Top 10 One-Year MBA Programs in the US

In 1963, Katz became the first US business school to offer a one-year MBA program. Since then, a lot has changed—the school has diversified its offerings by adding a two-year program as well—but the one-year program has held strong, generally catering to an older, more experienced cohort with clearly defined career goals.

• Rankings: The school’s MBA is ranked in Businessweek, The Economist, and The Financial Times
• Unique requirements: GMAT score of at least 600; at least two years of work experience
• Intake: May 

Kellogg’s program, launched in 1965, was one of the first one-year MBAs in the country. Students start the MBA in June, when they take three to five courses during the summer session. They then join up with the second year of the traditional two-year MBA program and finish the following June.

• Rankings: The school’s full-time MBA is ranked in Businessweek, The Economist, and The Financial Times.
• Unique requirements: Students should have at completed at least three core business courses (from a list of six) before applying
• Intake: June

Established in 1978, USC’s IBEAR MBA has made a name for itself as the premier one-year MBA program in southern California. One key feature in this program is that it gives students the chance to pursue a 4-month long consulting experience with a real client company.

• Rankings: USC’s full-time MBA is ranked in Businessweek, The Economist, and The Financial Times.
• Unique requirements: At least six years of work experience. The program is designed for mid-career professionals training for global leadership position.
• Intake: July

Students in Emory’s one-year MBA, which launched in 1983, start in May with a “summer experience,” which includes a boot camp-like foray into core business topics like accounting, economics, statistics, and even an Excel review. In the fall and spring semesters, students delve into specific topics through elective courses.

• Rankings: The school’s full-time MBA is ranked by The Economist, Businessweek, and The Financial Times.
• Unique requirements: Candidates should either have an undergraduate degree in a quantitative field like engineering, or be able to otherwise demonstrate strong quantitative skills.
• Intake: May

Cornell’s the only Ivy League school to offer a one-year MBA (Columbia, which offers a 16-month MBA option, is the only other Ivy League school to offer an accelerated MBA). At Cornell, one-year students can choose to pursue a range of concentrations, from Consulting to Corporate Finance and Marketing Analytics. They can also take courses from other Cornell schools, such as the School of Hotel Administration and the College of Engineering.

Cornell also offers a one-year, technology-focused MBA in New York City.

• Rankings: Cornell’s full-time MBA is ranked in Businessweek, The Financial Times, and The Economist.
• Unique requirements: Applicants should have an advanced degree, such as a PhD or an MA, or a certification like a CFA or CPA.
• Intake: May

Notre Dame’s one-year MBA program begins in May, with an intensive summer session, before merging with the second year of the traditional MBA program. Concentrations are offered in Business Analytics, Business Leadership, Consulting, Corporate Finance, Entrepreneurship, Investments, and Marketing.

The program also offers optional international immersion sessions in Brazil, Chile, or China.

• Rankings: Mendoza’s full-time MBA is ranked in Businessweek, The Economist, and The Financial Times.
• Unique requirements: An undergraduate degree from an accredited university or significant work experience
• Intake: May

Warrington offers two flavors of its Accelerated MBA program: a 12-month option, designed for students without a business background in business, which starts in April; and a 10-month option starting in June for those who do have an undergraduate degree in business.

• Rankings: Warrington’s full-time MBA program is ranked in The Financial Times, Businessweek and The Economist.
• Unique requirements: The 10-month option requires an undergraduate degree in business.
• Intakes: April, June

Launched in 2015, Cox’s Fast Track MBA program is the newest program on this list, and is one of just a few accredited one-year MBA programs in Texas. The program offers a range of concentrations, in Accounting, Finance, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and more.

• Rankings: The school’s full-time MBA program is ranked in The Financial Times, Businessweek, and The Economist.
• Unique requirements: An undergraduate degree in business, economics, or other quantitative field
• Intake: May

Pepperdine’s Accelerated MBA program comes in two options: a 12-month program designed for students with an undergraduate degree in business, or a 15-month flavor for those without. In the 15-month version, students can take a whole trimester to study abroad, and pursue an increase range of specialization options.

• Rankings: Pepperdine’s full-time MBA program is ranked by Businessweek.
• Unique requirements: The 12-month option requires an undergraduate degree in business; both options require at least three years of work experience.
• Intake: August

Launched in 1991, Babson’s program, like many other US-based one-year MBAs, is aimed at those with a background in business or economics. The program offers a range of concentrations, in topics from Entrepreneurship to Life Sciences & Healthcare.

• Rankings: Babson’s full-time MBA program is ranked in Businessweek and The Financial Times.
• Unique requirements: An undergraduate degree in business or demonstrated capacity in accounting, finance, statistics, strategy, operations, economics, or marketing
• Intake: May