U.S. News ranks top 25 online MBA programs

There was a time when U.S.News & World Report didn't rank online MBA programs. As online MBA and other graduate degree programs became ubiquitous, I guess it was time to add online graduate business programs to the rankings list. So, here are the top 25 online graduate business programs to consider if you're thinking about getting an MBA online:

#1 Washington State University 

Pullman, WA

#2 Arizona State University (Carey) 

Tempe, AZ

#3 Indiana University–​Bloomington (Kelley) 

Bloomington, IN

#4 University of Florida (Hough) 

Gainesville, FL

#5 California State University–​Fullerton (Mihaylo) 

Fullerton, CA

#6 Central Michigan University 

Mount Pleasant, MI

#7 Auburn University 

Auburn, AL

#8 University of Connecticut 

Storrs, CT

#9 University of Texas–​Dallas 

Richardson, TX

#10 University of Tennessee–​Martin 

Martin, TN

#11 Arkansas State University–​Jonesboro 

State University, AR

#12 Clarkson University 

Potsdam, NY

#13 Marist College 

Poughkeepsie, NY

#14 Worcester Polytechnic Institute 

Worcester, MA

#15 Georgia College & State University (Bunting) 

Milledgeville, GA

#16 University of Illinois–​Springfield 

Springfield, IL

#17 University of Nebraska–​Lincoln 

Lincoln, NE

#18 St. Joseph's University (Haub) 

Philadelphia, PA

#19 Pennsylvania State University–​World Campus 

#20 University of North Texas 

Denton, TX

#21 University of Michigan–​Dearborn 

Dearborn, MI

#22 University of Massachusetts–​Amherst (Isenberg) 

Amherst, MA

#23 University of San Diego 

San Diego, CA

#24 Quinnipiac University 

Hamden, CT

#25 Thunderbird School of Global Management 

Glendale, AZ

If you're thinking about getting an MBA, what's motivating you? Rank the value of each of the following elements on a scale of 1-5:

• The education - to learn about business administration, to increase your business acumen
• The networking - to make meaningful connections with colleagues and professional associates
• The degree - to leverage the MBA in your professional pursuits
• The school's reputation - after all, who wouldn't want to have a degree from Harvard or MIT?

If you're drawn to the networking opportunities, then an online MBA experience will significantly limit your ability to network as effectively as a live, in-classroom MBA experience. So, choose carefully as you plan your MBA pursuits.