The Best Online MBA Programs in Canada of 2025

7.0% May 2025
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Did you know that Canada is home to the world’s first fully virtual Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, launched by Athabasca University in 1994? Once thought to be a degree you had to get in person, the path to earning an MBA has evolved considerably since then, mainly due to the rise of massive open online courses (MOOCs), which allow students to audit classes from Ivy League universities like Yale and Stanford, and the world-wide shift toward learning and collaborating online in the last five years. Today, we know that online learning works, even in programs that require ongoing teamwork and collaboration. (Consider Captain Alexander Landry of the Canadian Armed Forces, who completed his MBA at the University of Fredericton even while serving overseas.)

Why get an MBA? Earning a Master of Business Administration can lead to higher-level positions across a range of industries including finance, consulting, human resources, health care, and operations as well as tech and law. An MBA can enhance your management and leadership skills, giving you a faster path to increased earning potential. MBA salaries vary based on factors such as location, industry, job title, and employer, but based on analysis of Canada’s top business schools, CourseCompare finds the average base salary for an MBA graduate in Canada is $100,854, with a $16,419 average signing bonus.

It’s more crucial than ever that companies stay ahead of the curve, practicing strategic change management as artificial intelligence and other industry and economic shifts influence organizational shifts. The skills you hone while getting your MBA can help you develop your leadership abilities, strategic thinking, and problem solving.

Increasingly, Canada’s top universities are adapting their leading business school programming to be fully online or hybrid delivery, with a substantial amount of virtual programming and networking. Today, a dozen universities across the country are fulfilling the growing demand for online MBA programs from domestic and international students looking for a more flexible way to obtain this Canadian business credential. Whether you are still in the early years of your career or considering a mid-career shift, an online MBA can help you maintain balance between work and family demands while studying.

An online MBA can also be a more affordable option than traditional graduate business programs, as the schools offering them don’t always have the overhead costs of a university with in-person programs. Canadian MBA programs attract a diverse group of students from around the world, fostering a multicultural learning experience, providing exposure to a range of cultural perspectives and business practices. Not only does this kind of learning environment help expand your network, but it also enhances your understanding of the global world of business.

And while these MBAs offer remote learning opportunities, universities are still bringing the degrees’ hallmark benefits of one-on-one access to business leaders, practice dissecting real business cases, intensive collaboration with peers, and ongoing career and networking support to the digital sphere.

Here’s a comprehensive look at the schools leading the (virtual) pack in 2025.

CourseCompare’s annual school rankings are determined using a process that considers several core metrics and principles. Read more about our methodology here.

1.

Ivey Business School

4.9
Read more

2.

Smith School of Business at Queen's University

5
Read more

3.

University of Fredericton (UFred)

4.95
Read more

4.

Athabasca University

3.45
Read more

5.

DeGroote School of Business

4.8
Read more

6.

Dalhousie University Rowe School of Business

5
Read more

7.

Carleton University

5
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8.

University of Guelph Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

5
Read more

9.

University Canada West (UCW)

4.85
Read more

10.

Laurentian University

5
Read more

11.

Thompson Rivers University

4.85
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12.

University of Alberta

4.7
Read more
1

Ivey Business School

emba-executive-mba
$ $ $ $

As a prominent research university, Western University is known for its medicine and business programs. The university has produced world-renowned doctors, medical researchers, and business leaders for decades and has become a hub for developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.

What Sets the Ivey Business School Apart? 

Launched in 2019, the Ivey School of Business’ Accelerated MBA (AMBA) for Business Graduates Program is a blended online MBA built for working professionals in the GTA. Taking the same core elements as Ivey’s immersive on-campus year-long MBA program, the blended program aims to give more flexibility to student professionals who can’t make a move to Western’s primary campus in London, Ontario.

The program is 14 months long and is delivered primarily online, with one three-day weekend (Friday to Sunday) required monthly at Ivey’s outpost campus in Toronto. Classes start in January each year, with online access beginning in November. The next program starts November 2025 with in-person classes starting in Jan. 2026. Beginning with a week-long residence in London, Ont., followed by the monthly in-class sessions in downtown Toronto, the program ends with an international study trip. Your cohort will work together online and throughout the monthly in-class sessions, and you will develop professional connections with peers and faculty.

The average age of the AMBA student is 28 years old and 60 percent are men with the balance identifying as women. About 86 percent of students in the program have the title of manager or above and six years of working experience. The class size averages about 58 students. The average compensation of AMBA graduates is $141,231 which includes base salary, signing bonus, and other guaranteed compensation.

What Students Are Saying

Ivey provides a singularly unique educational setting that is second to none in Canada. Utilizing the case study method, Ivey prepares its students for life outside school, allowing them to read, analyze, breakdown and solve complex real world business scenarios. There is simply no better place to learn and grow as a person, student and future professional.

Mark Bloch, Executive MBA

The Curriculum

Ivey’s MBA program is built for working professionals ready to make the next leap on the career ladder, whether that leads them to a promotion or a new role. Classes are structured for this career-focused curriculum, leading to foundational courses like marketing products or macroeconomics, and elective courses ranging from international field trips to real-world projects with partner businesses, depending on individual student career ambitions.

Locations

Online, Toronto and London, Ontario

2

Smith School of Business at Queen's University

emba-executive-mba
$ $ $ $

With a focus on helping students make connections, Queen’s University has built a robust network of student groups and clubs, plus an extensive international exchange program. The university pulls from its multidisciplinary departments for all degrees and programs, meaning that whatever your focus, you will have a well-rounded education from a globally ranked university.

What Sets the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University Apart? 

Taught via Queen’s University’s dedicated interactive teaching studio, this online program aims to give students the whole in-person experience and ability to “study while you work in your city.” The custom-built technology platform for online students boasts discussion capabilities, team collaboration tools, and personal or group coaching for students. Queen’s also encourages virtual networking as a critical element of career progression and facilitates networking opportunities like employer roundtables, 1:1 networking, and other special events.

The program is designed for individuals with a minimum of two years of work experience – the average years of experience of a student in this program at Queen’s is seven years, including an average of three years of management or team leadership experience. About 29 percent of students come from the banking and financial services sectors. Class sizes are somewhat larger than other online MBA programs at 109 students per class cohort, with an even split of men and women enrolled.

Smith’s Accelerated MBA can be taken in one of two formats, depending on your location. Participants attend classes in a collaborative learning environment in many major Canadian markets. In all other areas, participants are placed on a virtual team, attending class from their homes or office. The virtual teams draw members from across Canada, with the same level of real-time connectivity and interactivity as the participants attending class in the Boardroom Learning Centres. Smith provides all the software, tools, and coaching needed to create a high-performance virtual team.

Participants have access to a customized portal and network used to communicate with professors and classmates outside of class. This allows for use of time more effectively, enabling you to download course notes, email, chat, or upload assignments from anywhere at any time.

What Students Are Saying

As a wife, mom and business owner, I did not think I would ever have the opportunity to go back to school and complete my MBA. The Smith Executive MBA experience not only made it possible, it has given me much more than a degree. I have come out of the program with a fuller sense of my abilities, learned to be a stronger leader, and gained a depth of understanding in areas that were not as clear before. I am now better able to contribute to my company and industry. The added bonus was the opportunity to work and learn with some of the most talented people across the country.

Rose Bhura, Executive MBA - The National Program

The Curriculum 

Queen’s fully online program is geared towards careers in management consulting and banking (including private equity and venture capital). Courses lean on the Queen’s three-pillar framework of experiential classes with real businesses, simulations to model innovative outcomes, and case studies to learn from what worked and didn’t work in the past. The curriculum is built on five learning themes: leadership, global business, corporate social responsibility, strategic thinking, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

Locations

Online, Toronto and Kingston, Ontario

3

University of Fredericton (UFred)

UFred online BBA | CourseCompare
4.95/5
$ $ $ $

With a focus on applied professional education, the School of Business at the University of Fredericton offers a variety of degree and certificate programs for professionals. Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the university boasts extensive experience delivering online education, with faculty averaging 11 years of experience, specifically in teaching remote learners. Notably, UFred does not charge international students more than Canadians, which has helped the relatively young university build a global footprint and alumni network.

What Sets the University of Fredericton Apart?

The part-time, fully online MBA program offers 11 specialty streams for students to choose from, from Global Leadership to Business Analytics Leadership. Further, the program has four pillars to its online education: live virtual classes, collaborative group work, an online campus environment for student and professors to connect (including office hours), and a virtual library. Every student also ends the program with a capstone project that allows them to deeply research a topic they are passionate about, which can be done remotely or via an international field study trip.

Students typically complete the program in two-to-three and-a-half years. GMAT is not required at UFred. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

What Students Are Saying

I can't imagine a better, more flexible, learning experience. UFred has nailed this aspect of the MBA for people who are working in senior roles, have families and real responsibilities, and can't take 1-2 years off from "real life". I started by being placed into a group. Classes are 15 hours per class per week and then we have discussions using WebEx, group presentations and weekly readings. Classes can be taken as one-offs so you can really do things at your own pace. I'm still in touch with the people from my group to this day and we are from backgrounds as wide-ranging as fintech, manufacturing, law, agribusiness and retail! Also, profs were amazing and led classes virtually from around the world. It's a lot of work; not a "bird" program by any stretch of the imagination. This program really pushed me to take my business and management skills to the next level. I can't recommend it enough for the right people.

Greg Henry, Master of Business Administration

The Curriculum

UFred’s online program is geared towards providing all students with a rock-solid foundation in business, including leadership theory, global economic impacts and more. The time commitment required is estimated to be about 15-20 hours per week, depending on the courses of study.

Locations

Online

4

Athabasca University

athabasca-university
3.45/5
$ $ $ $

Canada’s first online distance education university, Athabasca University was founded on the premise of openness and flexibility. Whether undergrad or graduate, the university has several ways to learn and pioneered accredited online learning for higher education. It also aims to make it easy for students with previous education to transfer credits, enabling them to complete their degree from a reputable university with more flexibility and potentially lower costs.

What Sets Athabasca Apart? 

Founded in 1994, Athabasca University established the world’s first fully interactive online MBA program. In the 30+ years since it launched, the fully accredited program has grown in prestige and is now recognized globally. It’s made explicitly for working business leaders. The online format is developed for as-you-can flexible schedules, including those with extensive work travel commitments or working long hours.

AU’s Faculty of Business is AACSB-accredited and among the top 6 per cent of business schools around the world, according to the global accrediting body. The average age of students taking the Athabasca MBA is 41 years old, and 95 percent of students who take the course recommend it. Those who opt for an accelerated approach complete their MBA in as little as one-and-a-half years, while the regular route typically takes two-and-a-half and three years.

AU’s collaboration with the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) allows students to earn both an MBA and the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation. The CHE is Canada’s only professional credential available to health leaders.

What Students Are Saying

 I became an executive while I was learning to be an executive. AU’s online format made it possible for me to complete my MBA as I pursued my passion for geology in countries as far away as West Africa. As I learned, I applied my newfound knowledge to my role as CEO and it allowed me to expand my career in ways I never thought possible.

Shastri Ramnath, Masters of Business Administration

The Curriculum

The fully online program at Athabasca is geared towards developing people leaders and organization-wide thinkers. Courses revolve around developing high-level strategic viewpoints, increasing interpersonal and career skills like networking and communications, and classes in management theory and change management using real-world business case scenarios.

You may be eligible for the MBA accelerated entry if you already have a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Management, or similar business degree, and at least three years of management experience.

Locations

Online

5

DeGroote School of Business

degroote-school-of-business
$ $ $ $

McMaster University is one of Canada’s most prestigious institutions. It has grown into prominence in multiple disciplines, thanks in part to generous donations from the DeGroote family to establish the DeGroote Schools of Business and Medicine, respectively. From its campus in Hamilton, Ontario, the university delivers worldwide cited research and welcomes 30,000 students between its on-campus and online programs.

What Sets the DeGroote School of Business Apart? 

DeGroote offers an online MBA program known as the McMaster Blended Learning Part-Time MBA. It provides a flexible learning experience and covers a broad range of topics including finance, marketing, and operations.

The program is provided both in-class and online and is built for students working while getting their degree. Half the program is delivered online; the in-person requirements are only three weekends a semester, making it manageable for most working professionals. Courses are taught online and in-person during weekend residencies, so you’ll be required to attend class at the Ron Joyce Centre for three weekends a term. As part of a cohort, you will have a greater opportunity to network and collaborate with your peers. In many cases, the program allows you to complete required ‘work-integrated assignments’ at your place of employment, giving student professionals ultimate flexibility to complete their degree and work simultaneously.

Most students in this program have an average of four to 10 years of work experience, and come from backgrounds primarily in engineering and science as well as social sciences and business, with 25 percent coming from healthcare

Five Blended Learning Part-Time MBA Entrance Scholarships, each worth $5,000, will be available for prospective students who plan to join in Fall 2025. The selection process for these scholarships is based on an holistic admissions approach – a comprehensive evaluation of applicants’ qualifications. No additional application is required. There is also the DeGroote School of Business Graduate Awards for Indigenous Learners. Up to five awards will be offered each year to include tuition as well as additional related expenses to a maximum of $15,000 per academic year.

What Students Are Saying

The program design demonstrates that DeGroote understands the needs and challenges of today’s business professionals. The blended learning model offers the best of both worlds: Students have the opportunity to engage in immersive learning with their peers on residency weekends, while also benefiting from the convenience of online learning. Another distinct advantage of the part-time program is being able to immediately apply classroom learnings to the workplace. I have very much enjoyed my MBA journey thus far, and look forward to even more valuable learnings. 

Juliette Zhang, Blended Learning Part-Time MBA

The Curriculum

Leaning heavily on two of McMaster’s strengths – finance and health – coursework sets students up to move into careers in the financial markets, with courses like predictive modelling for investment banking, or into the healthcare field, with courses such as health policy governance.

The program’s first year is like the full-time in-person MBA program, but it is adapted for working professionals so that you can apply the concepts immediately in your career. During the second year, there are courses in the core areas of accounting, finance, marketing, and operations, that build on what you learned during the first year. Electives allow you to tailor your experience to your career and specific interests.

During the third year, what you’ve learned, your professional experience, and the key program features of innovation, integration, and interdisciplinary learning, are all brought together in the strategic innovation project which is the program’s capstone assignment. During the final two semesters of the program, you work with a team of students in a collaborative process with a “host” company. Together, you develop recommendations which will help the company improve its performance based on specific metrics.

Locations

Online and Hamilton, Ontario

6

Dalhousie University Rowe School of Business

dalhousie-university
$ $ $ $

One of the oldest universities in Canada, Dalhousie University has grown from a regional educational institution to a globally recognized university. With around 19,000 students across all programs, the university is large enough to have all the resources its students need but not so big that students feel lost in the crowd. The university also attracts students from around the world, making diversity a key element of the Dalhousie experience.

What Sets Dalhousie Apart? 

Despite being labelled a “blended” program, Dalhousie’s blended MBA or “career advance pathway” is delivered 90 percent online and time to completion is from as little as two-and-a-half years, up to seven years. This pathway is intended for mid-career working professionals who wish to advance their career and applicants must have more than 5 years’ relevant professional work experience and reside in Canada. In each of the three academic terms, students choose from a list of wide-ranging courses balancing learning needs with lifestyle and professional responsibilities.

The Faculty of Management’s part-time blended online delivery model ensures that you can complete your MBA degree without losing career momentum. Students spend 3.5 days at the end of each term in locations such as Halifax, Toronto, Calgary, or Vancouver, and each program’s capstone course is held during a five-day summer session on Dalhousie’s historic campus in Halifax, Nova Scotia. You only come to class at the end of each course for this ‘intensive’ on campus, including group work and other career services for students.

Educational resources enhance online learning, including readings, videos, discussion posts, blogs, and audio files. Realtime elements include Live Classroom, tutorials, Collaborate Ultra, Adobe Connect and Skype sessions, ensuring rich personal connections with your professors and class participants.

The Curriculum

Dalhousie’s blended MBA program operates in one of two streams: Financial Services or Leadership. Depending on which stream students choose, courses will gear them up for the high-finance world of banking, venture capital, and private equity, or the leadership track to take on the global management world, handling people issues, learning and development, and change management.

Students develop a diverse set of fundamental business skills through the core curriculum. The Dalhousie edge is its blended online learning model which allows for the flexibility of online learning while providing the opportunity to develop rich personal connections with classmates through face-to-face intensives.

Locations

Online and Halifax, Nova Scotia

7

Carleton University

online-mba
$ $ $ $

Carleton University is a research and teaching institution in Canada’s national capital, Ottawa, Ontario. Its reputation is built on its strengths in journalism, public affairs, international affairs, architecture, and technology. Its students benefit from the university’s numerous partnerships with the federal government, other universities, and private sector partners.

What Sets the Sprott School of Business Apart?

The Sprott School of Business’s rigorous online MBA program from Carleton University provides the ability to complete an MBA online in 12-24 months, along with experiential learning opportunities, career-relevant insights, and a supportive environment focused on developing each student’s talents and helping them succeed. These graduate-level programs are designed for students with bachelor’s degrees and at least two years of professional work experience. The Sprott School of Business is AACSB Accredited, and its MBA is one of the world’s leading MBAs for sustainability and responsible management. About 91 percent of MBA graduates are employed within one year of graduation.

Carleton’s location in Ottawa offers MBA students added benefits as Ottawa is a G7 capital and the national hub for top aerospace, defence and security companies. As a global tech hub, Ottawa offers Carleton University’s MBA graduates opportunities to learn and work in fields such as cybersecurity, cleantech and sustainability, risk and compliance, and communication technology.

The Curriculum

Students can choose from four MBA offerings: a standard MBA, MBA in Business Analytics, MBA in Financial Management, or MBA in Management and Change. Students can develop specific competencies within their MBA by selecting one of the market-driven concentrations, or complete the MBA without a concentration and customize a program with a selection of electives. Students can also take the MBA with a collaborative specialization in Climate Change or concentration in Business Analytics An online MBA concentration in Business Analytics from Carleton University will teach you how to apply big data strategically to achieve objectives and solve issues, while growing revenue, profits and market share.

During the summer term, Sprott MBA students take part in a 16-week internship to gain career-relevant experience. Students with two or more years of work experience may apply for an exemption from the internship after admission to the MBA program.

Locations

Online and Ottawa, Ontario

8

University of Guelph Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

university-of-guelph
$ $ $ $

One of the premier universities in the world for agriculture, hospitality, and environmental sustainability, the University of Guelph brings those strengths into all its degree programs. Over 24,000 students attend the university between its on-campus and blended online programs, and over 800 faculty conduct thousands of research projects across all departments. The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics is home to the University of Guelph’s Lang MBA program.

What Sets Guelph Apart? 

Because the MBA program draws from the University of Guelph’s core strengths of agriculture, hospitality, and sustainability, it may not be the best fit for the finance-intensive MBA candidate. However, if you’re looking to apply a business education to work in those specialized industries, Guelph has one of the most competitive programs in the world.

The blended program takes place over two years, primarily online. Throughout, students participate in three residential periods on campus, ranging from five to 11 days each. The program has a 96 percent approval rating from graduates. The average age of students entering the program is 33, and the age range is 22 to 62. Students report an average salary increase of 26 percent upon graduating from the program, and 96 percent said the program provided a good foundation for further career advancement.

What Students Are Saying

The online portion of the Lang MBA gave me the flexibility with my work and travel schedule. I wouldn't miss classes if I was on the road. I could learn at my own pace within the schedule.

Meagan Shields, Lang MBA

The Curriculum 

The two-year online MBA program is designed to fit around a full-time professional work schedule, while still providing a fulfilling and challenging academic experience. Students focus on one course at a time. Students take a common set of courses in semesters 1-5 and have the option of completing a Major Research Project (MRP) or two elective courses in semester 6.

Combining both online and in-class learning, Guelph’s MBA coursework is uniquely connected to the physical world, with courses around environmental business, sustainability, hospitality, and the business of forestry. Graduates will be well set up to work for major construction companies, import/export companies, or utilities companies that deal in natural resources.

Online learning is complemented by multiple and intense on-campus experiences in Guelph, Ontario where you attend the annual Lang Grad Conference. These experiences allow you to collaborate, interact and network with your peers and faculty to gain the knowledge and skills needed to tackle leadership challenges facing your own organization.

Locations

Online and Guelph, Ontario

9

University Canada West (UCW)

university-canada-west
4.85/5
$ $ $ $

With a mix of online and on-campus programs, the Vancouver-based university focuses exclusively on professional and business education. This school is part of the Global University Systems, an international consortium of universities. According to the latest data from alumni, 94 percent of UCW MBA students are working or have a job lined up within one year of graduating.

What Sets UCW Apart?

The ACBSP and NCMA-accredited Master of Business Administration (MBA) program from UCW will prepare you for success on a global level. The UCW two-year online MBA program focuses on building critical thinking capabilities as a foundation for everything else. As the business world changes rapidly, UCW aims to ensure its students understand how to plan strategically, conduct data analysis to make the right decisions and communicate their ideas so people get behind them.

Students can select electives in one of nine elective areas as they progress through the degree program: Business Analytics, Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources Management, Leadership, Marketing, Digital Marketing and Project Management.

UCW’s MBA Games Team placed first in the 2023 BC MBA Games and 2024 national MBA Games. In 2024, UCW became the first university to hold both the national MBA Games and BC MBA Games trophies at the same time.

UCW offers a 30 percent discount on tuition for Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans.

What Students Are Saying

A good challenging university that is international. I finished in 2019 and had a job offer from a big telecom company in my last semester, second year. Very happy with the outcome and the business training.

John Soek, MBA

The Curriculum 

UCW’s online MBA syllabus is focused on enhancing competencies across areas such as leadership, critical thinking, project planning, and a host of further advanced business disciplines. Each program module is led by an experienced UCW academic, whose role is to encourage discussion and debate to facilitate active student participation, and to provide guidance and feedback. You will learn how to take challenging situations and apply pragmatic solutions to problems and drive the success of your organization through intelligent decision-making.

The program partners students with businesses to learn theoretically in class, but also in an apprentice model in the real world. The university has worked with organizations like Salesforce and IBM to build direct-to-career courses such as analytical foundations, management principles, and consulting case practice.

Locations

Online and Vancouver, British Columbia

10

Laurentian University

online-universities-canada
$ $ $ $

In the heart of Northern Ontario, Laurentian University is explicitly “tri-cultural” (English Canadian, French Canadian, and Indigenous) and bilingual in its instruction, culture, and programming. For online learners, Laurentian’s programs share the culture and mentality of an open rural university via the Internet.

What Sets Laurentian Apart? 

Delivered in either French or English, Laurentian’s online MBA program welcomes people from all over the world. Courses focus on managing complex information systems, business ethics, and operating within a globalized context.

The average online MBA student at Laurentian has 13 years of intermediate-level work experience, and their average age is 43; 55 percent of online learners are female. Students who have graduated with a business degree from a recognized university, and who meet the eligibility requirements, can receive advanced standing and complete the two-year program in one accelerated year.

Applicants can be admitted to the fully online delivery option with annual entry point in September. With no on-campus requirement, learning from where and when is truly up to you. This format is ideal for business professionals that need the flexibility of balancing work with family and community commitments.

What Students Are Saying

One of the best universities for online learning.

Jack None,

The Curriculum 

Laurentian’s online MBA program focuses its coursework on students who want to become ethical leaders with courses around managing complex information and ethical decision-making. Classes focus on ethical leadership, advanced financial and marketing concepts, managing information systems, and business strategy and explore the complexities of working within a global context. The program, anchored on Laurentian’s “tri-culturalism,” sets graduates up for social impact, government, diversity and inclusion, or corporate social responsibility (CSR) careers. Recent graduates must complete a work-integrated learning program to give them the experience to move their careers forward. In addition to the existing general MBA option, students will have an opportunity to choose from one of three pathways: Global Management, Analytics and Operations, and Finance.

Locations

Online and Sudbury, Ontario

11

Thompson Rivers University

online-mba
4.85/5
$ $ $ $

Located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is home to the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics, which aims to connect the interior of British Columbia to the world through experiential education and high-quality research. TRU prepares students to excel in their workplaces and communities.

What Sets the Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics Apart?

Thompson Rivers MBA students can complete the program entirely online or on-campus, part-time or full-time, or combine course delivery options to fit their needs. Learners also have the choice to complete the program in a one-year accelerated program or over two years through thesis, project course-based options. GMAT scores or professional work experience are not needed for admission.

Starting in September and January of each year, the full-time program can be completed in as little as 12 months. Small class sizes ensure high quality interaction between students and the instructor.

Students are welcome to enroll in a combination of on-campus courses and Open Learning courses. TRU gives you the flexibility to combine on-campus and online courses to fit your lifestyle. The online courses are only available to students residing in Canada at this time. Part-time study options are available for both online and on-campus study.

The Curriculum

Courses include managerial statistics, financial accounting, management accounting, marketing management, human resource management, ethics and corporate social responsibility, supply chain management, project management and consulting methods, and more.

The program makes considerable use of the case approach, business simulations, team projects, and guest speakers to engage students in the learning process. Global perspectives are incorporated throughout the curriculum and the diversity of our students and faculty further enhance the development of intercultural understanding.

In addition to the 14 core courses in the MBA, all students must select one of three completion options for their MBA:

  • The course-based option allows students to study four additional advanced management courses to complete their MBA program, providing them with a broader knowledge base.
  • The graduate project option allows MBA students to address an applied management issue or problem. This option provides situational experience and enables the student to focus on a specific area of management of relevance to their interests, future goals, or organization.
  • The graduate thesis option allows MBA students to prepare and defend a thesis, further developing critical thinking and academic research skills.

Locations

Online and Kamloops, British Columbia

12

University of Alberta

online-mba
$ $ $ $

The University of Alberta is a public research university in Edmonton, Alberta. Founded in 1908, it offers undergraduate studies, more than 500 graduate programs, 250 specializations, and 300 research areas. The university is home to more than 44,000 students from 156 countries attending classes at five campuses, making it the fifth-largest university in Canada. It has an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering, and health sciences.

What Sets the University of Alberta School of Business Apart?

The MBA course schedule is designed for students to be able to complete a mixture of online (synchronous and asynchronous) courses and in-person courses, in a blended model. Built on a foundation of core business courses and more specialized elective courses, the 20-course part-time MBA program is designed to fit around your work schedule, providing the ability to better balance work, school, and personal commitments. Online courses are offered asynchronously, meaning you can study and learn when it is convenient for you. Students typically complete the program in three to four years. However, you have up to six years to finish the degree.

Delivered online and in-person, the University of Alberta part-time MBA program is designed to allow students to take the program while balancing their work and personal commitments. In addition to evening courses, there are also one-week and intensive courses offered throughout the program. The one-week courses are primarily offered over the spring and summer terms. Intensive courses offered over two weekends of study throughout the year. Both one-week and intensive courses are full three-credit courses that offer the same contact hours as the evening courses. Without compromising the educational experience, the one-week and intensive courses allow you to immerse yourself in the subject at hand while speeding up the completion of your MBA.

With course materials and lectures available on demand, you can learn on your own schedule from anywhere. The structure of the online program will allow you to build strong relationships with your peers during the program. However, the program is flexible enough that, if needed, you can take a reduced course load and extend your time in the program. Graduates of the part-time MBA program earn an average base salary of about $109,000, and about 86 percent of MBA grads at UofA are employed three months after graduation – the majority in energy and health care. Some of the top hiring companies include Suncor, Enbridge, Google, Telus, Alberta Health Services, and professional services consulting firms such as KPMG, Deloitte, McKinsey, and EY.

The average age of an MBA student at UofA is 33 years old and have an average of nine years of working experience. Women make up 35 percent of the class of about 43 students.

What Students Are Saying

I graduated from uofa with an economics degree and then worked for my my family's manufacturing business. After 3 and a half years, I knew I needed help taking the company to the next level but I needed to keep working. The online MBA was the perfect solution. After 36 months of studying part-time, I can say my business skills are beyond where I thought they would be. What I learned about leadership and operations I use every single day. I was surprised that I was also able to network and build relationships with my group even though I had the flexibility to choose a lot of my own courses as I went. The other reason I choose the program is because of the flexible start dates. I kept putting this decision off, so when I was finally ready, I didn't have to wait another few semester to get going.

Thomas Fidani, Online MBA

The Curriculum 

The part-time MBA program is designed to provide a key grounding in the fundamental areas of business. All students will complete the core courses, such as Financial Reporting and Analysis, Economic Foundations, Managerial Finance, Organizational Strategy and Data Analysis and Decision Making.

Apart from the MBA core courses, students are required to take the MBA capstone course: Business Strategy which brings together what you’ve learned in the program. Students can round out their program with a choice of seven different elective courses. These courses are drawn from across various disciplines and give students the chance to focus their studies in areas that are relevant to their career goals.

Locations

Online and Edmonton, Alberta

CourseCompare Editorial Team

CourseCompare is Canada's marketplace for education. Its editorial staff consists of award-winning journalists, visual storytellers, data analysts and web developers working together to help prepare people for the future of work.

15 thoughts on “The Best Online MBA Programs in Canada of 2025”

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  2. I’ve been attending the University of Fredericton for two years and it has been great thus far. I signed up for UFRED because of the virtual classroom, and it has been a blessing in the time of COVID-19. People ask me mainly “how do group projects work?” Group projects work very well, we have charters and use Skype and Google Drive (Docs/Sheets/Slides) to collaborate.

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  6. I have been doing my Executive MBA at UFred for nearly a year now and am loving it. The online platform is perfect for busy working professionals. The group projects are great and straightforward to coordinate with the technology platforms offered today. There is one virtual class a week and a steady amount of homework, assignments and exams. There are a lot of tools available to you through their site, and the professors have been very communicative to help you when needed. I am most impressed with the calibre of my student colleagues; the relationships and collaboration that you have with them are the best learning experience. I highly recommend this University if you are independent and require a program that you can mould to your availability.

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  8. Thanks for sharing the information! I will highly recommend this to students.
    You can check why international students have chosen Canada as their top choice to study for an MBA in Canada. MBA graduates in Canada can expect competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement, making it a valuable investment in their future careers.

    1. Hi Ashiqullah, we are happy to connect you with an Immigration Consultant in Canada to help you. Please reach out to our team at [email protected] or call us at 1 (800) 750-1392.

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