Research the cost of the online MBA programs you want to rank. Many students are looking for institutions that are affordable based on their financial aid, scholarships or personal budgets. Going to less expensive school does not necessarily mean the education quality is compromised. Contact a school's financial aid or bursar office to determine the cost if you cannot find the tuition costs on its website.
Visit the online MBA program's website to determine its accreditation. If a school is unaccredited they may not be able to offer financial aid, and certain employers may not recognize that school as being a reputable institution. In some areas, the degree may be worthless upon graduation. Look for online MBA programs that have either regional or national accreditation.
Find out the educational method the school offers to teach its students. Online MBA programs have different course work to train their students. For example, TUI University offers modules that last two weeks that include writing, discussions and online research. An entire course lasts 12 weeks. Ashford University's course work lasts six weeks and includes discussions, tests and research papers. Rank the school based on the quality of the course work as well as a realistic curriculum where students can retain the information. Contact an admissions representative for details.
Find out what reputation the school has. Whether the school has operated solely online or has a physical campus, the reputation of the school determines if a student will be able to secure a job in her field once she graduates. Some schools like Cornell or Stanford have a reputation already established that makes their online MBA program stronger. Rank schools based on scholars that have graduated from the school or strides the school has made in education.
Determine the graduation percentage for the school. If the majority of students that attend the school do not graduate, this could be an indication that the online program is either too difficult for the students or that multiple problems can cause students to give up. Schools with a higher graduation percentage mean students are happy with the institution and they are finishing their studies.