Top 30 Yellow Ribbon MBA Programs
Earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) showcases your advanced expertise in the business field. If you’re considering moving into the business sector, we’ve compiled a list of the top 30 MBA programs, with some data sourced via U.S. News and World Report.
- The schools listed below participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill designed to support veterans, service members, and their dependents.
- The Yellow Ribbon program helps with higher education costs that exceed the standard tuition and fee amounts payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- To qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, you must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100 percent benefit level and meet other VA criteria.
Learn more about who qualifies for Yellow Ribbon benefits and how to apply to the Yellow Ribbon Program on College Recon.
Top 30 Yellow Ribbon MBA Schools
Not all schools participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and not all MBA programs have the option. The top 30 colleges below have MBA programs covered by the Yellow Ribbon Program. This list is current at press time, and your experience may vary depending on changes in funding, federal programs, school policy, or other variables.
30. Ohio State University (Fisher)
Ohio State University’s Max M. Fisher College of Business has a full-time MBA program, a professional MBA program (on-campus, online, or through a hybrid model), and an Executive MBA program. MBA coursework is personalized, hands-on, and complemented by experienced faculty and industry experts.
29. Rice University (Jones)
The Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University offers full-time, professional, Executive, hybrid, and online MBA formats. The school is known for its specialized career management resources and attracts recruitment from Fortune 500 companies.
28. University of Washington (Foster)
The Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington provides a range of MBA programs, including full-time, evening, and Executive MBAs, alongside specialized options like the Technology Management MBA and Global Executive MBA. Additionally, Foster offers a hybrid MBA program, primarily conducted online.
27. University of Georgia (Terry)
The University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business offers a two-year full-time MBA, a part-time hybrid professional MBA, and an Executive MBA. The full-time MBA program at Terry is known for its emphasis on applied learning, a flexible curriculum, and a 9:1 student-to-staff ratio.
26. Washington University in St. Louis (Olin)
The Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis offers a variety of MBA programs, including full-time, Professional, and Executive MBAs. Olin’s Flex MBA program also allows students to choose between online and on-campus courses and not only covers core MBA fundamentals but also explores the growing impact of technology on business and society.
25. Georgia Institute of Technology (Sheller)
GIT’s Scheller College of Business provides three distinct MBA programs tailored to different career stages. The full-time MBA program is a 22-month, on-campus program suited for early-career professionals with two to three years of work experience.
The Evening MBA, designed for working professionals, is a part-time program that can be completed in 24 to 36 months. For mid to senior-level business professionals with a minimum of five years of experience, the Executive MBA offers a part-time, 17-month curriculum.
24. Georgetown University (McDonough)
Besides the 21-month full-time MBA, Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business also offers joint degree options, allowing students to combine their MBA with advanced degrees in fields such as law, medicine, public policy, and foreign service.
23. Vanderbilt University (Owen)
Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management offers a variety of MBA programs, including a full-time MBA, an Executive MBA, and an Americas MBA for Executives. Its Executive MBA is a 21-month program offering two tracks in the second year. In the Executive Edge track, students remain on campus for the entire program and collaborate with a domestic client on the Strategy Consulting Project.
The Global Immersion track provides an international perspective in the second year with students from partner schools in Canada, Brazil, and Mexico.
22. University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina offers a range of MBA programs, including a full-time MBA, an Executive MBA for working professionals, and an online MBA option. These programs emphasize leadership development, experiential learning, and global business perspectives.
21. University California Los Angeles (Anderson)
UCLA Anderson School of Management provides a diverse selection of MBA and postgraduate programs. Alongside its traditional two-year full-time MBA, Anderson offers a three-year Fully Employed MBA program and a streamlined Executive MBA option. The 15-month Global Executive MBA program is also available for those seeking even more flexibility.
20. Indiana University (Kelley)
Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business offers a full-time and online MBA at its Bloomington campus. In contrast, its Indianapolis campus features an Evening MBA and a Business of Medicine MBA. The school integrates real-world business experiences into its curriculum through initiatives like consulting projects, global immersion programs, and business simulations.
19. University of Southern California (Marshall)
Aside from its full-time MBA program, USC’s Marshall School of Business also offers part-time, online, Executive, and one-year international MBAs. Key features of the full-time MBA program are its early start, small class sizes, and a global experiential learning component known as PRIME (Pacific Rim International Management Education), where students engage with companies and executives across the Pacific Rim and Latin America.
18. Emory University (
Alongside the traditional two-year MBA, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School students can opt for an accelerated one-year program, which allows them to complete three semesters and a Goizueta IMPACT project within that time.
This program offers the same range of over 20 concentrations and elective options as the two-year MBA. For working students, the school has an Evening MBA program, which can be completed in 24 to 32 months.
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17. University of Texas – Austin (McCombs)
At the McCombs School of Business, students have the option of a full-time MBA program, three part-time MBA programs, or an Executive MBA program. McCombs has an adaptable curriculum with numerous concentration choices and places a strong emphasis on collaboration among students. Additionally, it has a reputation for placing a large number of graduates in the technology and energy sectors.
16. Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
The Tepper School of Business STEM-designated MBA program equips students with the analytical and leadership skills they’ll need to leverage data insights and drive innovation through teamwork. The school’s MBA programs are full-time, part-time online hybrid, part-time flex, and part-time accelerated.
15. Cornell University (Johnson)
The S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management offers a two-year residential MBA and a one-year tech MBA. For working professionals, the school has Executive MBA programs. Students get hands-on experience with internships, case studies, and company visits, allowing them to specialize in areas such as investment banking, strategic operations, and digital technology.
14. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ross)
U-M’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business offers a full-time MBA, an online MBA, a weekend MBA, a 15-month global MBA, and an executive MBA. It is known for its action-based educational approach. Ross students also have access to extensive resources and can find help with career placement across a wide range of industries.
13. Duke (Fuqua)
Duke’s Fuqua School of Business is celebrated for its globally recognized MBA program and its unique joint degree offerings. These joint programs are available in partnership with other esteemed Duke University schools, including Duke’s School of Law, the Sanford School of Public Policy, and the School of Medicine. Fuqua offers a full-time MBA option and two EMBA programs—the Global Executive MBA and the Weekend Executive MBA.
12. Columbia University
Columbia Business School‘s MBA program consistently ranks among the top globally. The school is particularly renowned for its expertise in financial disciplines, and it offers a range of programs, such as the full-time MBA, Executive MBA, and several dual degree options, including a three-year JD/MBA, an MBA/MS in Engineering and Applied Science, and various other joint degrees with fields such as architecture, dental and oral surgery, law, journalism, and public health.
11. University of Virginia (Darden)
Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, UVA’s Darden School of Business is renowned for its “case method” approach, where students engage with real-world business scenarios through detailed case studies.
Although UVA does not offer an online-only MBA program, it provides part-time and executive MBA options (as well as its full-time program) designed for working professionals. Both of these programs incorporate a mix of in-person and virtual instruction to accommodate busy schedules.
10. Dartmouth (Tuck)
Unlike most business schools, which offer several MBA streams, the Tuck School of Business offers just one program to students. It provides a broad range of general management skills and is known as the “Tuck Pattern” by other institutions.
9. Yale University
The Yale School of Management offers various graduate programs, including the traditional two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA). Additionally, the school offers an Executive MBA program tailored for working professionals. It is one of the smaller business schools in the U.S., with just 100 faculty members and 350 spots in its MBA program.
8. University of California, Berkeley (Haas)
Aside from its full-time MBA program, UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business features Executive, evening, and weekend MBA options. The MBA curriculum at Haas focuses on Berkeley’s Innovative Leadership Development, which prioritizes experiential learning and problem-solving to turn students into forward-thinking leaders.
7. New York University (Stern)
NYU’s Stern School of Business MBA program focuses on general management, allowing students to specialize in up to three fields. Additionally, they can pursue dual degrees, often on an accelerated timeline.
For example, the J.D./MBA program takes four years when combined with studies at the NYU School of Law; the M.S. in Biology/MBA program takes three years when combined with courses from the NYU Graduate School of Arts; and the MBA/M.S. in Mathematics in Finance program spans two and a half years when combined with courses at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
6. Harvard University
Harvard Business School provides a diverse range of educational opportunities, including its flagship full-time MBA program, an Executive MBA program, and joint degree options. Joint MBA degrees can be pursued in collaboration with several Harvard schools, including the Kennedy School, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Law School, the Medical School, the School of Dental Medicine, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
MIT’s Sloan School of Management has a full-time MBA program that enables students to tailor their studies according to their career aspirations. The program begins with a one-semester core curriculum, after which students have three semesters to select electives and specialize in various tracks.
4. University of Chicago (Booth)
The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business’ full-time MBA program is renowned for its balanced approach to education, combining flexibility with rigorous academic standards. Students must complete coursework in essential areas such as accounting, operations management, strategy, economics, and statistics.
The curriculum includes specialized leadership courses, including the mandatory Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) course. After graduation, Booth students become part of a vast network of over 56,000 graduates.
3. Northwestern University (Kellogg)
Located in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management offers a diverse array of programs, including full-time, part-time, and executive MBA options, and is known for its leadership in marketing, management and strategy, finance, and entrepreneurship education.
Kellogg’s emphasis on experiential learning through its Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) program and its Live-In-Labs courses sets it apart, offering students hands-on experience in solving real-world business challenges globally.
2. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
Located in Philadelphia, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania offers MBA and executive MBAl degrees. Known for its rigorous academics, strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, and global perspective. At Wharton, students can also pursue joint degrees, such as an accelerated MBA/J.D. (with Penn Law School) and an MBA/M.A. in International Studies. It also boasts the largest alumni network in the country,
1. Stanford University (GSB)
With immediate access to Silicon Valley and a global network of alumni, Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) is known for its rigorous academic programs and innovative research. GSB offers a range of graduate degrees, including the MBA and MSx (a one-year master’s program for experienced leaders).
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