Best Online MBA Programs Offering Operations Management

Are you looking to enhance your career in operations management? Do you want to pursue an MBA degree but prefer the flexibility of online learning? Look no further!

In this article, we will explore the best online operations management MBA degree programs available to help you achieve your professional goals. With the advancement of technology, online education has become a popular choice for busy professionals seeking to upgrade their skills without compromising their current commitments.

These programs offer the same rigorous curriculum and faculty expertise as traditional MBA programs, while providing the convenience and accessibility of online learning.

Business professionals ready to take their careers to new heights will do well to consider an online Master’s of Business Administration. This well-respected degree can open many doors in business leadership.

A concentration in operations is a wonderful addition to the online MBA. This multidisciplinary specialization is designed to give students a broad understanding of the components necessary to management.

Topics like supply chain management, customer service, logistics, and human resources are covered in an online MBA with an operations emphasis. Distance learners will not only enjoy flexibility when it comes to setting a schedule that jives well with their professional schedules, but they will also benefit from educators who have built a curriculum consisting of solid business theory and relevant application.

Imagine being trained to work alongside engineers, technicians, and marketers who will benefit from your being properly trained for a career in operations. There will be plenty of job opportunities tied to this online degree and organizations will be looking for competent operations managers for years to come.

While the list of noteworthy online MBAs in operations can seem daunting, it is important to consider the multiple factors which make a program stand out from the rest. Tuition, accreditation, program length, and business school reputation are just some of the important variables to consider. Here are the very best online Operations MBA Degrees.

#1 University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business – Vermillion, South Dakota

An Operations and Supply Chain Management-focused online MBA is provided by the Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota. Students can complete this stand-out program completely online.

The University of South Dakota’s Beacom School of Business offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Finance, Marketing, Business Analytics, and Health Services Administration may also be added as specializations to this best-of-the-best online program.

Students wanting a well-rounded business degree will be impressed by this program’s curriculum. Managerial Accounting, Quantitative Finance, Strategic Management, Managerial Finance, Managerial Marketing, Business and Its Environment, Leadership Development, and Operations Management are just some of the excellent courses included within this 36-credit hour program. Candidates with the proper academic experience may be able to waive up to 18-credit hours of coursework. This saves time by having to take fewer classes over the course of the program and also saves money with a lower tuition rate. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business has been granting the Beacom School of Business its business accreditation for nearly seventy years. This fact means you can trust that the business school has been directing students with integrity and consistency for decades. This online operations MBA will prepare students for significant careers in a spectrum of business management positions and also prime graduate students to consider pursuing a doctorate in the future.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Affordable

#2 Kettering University School of Management – Flint, Michigan

An online MBA with a certificate in Operations Management is delivered by Kettering University’s School of Management. This ACBSP-accredited program shines with a stellar curriculum and excellent flexibility.

The School of Management at Kettering University provides an online Master’s of Business Administration with a graduate certificate in Operations Management. Other high-quality certificates one can pursue with this online degree include Global Leadership, Healthcare Management, and Supply Chain & Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The advantages of this online MBA get felt right off the bat with no GMAT/GRE test scores needed during the application process. This saves time and money for candidates who are not interested in taking the placement test or who scored poorly on it in the past. One hundred percent of this MBA can be taken online which also saves time and money with zero campus visits. Students get to set their own schedules and can complete one course at a time. Distance learners may also take courses on an accelerated basis and graduate in just eighteen months. This distance MBA with a graduate certificate in Operations Management is fully accredited by the ACBSP, and the business school has tailor-fit this program for students desiring to link processes and performance with people. The 40-credit hours included in this degree consist of three certificate-intensive courses and seven required core courses.

Accreditation: ACBSP, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Above Average

#3 University of Scranton Arthur J. Kania School of Management – Scranton, Pennsylvania

The University of Scranton’s Arthur J. Kania School of Management provides an online MBA in Operations Management. Distance learners looking for a highly respected degree in business need to look no further.

An Operations Management-intensive online Master’s of Business Administration is provided at the Arthur J. Kania School of Management at the University of Scranton. Other praiseworthy specializations offered at the business school include Accounting, Human Resources, Enterprise Resource Planning, Healthcare Management, and International Business, Not looking for a specific concentration? Simply apply for the general MBA. Scranton has designed this degree to meet the needs of the modern business professional. Students can access coursework and complete assignments 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For less than $35,000 in tuition, a distance learner can earn an online operations MBA that is sure to equip her with the skills she will need for a long career in operations management. The AACSB-International grants the Arthur J. Kania School of Management its business accreditation. Recognition for excellent support services has been shown to the business school according to U.S. News & World Report which claims it at the 14th spot in the nation. The respected ranking group has also given the business school a nod as offering the 109th best online degree in the country. Accounting for Management, Marketing Management, Managerial Economics, Financial Management, Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, and Management Information Systems are all provided within this degree as core courses.

The online MBA in Operations Management is just one in a long list of excellent degree plans provided at the University of Scranton. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education regionally accredits the University of Scranton. The school opened its doors in 1888 as Saint Thomas College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Over 5,370 students currently call the university their academic home as Scranton provides degrees at the associate through doctoral levels. The university’s official colors are white and purple.

Accreditation: AACSB, Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Affordability Score: Above Average

#4 Colorado Technical University School of Business & Management – Colorado Springs, Colorado

An online MBA with a concentration in Operations Supply Chain Management is provided by Colorado Technical University’s School of Business & Management. A solid backing by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs is just one of this program’s key features.

Colorado Technical University’s School of Business & Management offers an online Master’s of Business Administration with an Operations Supply Chain Management emphasis. Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General, Technology Management, Global Leadership, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Logistics, Marketing, and Project Management are also specializations of interest associated with this distance degree. The curriculum designers for this excellent 48-credit hour degree had the distance student in mind as it was formulated to expose students to opportunities I developing the knowledge and skills that are crucial to business management. This online operations MBA stresses industry-tested strategies for organizing, planning, and controlling systems in organizations. Grad students will be given the tools they need for coaching, directing, and motivating teammates and employees for optimal performance. The business school makes it easy to get started with three start times each year and the convenience of taking all classes online or at the campuses in Colorado Springs or Aurora in the Denver area. Applied Managerial Accounting, Strategic Human Capital Management, Applied Managerial Economics, Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making, Strategic Management in Dynamic Environments, and Applied Managerial Finance are just some of the top-notch core courses delivered within the School of Business & Management.

This Operations Supply Chain Management-focused online MBA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and has been noted as offering excellent support services and one of the top 200 online programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. This degree is just one of the stand-out programs offered at Colorado Technical University. CTU has only been in existence since 1965 and was established to train ex-military personnel for careers in technology. Today over 25,500 students attend the school.

Accreditation: ACBSP, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Average

#5 University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business – Cincinnati, Ohio

The University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business delivers a Health Care Operations online MBA. There are a multitude of reasons why this distance degree stands out as a top-five program.

An online Master’s of Business Administration featuring a specialization in Health Care Operations is provided at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati. There are excellent choices which accompany this program including the chance to complete it without a concentration as a general online MBA. Students can attach a certificate in Business Foundations or consider noteworthy emphases like Marketing, Health Care Finance, Individual Taxation, Health Care Administration, Health Care Operations, Corporate Taxation, and Health Care Policy and Regulation. Adequately trained health care professionals with the skills to manage, organize, and administer crucial health care services within all types of health care systems have never been in greater demand. The Linder MBA online with a Health Care Operations specialization provides the necessary knowledge a graduate student needs to manage a health care system with a focus on evidence-based decision making, health systems organization and total quality management. This curriculum also exposes students to health care finance and problem-solving. The business school’s Health Care Operations emphasis is interdisciplinary and jointly provided by the Lindner College of Business and UC’s College of Allied Health Sciences. The online MBA can be completed by registering for 38-48 credit hours while students with the proper academic experience may waive up to ten credit hours of foundational coursework.

The AACSB-International accredits the Carl H. Lindner College of Business while the University of Cincinnati is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The recognitions for the university’s online program include U.S. News & World Report calling it the 66th best online MBA in the nation and Quacquarelli Symonds naming it as the 47th best on the planet. U.S. News also reports the school provides excellent support services. Cincinnati got its start in 1819 and holds the title as the oldest college in the city. Students seeking associates through doctorates are enrolled at the school, and the most current figures show an enrollment of 37,155.

Accreditation: AACSB, Higher Learning Commission
Affordability Score: Above Average

What is operations management?

Business managers have a wide range of career opportunities to choose from. Those interested in one-on-one employee support can thrive in human resource management. Those with high attention to detail and a knack with finances do well in financial management. The professionals that are always looking to break boundaries and try new things foster creativity in innovation management. Professionals that have a general grasp on each of these subjects, with a strategic focus, should look into operations management.

Operations Management is the field in business that oversees business practices and drives organizational efficiency, productivity, and profit. The scope of operations management is very broad and is applied in every industry and organization. It is the larger management umbrella of all of the resources within a company, the people, practices, and systems. Operations management is very strategic in nature and influences a company’s project management, quality control, human resource management, innovation, and supply chain management.

Some might confuse the scope of supply chain management and operations management. Supply chain management lies within the overall scope of operations but deals specifically with steps of production from raw materials to distribution. Operations management oversees this aspect of a company, but also the broader organizational operation systems as well.

What does an Operations Manager do?

To manage everyday operational functionality, organizations are looking for skilled and knowledgeable leaders with creative problem solving and management skills. Operations managers have skills in project management, people management, customer service, and leadership, and have an average annual salary of $63,000. A natural fit for operations managers is in the manufacturing industry where there are multiple layers of operations happening. These managers must have an understanding of safety and environmental issues, HR regulations, as well as organizational budgeting goals. Every operations manager must have a grasp on good organizational communications and conflict management, whether overseeing a small staff or managing relations with large unions. These managers must be able to clearly communicate operational tasks and vision to lead organizational teams effectively.

Important tools for operations managers to understand is lean management and six sigma. Six Sigma is a system that was introduced in 1980 outlining steps for process improvement and quality management. Lean systems techniques can be used to improve processes by eliminating waste. Six Sigma started in the manufacturing world but has been applied to organizations in engineering, finance, and healthcare. Creating efficient and effective operations processes is the focus of every operations manager. These processes are very analytically driven and allow operations managers to quantify processes and procedures in order to improve and sustain good practices.

Operations managers looking to keep climbing the corporate ladder might have their sights set on a Chief Operating Officer (COO) position. This position is generally the second highest ranking position in a company, second to CEO, and takes in an average annual salary of over $130,000. Popular skills for COOs include human resources, people management, operations management, strategic planning, and leadership. COOs take the function of an organizational manager and puts it on a larger corporate scale, ensuring that middle managers and complex systems are meeting organizational efficiency goals.

What does an Online Operations MBA entail?

During the research phase of finding an online MBA program, students need to be aware of different application requirements and processes. While the GMAT was once the foundational entrance requirement for an MBA, some programs offer GMAT/GRE waivers or delete the requirement altogether. Admissions for applicants might continue year-round on a rolling basis or have a strict deadline for minimal start dates. The application process for an MBA might take time, money, and effort, but it is definitely worth it. While the salary for general managers rests around $63,000, professionals holding an MBA in Business Operations have an annual salary of almost $90,000. This degree has a great potential for return on investment in the career of an operations manager.

Once starting an MBA degree, students will first explore the core foundational topics in business, like finance, accounting, marketing, statistics, and business law. Because operations management has such a broad scope within the life of a company, each of these foundation classes offers a lot of applicable information. These courses are especially important for students with a non-business undergraduate background. Those with other undergraduate degrees like engineering, technology, and finance can pursue this degree to gain experience with the core business essentials, as well as grasp the foundations of business management.

Students also get to explore the operations related topics in their specialization and concentration courses. These courses span the scope of effective operations in a global market. Course topics may include Performance Improvement, Global Logistics, Supply Chain Risk Management, Designing & Managing Supply Chains, Operations Management and System Analysis, Financial Management, and Management of Lean Six Sigma Programs.

The flexible nature of an online MBA lends itself to busy professionals who already work full-time. It allows professionals to continue building rapport and experience within the workplace while also pursuing an advanced degree. Another benefit of an online MBA is that the choice of a quality MBA program can extend far beyond a professional’s location in the country. Some MBA programs are offered in a 100% online format giving students the ultimate schedule flexibility, while others require on-campus residencies leveraging face-to-face networking opportunities. With the popularity of online MBA programs around the country, prospective students have the choice of small private college communities, large public universities, and everything in between.