The UW MBA Consortium, consisting of UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, and UW Oshkosh, is the top-ranked online MBA program in Wisconsin and 20th in the country. The program has been in the top 20 every year since the rankings started in 2015. The 2025 ranking puts the UW MBA Consortium among the top 5.6% in the U.S.
“Being ranked among the top 20 out of 355 online MBA programs is a significant achievement,” says Jessica Franson, UW MBA Consortium managing director. “The point spread within the top 20 is minimal, highlighting the intense competition among the highest-ranked programs. Each program in this elite group offers unique strengths.”
Among the strengths of the UW MBA Consortium are:
- High-quality faculty: The UW MBA Consortium has the second-highest score in the Faculty Credentials and Training category for the 2025 rankings. Faculty members are very engaged in activities to maintain strong academic qualifications for teaching contemporary business topics. They also undergo annual training to stay current with best practices in online teaching. Program faculty average eight years of online MBA teaching experience.
- Affordability: The average cost of the top 20 programs is about $70,000. The UW MBA Consortium is less than half of that, costing approximately $31,500.
- Class size: The average class size among the top 20 schools is 36; the UW MBA Consortium’s size is 24, reflecting the program’s emphasis on personalized interactions between students and instructors.
- Flexibility: The UW MBA Consortium is one of the few programs among the top 20 that can be completed entirely online with asynchronous delivery so students can complete weekly coursework at their convenience.
The UW MBA Consortium’s ranking in the top 20 is a testament to the program’s commitment to excellence, says Dr. Paula Lentz, UW MBA Consortium academic director.
“Our highly qualified faculty, who are experts in their fields, and our innovative core curriculum, which features interdisciplinary classes team-taught by these experts, set us apart,” Lentz says. “This unique approach ensures that our students receive a high-value education in a collaborative and integrated environment, making our program a standout choice for those seeking the best fit for their academic and professional goals.”
The UW MBA Consortium is the only collaborative program among the top-ranked schools, leveraging expertise from multiple partner institutions.
“Collaboration is the key to the success of the UW MBA Consortium experience,” says Dr. Lisa Jepsen, dean of UW-Eau Claire’s College of Business. “Students benefit from collaborations among faculty from UW-La Crosse, UW Oshkosh, and UW-Eau Claire. They further benefit from collaborations between faculty and our professional instructional designers, ensuring an engaging experience.”
The UW MBA Consortium has about 390 students from 35 states and three countries, with half of its students from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota.
The UW MBA Consortium also ranked 15th in this year’s Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, the program was ranked highly in business publication Poets&Quants’ 2025 ranking of the best online MBA programs in the U.S. The UW MBA Consortium was ranked 37th out of 57 schools included in this year’s ranking.
For more information about the UW MBA Consortium, contact Jessica Franson, UW MBA Consortium managing director, at 715-836-3880 or fransonj@uwec.edu.
