SUNY Oswego remains the top online MBA program among public schools in New York state, according to rankings released Jan. 21 by U.S. News and World Report.

The U.S. News: Best Online Programs ranking joins the same designation as the top public-school online MBA in the state from Poets & Quants, Fortune and the Princeton Review.

U.S. News ranked SUNY Oswego #88 among all online MBA programs in a process that assessed approximately 1,780 online degree programs across various lists and metrics. 

The rankings measure overall academic quality at the baccalaureate and master's levels across disciplines such as master's in business (MBA and non-MBA programs), criminal justice, education, engineering, information technology and nursing, U.S. News explained.

“We’re still a top-ranked school with rising enrollment, customized advisement and individual support, and we take great pride in providing outstanding service,” said Irene Scruton, assistant dean of the School of Business and director of Oswego’s MBA programs. “That our student excellence and student engagement scores remain at high levels even with increased enrollment shows how much we emphasize the student experience.”

“Our enrollment growth and the recognition of being one of the top 100 online MBA programs in the country is due to the uniquely flexible curriculum that is delivered by faculty members who regularly win awards for teaching and research,” said Prabakar Kothandaraman, dean of Oswego’s School of Business. 

“Our MBA team understands the demands of working executives and life long learners and provide a very supportive environment that is both inclusive and enabling,” he added. “Our high-quality student engagement practices provide a strong bond between the faculty, students and the campus. Our continuous improvement mindset keeps us reaching for newer ways to serve our students to excel in their respective fields of business.”

"The continued and sustained national recognition as New York state's #1 public school option for an MBA, year after year, speaks to SUNY Oswego's long-standing commitment to our students to make it possible to get a high-quality graduate degree at a price point that is manageable for families," said Kristen Eichhorn, dean of SUNY Oswego's graduate studies.

The program continues to set up networking opportunities with alumni and other experiences for students, whether through a career event in New York City or the program’s first-ever corporate and cultural engagement trip to India.

Supporting working professionals

Scruton added that the commitment of faculty with outstanding credentials sets a great example for the high quality of working professionals in the program.

“Working professionals have unique needs,” Scruton said. “We carry a high graduation rate and retention rate in the industry, and we take great pride in that.”

One of those working professionals with unique needs is Jane Nwagu, the group head of business development for FBN Insurance Brokers in Lagos, Nigeria. Nwagu made the trip to December Commencement to join others in celebrating her 2024 graduation.

“The program's robust online platform and meticulously structured curriculum ensure deep learning beyond mere examination requirements,” Nwagu said. “Each module systematically builds both professional capabilities and personal growth.”

Nwagu also offered praise for Scruton and Oswego’s faculty and staff in understanding how to balance a professional life with classes, even coming from another hemisphere.

“With Professor Scruton's exceptional guidance and understanding faculty, I completed the program at my own pace while managing a demanding career,” Nwagu said. “SUNY Oswego's demonstrated commitment to student success, regardless of geographical location or circumstance, makes it an outstanding choice for ambitious professionals seeking a quality MBA education.”

Additional rankings

Other Oswego rankings in the new U.S. News listing included #68 in Best Online Bachelor's in Business Program and #107 in Overall Rank: Best Bachelor's Programs.

Poets and Quants, which ranked Oswego 51st –- and the only SUNY –- on its list in December 2024 is considered an influencer in the field with “the largest team of journalists covering business schools,” according to its website, and “publishes more articles, series and videos on MBA programs and management education than any other media outlet in the world.”

“The Poets and Quants list is considered influential by candidates because of its more targeted focus on business schools and MBA programs, and its combination of academic metrics, career outcome metrics and alumni direct feedback,” Scruton said.

Princeton Review ranked SUNY Oswego’s online MBA 44th overall in last year’s edition, with 2025’s update expected later this spring. Oswego ranked 53rd overall in Fortune Education’s most recent listing of online MBA programs in 2024.

About Oswego’s MBA programs

Oswego –- the first comprehensive college in the SUNY system to offer an MBA degree, starting in 1997 –- has increased the options students have for specializing within their graduate business studies, offering MBA programs in health services administration, management and public accounting. The college also offers a variety of graduate programs and five-year options that combine an MBA with such bachelor's degrees as in broadcasting, public accounting or psychology.

MBA delivery options include classroom-based in Oswego and/or blended classroom-online programs, as well as the online MBA.

SUNY Oswego’s online MBA programs also continue to rank top among New York state public institutions in U.S. News and World Report’s online MBA listings.

For more information on Oswego's MBA programs, visit the MBA program website or email mba@oswego.edu.