University of Cincinnati Online

The 100% online MBA program is comprehensive, blending academic, research-intensive learning with real-world experiences. Flexibility, nationally renowned faculty, and a rigorous cross-functional curriculum help students gain experience in strategic leadership and decision-making with coursework offered in accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, information technology, marketing, and operations management.

Students can level up in their career or pivot to other functions in the business world at their own pace and with confidence about their future prospects. The program can be completed in as little as one year at the full-time pace with the option to take in-person courses at UC’s Uptown Campus.

• Key Features

The fully online curriculum includes program courses (26 semester credit hours) and five to six elective courses (12 semester credit hours). Up to 10 hours of Business Foundations courses can be waived with previous undergraduate coursework and/or professional experience.
Students can customize their MBA program to fit specific career goals by choosing from among 12 credit hours of electives, including Health Care Administration, Health Care Finance, Health Care Operations, Health Care Policy and Regulation, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Data Analytics, Corporate Taxation, Individual Taxation, and Investment Management.

• Return on Investment

A 2023 Fortune article reports the average starting salary for MBA graduates is $115,000, more than 53% higher than the $75,000 average for people who only have a bachelor’s degree.

UC Online’s MBA program can help students advance to the following roles, potentially earning higher salaries, estimated to grow 2 –11% in the coming years: Budget Analysts, Computer and Information Systems Analysts, Financial and Investment Analysts, Management Analysts, Marketing Research Analysts, Marketing Managers, Marketing Specialists, Operation Research Analysts, and Project Management Specialists (Source: O*Net Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.)

• Accreditation and Rankings

Led by the same talented faculty as our on-site classes, UC’s Online MBA is consistently ranked as one of the top programs in the country for its value, receiving:

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for a proven track record in providing the best in business education worldwide
• Accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission
• #1 Online MBA program in Ohio, #2 in the Midwest, #27 in the U.S., #56 in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds Distance Online MBA Rankings 
• #11 Online MBA in the U.S. by Fortune
• #14 for Online MBA offerings in Healthcare Administration by College Values Online
• Top 50 Online MBA program in the U.S. by Poets & Quants

The University of Cincinnati (UC) Online provides high-quality, online academic programs from UC, a 200-year-old premier research and higher learning institution located in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio, and serving students across the U.S. and internationally.

As one of the first institutions to offer online courses more than 20 years ago, UC Online is focused on helping busy professionals strengthen their academic and professional experiences with advanced degree programs. UC knows that today’s students, busy and career-focused, cannot always study on a college campus. UC Online makes it easy to obtain an advanced degree without compromising career goals. The online modality creates opportunities to develop new skills and cultivate in-depth knowledge with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from a nationally ranked business school.

Serving growing industries while preparing students for the global workplace, UC’s prestigious Carl H. Lindner College of Business empowers business problem solvers to tackle the world's challenges.

With more than 45,000 alums around the world, Lindner fuels professional growth through academic experiences, cooperative education, flexible pathways, an inclusive community, and a vibrant urban setting. Recently, almost 1,000 students — the largest and most diverse class in Lindner history — began their pursuit of academic advancement at Lindner.

As the inventor of cooperative education more than 100 years ago and a top 5-ranked public university for it by U.S. News & World Report, Lindner’s motto is “learning is doing and doing is learning.” Adept at connecting students to world-class employers, Lindner can attest to students earning collectively $75 million annually working at companies that include GE Aviation, Disney, Toyota, Kroger, and Procter & Gamble.

UC Online’s courses, including those in the MBA, are equally as challenging as courses taken on campus taught by the same world-renowned Lindner campus faculty. And in the online MBA program, students have access to Lindner Career Services, ensuring whatever path they choose, they can rely on dedicated support.

Teaching excellence is vital to the mission of UC Online and UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business. The faculty is made up of outstanding educators dedicated to providing a phenomenal classroom experience.

Lindner is also one of the country's research powerhouses. With Lindner’s faculty consistently making significant contributions that affect the lives of business professionals and consumers, students can learn from and collaborate with leading researchers to make their mark.

The real-world expertise that Lindner researchers and instructors bring to business practices are evidenced by this partial list of accomplishments during the 2022–23 academic year:

• 125 meaningful research contributions and presentations
• 68 faculty publications
• 58 journal articles
• 3 books
• 40+ appearances with news networks and media
• 6 fellows of the UC Graduate College
• 3 faculty members with 10k+ citations
• 3 nationally competitive award winner

The Carl H. Lindner College of Business Alumni includes more than 45,000 people living all over the world who share personal and professional updates, milestones, and achievements.

The Lindner Alumni Council (LAC) represents the Lindner Alumni Network. Its mission is to unify Lindner alumni and enhance the alumni experience through meaningful engagement, recognition opportunities, and ways to volunteer.

Annual events on the LAC calendar include the Cincinnati Business Achievement Awards and the Alumni Speaker Series.

Individuals with an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution, regardless of field of study, are eligible to apply for admission.
The program is selective, and admission is based on several factors, including academic and professional achievement, strong communication skills, and a proven record of effective leadership. Applicants should have at least a B grade average (or equivalent) in undergraduate coursework or provide evidence of academic promise that is satisfactory to the admitting department.

The admissions committee reviews applications holistically, considering all items of an application portfolio. Accepted applicants will be notified if they have been fully or conditionally admitted to the program.

Read more about admission requirements here: UC Online MBA Admission Requirements.

The following are required as part of the application process:

• Completion of online application with fee
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resume
• Unofficial school transcripts
• GRE or GMA scores are optional

International students are required to submit:

• An official TOEFL/IELTS
• Foreign transcripts to be evaluated by an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluating Services (NACES)

Part-time students need between 3–6 credit hours per semester, while full-time students need 12 or more credit hours per semester. Costs are subject to change at any time. (Calculate your tuition)

Updated tuition and fees can be found here: UC Online MBA Tuition.

Many students qualify for some category of financial aid. Financial Aid A-Z provides a comprehensive overview of many aspects of financial aid while below are the top sources of assistance for UC Online students:

• Scholarships
• Employer–Partner Tuition Scholarships
• U.S. Military Educational Benefits

Settled in 1788, Cincinnati, known as the “Queen City,” is located on the banks of the Licking and Ohio rivers in Hamilton County, Ohio, and is the 30th largest city in the U.S.

Several Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Cincinnati, such as Kroger, Procter & Gamble, Western & Southern Financial Group, Fifth Third Bank, American Financial Group, and Cintas. Cincinnati has three major league teams, seven minor league teams, five college institutions with sports teams, and seven major sports venues.

Online students are equally valued members of the dynamic UC community and graduate with the same prestigious, career-advancing degrees.

Get to know some of our current and recent graduates below.

• Jessica S., Current student: “Working full-time in healthcare operations, being married with three children, and pursuing my MBA …takes effort and sacrifice. …being in an online program is incredibly liberating. You make your own schedule, and the technology is always available and easy to use. My professors give adequate time and methods for virtual check-ins and regularly make themselves available to meet in person. They genuinely want their students to succeed.”
• Jim T., Recent graduate: “I can attest to the value of the program. Being able to replay lectures, have online notes, ask questions of instructors easily, and collaborate with classmates in a meaningful way were real plusses. UC knows how to leverage technology. The curriculum is rich and useful; the professors are first-rate.”
• Emily S., Recent graduate: “I was attracted to the online MBA because of the high regional and national rankings and because of the flexibility. I also wanted to be able to work my full-time job while earning my degree. The Lindner College of Business is unique in that it is the only UC college with a dedicated Career Services Center, which was an excellent resource for me as a student and continues to be as an alumnus.”
• Jennifer T., Current student, shares her experience in this video.