Online MBA at the University of Illinois
Earn the MBA of the future! The University of Illinois iMBA program is affordable, heavily interactive, and completely online.
The iMBA program features live global classrooms, team projects, and personal contact with your professors. The 1,000+ students in the iMBA family represent more than 65 countries and 40 states across the United States. The program has been called a “breakthrough” by Poets & Quants magazine, a leading authority on management education.
The iMBA organizes its curriculum into modules called Specializations, which contain courses in leadership, strategy, economics, accounting, and finance. Each core Specialization helps you hone your foundational executive management abilities. Additional Specializations are designed to develop your future-forward vision in areas like digital marketing, innovation, and globalization.
Each Specialization is open for you to start today, before you submit an application. As you complete a Specialization, you’re ready for immediate impact in that area. To earn the MBA degree, you’ll complete six Specializations, three Capstone Projects, and participate in weekly live global classrooms that are deeply engaging, interactive, and practice-oriented. In these live sessions, you will work directly with faculty and get opportunities to learn from industry experts as well as your peers.
At less than $22,000, the program cost is “by far the lowest of any major university’s online MBA.”1 You’ll benefit from the same instructors, degree, and alumni network as students who earn their Illinois MBA on campus.
1 Poets & Quants, 5/11/18, “Illinois Graduates 1st Cohort from $22k iMBA”.
Who is this degree for:
With the innovative iMBA program, we have reimagined MBA education and created an MBA program that makes the online experience a new kind of educational experience. The program welcomes people from varied backgrounds, be it arts, science, music, engineering, finance, accounting, consulting, marketing, medicine, military, and many more. The iMBA is for anyone who wants to enhance their business acumen and leadership capabilities either to change careers or just get better in their profession and understand the business side of things.
Try your first course today:
- Digital Marketing MasterTrack TM
- Strategic Leadership & Management Specialization
- Managerial Economics & Business Analysis Specialization
- Value Chain Management Specialization
- Financial Management Specialization
- Global Challenges in Business Specialization
- Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship Specialization
Read our blog post:
Hear from some of the first iMBA grads about their experience charting a new frontier in online learning.
Tuition:
| Estimated Total | $21,844 |
|---|---|
| 18 Courses / 72 credit hours | $18,000 |
| Coursera ID Verification fees- 6 specializations | $2,844 |
| Books/Supplies/case packets | $1,000 |
- Tuition is based on $250/credit hour. Tuition and fees are subject to change.
- Fees are for Coursera ID verification that students must pay at Coursera: $79 for each 2-credit hour course or $158 for a 4-credit hour course.
- Books/supplies, and other expenses are only estimates. Please note that financial aid may not be approved for the total expense levels.
Additional travel expense may be incurred depending on student participation in immersion, alumni, and networking events.
Admissions Office Hours & Questions:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesdays: | 15:00-16:00CT |
| Wednesdays: | 18:00-19:00CT |
Please click on the link below to log into our live online office hours via video at the times listed above:
Online Office Hours
You can also reach us for any questions by email or phone (+1 217 300–2481).
AT A GLANCE
24-36 months
18 courses plus three capstone projects
~$22,000
Completely online
Start your application
The next cohort starts on August 26th, 2019.
Early Admission Deadline:
Round 1: January 18th, 2019
Round 2: March 1st, 2019
Round 3: April 12th, 2019
Benefits of applying earlier:
- Time to get all application materials submitted on time
- Gain feedback earlier
Final Deadline:
May 17th, 2019
* The program has two official start dates throughout the year, in January and August.
Students can begin as non-degree students at any time throughout the year.
Academics
To earn the MBA degree, you’ll complete six Specializations, three capstone projects, and participate in weekly live global classrooms. Four Specializations are core to the MBA degree. Two Specializations are areas of focus that you may choose from the options below.
- 18 courses plus three capstone projects
4 projects- 24-36 months
Some of the projects you'll do...
Strategic Leadership and Management Capstone
You will develop a strategic business action plan to manage a portfolio of recently-acquired businesses as part of a core corporate strategy.
Managerial Economics and Business Analysis Capstone
You will assist a US-based manufacturing firm in identifying a target country for possible international expansion.
Value Chain Management Capstone
You will create a business plan based on a comprehensive analysis of how accounting, marketing, and operations work together to influence a firm’s value chain.
Financial Management Capstone
You will analyze an actual business situation, taking the vantage point of a company, and develop a financial management plan.
The degree experience is...
The same kind of courses you’ll find on campus, with the flexibility to learn when and where you want.
Collaborate with a global network of classmates, instructors, and alumni.
Innovative courses with lectures from some of the world’s best instructors and hands-on projects.
Practical courses designed to help you master skills that you can start applying to your career right away.
When you graduate, you’ll be able to:
Emerge with new and improved leadership and business skills
Have greater career opportunities in front of you
Be more visible in the eyes of recruiters
Take advantage of Illinois’ large alumni network
Admissions
Requirements
Applicants for the degree program must have:
- Bachelor’s degree or US equivalent
- 3 years professional work experience
- 3 professional letters of recommendation
- Submit resume, essay, and online application
Application Process
The first step in the application process is to fill out the online application and attach all required materials (copies of transcripts for all higher education, resume, essay, and names with emails for your recommenders). The admissions committee will then review your materials and potentially invite you to an online interview. After the potential interview and application is completed, the admissions committee will notify you of our final decision. If you are looking for admissions support, we offer online office hours, an admissions checklist, webinars, email support, and phone support to help you with your questions.
Tuition
$22,000
Start your application
The next cohort starts on August 26th, 2019.
Early Admission Deadline:
Round 1: January 18th, 2019
Round 2: March 1st, 2019
Round 3: April 12th, 2019
Benefits of applying earlier:
- Time to get all application materials submitted on time
- Gain feedback earlier
Final Deadline:
May 17th, 2019
* The program has two official start dates throughout the year, in January and August.
Students can begin as non-degree students at any time throughout the year.
About University of Illinois
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was named one of the world’s 30 most powerful university brands by Times Higher Education. A Wall Street Journal survey found Illinois to be one of corporate recruiters’ five favorite sources of talent in America.
The iMBA is based in the College of Business and also draws its faculty from faculty from other parts of the University as well as select, high-level working professionals. The University has top-ranked schools and colleges not only in business but also in fields including engineering, media, and information sciences.
23
Nobel Prize Winners
425K
Global Alumni Network
#11
public university
Faculty
What Our Students Have to Say
[Illinois’ iMBA] faculty are world-renowned and it’s a well-respected degree. I thought between the flexibility of being online and the quality, caliber of the education, and the price is very affordable, you really have the trifecta.
Dana Kennedy
I chose the iMBA because of the flexibility the program offers. I have a 2 year old daughter and a 3 hour commute. Time is not something I have a lot of. I have studied on the plane, on the [train], in cabs, and hotel rooms. Everywhere I go I can pick up my course and engage with my classmates.
Eric Kung
The reality in business today is that we’re working in virtual teams. We’re collaborating with people across the state, across the country, across the globe, and I think that in itself is a competency that you can only really learn by participating in teams that are that diverse.
Brad Lindaas
Ready to start your application?
The next cohort starts on August 26th, 2019
Early Admission Deadline:
Round 1: January 18th, 2019
Round 2: March 1st, 2019
Round 3: April 12th, 2019
Benefits of applying earlier:
- Time to get all application materials submitted on time
- Gain feedback earlier
Final Deadline:
May 17th, 2019
Frequently Asked Questions
Upon completion of the iMBA program, students receive an MBA degree from the University of Illinois. It is the exact same degree that students in our residential programs receive.
Yes, the program is AACSB accredited through the University of Illinois College of Business.
No, the GMAT/GRE are not required for the iMBA program; however, submitting a test score is recommended for those with less than three years’ work experience.
The program is 24-36 months, depending on how much time you can dedicate to the program each week.
Total cost of the program is estimated to be under $22,000. This cost includes all tuition, fees, books, materials, etc.
Yes, financial aid through the University of Illinois is available for domestic degree-seeking students. There are scholarships and private loans that can be sought by international students. All students are eligible for university payment plans that allow you to break up your tuition into monthly payments. Please keep in mind that students are only billed each semester for the classes they are enrolled in; there is no upfront payment of tuition.
Not at this time. The program is very affordable and the cost is spread over a two- to three-year period. We do not charge semester or term tuition; the cost is based on the number of courses you register, which allows you to spread the cost of the program over several years. We do encourage all students to seek any private scholarships they would like.
We need all mark-sheets and the degree certificate in both the native language and an English translation. If you have more questions of what is needed, please contact us at imba@illinois.edu
No. You need to pay tuition when you enroll in each individual course. That means you’ll only pay for your courses as you take them.
Yes, you can get started with these Specializations and courses on Coursera to try out the degree program works before you apply. If you apply and are accepted to the program, your work counts towards your degree learning.
