SMITHFIELD, RI – A year after emerging among the top 15 percent of online Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in the country, Bryant University’s Online MBA has vaulted into the top 10 percent of those programs in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, claiming the 33rd position nationally. In addition to the overall ranking, Bryant’s Online MBA jumped 15 spots from last year to earn a number 13 ranking for student excellence.
Established in 2019 as a flexible alternative to the in-seat MBA, Bryant’s Online MBA is the number one program of its kind in Rhode Island, according to U.S. News and World Report’s latest analysis. Released on Tuesday, January 21, the 2025 report evaluated engagement, reputation, faculty credentials, student excellence, services and technologies, and assessments by leaders of peer institutions.
“I’m incredibly proud of the online MBA program’s steady ascent in prominence and this significant recognition, which reflects the drive and commitment of our College of Business faculty in shaping the leaders of tomorrow,” says President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “The ranking recognizes Bryant University’s focus on delivering transformational learning experiences and exceptional student outcomes.”
The U.S. News & World Report rankings come on the heels of the 2025 assessment of the country’s best online MBAs by Poets&Quants, in which Bryant rose to number 16 on that prestigious list, a survey relying on admissions standards, student feedback on academic experience, and career outcomes.
“The consistent rise of Bryant University’s Online MBA in these rankings reflects the innovative approach of our faculty and their success in creating a program that delivers real-world outcomes for our students, fully preparing them to thrive in a dynamic and ever-changing business environment,” says Bryant University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D. “Our students benefit from personalized guidance within a dedicated community of faculty and staff, fostering collaboration, resilience, and the confidence to define and achieve their goals. This commitment has been integral to the recognition of our Online MBA program.”
College of Business Dean Todd M. Alessandri, Ph.D., says the program’s focus on allowing students to learn online at their own pace while connecting them with supportive faculty who help tailor student experiences to their career aspirations, allows the Bryant Online MBA to replicate the hallmarks of Bryant’s in-person transformative education.
“When you have exceptional faculty who are committed to delivering outstanding career outcomes for our graduate students, you are going to get noticed, so it’s no surprise to see Bryant University’s powerful and results-oriented online MBA continuing to earn this national recognition,” says Alessandri. “The program provides the flexibility students want and the personal, collaborative learning environment that allows them to thrive by tackling real world applications in the classroom that directly lead to positive impacts on their careers.”
About Bryant’s Online MBA
A leader in MBA education for over 50 years, Bryant began offering a Master of Business Administration in 1969 and became accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International in 1994. Bryant’s Online MBA was Rhode Island’s first fully online MBA from an AACSB-accredited institution.
To learn more about Bryant’s Online MBA, visit mba.bryant. edu.
About Bryant University
For 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers a uniquely integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences.
Located on a 465-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students from 41 states and 50 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top 1% national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College Factual and Barron’s. Bryant.edu
