Earn Your MBA at Iowa's Only AASCB-Accredited Private University
Online Master of Business Administration
Next Application Deadline: May 12, 2025
2 Years to Complete // $718/Credit // 36 Credit Hours // 5 Areas of Concentration
An MBA from Drake’s Zimpleman College of Business will broaden your knowledge, increase your earning potential, and sharpen your business acumen. An MBA from Drake will help you become a data-driven decision maker, enhance your critical thinking and communication skills, and provide you with tools and techniques to be an ethical and effective leader. Employers value a Drake degree, which translates to greater earning potential for you and an ROI worth your time.
With no GRE or GMAT requirements, and no application fee, we invite you to get started on your application today!
Have a specific question? Email us at drakeonline@drake.edu.
100% Online
6 Start Dates a Year
No Application Fee
A Drake MBA Prepares
According to GMAC's 2024 Corporate Recruiter's Survey, the 3 most important skills employers want in grad school graduates are problem-solving, communication, and strategic thinking. The Zimpleman College of Business Online MBA curriculum is designed to meet this demand by helping students become:
- Data-driven, Strategic Problem Solvers – Utilize a strategic perspective supported by qualitative and/or quantitative data when developing, evaluating, and implementing strategies to achieve competitive advantage.
- Effective Communicators – Develop critical thinking and executive discernment through practicing how to communicate effectively and professionally to various stakeholder audiences.
- Global and Multicultural Citizens – Develop the ability to critically examine interdependent global systems to craft effective solutions to complex problems.
- Ethical Stewards – Critically assess ethical responsibilities as agents and/or officers of an organization.
Drake’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree will help you move ahead in your career path, whether you’re interested in healthcare, human resources, marketing, finance, and more.
Careers & Salary Potential for the MBA Graduate
Median annual salaries in for jobs requiring an MBA in the Greater Des Moines Metro (US Bureau of Labor and Statistics):
- Marketing Manager: $157,620
- Human Resources Manager: $144,200
- Finance Manager: $153,140
- Medical & Health Service Manager: $116,790
- Sales Manager $147,910
Customize Your Drake Experience
Courses are taught by full-time Drake faculty who experienced educators and experienced industry practitioners. Our six-week course structure gives you the flexibility to control the pace of your graduate degree. Once enrolled, students have 5 years to complete their MBA, but most Drake online students attend courses on a part-time basis and graduate within 18-30 months.
The online MBA consists of 36 credit hours. Our meticulously designed core curriculum is comprised of 27 of these hours, allowing you to complete the remaining 9 hours within an area of emphasis of your choosing. See below for these emphasis options, as well as the courses included.
Alumni Testimonial
Amy pursued her online MBA to communicate better with upper management. “It [the MBA program] was super applicable to my job, and the six-week courses kept me interested.” The coursework exposed her to applicable software and skills. “Drake gave me the background needed to clearly communicate information.” Additionally, her decision to earn her MBA propelled her to a new career path. “The classes I liked the least as an undergraduate were business analytics. But in graduate school, I found them to be super interesting. Now I’m actually in a business analyst role.”
—Amy Staebler, MBA
Admission to the MBA
To be eligible to enroll for the MBA, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission or comparable association. No GRE or GMAT is required for admission.
Begin Your Path to Career Growth Today
Launch your MBA on your terms with our flexible, fully online program! With courses starting six times a year, you never have to pause your goals. Our 100% asynchronous format means no mandatory live sessions—giving you the freedom to balance work, school, and life without career interruptions. Check the calendar below to find the upcoming application deadlines and start dates.
| Semester | Start Date | Application Deadline | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term 1 | 05/19/25 | 5/12/25 | 5/15/25 |
| Summer Term 2 | 07/07/25 | 6/30/25 | 07/03/25 |
| Fall Term 1 | 08/25/25 | 8/18/25 | 08/21/25 |
| Fall Term 2 | 10/20/25 | 10/13/25 | 10/16/25 |
About the Zimpleman College of Business - Do well by doing good.
Drake University is the #1 Private School in Iowa, and has been recognized by the WSJ and US News and World Report for delivering outstanding student ROI.
The Zimpleman College of Business is among the 5% of business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Drake’s Zimpleman College of Business positions you for a lifetime of career advancement by providing you to do work that aligns with your values and generates economic opportunity and income for yourself and others.
If you're now prepared to advance in your career, we're waiting at the ready to review your application. Apply today with no application fee!
