrations available, ensuring a comprehensive business education tailored to diverse career goals.
Northwest is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and was most recently reaffirmed in July 2012.
Regis University offers online MBA programs in General Business, Human Resource Management, and Project Leadership & Management.
Each program is designed for flexibility with a fully online format, accommodating working professionals. The programs can be completed in 12-24 months, requiring a commitment of approximately 6-9 hours per week. Key start dates are available throughout the year, providing multiple entry points for new students.
Regis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers an online MBA program with 17 concentrations in addition to the general track. Accredited by ACBSP, the program requires 30 credits and can be completed in as few as 12 months for full-time students. It features a flexible, fully online format with five-term starts per year, making it ideal for working professionals.
SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Texas A&M International University offers six online MBA programs, each requiring 30 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 12 months. These programs are fully online, providing flexibility for working professionals.
Accredited by the AACSB, they offer concentrations in Criminal Justice, Healthcare Administration, International Banking and Finance, International Business, International Trade and Logistics, and Management.
Texas A&M is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) offers an online MBA program that can be completed in as little as 12 months. The program requires 36 credit hours and features flexible online coursework with multiple start dates. Accredited by IACBE, it includes specializations in marketing, finance, human resource management, global business, and nonprofit management. The GMAT is not required for admission.
UMGC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth offers a fully online MBA program accredited by AACSB, requiring 30 credit hours. It includes five concentrations: accounting, business analytics, finance, organizational leadership, and supply chain management and information systems. Students may take one to five courses per semester, completing the program in one to five years, depending on their pace and preparation.
UMass Dartmouth is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The University of Southern Indiana offers a flexible, fully online MBA program that can be completed in as few as 12 months. The program requires 30 credit hours and offers multiple concentrations, including Data Analytics, Engineering Management, Healthcare Administration, Human Resources, and Marketing. Accredited by the AACSB, the program is designed for working professionals, featuring 8-week course formats.
USI is accredited for ten years at the baccalaureate and master’s levels by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online MBA program that requires 30 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 12 months. Accredited by AACSB, the program features rolling admissions with multiple start dates, providing flexibility for working professionals. The curriculum includes core business courses and allows for customization through elective courses.
UTPB is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The first step to researching 1 year MBA programs is to decide on a concentration. What area of business are you most interested in?
When you take a generalist degree or specialize in a certain area of business, your studies will prepare you for a specific role in the business world.
This MBA program specialization track may be for those who know they enjoy the numbers side of business. You may already be an accountant or are preparing for the Certified Public Accountant exam. Your master’s work may give you an overview of the business world as well as delve deep on accounting topics, like Cost Accounting, Financial Analysis, and Taxation.
With a master’s, you may also be well-prepared to oversee your department or step into an executive-level position. Whether you work for a large business as an accountant, as an advisor to individuals, or as an auditor checking for compliance, you might make $91,000 for your skills (Center on Education and the Workforce).
On the other side of the numbers spectrum is a concentration in Finance. This degree is often for those who don’t necessarily need to track and control the money of an organization but who want to direct where it goes.
You’ll learn about Investments, Financial Markets, and Financial Strategy. After graduation, you may be ready to head the finance department of a business, non-profit, or government entity. You may also advise individuals on the best ways to manage and invest their money.
Finance MBA graduates can make an average of $101,000 per year (Center on Education and the Workforce).
If you’d rather not specialize but take in the broad view, you can take a general MBA. This degree is traditionally for those who want to run a small business or open their own company. Maybe you’re ready to take the family business to the next level and want to have as broad a knowledge base as possible. Maybe you know you’re an entrepreneur, so you don’t want to get locked into one business department.
When you take a general MBA, you can decide your own electives, so you take what you’re most interested in. If your family owns a small manufacturing shop, take Safety and Compliance without having to specialize in it. This may also be a good track for going into non-profit management, as you can take only the classes that impact or apply to that sector.
A general MBA holder may make an average of $89,000 per year (Center on Education and the Workforce).
A concentration in Management may provide you with the knowledge and skills to keep things moving in your organization. You’ll learn about everything from Human Resource Management to Project Management to Operations Management to Supply Chain Management. If you enjoy making decisions and seeing the outcomes of your effort, you might want to land your studies here.
As a manager, you may oversee several types of business departments as well as entire businesses. Like a generalist degree, it’s perfect for business owners and entrepreneurs as well as those who are excited about managing their employer’s assets and personnel.
Management MBA graduates can earn an average of $81,000 (Center on Education and the Workforce).
Do you enjoy the idea of studying how people think and what affects their brand loyalty and purchasing decisions? Do you enjoy the challenge of presenting your company’s products and services in the best light possible? If so, you may want to concentrate your studies in marketing to learn about pricing, advertising, public relations, events campaign, digital marketing, and sales force management.
After graduation, you may be prepared to manage a marketing department or consult with companies on their campaigns and branding. You may also go deep into research as a market researcher or product analyst. Or you may have some fun as a company’s social media manager.
As a Marketing MBA degree holder, you may earn the average $81,000 per year (Center on Education and the Workforce).
Because you are completing this degree much faster than normal, one year programs are often quite intense. Some programs are designed for working students while some expect you to be a full-time student in the program, putting your career on hold.
Keep in mind that not all accelerated MBA programs online advertise themselves as one-year program. They may advertise as “accelerated” rather than listing a set completion time. This is usually because some students can finish faster than others if they complete intensive summer courses or take an additional course each semester.
Because you’re only paying for one year’s worth of study, your tuition and fees may end up being less than in a 2 year program. Also, the faster you complete your degree, the faster you may re-enter the workforce and make up for not only the cost of your degree but the lost salary while you were completing your degree.
You can’t beat the convenience of attending an online business program. You can work from home, a local library, or any place you find to be a suitable study environment. You may have access to all of the program’s resources and networking opportunities your institution has to offer as well as the highly qualified professors who teach at the university you choose.
One year MBA programs online may make it easier than ever for business students to pursue their MBA quickly and conveniently. The sooner you finish your MBA, the sooner you may reap the benefits and be on your way to a possible promotion.
One-year MBA programs tend to cater to students with previous experience working in the field, while two year MBA programs are more open to recent college graduates who haven’t even held their first full-time job yet. Some 1 year programs actually require a certain number of work experience years, so be aware of those admissions requirements before applying.
Because a 1 year MBA program is accelerated by nature, the curriculum and course schedule may be quite different from a 2 year MBA program.
Generally, a 2 year program will include more basic courses and will offer longer semesters so that students can delve deeper into the core business subjects. 1 year programs, on the other hand, usually expect their students to have basic business analytics knowledge and will offer option for accelerated courses through shorter semester formats (8 weeks instead of 16 weeks, for example).
Since 1 year programs make use of an accelerated format, shorter academic breaks, and summer sessions, you may still complete as many courses and credit hours as someone would in a 2 year program. So a 1 year program doesn’t mean that the curriculum is shorter or easier; it simply means that you complete it within a shorter time period.
Most MBA programs, regardless of the length, will require you to complete an internship, practicum, or another experiential component that puts you directly in the field. You may have a longer and more in-depth opportunity to complete this component in a 2 year program versus in a 1 year program.
If you already have a job and are simply earning your degree for promotion, a lengthy internship might feel like a waste of your time. Some 1 year programs offer shorter international or global opportunities instead of an internship.
Earning your MBA may open plenty of new job opportunities. U.S. News & World Report recently identified the following jobs as the best prospects for someone with an MBA:
These jobs are quite diverse, pointing to the variety of fields in which an MBA can be useful.
When possible, choose a program that allows you to focus on specific aspects of business administration, like management or finance, so that you may have an optimal opportunity of becoming an attractive job candidate. Specialized knowledge and skills are almost always to your advantage.
If possible, look for a program that’s accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). It is the largest accrediting agency for business schools and is often a hallmark of the best part-time MBA programs.
The university should also be accredited by one of these six regional boards:
If a school hasn’t won accreditation, don’t waste your time applying there.
As a graduate student taking a one-year MBA program, you may still qualify for financial aid. Just like in your undergrad days, start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Then, look into other scholarship opportunities from private organizations or universities looking to attract students. Your employer might also offer tuition assistance in return for your continued service.
Yes, you can complete an MBA in 1 year. Many schools are offering such fast-paced programs to meet the demand to help get you back in the workforce sooner. See our list of schools offering one year MBA program.
Yes, there are one year MBA course of studies. Many universities have designed MBA programs that take one year to complete. See our list of schools offering 1 year MBA degrees.
Because accelerated and online undergraduate and graduate programs have become so popular among students, many colleges and universities have responded to this popularity by offering more of them.
To get started, choose your concentration and consider applying to 3-5 universities or a business school that offers degrees in that specialization. Don’t forget to check accreditation and look for financial aid opportunities while you’re waiting to hear back.
See how the right degree can shape your future—click “Find My Program.”
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