The Kelley Direct Online MBA Program at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, solidifying its position as the nation’s No. 1 online MBA program. With a mission to “Learn from the best, with the best,” the program has been a trailblazer in online education, offering a high-quality and rigorous MBA experience to working professionals.
Since its inception in 1999, Kelley Direct has been at the forefront of online education, becoming the first top-ranked business school to offer an online MBA. The program is designed to cater to the needs of working professionals, with all courses being designed and taught by over 130 dedicated full-time Kelley faculty members. This in-house approach sets Kelley Direct apart from other programs that outsource aspects of their online MBA offerings.
One of the key factors contributing to the success of Kelley Direct is its commitment to innovation in online education. The program has evolved over the years, incorporating new technologies and teaching methods to enhance the learning experience for students. Today, Kelley professors teach synchronous virtual live classes online, supplemented by recorded asynchronous content, ensuring a world-class instruction.
In addition to its online coursework, Kelley Direct also offers in-person immersive experiences to its students. These experiences include Kelley On Campus, where students apply their learning in real-world settings, and Kelley On Location, which offers global and domestic immersions tailored to students’ goals. These immersive experiences provide students with valuable hands-on learning opportunities and networking possibilities.
Kelley Direct has a diverse student body, with professionals from various fields and industries enrolling in the program. The program attracts students from 40 states and 12 countries, with about a third of students looking to advance in their current organizations and another third seeking career changes. The remaining students are looking to acquire the skill set necessary for future ventures.
Upon graduation, Kelley Direct students become part of a vast network of Kelley alumni, totaling over 130,000 individuals. The Kelley School recently launched the Kelley Alumni Network, an online platform that facilitates connections among alumni, regardless of the program through which they earned their degree. This network provides access to job boards, career services, and mentoring opportunities for alumni.
Over the years, Kelley Direct has consistently been recognized as the top online MBA program by various publications, including U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, Poets&Quants, and Princeton Review. QS Quacquarelli Symonds also ranked Kelley Direct as the No. 1 program in the Americas. This recognition is a testament to the program’s commitment to excellence and innovation in online education.
As Kelley Direct continues to lead the way in online MBA education, its faculty and staff remain dedicated to creating momentum for students and pushing the boundaries of what an online MBA should be. With a legacy of excellence spanning 25 years, Kelley Direct is poised to continue setting the standard for online MBA programs in the years to come.