BLOOMINGTON – The Indiana University Kelley School of Business’ Kelley Direct Online MBA program continues to be recognized internationally for delivering a high-quality degree, backed by top-notch career services and respected faculty, according to new rankings from the Financial Times.
The UK-based business publication has ranked the program fifth worldwide and second among U.S. institutions, up one position from third a year ago.
Kelley Direct was ranked No. 1 overall in three factors used to develop the rankings – career services, program delivery and faculty research rank.
It also scored in the top five in two other categories – online interaction and corporate social responsibility – and in the top 10 for two other factors — career progress and value for the money.
“We are pleased to again be recognized by the Financial Times for the superior experience that we strive to offer students in our Kelley Direct Online MBA program,” said Idalene “Idie” Kesner, dean of the Kelley School and the Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management. “Recognition like this is especially meaningful when it reflects the quality of our efforts to prepare students for fulfilling careers and the solid, research-based education they receive from our faculty.”
“The fact that we have been ranked consistently among the top online MBA programs in the world is a testament to all the hard work that our students, staff and faculty put in on a daily basis,” added Will Geoghegan, interim chair of the Kelley Direct program and clinical assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship. “We are very proud of the Kelley Direct program and we believe that continuous innovation and our focus on meaningful student outcomes pushes students to create positive momentum in their own organizations.”
Launched in 1999, Kelley Direct is the original online MBA program from a top-tier business school. In fall 2019, it launched a revised curriculum, featuring an innovative set of integrated core modules. Each module allows students to gain deep knowledge in three subject areas while seeing connections across the disciplines.
The program also lets student personalize their MBA degree, with 50 percent of their courses being electives, including global and domestic hands-on immersion courses.
Earlier this year, these innovations led the program to being recognized by Poets & Quants as its MBA Program of the Year — the first time an online MBA program had earned that distinction. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the program third overall and No. 1 for veterans. It also is ranked No. 1 by Princeton Review.
Soon, students will benefit from the new $10 million Brian D. Jellison Studios. The immersive, state-of-the-art studios will enhance the delivery of course content and provide an even more dynamic experience, with faculty and students together virtually as if they were in an in-person classroom.
Students in the online MBA program also can earn Master of Science degrees in business analytics, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance, global supply chain management, information technology management, marketing, and strategic management through the dual-degree option.
Information by George Vlahakis, associate director of communications and media relations for the Indiana University Kelley School of Business
