42
credit hours
Elevate Your Career
Join the MSU Professional Online MBA and become part of a top-ranked, globally recognized institution. Our program is specifically designed for ambitious working professionals, allowing you to advance your career and earn your MBA without putting your life on hold. You will receive the authentic Michigan State University experience, as our program is taught exclusively in-house by the same distinguished Broad College faculty members who teach on campus, ensuring uncompromised quality.
Investing in our 42-credit hour program delivers a clear return. Within three years, graduates see their salaries jump by an average of 58%, and an impressive 52% of students secure a promotion or a new job before they even finish the program.
Today’s high performers are tomorrow’s leaders.
Now offering both spring and fall start dates.
$63,000
total tuition cost
100%
asynchronous, but sync-supported
"The digital format never felt distant, faculty members were accessible, and team members quickly felt like a community. Distant learning turned out to be anything but distant, building lasting connections through flexible learning schedules."
Travis Hamers, MBA '22
#1
General management
(U.S. News & World Report Best Online Master's in Business Programs, 2025)
#9
Executive MBA
Among U.S. public programs
Among U.S. public programs
(Financial Times, 2025)
#11
Among U.S. EMBA programs under $115K
(Poets&Quants, 2024)
Professional Online MBA Curriculum Structure
To complete the Professional Online MBA, students take a total of 28 courses, which include essential foundational business courses and various electives.
Foundational Courses:
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PIM 800 - Managerial Skills
Variable from 1 to 3
Thinking critically about organizational effectiveness and creating, maintaining, and leading effective work groups in organizations.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 803 - Leadership Development
Variable from 1 to 3
Equips students with the tools to understand and evolve their leadership styles and capabilities. Through self-assessments and leadership development frameworks, students will design actionable growth plans that drive personal transformation and organizational impact.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 811 - Financial Accounting & Reporting for Leaders
Variable from 1 to 3
Essentials of financial accounting concepts and statements from a user’s perspective.Measurement and reporting concepts and issues. Analysis and use of financial accounting information for executives and business decision making.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 812 - Performance Measurement & Control
Variable from 1 to 3
Trains students to become informed recipients and users of accounting information to support sound managerial decision making and strategy implementation. The course covers profitability analysis for products, customers, and business segments for decision making and planning purposes. The course also introduces accounting concepts facilitating strategy implementation such as responsibility accounting, budgeting and target setting, analysis of budget variance reports, financial performance measures and performance measurement systems, and management control systems.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 813 - Digital Transformation
Variable from 1 to 3
This course examines information systems as strategic drivers of digital transformation and competitive advantage. Topics include AI, platforms, implementation, and governance of enterprise systems. Emphasis is on applying insights directly to participants’ organizations to enhance value, agility, and innovation while managing risk.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 821 - Applied Economics for Strategic Decision-Making
Variable from 1 to 3
This course integrates microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts for business decision making. Students will learn to apply theories of demand, supply, costs, pricing, and market structures to optimize resources and achieve goals like profit maximization. At the macro level,students will be equipped with the tools to analyze how variables such as GDP, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates evolve during expansions and recessions, shaping business conditions.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 831 - Business Law
Variable from 1 to 3
A concise, practical understanding of key legal concepts that impact business strategy and leadership. Topics include contracts, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Through real-world case studies and interactive analysis, students learn to identify legal risks, interpret legal frameworks, and make sound decisions that align with ethical standards and organizational goals.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 841 - Finance I: Investment Decisions
Variable from 1 to 3
Addresses discounted cash flow valuation of bonds, stocks, and corporate investments.Application of course concepts to the work environment.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 842 - Finance II: Financial Decisions
Variable from 1 to 3
Explores the relation between risk and return, capital market efficiency, and capital structure decisions. Includes application of course concepts to the work environment.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 851 - Data-Driven Decision-Making
Variable from 1 to 3
Prepares participants to harness data science, AI, and business intelligence for strategic advantage. Covers predictive modeling, machine learning, data visualization and storytelling, with applications across various business functions. Emphasis is on interpreting insights and applying them to real-world decisions in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 852 - Negotiation
Variable from 1 to 3
Negotiation strategies and planning steps, analysis of leverage, tactics for creating and claiming value, and strategies for resolving conflicts. Addresses the complexities of negotiating with multiple parties, using agents, and across cultural boundaries.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 853 - Human Resources & Talent Management
Variable from 1 to 3
Addresses the management of organizational talent, including understanding the HR environment and the processes of attracting, hiring, motivating, rewarding, and developing individuals in organizations.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 855 - Strategic Management I
Variable from 1 to 3
Addresses the management of organizational talent, including understanding the HR environment and the processes of attracting, hiring, motivating, rewarding, and developing individuals in organizations.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 862 - Marketing I: Customer Analysis
Variable from 1 to 3
Develops expertise in identifying and addressing customer needs to create sustainable competitive advantage in today’s digital marketplace. Topics covered: Customer journey mapping and segmentation strategies; Data-driven customer insights and market analysis; Value proposition design for diverse industries; Initial development of strategic marketing plan components.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 863 - Marketing II: Systems & Strategy
Variable from 1 to 3
Builds on 862 and focuses on creating and implementing effective marketing strategies thatdrive business results in complex competitive environments. 4Ps: Integrated product, pricing,channel, and communication strategies; Digital marketing execution and performancemeasurement; Marketing ROI and financial impact analysis; Completion of comprehensive strategic marketing plan.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 870 - Supply Chain Management
Variable from 1 to 3
Understanding supply chain management and its impact on competitive advantage. Introduction of logistics, operations management, procurement, and cross-functional integration in supply chains.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 872 - International Strategies
Variable from 1 to 3
International, comparative, and cross-cultural perspectives in business. Markets and implications for managers. Global opportunity assessment, currency risk, and operational considerations.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 874 - The Global Marketplace
Variable from 1 to 3
International trip and seminar involving aspects of the commercial, economic, cultural and political environments of dynamic country markets. Exposure to leading executives and government representatives of major trading partners of the U.S. Provides a comparative framework for competitive strategy in a multicultural examination.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 876 - Ethics in the Workplace
Variable from 1 to 3
An exploration of the ethical dimension of individual and corporate decision making and provide practical resources for making ethical decisions within the business context.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
The student should complete 12 credits from the following courses, or equivalent courses upon approval of the program director:
Elective Courses:
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PIM 801 - Organizational Analysis
Variable from 1 to 3
Faculty supervised analysis of the student’s employing organization from a broad organizational behavior perspective.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 804 - Designing Innovation for Impact
Variable from 1 to 3
Empowers students to tackle complex business challenges using design thinking and strategic consulting tools. Students explore and leverage market research, user-centered design, ideation, rapid prototyping, and persuasive storytelling to create innovative solutions for real-world clients, culminating in actionable recommendations. This course prepares leaders to drive innovation in dynamic, uncertain environments by thinking boldly, collaborating effectively, and executing strategically.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 814 - Financial Statement Analysis
Variable from 1 to 3
The goal of this course is to enhance the student’s expertise in financial statement analysis and in understanding the role of corporate governance in the stewardship of the firm.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 822 - Macroeconomics for Managers
Variable from 1 to 3
Determinants of national income, employment, and inflation. Macroeconomic environment of business: business fluctuations, fiscal and monetary policy, international capital flows, and forecasting macroeconomic data.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 832 - Entrepreneurship
Variable from 1 to 3
Developing an entrepreneurial mindset. Skills of ideation, business model creation, market assessment and validation, and go-to-market strategies.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 845 - Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Restructuring
Variable from 1 to 3
Strategic issues associated with major changes in a firm’s asset of liability structure, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, activist investors and leveraged buyouts. Issues will be examined in the context of a firm’s overall strategic goals, with a focus on financial strategies.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 856 - Strategic Management II
Variable from 1 to 3
The strategy of a firm is the set of decisions it makes concerning how it will achieve superior performance and hence create value for shareholders. This course focuses on identifying and analyzing the internal and external sources of competitive advantage available to the firm, and on developing strategies to access these sources of profitability.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 873A - Current Business Issues: Finance
Variable from 1 to 3
Perspectives on current and emerging topics.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 873F - Current Business Issues: Management
Variable from 1 to 3
Individual, team, and process factors that affect the effectiveness of strategic decisions.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
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PIM 875 - Supply Chain Management II
Variable from 1 to 3
Advanced supply chain management strategies and applications with emphasis on supply chain process improvement techniques, quality management and strategic sourcing.
View full course description at the Office of the Registrar.
Curriculum Highlights
- Flexible completion options: Finish in 19 months (3 courses at a time), 28 months (2 courses at a time), or design a custom pace
- Accelerated learning: Courses delivered in focused 8-week modules
- No travel required: Virtual orientation, no residency
- Engaging Experience: Includes 1-hour optional weekly live session per course with faculty and peers
- Earn as you learn: Build valuable certificates in Business Essentials for Leaders, Digital Transformation in Global Business, and Organizational Leadership & Strategy while progressing toward your degree
Transfer Credit Policy
Students may be eligible to transfer up to 9 credits into the Broad Online MBA. Prior MBA coursework is preferred, though graduate-level business courses completed as part of another master’s degree may also be considered for review.
To be eligible for transfer credit consideration:
- Applicants must submit official transcripts to Michigan State University Central Admissions as part of the application process.
- Coursework must be completed at an institution accredited by the AACSB or another accrediting body recognized by Michigan State University.
- Transfer credit requests are reviewed after a student has been admitted and submitted their enrollment deposit.
Once deposited, students should email mba@msu.edu to request a transfer credit evaluation and provide course syllabi for any courses they wish to have reviewed.
To ensure transfer credits can be applied before the start of classes, requests should be submitted by June. Most transfer credit decisions are completed within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the required documentation.
Who You’ll Learn With
You’ll learn alongside a diverse group of talented professionals in the Broad Online MBA program. Our students come from a variety of industries, organizations, and backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives to every discussion. What they all share is a strong commitment to personal and professional growth.
The Online MBA experience connects you with accomplished, motivated peers who challenge and inspire one another, creating a powerful network that extends well beyond graduation.
Online MBA Fall 2026 Entrants
Number of Companies Represented
63
Average Work Experience
9 years
Average Management Experience
3 years
Number of Students
71
Average Age
32
Gender
55% Male / 44% Female / 1% Non-Binary
Professional Online MBA | Outcomes
Our working professional MBA graduates see an average salary increase of 58% within three years, with 52% receiving a promotion or new job while in the program.
This success is backed by the expert support of the top- rated Russell Palmer Career Management Center, who are integrated into your MBA experience starting with orientation, providing support from day one. You’ll have 24/7 access to a wealth of on-demand tools, complemented by flexible virtual sessions, both live and recorded, led by our Palmer Center team. Stay ahead with the graduate program newsletter, featuring timely information on upcoming opportunities and essential career guidance.
Access powerful, on-demand tools designed to enhance your professional profile and readiness:
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BroadConnect: Our internal networking platform for connecting with fellow students and alumni.
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Career Leader: Self-assessment tools to help identify career paths that align with your interests and strengths.
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VMock: AI-powered platform for instant feedback and scoring on your resume.
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MBA Case 101: Resources and frameworks to help you master case interview analysis.
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RocketBlocks: Specialized skill-building and practice tools for consulting and product management interviews.
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AcuMax: Assessment tool used for understanding behavioral style and workplace communication.
Professional Online MBA | Digital Learning Environment
The Professional Online MBA features the same distinguished Broad College faculty who teach in the Executive MBA and Full Time MBA programs. All courses are developed and delivered in house, ensuring a high quality, cohesive learning experience. Students learn from renowned experts such as Dr. Judy Whipple and Dr. Ryan Israelsen, leaders in their respective fields and dedicated to supporting student success.
Students typically dedicate 15–20 hours per week to coursework, including activities such as virtual class sessions, interactive discussions, and other academic deliverables designed to support a flexible yet rigorous learning experience.
Professional Online MBA Student Experience
Broad Enterprise Leadership Academy
A unique opportunity in our student experience is through the Broad Enterprise Leadership Academy: a diverse, integrated set of experiences and resources designed to develop leaders who make immediate and sustained impact on their organization and community.
You’ll build a secure foundation with the Academy’s pillars:
- Collaborate with peers on your progress and theirs
- Apply learning actively to your organization
- Connect with senior leaders and alumni
- Influence for team achievement
- Deliver individual and organizational success
Optional Global Study Abroad (The Global Marketplace)
This weeklong global residency, typically held in late February, explores the opportunities, costs, and risks of doing business outside the United States. Each year, the course focuses on a region with a distinctive culture and an emerging economy. Students travel to the selected destination to gain direct experience with its business environment and cultural landscape.
Past cohorts have visited locations such as Argentina, Brazil, Panama, the Czech Republic, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and many more.
The Global Marketplace course offers students a rare chance to broaden their worldview and build a global perspective that supports their careers long after the program ends.
Build Your Network
About 70% of new job leads come through networking, and the Professional Online MBA helps you build a strong one. Throughout the program, you’ll form lasting professional connections and gain access to key networking and development opportunities.
Attend signature events like the Warrington Lectureship Series, the Advancing Women in Business panel, and the Innovate State Speaker Series, along with community‑building events such as the MBA Homecoming Tailgate and MBA Golf Outing.
After graduation, you’ll join 98+ regional alumni groups worldwide, giving you access to 500+ professional events each year. This network keeps you connected to the MSU community and supports your career for life.
Ready to become a Spartan?
Your next chapter should be exciting, not stressful. That’s why we’ve made applying to the Professional Online MBA simple, smooth, and focused on getting you closer to your goals. Here is a clear checklist of what you’ll need and a breakdown of the steps to apply.
Please prepare the following documents to complete your application:
- Transcripts: Official transcripts from degree granting universities and colleges.
- Resume: A current one-page resume detailing your professional experience.
- Essays: Two essays responding to the prompts provided on the application.
- Recommendation forms: Two recommendation forms, preferably one from a professional supervisor.
- Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $85.
- Interview: Schedule a virtual interview.
We do not require standardized test scores like the GMAT or GRE to be considered for admission.
Applications for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 are now open.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Investing time and money in an MBA program is a significant decision. We pride ourselves on being the best value in the Big Ten, thanks to our competitive cost and strong return on investment.
Our program is consistently ranked among the top for career progression, and our graduates regularly achieve significant promotions and salary increases. Most importantly, the majority of our students would highly recommend the program to their peers.
Our Professional Online MBA tuition is priced on a per-credit-hour, allowing you to manage costs based on your chosen pace. The total cost of the 42-credit-hour program is $63,000*
To help you with this investment, a range of financial aid options are available, including:
MSU Office of Financial Aid
If you have additional questions about financial aid options, visit the MSU Office of Financial Aid. You can also feel free to contact John Garcia the MBA liaison at garcia11@msu.edu in the Office of Financial Aid. Please identify yourself as a prospective Executive MBA student.
Most students can qualify for financial aid in the form of student loans. More resources are available through MSU Financial Aid. Federal and private loans are options for financing your degree. Here are a few of the most common student loan options:
Stafford Direct Unsubsidized Loan
This federally guaranteed loan is not based on financial need. Interest begins accumulating at disbursement, but no payment is required until six months after completing the program. The annual loan maximum is $20,500.
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
This loan is not based on financial need. The annual loan maximum is the student’s budget minus all other aid.
* Tuition pending approval from the Board of Trustees annual vote.
Ready to Learn More? Watch the most recent Broad Professional MBA programs webinar.
Connect with the Professional Online MBA
- Professional Online MBA
- mba@msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 355-7604
- Associate Dean - MBA Programs
- Ayalla Ruvio
- mbadean@msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 432-2322
- Managing Director of Admissions | MBA Programs
- Kara Tripi
- ktripi@broad.msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 432-4109
- Interim Director | MBA Programs
- William Horton-Anderson
- horton33@broad.msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 432-4110
- Senior Associate Director of Admissions | MBA Programs
- Kate Irwin
- irwinkat@broad.msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 432-7473
Stay informed about the Michigan State University Professional Online MBA. Provide your information below to receive program details as they become available.
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