4 leading colleges of business in North America
Source: Mississippi State University

It’s said that there are three ingredients to a good life: learning, earning, and yearning. These words ring true, especially for graduates of advanced degrees. According to a survey, MBA graduates earn 77% more than their peers with bachelor’s degrees. 

This is compensation commensurate with what these graduates bring to the table: more astute observations, sharper skills, an updated toolkit of techniques, and more. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s (GMAC) Corporate Recruiters Survey, graduate management schools are found to harness crucial skills such as communication, data analysis, and strategy in their students, winning them “favourable views” from employers in Fortune 500 companies. 

If these are the outcomes you seek, where better to achieve them than at the leading colleges of business in the reigning country for higher education excellence?

Online programmes at Mississippi State University’s College of Business are accredited by AACSB, the most elite accreditation for business schools. Source: Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

An MBA typically requires one to two years to complete on campus. Mississippi State University’s College of Business challenges that norm by offering a fully online, 30-hour MBA programme that students can take at their own pace.

As students can complete the MBA in as few as 10 courses, the programme is highly popular, especially among working professionals and veterans. In 2024, the programme is ranked 74th globally in Best Online MBA Programmes by US News & World Report.

The fully-accredited programme provides students with the same quality instruction and coursework that on-campus students receive from expert faculty members. “You’re going to get the person who designed this course – we are there to interact with you and help you learn the material from start to finish,” says Professor Kenneth Roskelley. “We’re truly invested in you learning and bringing back something to your company that you can use.”

Despite its remote nature, the programme has experiential opportunities. At Mississippi State, all MBA students can join professional development workshops and consulting projects for actively operating enterprises. A capstone project provides more experience working with companies, startups, or agencies, more application of knowledge to real-world scenarios, and a vastly expanded network of professional connections. Click here to learn more about the online MBA programme.

The online Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) is just as impactful, flexible and affordable. Modules cover information technology, systems analysis, database design, business telecommunication, and much more. These prepare students to evolve into executives who can successfully develop, acquire, and integrate information technology across the levels and functions of a firm in the continually changing global business environment. If you’re interested to learn more, visit Mississippi State University’s College of Business.

Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph’s mission is built upon the belief “business as a force for good”. Source: University of Guelph

University of Guelph

Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph offers an intensive graduate programme designed for working professionals. Referred to as the Lang MBA, it covers three specialisations: sustainable commerce, hospitality and tourism, and food and agribusiness. Most courses are delivered online for flexibility, with students expected to commit 20 to 25 hours a week around their other commitments. 

While most of the programme can be completed online, it is complemented by on-campus opportunities. Events such as the annual Lang Grad Conference and the Lang Leadership Conference allow students to collaborate, interact and network with their peers and industry professionals. These are career-defining experiences for most, as students find inspiration in some of the brightest minds from around the world.

Such opportunities transform students into future leaders across global industries. Guelph graduates can be found making an impact in multiple industries and functions worldwide, ranging from banking and finance to healthcare and medicine to hospitality and construction. A strong alumni network is ready to connect and open more doors for those who pursue the Lang MBA.

Rooted in New York, students of the Columbia Business School Executive Education have unparalleled access to top leaders of industries in the classrooms, throughout the city and across the globe. Source: Columbia University

Columbia University

The Columbia Business School experience is special. You’ll complete a curriculum with courses in big data, analytics, digital marketing, web programming, AI, and machine learning, as well as coding applications like SQL and visualisation programs like Tableau. At the Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurship Centre, you can find support that drives startup business, venture capital, and innovation on campus and around the world — the kind that’s launched over 400 successful ventures with well-known names like Betterment, Beyond Meat, Untuckit, and IT Cosmetics. 

Beyond being at the forefront of innovation, a CBS education helps you grasp the role and power of business in society. You can take courses such as Bridging the American Divides, Business Strategies and Solving Social Problems, and Business in Society: Doing Well by Doing Good. And through the new Climate Change and Business Programme, you can take courses on portfolio management, finance, and energy markets and join the annual Climate Science & Investment Conference.

The Columbia MBA encapsulates all these benefits — and more. As it’s rooted in New York City, the internship and externship options are top-tier and arguably unparalleled. Meanwhile, the Executives in Residence Programme has 26 senior executives from the C-Suite of companies in industry verticals such as technology, retail, health care, manufacturing, and consumer goods, as well as senior partners from strategy consulting, private equity, financial services, and real estate. CBS also offers Master of Science programmes in Marketing Science, Financial Economics, and Accounting and Fundamental Analysis (MSAFA).

From famous alumni to world-renowned students, UC Berkeley is renowned for producing successful graduates. Source: UC Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

One thing that Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley, the second oldest institution of its kind in the US, has to offer is an MBA schedule that could fit anyone’s time. Be it on the weekdays or weekends, students will earn the same life-changing MBA degree here.

The school also offers a flex option which is primarily based on online learning. This allows students to log in from anywhere and at any time — though they can choose to attend elective courses in person. Whether you’re looking to advance within your organisation, make a career change, fulfil a personal goal, or start a business, Haas School of Businessprovides an MBA experience that will get you there – on a schedule that best fits your life.

The Berkeley Haas Alumni Network is a community of more than 40,000 alumni all around the world. Composed of lifelong learners, friends, and colleagues, students here take advantage of the network by strengthening relationships, building partnerships, and advancing a career with professional resources from employees already in the field. 

“Haas exposed me to a lot of different industries and gave me different skills,” says graduate Dominic Bea, now Vice President at Guggenheim Partners. “This exposure opened up the possibilities of what rewarding work would be. What does it mean to be fulfilled in investment banking, or consulting, or operations? It helped me see how I’d fit into these different industries in a meaningful way.”