The online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln ranked No. 24 in the nation among public institutions and moved up two spots to No. 22 for veterans in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Nebraska also ranked No. 27 for best online business master’s programs among public institutions in the nation for its three online Master of Science programs. They include the M.S. in Business Analytics, M.S. in Finance and M.S. in Supply Chain Management.

U.S. News evaluated schools in the online business program rankings based on a variety of factors, such as student engagement, faculty credentials, and services and technologies.

“Our MBA program celebrated 60 years this fall and these U.S. News & World Report rankings exemplify the investment we continue to make in our program. We prioritized offering a high quality and affordable MBA and M.S. programs that meet the needs of our students and employers,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance. “The high rankings also are a testament to our students and alumni who lead the future of business around the world and underscore the dedication of our faculty and staff who personalize the experience for each student’s success.”

Nebraska partnered with Offutt Air Force Base in the 1960s to offer business graduate courses for military students, and the MBA program was one of the first to be offered completely online in the early 2000s. Today Nebraska's graduate online courses are offered in eight-week sessions designed to fit professionals’ schedules.

“The online program expanded our ability to provide more flexibility for working professionals. No matter where our students live today, they can take Nebraska MBA or M.S. courses when it works in their busy lives while keeping their other commitments,” said Aaron Crabtree, associate dean of master's programs and executive development, KPMG Faculty Fellow in Professional Accounting and associate professor of accountancy.

U.S. Navy veteran Scott Holweger, '97 and '24 of Spring Hill, Kansas, currently works as a design engineering team leader at Garmin International and noted the veterans' benefits at Nebraska.

“When researching MBA programs, Nebraska was very highly ranked for value for the money. It also has a great veteran’s discount that helped on the financial side,” said Holweger.

At Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Bryan Buechel, '18 MBA, leads clinical operations for Alluma, a pharmacy benefit administrator serving health plans nationwide. Earning his MBA equipped him with skills in analytics, finance and supply chain management to thrive in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.

“The Nebraska MBA provides far more than a degree and a few extra letters after your name,” said Buechel. “The opportunity to refine your skill set, learn new mental models and frameworks, explore ‘stretch topics’ you otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to, learn from world-class faculty and interact with talented individuals across the globe, make the program an excellent choice for anyone interested in pursuing an MBA.”

Gretchen Holthaus, director of MBA and online graduate programs, shared how students in the online master's programs expand their in-demand skills and use them to advance their careers.

“Many students report receiving promotions and new opportunities as they apply the knowledge learned in the classroom to their professional positions,” she said. “Our MBA graduates report average salaries over $140,000 while we strategically keep the total cost at $34,000 to provide our graduates with a high return on investment. Other top-ranked programs cost more than $98,000.”

Professionals wanting advanced skills who are not ready for a full master's program can start with an online graduate certificate. Each of Nebraska's certificates includes four online courses, which, upon successful completion, may be rolled into the MBA or one of the M.S. programs at the College of Business.

“I started with Nebraska's business analytics graduate certificate because the upfront commitment of hours was not as extensive, and I could still roll all of the courses I completed successfully into a full master's if I continued. I was able to immediately apply and try out models, processes and concepts learned in class at work,” said Casey Christensen, ’21, data architecture and business intelligence lead at Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy in Austin, Texas. “I was promoted several times throughout my time pursuing the certificate and master's in business analytics at Nebraska, and I credit the program for equipping me on how to generate new analytical concepts and processes at work.”

To learn more about Nebraska's MBA or M.S. in Business Analytics, Finance or Supply Chain Management or register for an upcoming online information session, visit: https://business.unl.edu/masters. The MBA application deadlines are Feb. 15, July 15 and Dec. 1, and the M.S. in Business Analytics, Finance and Supply Chain Management are April 1, July 1 and Nov. 1.