LOS ANGELES—The Princeton Review® recognized the Online MBA (OMBA) offered by the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business with a #4 ranking in its influential 25 Top Online MBA Programs list for 2018.

The organization’s rankings are based on a survey of students enrolled in an online MBA program and data provided by administrators at the 75 participating business schools. More than 4,700 students evaluated multiple aspects of their degree program, including faculty, fellow students, career preparation, academics, the technology platform and their overall satisfaction.

The organization released these findings from students surveyed at the top 25 online MBA programs:

• 34% report receiving a promotion while earning their degree.
• 30% was the average salary increase they report receiving after degree completion.
• $107,000 was their average base salary upon graduation.

“We set out to create a premier online MBA from the ground up and launched it in 2015 with great expectations,” said Miriam Burgos, academic director of the USC Marshall OMBA. “The addition of a top-five ranking from The Princeton Review to the program’s growing number of accolades is a great honor, especially since this recognition incorporates student perspectives.”

Earlier this year, the USC Marshall Online MBA ranked #12 among more than 250 participants in the 2017 U.S. News & World Report Top Online MBA Programs list. It was the first year that the program was eligible for evaluation, and OMBA leaders say they are confident of the program’s upward trajectory.

The Marshall School began developing the program more than two years before its launch, building a studio to produce high-quality educational content, experimenting with and deploying new technological learning tools, training its faculty in virtual instruction, and developing a fully integrated curriculum to ensure that distance learners gain a holistic understanding of how organizations work.

Content created for the OMBA already has earned multiple awards from organizations including the Telly Awards and Davey Awards. Additionally, the Online Learning Consortium at its annual conference recognized the Marshall instructional design team for a presentation about its innovative approach to developing OMBA program content.

“We started the Marshall online MBA program with a dedication to understanding the practical knowledge and personal skills our students want and need to be effective leaders,” said Sandra Chrystal, vice dean for online programs at USC Marshall. “That dedication to our students is the key to the success of the program so far and to laying the foundation for a sustainable online program well into the digital future.”

The Princeton Review began ranking online MBA programs three years ago, recognizing the value and credibility these degrees have gained among employers. “For working professionals unable to move to a ‘brick and mortar’ campus for an MBA, these schools offer an opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best business school professors and earn their degree from anywhere in the world,” said Editor-in-Chief Robert Franek as part of the organization’s recent rankings announcement.

View The Princeton Review’s list of the Top 25 Online MBA programs and learn more about the methodology the organization employed in 2018 to rank online MBA programs.

About the USC Marshall School of Business

USC Marshall is one of the premier business schools in the U.S. and internationally recognized as a home for path-breaking research that emphasizes entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and social responsibility. The USC Online MBA from the Marshall School of Business is built to help students succeed in the digitally driven business landscape, providing a curriculum focused on the practical skills expected of today’s global leaders. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Marshall brings undergraduate and graduate students a unique perspective on the world, including global opportunities for experiential learning. The vibrant and active Trojan alumni community includes more than 89,000 people in 92 countries.