Online Learning

Boston U Launches $24K Online MBA on EdX

• By Rhea Kelly
• 07/31/19

Boston University's Questrom School of Business has partnered with edX to create the BU Questrom Online MBA, a fully online Master of Business Administration with a total tuition cost of $24,000. The program will be the first online MBA available on edX.

The $24,000 price point reflects the business school's social mission to "expand access to a top-tier business education throughout the world," according to a news announcement. As Susan Fournier, Allen Questrom Professor and Dean, noted, "Digital business is all about scale. The online MBA market is price elastic, with degree offerings ranging from $11,000 to $132,000, with a median price of $75,000. We expect tuition for online MBA degrees to drop to get to scale. We decided to be in front of this trend."

Designed to serve the global online learner, the new program focuses on digital delivery of learning content in "modular elements" — flexible modules that are "not constrained to standard, single-professor, 14-week formats," the university said. The program will be "integrated and capability-based (versus discipline-based)" and will "incorporate input and content from high-profile Questrom alumni and business partners around the world." Modules will be delivered by Questrom faculty.

Curriculum design was informed by insights from the Boston University Questron Business Education Jam 2.0, a series of discussions among executives and academics in 10 countries about the future of business education. Key themes include digital transformation, the social role of business, data-driven decisions, leadership, globalization, innovation, entrepreneurship, business communications and working in global teams.

Participants will have access to a student success specialist, online career development coursework, an online job board, the BU library and other online and on-campus university resources.

"We've recognized the transformative potential of edX for some time," said BU President Robert A. Brown, in a statement. "With the online MBA, we're seizing the initiative to offer a major degree for which we believe there is global demand. Higher education must evolve in a fast-changing world. We aim to lead in this evolution."

The BU Questrom Online MBA will launch in fall 2020. For more information, visit the BU Questrom site.