Online Business Degree Opportunities: Arizona

Founded in 1885, Arizona State University has a total enrollment of 52,000. Ranked as the #1 Most Innovative School in America by US News, ASU has also been ranked by Forbes, Money, The Daily Beast, US News, and the Wall Street Journal for academics. Its Thunderbird business school is wellespected, and students will find an array of undergraduate and graduate tracks available online. Bachelor’s include Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Technological Entrepreneurship and Management, Business Data Analytics, Mass Communication and Media Studies, and many other concentrations. From there, several MBA concentrations are offered, plus MS tracks in Business Journalism, Construction Management, Global Management, and Nonprofit Leadership and Management, among others. All curricula emphasize a multidisciplinary approach, and, with a 23:1 student-to-faculty ratio, ASU supports a dynamic and vibrant educational community, combining collaborative learning with individualized instruction. 40% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and less than one in five have more than 50.

Northern Arizona University, founded in 1899, has a student enrollment of 20,000, 7,000 of which are enrolled online courses, which the school began offering two decades ago. NAU was also the first public university to offer competency-based credits, for which the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to launch the Personalized Learning program, a dynamic education platform that includes a customizable curriculum online, self-paced schedule, and $5,000 per year flat-fee. Students interested in business have a wealth of online bachelor’s degree options: Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Computer Information Technology, Small Business Administration, Management Health Care, Global Business, Business Administration Entrepreneurship, and Restaurant Management, among others. All courses are designed for maximum flexibility to accommodate students’ schedules, and student services include career services, academic advising, tutoring, counseling, and more.

Founded in 1885, University of Arizona is a Tier 1 public university, ranked 60th in the country by US News, and has a total enrollment of 43,000 students. Still, the university’s 23:1 student-to-faculty ratio offsets that number, and UA is able to combine the resources of a large public research university with the intimacy of a smaller school, with individualized instruction and collaborative learning. 40% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and just 15% have over 50. For students interested in online business tracks, UA offers 6 bachelor’s – including Business Administration, Human Services, Informatics, Management, and Organizational Leadership — plus an online MBA, MS in Information Systems, and MS in Accounting. All courses are designed for maximum flexibility, and the graduate degrees accommodate for working professionals and adult learners. Student services include orientation programs, free tutoring, academic advising, and career development assistance.

Ottawa University, founded in 1865, is a small private school with an enrollment under 1,000. Still, its online offerings are among the largest in the state. For business students, those include Business Administration specializations, like Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources, Leadership, Actuarial Science, Management, and more; additional degrees are available in Management of Information Systems, Leadership and Management, and Health Care Management. At the graduate level, Ottawa offers an online MBA, MA in Accounting, MA in Human Resources, and unique MBA-MAHR dual degree. US News ranks Ottawa among the best schools in the region, and the university’s 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio promotes a collaborative, dynamic educational setting, while also supporting individualized learning. Nearly 70% of classes have less than 20 students, and just 1% have over 50. Financial aid is widely available: 87% of undergraduates receive some form of aid, and the average need met is 60%. Additional services include tech support, 24/7 access to course material, and flexible coursework.

Mesa Community College, established in 1965, is the largest of the 10 community colleges in Maricopa County, with an enrollment of about 26,000. For students interested in pursuing a business career, MCC offers a range of unique associate’s concentrations: Business, Music Business, Real Estate, Organizational Management, Business Communication, Bookkeeping Technician, Marketing, and International Trade, among others. The college’s core values are innovation, integrity, learning, and student excellence, and MCC boasts a diverse student body from a variety of backgrounds. The average student age is 25, and 70% of students attend classes on a part-time basis, underlining the school’s flexible and accommodating work load. 96% of MCC students say they would recommend MCC to a friend or family member98% of 2014-15 MCC graduates said they were satis ed or very satisfied with their instructors.