Pennsylvania is the fifth most populous state in the country and ranks sixth for its 2013 GDP of $644 billion. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are the main economic hubs in the state and house many of Pennsylvania's fifty Fortune 500 companies, including U.S. Steel, PPG Industries, and H.J. Heinz, among others. Banking and financial services provide jobs in urban areas, and manufacturing, technology, education, and agriculture feature prominently statewide. Casino gambling was legalized in 2004, adding another dimension to the economy. As with most states, organizational management and leadership roles in Pennsylvania are prized and offer competitive compensation:
PA Average Salaries for common MBA-holding roles
Financial Analyst: $53,168
Chief Financial Officer (CFO): $301,247
Marketing Manager: $92,663
Project Manager, Information Technology (IT): $96,053
Operations Manager: $89,110
Finance Manager: $112,243
Online Learning in Philadelphia
The largest city in Pennsylvania — and the fifth most-populous in the country — is the business capital of the region, with 7 Fortune 1000 Companies and a GDP of $388 billion (fourth in the nation, and ninth worldwide for cities). Major publicly traded companies in Philadelphia include Comcast, Aramark, Crown Holdings, FMC, Urban Outfitters, Chemtura, and Pep Boys; and healthcare, IT, financial services, insurance, and pharmaceuticals make up significant segments of the economy, as well. At least 6 universities offer online business degrees in town — from undergraduate tracks, to graduate programs, to associates — including nationally ranked institutions like Drexel University, Temple University, and St Joseph's University. All offer highly flexible programs designed to accommodate individual students' schedules, including working professionals and adult learners.
Online Learning in Pittsburgh
The"Steel City" has reason enough for being named so: there are more than 300 steelelated companies in Pittsburgh, plus similar manufacturing outfits in aluminum, glass, shipbuilding, petroleum, transportation, computing, autos, and electronics, among others. Still, Pittsburgh has also managed to emerge as a leader in tech (1,600 firms), engineering, robotics, defense, and other 21st century fields. There are 8 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in town, plus major offices for Google, Apple, Bosch, Facebook, Uber, Nokia, Autodesk, and IBM. The city's wealth of universities greatly benefit the local economy, and Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, and Point Park University offer a range of online business degrees. A little further out of town, Robert Morris, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Mount Aloysius College, and Saint Francis University all offer online degrees, too.
The 5 Best Online Business Schools in Pennsylvania
In total, there are 36 online business degree-granting schools in the state of Pennsylvania, including community colleges offering associates-level programming and the ability to transfer to a four-year university, to some of the best graduate business schools in the country. While potential students should first and foremost ensure that a university has the type of business degree they want to pursue, there are a few business programs that stand out. We've selected our five favorite online business degree offering schools below. To select these programs, we've used a methodology that equally weights the range of business offerings with the academic prestige of a university. The academic prestige is calculated using a number of metrics such as amount of financial need received, average class sizes, admissions standards, and the percentage of faculty holding terminal degrees in their field. Check out our top-five online business degree-granting universities in Pennsylvania below!
Pennsylvania State University's online World Campus features more than 1,200 programs, including some of the highestanked tracks in the country: 8th in the nation for all online bachelors, 8th among MBAs, and 7th for online graduate business programs (excluding the MBAs). At the undergraduate level, students can pursue degrees in Advertising/Public Relations, Economics, Organizational Leadership, Labor Studies And Employment Relations, Finance, and more. At the graduate level, beyond the MBA, PSU offers a Master of Finance and MPS tracks in Organization Development And Change, Health Policy And Administration, Engineering Management, and Supply Chain Management, among others. PSU is one of the leaders in online education, and PSU graduates are ranked #1 by recruiters for professional preparedness, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Founded in 1891, Drexel University is a private research university in Philadelphia, with a satellite campus in Sacramento. Since its inception 1996, Drexel's online school has become a leader in distance education, with nearly 10,000 students, and the university founded National Distance Learning Week in 2007, which recognizes schools for excellence and innovation in online education. For students interested in businesselated degrees, Drexel offers bachelors in Business Administration and Communication and masters in Project Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Retail & Merchandising, Creativity and Innovation, Health Administration, and MBA tracks, among others. With 60% of classes consisting of 20 students or less, Drexel maintains an intimate learning environment and tailored approach. It has also received high marks for veteran benefits and overall value.
Founded in 1920, Immaculata University is a private Catholic school with a total enrollment of about 2,900, located 20 miles outside of Philadelphia. There are 7 businesselated bachelor's degrees available: Business Management, Finance, Health Care Management, Human Performance Management, Marketing Management, and Health Information Management; plus an AS in Business Administration. Immaculata's calling card is its impressive 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which combines an intimate educational setting with collaborative learning. Over 85% of classes consist of less than 20 students. And for students looking for financial assistance, three-quarters of undergraduates receive some form of aid. Additional benefits include a full-service career and professional development office which works with current students and alumni.
Founded in 1899, Elizabethtown is a private college with an enrollment of 1,800. For students interested in online business degrees, Elizabethtown offers 4 associates – Accounting, Business Administration, Corporate Communications, and Human Services – and 3 bachelors in Accounting, Business Administration, and Corporate Communications. Ranked among the best liberal arts in the country, the school's 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports a tight-knit learning community and individualized instruction. Over 60% of classes consist of fewer than 20 students, and just 1% have 50 or more. In addition to rigorous in-class curricula, Elizabethtown emphasizes co-curricular and experiential learning opportunities to give students a practical, real-world education. Course work is flexible, and rolling admissions help to accommodate students' individual schedules.
Founded in 1865, Lehigh University has a total enrollment of 7,000. Ranked among the top 50 schools in the country, US News also highlights the school's overall value. For students interested in online businesselated degrees, Lehigh offers an MBA, Master of Engineering in Management Science And Engineering, and MS in Management Science And Engineering. The school's 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio helps to combine individualized instruction with collaborative, peer-to-peer learning. Half of classes consist of fewer than 20 students, and just 12% have 50 or more. There are over 600 international learning opportunities and internships available through the school, and 96% of graduates are employed are continuing their education six months after graduation.
Directory of Online Business Degrees in Pennsylvania
Early leader in online education
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | Online B Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (215) 204-70001801 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19122 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (814) 641-36001700 Moore St, Huntingdon, PA 16652 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre, PA | Online B Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (570) 208-5900133 N. River Street Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18711 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (215) 951-10001900 W Olney Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19141 |
| Peirce College | Philadelphia, PA | Online B Degrees: 4 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (215) 545-64001420 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 |
| Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Clarion, PA | Online B Degrees: 4 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (814) 393-2000840 Wood St, Clarion, PA 16214 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (814) 472-3000117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA 15940 |
| Marywood-University | Scranton, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (570) 348-62112300 Adams Ave, Scranton, PA 18509 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (215) 572-2900450 S Easton Rd, Glenside, PA 19038 |
| Gwynedd Mercy College | Gwynedd Valley, PA | Online B Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (215) 646-73001325 Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437 |
| Mount Aloysius College | Cresson, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (888) 823-22207373 Admiral Peary Hwy, Cresson, PA 16630 |
| Keystone College | La Plume, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (570) 945-80001 College Rd, La Plume, PA 18440 |
| Eastern University | Wayne, PA | Online B Degrees: 2 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (610) 341-58001300 Eagle Rd, Wayne, PA 19087 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (412) 365-11001 Woodland Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | Online B Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (215) 751-80001700 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA 19130 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke, PA | Online B Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (800) 377-52221333 S Prospect St, Nanticoke, PA 18634 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh, PA | Online B Degrees: 2 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (412) 391-4100201 Wood St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (570) 408-500084 W South St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 |
| California University of Pennsylvani | California, PA | Online B Degrees: 2 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (724) 938-4000250 University Ave, California, PA 15419 |
| Alvernia University | Reading, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (610) 796-8200400 St Bernardine St, Reading, PA 19607 |
| Baptist Bible College and Seminary Pennsylania | South Abington Township, PA | Online B Degrees: 2 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (570) 586-2400538 Venard Rd, South Abington Township, PA 18411 |
| Lock Haven University | Lock Haven, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (570) 484-2027401 N Fairview St, Lock Haven, PA 17745 |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Johnstown, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (814) 262-6400101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA 15904 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell, PA | Online B Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO (215) 641-6300340 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422 |