2023 Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for business students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Business Degree Central has created its Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 285 schools in the United States to see which online graduate certificate programs were the most popular for business students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our analysis found University of Phoenix - Arizona to be the most popular school for business students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the United States. UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 823 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.
Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Harvard University is a great place for business students working on their graduate certificate. Harvard is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 812 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,755 in student loans. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means DeVry University - Illinois is a great place for business students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 701 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means American College of Financial Services is a great place for business students working on their graduate certificate. Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 295 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
The American College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Iowa helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular business schools in the United States. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 654 students in 2020-2021.
Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 33% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #6, Strayer University - Global Region did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working on their graduate certificate. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 273 students in 2020-2021.
Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Strayer University - Global Region is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
Southern New Hampshire University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Southern New Hampshire University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Manchester, New Hampshire that handed out 253 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. University of Maryland Global Campus is a large public school located in Adelphi, Maryland that handed out 248 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 91% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Colorado State University - Fort Collins ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools list. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 167 students in 2020-2021.
Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 67% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
East Carolina University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. ECU is a large public school situated in Greenville, North Carolina. It awarded 153 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 80% took at least some of their classes online.
Colorado State University - Global Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in Greenwood Village, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 141 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Colorado State University - Global Campus accumulate an average of $23,015 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Colorado State University - Global Campus is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
Read full report on Colorado State University - Global Campus
With a ranking of #13, Capella University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working on their graduate certificate. Capella University is a large private for-profit school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 135 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 82% were women.
Since the graduate programs at Capella University are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate business programs. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 161 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 67% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Liberty University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 118 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Around 38% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
American Public University System ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, the large private for-profit school awarded 113 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 42% were women.
Since the graduate programs at American Military University are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Champlain College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Burlington, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 159 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
George Mason University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools list. GMU is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 137 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 87% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Auburn University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate business programs. Located in Auburn, Alabama, the large public school awarded 103 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Around 44% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 35% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #20, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 97 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
George Washington University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. GWU is located in Washington, District of Columbia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 221 graduate certificates to qualified students.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,615 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Around 37% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Purdue University Global landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate business programs. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school awarded 74 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,486 in student loans. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Purdue University Global is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 80 graduate certificates to qualified students.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $23,815 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
SUNY Empire State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Saratoga Springs, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 72 students in 2020-2021.
Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 97% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #25, Babson College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 69 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Online Business Graduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top most popular online list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Schools by Region
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular online business schools ranking:
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
45 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA |
46 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS |
47 | Northcentral University | San Diego, CA |
47 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus | Stillwater, OK |
47 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla, MO |
47 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY |
51 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
51 | Full Sail University | Winter Park, FL |
51 | Florida International University | Miami, FL |
54 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
55 | Concordia University, Irvine | Irvine, CA |
55 | Post University | Waterbury, CT |
57 | Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, TN |
57 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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