Business Administration (Online), M.B.A.

Online MBA in General Management

Driven by mission, business leaders must possess a skillset greater than foundational business knowledge—in-demand professions require proficiency in leadership, creative problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Governors State’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) equips students with skills to manage organizations and increase profitability. Advanced studies in business allow students to seamlessly enter global markets prepared to lead and innovate.

Our AACSB-accredited College of Business has structured a curriculum that will provide you the knowledge needed to be productive in a general manager role in any business organization. You will gain sought after capability in critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, operations management, and international business. The flexibility afforded by earning your degree online, greatly benefits career and home life demands of many graduate students.

With an MBA from Governors State—ranked #19 in the 2024 DiscoverBusiness.us' Guide to 37 Best Value Online MBA Programs—you’ll possess the necessary specialized skills to immediately impact the management of business enterprises. You will develop a network of contact that will aid your career success, understand how to gain access to key resources, and acquire the management skills you need to effectively supervise an organization’s business operations and advance its profitability.

Based on the link from salary.com salary outcomes vary by role, industry, experience, and business function. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, management occupations in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area reported an annualized mean wage of approximately $146,000 in May 2024, while national data for General and Operations Managers reported an annual mean wage of $133,120. Additional salary sources report higher MBA-related salary averages in Chicago, though these estimates vary by methodology.

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Career Outcomes

A Master of Business Administration from Governors State University prepares graduates to lead people, manage operations, and make strategic decisions across a wide range of industries. The leadership, analytical, financial, and organizational skills developed in the MBA program position graduates to advance in their current careers, transition into management roles, or pursue new opportunities in corporate, nonprofit, government, and entrepreneurial settings.

The MBA is designed for professionals who want to strengthen their business expertise, expand their leadership capacity, and increase their ability to solve complex organizational challenges.

Common careers for MBA graduates include:

General Manager
Operations Manager
Business Manager
Project Manager
Management Analyst
Human Resources Manager
Marketing Manager
Financial Manager
Entrepreneur or Business Owner

What You'll Study

The MBA program prepares students to lead teams, manage business operations, and make strategic decisions across a variety of industries. Students strengthen skills in management, finance, organizational leadership, operations, and business strategy while learning how to improve performance, support profitability, and respond to real-world business challenges.

Designed for working professionals and career-focused students, GSU’s 36-credit hour MBA can be completed in as little as 18 months through fully online or hybrid options, with full-time and part-time pathways available for added flexibility.

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How to Apply

(No GMAT/GRE Required)

Submit official undergraduate transcripts from all schools attended whether a degree was earned or not.
Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references
Submit a two‑page statement of intent describing your career goals, interest in the MSA program, and relevant experience
Upload a current résumé outlining academic and professional background
International students, please click here for a complete list of documents needed to apply.

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Financial Aid for Graduate Studies

Governors State University (GovState) offers a range of financial aid options to help students make their degree more affordable, including federal, state, institutional, and private funding. To get started, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using GovState's school code (009145). The FAFSA determines eligibility for grants, loans, work-study programs, and many scholarship opportunities.

Grants and Loans

Grants, including the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), are awarded based on financial need and do not require repayment. Federal Direct Loans provide borrowed funds that must be repaid with interest after graduation.

Scholarships

GovState offers merit-based and institutional scholarships for students at every stage of their academic journey. Incoming students may qualify for highly competitive awards, including the Presidential, Provost, and Dean's Scholarships. Current students can explore additional opportunities through Scholarship Universe and specialized awards such as the Earthrise Scholarship and others administered through the GovState Foundation.

Office of Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is available year-round to help students navigate applications, review award offers, and plan financial support that aligns with their academic goals.

Learn More about Financial Aid

"What the MBA does is give you a broader perspective. It helped me understand my potential once I got into the program. I wanted to be a leader—that’s what led me to Governors State. Once I got into it, GSU forced me to think bigger and broader. At the time I was content being a middle manager or director. Now, I want to be a CEO or take over a Fortune 100 or 500 company."
Adam Shorter III

"With a background in engineering and management sciences, I find business to be a rich area in terms of challenges as well as opportunities for making a difference. Continuous learning is essential to a manager’s career, and often models and analysis provide insight for those improvements. The GovState MBA offers a broad understanding of the issues and strategies, as well as a rigorous focus on analytical approaches. This provides a balance that serves students well in their understanding as well as in their ability to implement new concepts and processes in response to unique opportunities and challenges at work.
Dr. John Simon Associate Professor of Business

Get Involved

Hear from our graduate advisor Robbin Mitchell who beyond being the advisor for the College of Business is also a student at GovState. This is COB and this is GovState

Accreditations:

Governors State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The College of Business holds separate accreditation from AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a distinction earned by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide.