Best MBA in Supply Chain Management Online Programs

Do you remember surviving the Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020? Shortages during the COVID pandemic brought the importance of supply chains to center stage in the public eye. It’s no wonder you might be interested in a career managing supply chains, which are vital in industries from agriculture to healthcare to tech. And earning an online MBA in Supply Chain Management can help put you in a position to oversee supply chains on a national, or even global, scale.

But what will it be like to earn your Supply Chain Management MBA online? Studying online can be a more flexible, affordable option than studying on campus, and it’s great for students who are employed or have families. Read on to learn about some top MBA Supply Chain Management online programs, and discover how attending one of these spotlight schools might look for you.

Spotlight on 3 Top Online MBA Programs in Supply Chain Management in 2023

While many schools offer online Supply Chain Management MBAs (and that number only continues to grow), there are a few standouts in the crowd. These programs are accredited, well-respected in the professional world, and offer a combination of rigorous academics, flexible online classes, and post-graduation opportunities that make them worth considering for any aspiring supply chain expert. Read on to explore best-in-class options.

• Indiana University

  One popular online MBA program is at Indiana University through its Kelley School of Business. The 54-credit Kelley Direct Online MBA is offered fully online, although there is an optional in-person element at Kelley’s Washington, D.C. campus or abroad through its Global Immersion offerings.

  Within your online MBA program at IU, you will be asked to select from one of seven intensive specializations — one of which is Supply Chain Management, or as IU calls it, Supply Chain and Operations. Through this specialization, you will learn supply chain design, sourcing, development of sustainable supply chains, and more.

  IU is a nationally recognized, accredited state university, and your tuition will be set at a fixed rate regardless of whether you’re an Indiana resident or not. Financial aid and scholarship opportunities are available.

• Drexel University

  Drexel University, an accredited private institution with a campus in Philadelphia, offers an online MBA with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and Logistics. Unlike many MBA programs, Drexel’s online Supply Chain Management MBA is a STEM-designated degree, which means it integrates business and technology concepts and is perfect for those interested in the analysis and optimization aspects of supply chain management.

  Drexel offers full- and part-time study options, as well as an accelerated MBA program. If you choose the accelerated option, you could earn your MBA in as little as one year, while the part-time program is ideal for students who are working full time alongside their studies. Another perk: You can earn an additional graduate degree while earning your MBA, as Drexel allows students to share up to 15 credits across two degree programs. Financial aid is available, regardless of your timeline of studies.

• Arizona State University

  Arizona State University’s ASU Online offers a fully online MBA program with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. You’ll learn how to integrate all aspects of products and their service life cycles, from design to delivery to disposal. Strategy, analysis, communication, and leadership are also in focus throughout this degree option, as are techniques for enhancing cost savings and increasing revenue for your future employers.

  Although the program is fully online, ASU Online works to ensure that you feel supported and part of a community during your studies, with resources including orientations and career coaching throughout your program. Students are also encouraged to connect with the ASU alumni network for networking opportunities. Although ASU Online is a state university, all students pay the same rate of tuition, regardless of their state of residency, and are eligible for financial aid.

Cost of an Online MBA in Supply Chain Management

If you’re considering MBA Supply Chain Management online programs, you already know you’ll be studying budgeting and the efficient use of financial resources. Appropriately, you’ll also want to apply those same principles to your own finances and education. This is why it’s important to know how much your program will cost and have a plan to pay for it.

Luckily, an online Supply Chain Management MBA is often more affordable than one in person, especially as you’ll save any costs of relocation and commuting to campus. You’ll also be eligible for government-backed loans for any accredited MBA program, as well as scholarships and financial aid from your school, and from private scholarship sources. So do your research and get your FAFSA and scholarship applications in on time.

Another way to help ease the financial burden of your degree is to compare costs of different programs. Here are just a few examples of how costs can vary from school to school:

How Much Your Online MBA in Supply Chain Management Could Cost

What to Expect in Your MBA in Supply Chain Management Online Program 

When you’ve enrolled in an MBA Supply Chain Management online program, you can expect a full roster of practical classes. You’ll be covering many of the foundations of business and management via your core courses; these will include quantitative subjects like finance and accounting, and qualitative subjects like business ethics and leadership strategies. 

Some programs may also have an internship or capstone project all students must complete. These may require you to work in person in your local area or briefly commute elsewhere, although generally only for a few days. You’ll also have the opportunity to choose electives, although many of these are likely to relate to your chosen concentration (some schools call it a focus area or specialization) in Supply Chain Management.

As an online student, the bulk of your interactions with professors and fellow students will be via video platform, where you’ll be attending your classes. Online MBA programs are sometimes offered synchronously, meaning you’ll login to your class with your peers at a designated time, or asynchronous, meaning you complete coursework around your schedule. If your professors offer virtual office hours, study sessions, or other resources, these are beneficial resources offered via video. You may also find career services and mental health support available remotely using technology.

Below are some of the courses you might see in the curriculum of your MBA Supply Chain Management online program.

Common Online MBA Courses

• Macroeconomics

  Macroeconomics is essentially economics on a large scale — across a country or even around the world, for example. This is an especially important topic in the context of supply chains, which are often multinational and impact (and are impacted by) the interconnected economies of multiple countries.

• Microeconomics

  Microeconomics sits on the opposite side from macroeconomics: It’s economics on a small scale. You’ll study economic principles relating to individuals (customers and suppliers, for instance) rather than large groups like entire countries. Anyone aspiring to start their own company will be especially interested in this course.

• Operations and Supply Chain Management

  This course will be particularly important for your online MBA in Supply Chain Management. Here you’ll get a fundamental grounding in supply chain operations and how they work. These will include working with other companies in a broader supply chain, the logistics and bureaucratic complexities of global supply chains, optimizing supply chains in your industry, and more.

• Legal and Ethical Operations in Business

  Part law course, part philosophy course, here you’ll learn how to make sure your business operations stay not only within the law, but also within the widely understood and accepted ethical principles of doing business. From employee compensation to the environmental and social impact of your business’ products, ethics and the law are relevant to every aspect of business.

• Strategic Management

  Strategy is crucial for any business to succeed. This course will teach you how to account for logistics, sustainability, competition within the market, and more when developing a company-wide strategy. You’ll also learn relevant skills for managing a division or department within a company.

FAQs About Online MBA Programs

• What’s the difference between an online MBA and traditional MBA program?

  Studying for your supply chain MBA online is the same in many respects as studying on campus — they are both 100% “real” MBAs, for example. An online supply chain MBA earned from an accredited institution has the same legitimacy as one earned on campus. 

  Students on campus are often younger, less likely to be working while they study, and not have as much previous work experience. Meanwhile, if you’re studying online, you’ll likely be with more mature students, many of whom have jobs and family responsibilities they’re balancing alongside their studies.

• Can I work full-time while pursuing an online MBA?

  While enrolled in an MBA Supply Chain Management online program, you may want to continue working at your full-time job — both for work experience and to earn money. This is absolutely possible. While it can be a challenge to balance work and studies, online MBA program offer flexible options like part-time study, asynchronous classes, and other means of creating a schedule that works for you. This means you can continue to work full-time as you earn your degree.

• What are the admissions requirements for an online MBA?

  When you’re applying for your supply chain MBA online, be sure to check the program admissions requirements carefully. While every program is different, you’ll likely need most or all of the following:

  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate studies (with any GPA requirements met)
  • GMAT or GRE scores
  • Online application with essay and/or personal statement
  • Personal, academic, or professional letters of recommendation
  • Resume showing relevant work experience

• How long does it take to earn an MBA in Supply Chain Management?

  An online MBA in Supply Chain Management differs from an on-campus program in one important aspect: the varied time to completion. A traditional MBA generally takes two years to complete, and many online MBAs are similar. However, some, like the MBA at Syracuse University, offer customizable, flexible schedules for students who need more time to complete their degree, while others, like the MBA at Arizona State’s ASU Online, can be completed faster than an on-campus program.

• Can I earn my MBA 100% online, or do I need to visit campus?

  Generally speaking, MBA Supply Chain Management online programs can be completed 100% online. Given the nature of the course materials you’ll be studying, you’ll often not need to complete a thesis or other research project for your degree. 

  However, some programs do offer in-person and on-campus experiences in addition to your online studies, including study abroad or internship opportunities. Given the global nature of supply chain management, you may be interested in taking advantage of these opportunities if you can.

What You Can Do with an MBA in Supply Chain Management

Once you’ve completed your MBA Supply Chain Management online program, you’ll be ready to move forward in a fast-paced, and often well-compensated, career. With the importance of supply chains in the spotlight now more than ever, employers across the business world will recognize the importance of the skills you’ve developed. Further, you’ll have acquired highly transferable skills in financial mathematics, data analysis, and more, which can be utilized in different roles across the business world. Below are just a few careers for you to consider once you’ve earned your MBA.

Logistician

It’s the job of a logistician to oversee all aspects of a business’ supply chain, from production planning to delivering goods to customers. This includes tracking the company’s inventory. This role requires tremendous organizational skill, as supply chains can be highly complex and far reaching. While you’ll need a bachelor’s degree to fill this role, those with an MBA can expect to earn more and take on leadership positions.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022

Operations Research Analyst

Your knowledge of logistics will come in handy should you use your Supply Chain Management online MBA to pursue a career as an operations research analyst. In this role, you’ll be using organizational data to identify problems within a company’s operations, developing mathematically informed proposals for a solution.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022

Management Analyst

As a management analyst, you’ll be using your business and supply chain expertise to make your company more efficient. This role is also sometimes referred to as management consultancy, and an MBA in Supply Chain Management will help you see the broad-reaching impact of any given decision you recommend to improve a company’s functioning.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022