Planning to do an online MBA and got into these two schools. They're comparable in price, I feel like Syracuse is the better name brand, but I'm in the DC area and networking may work better with American. American also offered me $12,000 in scholarships. Thanks!

That's a tough choice. On the one hand, you're right, American would have the better network in DC. However, its online MBA is newer than the Whitman program, and not ranked in the FT (as Whitman currently is).

Generically speaking, Whitman is the stronger of the two schools. However, having a strong local network is definitely a benefit of the American program, and if networking is one of your goals, then this could tip the scales. American is not a bad school by any means, its MBA is world-class, even if it doesn't show up in the rankings as often as Whitman.

I'd do a bit of research into each school's alumni, not only in terms of location but also into where they work (companies / industries), and see how they line up with your networking goals / expectations.

GWU also offers an Online MBA - great DC network, ranked.