The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is recognized for excellence in academics and athletics. Many of the schools in this conference offer online MBA programs. While you won't have to relocate to attend one of these programs, you will benefit from the world-class programs and faculty members as well as receive a degree from a prestigious, widely-recognized university.
Fully Online Programs
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University has an online MBA program that requires 42 hours of coursework. There are a total of 14 classes, each of which is 7 weeks long. The program can be completed in 27 months and is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB.) On-campus attendance is not required.
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
Ole Miss has a Professional MBA program available to those who would like to earn this credential online. Completion requires 36 hours of coursework, and it can be completed over six semesters. On campus attendance is not required.
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University has a fully online, AACSB- accredited MBA program. The program consists of 30 credit hours of coursework. The school also offers an MBA in Project Management that can be completed online. It requires 33 credit hours, consisting of 24 hours of MBA classes and 9 hours of Industrial Engineering courses.
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee has a fully online MBA degree program geared toward the financial services industry. You don't have to be employed in the financial services industry to enroll, but the program itself is geared toward students with an interest in banking. The 20-month program is AACSB-accredited and is offered through the University's Martin campus.
Programs with Limited Campus Attendance
Auburn University
The Auburn University College of Business offers a 36 credit hour online MBA program. Students can can choose among seven areas of specialty within the field of business administration. There is a three-day residency requirement that students must complete near the conclusion of their program of study. Auburn's program is accredited by the AACSB.
The school also offers a 21-month Executive MBA program that is mostly online. It is a structured 21-month program that requires five, one-week campus stays.
University of Florida
The University of Florida has an online MBA program, though campus attendance is required one weekend every four months. A 16-month program is available for people who earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration within seven years of beginning the program. A 27-month program is available for those with an undergraduate degree in a different field or who completed business school more than seven years ago.
Hybrid Programs
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas offers a hybrid Executive MBA program that combines online study with on-campus classes. The program is primarily online, though participants are required to attend classes on campus one Saturday each month. The program consists of 38 credit hours of coursework and completion can be achieved in 24 months.
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri has a hybrid Executive MBA program, with approximately 75 percent of courses offered online and 25 percent requiring on-campus attendance, with an international twist. The program is designed to be completed in 21 months. Students are required to come to campus eight times during the 21 months. The first and last visits are four days each, and the others are two days (Friday and Saturday). Additionally, students complete an eight to ten day residency in Chile.
The University of Georgia
The University of Georgia offers a hybrid Professional MBA program that requires night classes for two weeks followed by three weeks of online courses at your choice of two Atlanta-metro area campuses. About 30 percent of the coursework is offered in an online format.
SEC Schools Without Online MBA Programs
- University of Alabama - While the University of Alabama does not have an online MBA program, the school does offer an online Master of Arts in Global Business Management and a Master of Science in Operations Management. The University also offers an Executive MBA program program with boardroom style learning delivered on Saturdays (one or two per month depending on program and location selected) in Huntsville or Tuscaloosa.
- Vanderbilt University - Vanderbilt does not offer an MBA program online, though the Nashville school does have an Executive option that consists of classroom attendance every other Saturday plus two one-week residencies over a two-year period.
Choosing the Right Program
There are many quality MBA options among the SEC schools. While your options are more limited if your goal is to find a curriculum that is 100 percent online, there are a few choices. You can expand your options If you are able to physically go to campus for some coursework. No matter what route you decide to pursue, you can be assured that you'll receive a quality education from a university that is widely recognized in the business community.
