Flexibility, impact help maintain Working Professional MBA’s top-10 ranking

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Led by its largest program, the Working Professional MBA, The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business continues to build momentum among the nation’s top graduate business programs, with a strong showing in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. 

The Working Professional MBA (WPMBA) maintained its top-10 status in the annual survey, ranking #8 overall among all universities and #5 among public institutions, further solidifying its place as one of the premier part-time MBA programs in the country. 

The WPMBA’s strong ranking reflects its sustained excellence and growing demand. With more than 600 students currently enrolled, the program ― one of the largest graduate programs at Ohio State ― has become a destination for working professionals seeking to advance their careers without stepping away from them. It also stands as the top-ranked part-time MBA program in Ohio, underscoring its leadership in the region and its commitment to strengthening the state’s workforce.

At the heart of the WPMBA’s success is its flexible, student-centered design. The program’s hybrid format allows students to tailor their experience, through in-person classes, online learning or a combination of both, to meet the demands of their professional and personal lives. This adaptability has proven especially attractive to today’s professionals, who require both rigor and flexibility when choosing to pursue a graduate business education.

“We’re encouraged by the continued strength of the Working Professional MBA, as it reflects our commitment to delivering an educational experience that truly meets the needs of today’s business professionals,” said Aravind Chandrasekaran, interim dean and John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business at Fisher.

“While rankings are just one metric, they reinforce that our focus on flexibility, relevance and real-world impact is resonating, and that it’s making a meaningful difference for the workforce we’re serving through education.”

As part of the Fisher experience, the program emphasizes experiential, hands-on learning. Students engage directly with real-world business challenges, applying classroom concepts to practical situations that mirror the complexity of today’s global marketplace. This approach is reinforced by Fisher’s world-class faculty, many of whom bring deep industry and practitioner experience into the classroom, ensuring that instruction is both academically rigorous and immediately relevant.

The WPMBA’s consistent position among the top part-time MBA programs nationally reflects Fisher’s broader commitment to preparing students for long-term professional success across all of its educational programs, including the Full-Time MBA (FTMBA). 

While full-time MBA programs continue to face headwinds nationally, including declining enrollment and challenges related to post-graduate job placement for international students, Fisher’s FTMBA continues to be recognized nationally, landing at #32 overall and #13 among public institutions in the recent release.

“We recognize that the full-time MBA market is a challenging space to be in right now,” Chandrasekaran said. “That said, part of what makes Fisher and Ohio State so special is our desire to pursue excellence in all that we do and offer, no matter how difficult or daunting. We’re committed to disrupting the status quo within our program to ensure that the nearly 90 students who comprise our two FTMBA cohorts are fully prepared to lead and benefit from competitive salaries and job placement.”  

The spirit of innovation that will reshape the FTMBA program is woven throughout Fisher’s entire portfolio of graduate degree programs.

“Overall, these rankings underscore the commitment we have to all of our graduate programs ― one that seeks to constantly find new ways of meeting the needs of our students,” said Brian Mittendorf, associate dean for graduate programs. “How we do this will continue to be driven by combining a foundational business education with a deep focus on technology and leadership, ensuring our students graduate ready for what’s next. That combination prepares them to navigate complexity and drive impact in a business world that’s changing by the day.”