US Business Schools Dominate New Ranking of Online and Distance MBA Programs

Online, January 27, 2014 (Newswire.com) - US business schools dominate the online and distance MBA programs, a new global ranking shows.

While seven of the top ten schools in the QS Distance Online MBA Ranking [url:http://www.TopMBA.com/onlineMBA] are European, with Spain's IE Business School beating the UK's Warwick Business School to the top spot, 17 out of the 30 business schools ranked are based in North America, led by Indiana University Kelley School of Business and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

The world's only ranking dedicated exclusively to online and distance learning MBA programs, QS Distance Online MBA Ranking is based on eighteen indicators:

- Employer reputation;
- Average work experience;
- Applicants per place;
- Average GMAT score;
- Students with 1st degree;
- Establishment year;
- Accreditation;
- Students enrolled;
- Faculty student ratio;
- Percentage of full time faculty;
- Completion rate;
- Physical meet-up opportunities;
- Compulsory attendance;
- Regular online classes;
- Availability of group work;
- Percentage of assessed group work;
- Diversity of nationalities and percentage of female students

Rank School
1 IE Business School (Spain)
2 Warwick Business School ( UK)
3 Indiana University Kelley School of Business (USA)
4 Thunderbird School of Global Management (USA)
5 Manchester Business School (UK)
6 Imperial College (UK)
7 Oxford Brookes (UK)
8 Henley Business School (UK)
9 Florida International University (USA)
10 University of Strathclyde Business School (UK)
To view the full ranking: www.TopMBA.com/onlineMBA

The latest QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey Research shows that the proportion of prospective MBA applicants interested in online and/or distance learning programs stood at 23.5% in 2013, up from just 4.4% in 2008.

"The increasing sophistication and variety of online and distance learning options means a growing number of candidates are now pursuing the opportunity to gain a world-class business education without the need to relocate or take a career break," says Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS.

"This ranking offers candidates a level of assurance about the relative quality of these programs that has been unavailable in the past," Quacquarelli continues. "This year's results show that employers are increasingly considering candidates from the top online and distance programs as part of their recruitment strategies"

A total of 30 schools are included in the ranking, reflecting the relatively narrow range of schools that are currently targeted specifically by international MBA employers.

The full QS Distance/Online MBA Ranking 2014 can be viewed on www.TopMBA.com/onlineMBA alongside an additional list of blended, distance and online MBA programs. Join the debate #onlineMBA #MBA

-ENDS-
Media contact:

Simona Bizzozero
Head of Public Relations
QS
m: +44(0)7880 620 856
t: +44 (0) 20 7284 7248
e: simona@qs.com
w: www.qs.com

QS with offices in: London, Paris, New York, Singapore, Stuttgart, Boston, Johannesburg, Beijing, Sydney, Washington DC

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