Start your application for a March start or request more information.
Offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
72 credit hours of graduate coursework
Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required
$347 per credit hour
With education from an Illinois MBA, you will be prepared for a variety of managerial and executive positions. Our graduates have gone on to work for Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Walmart, and MGM resorts. Whether your passion lies in the travel industry, engineering, or healthcare, the iMBA will set you up for success in roles across all industries and sectors.
Named the “#1 Biggest B-School Innovation of the Decade” by Poets&Quants
What’s in this degree program?
Summer/Fall 2025 Deadlines:
Upcoming Events:
Have questions? Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu or attend an upcoming event.
Start your application for a March start or request more information.
Offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
72 credit hours of graduate coursework
Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required
$347 per credit hour
Offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
72 credit hours of graduate coursework
Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required
$347 per credit hour
With education from an Illinois MBA, you will be prepared for a variety of managerial and executive positions. Our graduates have gone on to work for Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Walmart, and MGM resorts. Whether your passion lies in the travel industry, engineering, or healthcare, the iMBA will set you up for success in roles across all industries and sectors.
Named the “#1 Biggest B-School Innovation of the Decade” by Poets&Quants
What’s in this degree program?
Summer/Fall 2025 Deadlines:
Upcoming Events:
Have questions? Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu or attend an upcoming event.
iMBA graduates come from all walks of life, from all different industries and sectors. If you’re a skilled student looking to expand your knowledge base with applicable real-world experiences and can demonstrate how the iMBA from Illinois can support your professional success, you are encouraged to apply. The program is highly engaging with weekly collaborative projects to reflect a real-world experience.
The iMBA program is a fit for career advancers whether you’re looking to excel in Education, Finance, Healthcare, or Manufacturing. Ideal applicants are emerging business leaders and innovative thinkers who can contribute unique perspectives to course discussions.
“
Getting my MBA makes me feel empowered. I don't need to stop working, I don't need to stop being a mother, I don't need to stop having my life.
iMBA graduate
“
Getting my MBA makes me feel empowered. I don't need to stop working, I don't need to stop being a mother, I don't need to stop having my life.
iMBA graduate
At a time when a 2 percent raise is often the norm, Gies iMBA graduates report an average raise of 25 percent during and immediately after their program, showcasing an instant and significant return on investment that stands out.(2023 survey)
Many business schools track job placement post-graduation. At Gies, since most iMBA students already hold jobs, we instead find out how many received a promotion or took a new job. 65% of iMBA graduates report starting a better job upon finishing, showcasing the immediate ROI of a Gies iMBA degree.(2023 survey)
Nine out of ten corporate recruiters expect the demand for business school graduates to remain high or increase in the next five years. (GMAC)
Chief Executive
General Manager
Financial Manager
Management Analyst
Top employing corporations for professionals with business degrees are expected to grow by as much as 17% by 2031 in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
iMBA courses are grouped into specializations that include readings, live lectures, hands-on projects, and more.
The program culminates in a capstone project that simulates a real-world business scenario. Courses are designed to help students apply new skills directly to their careers.
Start your application for a March start or request more information.
Want to enroll in the full degree course now and earn transcriptable credit? You can enroll directly with the university as a non-degree student.Enroll in for-credit now
Explore course options to find the courses that fit your needs
Fill out a form or application on the university's website and pay to enroll
Complete the course and earn transcriptable college credit which will count toward your degree learning if you are accepted into the full degree program¹
You can apply to transfer the credits earned towards your degree program after admission to the program
¹Each university determines the number of pre-approved credits that may count towards the degree requirements according to institutional policies.
These courses are part of the degree program. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Intermediate · Specialization
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Beginner · Specialization
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Beginner · Specialization
¹Successful application and enrollment are required. Eligibility requirements apply. Each institution determines the number of credits recognized by completing this content that may count towards degree requirements, considering any existing credits you may have. Click on a specific course for more information.
The highly innovative MBA program was awarded the Poets & Quants MBA Program of The Year For 2022. Gies is the sixth school to earn our annual distinction as the Program of the Year and only the second online experience to do so.
January 4, 2023
Meet Kira! She’s based in Salt Lake City, Utah. After being passed up for several promotions at her librarian job, she decided to invest in new leadership skills through courses on Coursera. After initial success with these courses, she then applied to the iMBA program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through the Performance-Based Admissions Track (PAT).
October 11, 2022
Since starting his online MBA program, he’s already landed a huge promotion to the C-suite, as chief marketing officer of MDM Commercial, a reseller and distributor of LG commercial-grade digital displays.
September 29, 2022
Meet Mesoma, a native of Nigeria. She is currently based in Houston, Texas, and is a rising leader on the engineering team at ExxonMobil.
September 6, 2022
No matter your end goal, your journey starts with a successful application. So, we spoke with our admissions team to get some MBA application tips to set you apart.
May 31, 2021
The central question posed by “The Pros And Cons of an M.B.A.” is whether the cost is worth it. The decision is much simpler when the price of an accredited M.B.A. is only $22,500, and when one can complete it without career interruption.
January 10, 2021
While applications to U.S. MBA programs declined steadily from 2015 to 2019, Gies’ iMBA enrollment has grown to more than 3,000 students from 92 countries and six continents, after a debut cohort of just 114 students.
August 11, 2020
Rankings of online MBA programs are done by U.S. News & World Report, PoetsandQuants.com, and The Financial Times, among several other media outlets. But from the start of the Gies’ online MBA offering, the school has consistently turned down invitations to participate with those rankings.
June 29, 2020
Upon completion of the iMBA program, students receive a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois.
Yes, Gies College of Business is fully accredited through AACSB.
No, the GMAT/GRE is not required for the iMBA program.
The program is 24-36 months, depending on how many courses you choose to take each session. Students can take up to 5 years to complete the degree however as long as they are making satisfactory progress.
Yes, financial aid may be available for domestic degree-seeking students. International students may seek out private- or third-party loans. All students are eligible for university payment plans that allow you to break up your tuition into monthly payments. Please keep in mind that students are only billed each semester for the classes they are enrolled in; there is no upfront payment of tuition.
No. Tuition is pay as you go, meaning you’ll only pay for your courses you are enrolled in for a term.
We need all mark-sheets and the degree certificate in both the native language and a certified English translation. If you have more questions of what is needed, please contact us at giesonline@illinois.edu.
Yes, you can get started with these open courses on Coursera to experience the iMBA curriculum.
Start your application for a March start or request more information.