Online Master of Business Administration

The online MBA program at Iona University consists of 24 credits of core requirements and 12 credits of concentration courses. Core courses in the online MBA program include the following:

• Business Perspectives (required within the first 9 credits of the program)  
• Strategic Management (required within the last 9 credits of the program)    
• Fundamentals of Business Analytics
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Finance for Managers
• Information Systems
• Marketing Management
• Management and Organizational Behavior

Depending on the student’s undergraduate experience, higher level courses may be substituted for the above courses. MBA students may choose to leverage their elective course credits to add specific concentrations to their MBA degrees. The eight concentrations available to Iona online MBA students include: 

• Accounting
• Business Analytics
• Financial Management
• Healthcare Management
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• Management
• Marketing 

The online MBA format includes asynchronous online courses, which are designed with the flexibility that working professionals require. Most students are able to graduate from the online MBA program in just 12 to 15 months if they take two to three courses during each 11-week trimester. Iona also offers two accelerated summer sessions, each running for 5.5-weeks. Online MBA students take courses taught by dedicated faculty from the LaPenta School of Business and have full access to an active online community.

The flexibility and accessibility of an online MBA education often correlates with better academic outcomes. For instance, one study from the American Journal of Distance Education found that “Student learning outcomes for online learners were as good as or better than traditional learners, regardless of background characteristics,” while another conducted by The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning found that students taking courses online “had a stronger sense of community than students in the traditional format.”  

The online MBA program allows students to continue working while they earn their graduate degrees, which means they can also apply what they learn in their classes to their careers in real time, which can lead to more advancement opportunities and a clear sense of purpose in their coursework.  

Yes, online students are eligible for MBA internships, although internships are not required as part of the MBA coursework or degree plan. Because many online MBA students are already full-time working professionals, they don't all have the time or inclination to pursue internships on top of their existing workloads.

Iona online MBA students are enrolled in the MBA mentorship program as part of their degree plans. Under the umbrella of the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Programs, MBA students are matched with successful alumni who have the knowledge and experience that aligns with each student’s goals. Many students find that their mentorship relationship has lifelong, positive implications, both personally and professionally, as they develop and expand their careers. Online MBA students also have access to industry leaders through online networking events and a vast Iona alumni network.  

Yes, the online MBA can be completed part-time by working professionals. The online program is designed with flexibility as one of its core tenets, meaning that students can complete their online courses anytime, from anywhere. Most online MBA students at Iona juggle completing the program alongside their careers, allowing them to immediately apply the concepts they learn to their working lives.  

Whether they are working full time or leveraging the online program’s flexibility to meet their family obligations, students who want to earn an online MBA can enjoy a significant return on investment, both in career opportunities and salary potential.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. is expected to add more than 177,000 executive jobs between 2024 and 2034, an increase of 4%. Chief executive officers make a median salary of $206,420, while the median salary for all management occupations is $122,090.  

Graduates of the Iona online MBA program go on to obtain leadership positions and make successful career transitions every day. Some job titles associated with Iona MBA graduates include:

• Director of Sales
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Operations Officer
• Senior Vice President
• Financial Analyst
• Managing Partner
• Chief Growth Officer
• Vice President
• President & Chief Executive Officer 

An entrepreneurial spirit can be a driving force for MBA students, and many graduates go on to launch their own businesses. Iona is home to the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Online MBA students have access to certain entrepreneurial programming through the institute, such as student clubs, speaker series, workshops, competitions, community engagement, internships, coworking, mentoring, and networking opportunities.  

No, you do not need to have an undergraduate degree in business to pursue the MBA at Iona. Students from many different majors excel in the online MBA program. In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, “MBA admissions officers at business schools across the U.S. say there’s a strong desire to welcome nonbusiness majors into their programs.”

Depending on your undergraduate record, you may be placed into different courses to fulfill the MBA requirements. In addition to the two courses required within the first nine credits of the program (Business Perspectives and Strategic Management), all MBA students must complete at least one course in the following areas:  

• Qualitative Analysis
• Accounting
• Finance
• Marketing
• Management
• Information Systems 

Students who studied business, finance, accounting, or other related fields as undergraduates may be placed into higher level courses in those areas.