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<p>MBA students consistently report that some of the top reasons that motivate them to pursue this degree are earning a higher salary post-grad, becoming eligible for promotions, or making a career switch. Many students who graduate from the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-online-mba-programs/">top online MBA programs</a> go on to earn six figures—and they make even more than the national average of business school grads. </p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p><a href="https://www.mba.com/business-school-and-careers/salary-and-roi/guide-to-your-average-mba-salary">MBA graduates earn a median base salary of $115,000</a>, according to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC). This figure goes for all MBA students, despite the modality of their study because “schools offer the same diploma to those graduating from in-person programs as the diploma to those from online programs,” a GMAC spokesperson says. “Employers, therefore, do not necessarily know which programs the hired graduates are from.”</p>



<p>Of the 100 schools that appear on <em>Fortune</em>’s third annual ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-online-mba-programs/">best online MBA programs</a>, 12 schools reported salaries higher than the national average of $115,000. MBA grads already earn a much higher average salary than the nearly $70,000 average for people who only hold a bachelor’s degree, according to figures from the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2022/data-on-display/education-pays.htm">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>.</p>



<p>An online MBA can also often be a more affordable choice for candidates who are looking for an optimal return-on-investment for their education because many of these students continue to work while pursuing their degree. Some schools, however, do come with a larger price tag than other online MBA programs. </p>



<p>As you’re evaluating online MBA program options, you may want to consider the following schools that report median base salaries higher than the national average. These salary figures were reported directly to <em>Fortune </em>as part of the ranking process for the publication’s 2023 list of the best online MBA programs.</p>



<p><em>Not all schools report salary figures, so this list is not exhaustive.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-university-of-kentucky-gatton">1. University of Kentucky (Gatton) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $140,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/university-of-kentucky-gatton/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 53</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 80%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $996</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 36</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-university-of-massachusetts-amherst-isenberg">2. University of Massachusetts—Amherst (Isenberg) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $137,500</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/university-of-massachusetts-amherst-isenberg/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 10</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 92%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $925</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 39</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-t3-indiana-university-bloomington-kelley">T3. Indiana University—Bloomington (Kelley) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $135,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/indiana-university-bloomington-kelley/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 1</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 28%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $1,521</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 54</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-t3-carnegie-mellon-university-tepper">T3. Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $135,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/carnegie-mellon-university-tepper/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 3</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 61%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $2,275</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 64 </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-university-of-north-carolina-chapel-hill-kenan-flagler">5. University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $133,340</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/university-of-north-carolina-chapel-hill-kenan-flagler/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 6</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 60%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $2,026</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 62</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-university-of-denver-daniels">6. University of Denver (Daniels) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $124,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/university-of-denver-daniels/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 28</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 75%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $1,383</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 60</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-t7-north-carolina-state-university-poole">T7. North Carolina State University (Poole) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $120,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/north-carolina-state-university-poole/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 39</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 70%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $2,529 (out-of-state)</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 40</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-t7-southern-methodist-university-cox">T7. Southern Methodist University (Cox) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $120,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/southern-methodist-university-cox/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 32</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 68%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $1,879</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 52</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-t7-santa-clara-university-leavey">T7. Santa Clara University (Leavey) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $120,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/santa-clara-university-leavey/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 25</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 96%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $1,234</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 70</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-10-university-of-texas-dallas">10. University of Texas—Dallas </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $119,299</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/santa-clara-university-leavey/"><em>Fortune</em> program rank: No. 33</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 91%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $1,000</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 53</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-11-regent-university">11. Regent University </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $119,000</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/regent-university/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 67</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 37%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $695</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 36</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-12-hofstra-university-zarb">12. Hofstra University (Zarb) </h2>



<p>Median base salary: $118,047</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/hofstra-university-zarb/"><em>Fortune </em>program rank: No. 18</a></p>



<p>Acceptance rate: 92%</p>



<p>Cost per credit: $1,605</p>



<p>Credits to graduate: 36</p>



<p><em>Check out all of </em>Fortune’<em>s </em><a href="https://fortune.com/education/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>rankings of degree programs</em></a>, <em>and learn more about specific </em><a href="https://fortune.com/education/careers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>career paths</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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MBA students from these top online programs make a higher salary than the average of all grads from these programs, despite modality.

Online MBA students at these 12 business schools make more than the $115,000 average

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Online MBA students at these 12 business schools make more than the $115,000 average

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