Celebrating a No. 1 ranking is a tradition for students in the Kelley Direct Online MBA Program.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Kelley Direct Online MBA program at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business has returned to its familiar No. 1 ranking by Poets&Quants, a leading news site about business education.
This is the fourth time that Kelley Direct has held the No. 1 position since Poets&Quants launched their ranking nine years ago. It has always placed in the top five.
“No program has been more consistently dominant,” wrote Poets & Quants in its article accompanying the rankings. “One factor in Kelley Direct’s continued dominance is likely its constant reinvention. It is an online MBA that has grown more career-focused, more connected, and more deeply integrated into the broader Kelley ecosystem.”
This accomplishment comes amid increased competition. This year, the publication ranked online MBA programs at 61 colleges and universities – four more than last year.
Created in 1999, Kelley Direct is the original online MBA program from a top-tier business school. The program is uniquely designed in how it serves the needs of working professionals. Earlier this year, Kelley Direct was ranked for the fourth straight year No.1 by U.S. News & World Report, No. 1 for the seventh consecutive time by The Princeton Review, and No. 1 in North America by QS Intelligence Unit for the third year in row.
Pat Hopkins
This consistent record of quality reflects the Kelley School’s never-ending efforts to innovate, set the standards for a quality business education, and put students first, said Pat Hopkins, dean of the Kelley School and the James R. Hodge Chair of Excellence.
“This achievement is a testament to the heart and expertise of our dedicated faculty and staff, who pour their energy into making this program an unparalleled experience for every working professional we serve,” Hopkins said. “After a quarter of a century of shaping business leaders, it is thrilling and deeply gratifying to know that Kelley Direct remains the definitive gold standard for online MBA education.”
In addition to the overall ranking, Kelley Direct is No. 1 for admissions standards, remained ranked third for academic experience and moved up from 11th to fourth in terms of career outcomes.
All Kelley Direct courses are designed and taught by more than 125 dedicated full-time Kelley faculty. This ensures that students receive a unique and personalized education that includes in-person and immersive experiences.
They include Kelley On Campus, a week-long, intensive, in-residence, team-based consulting engagement with a live client organization. This experience launches the MBA student journey through strategy-focused seminars, networking sessions, and personal development. Students have said Kelley On Campus was the activity that best supported their sense of community with Kelley Direct.
Second-year MBA students attend Kelley On Location, Kelley On Innovation or Kelley On Success, thematic or functional residencies offered in Bloomington and in major U.S. cities that allow students to tailor their experience to professional goals. The program also offers optional global and domestic immersions which allow students to experience business practices firsthand, build global awareness, and engage with leaders and organizations that reflect Kelley’s extensive corporate and alumni relationships.
Miki Pike Hamstra
“The Kelley Direct hybrid model uniquely integrates academic rigor, breadth of choice, and high-impact experiential residencies, which are elements that few online peers can match,” said Miki Pike Hamstra, executive director of Kelley Direct Programs. “Backed by Kelley’s global network and lifelong learning promise, it is customizable, innovative, and career-focused, setting a benchmark for quality and value in online graduate business education.”
New advancements at Kelley Direct include the establishment of an in-house career services team dedicated exclusively to serving its students and alumni. Called Kelley Direct Professional Advancement, it is believed to be the only fully customized online-MBA career services unit of its kind, staffed by 17 specialized career coaches with, on average, more than 25 years of industry experience across more than 20 industries and functions.
It has also launched an alumni-driven job referral pipeline that sources opportunities directly from the Kelley network. Alumni also receive free, lifetime coaching, underscoring Kelley’s commitment to long-term success.
Kelley Direct is very much part of the school’s innovative efforts to integrate generative AI across its curriculum, providing faculty, students and staff with a robust suite of tech tools and training and access to enterprise leading GenAI applications, including Firefly, Google Gemini and Notebook LM, and Microsoft Copilot. In 2026, the school will extend access to ChatGPT edu to all students. Kelley Direct offers seven classes with a specific AI focus.
“Ultimately, the rankings are simply external recognition for the work we put in every day to provide the very best online graduate business experience possible,” Hamstra added. “They reflect the intentional choices we make and continually refine to ensure our students advance their careers while becoming part of a global community that continues to open doors and maintain a connection to Kelley long after the degree is complete.”