University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best programs for MBA's in international business management.
As a global manager, you’ll receive great compensation for your work with global companies whether you stay within the United States or go elsewhere. No matter where you take your global perspective, you'll need to have detailed knowledge about your company and its products or services. You should also be familiar with the people and market in the countries to which you travel, even if your focus is on international trade outside the country. If your goal has been to work in the international business field, then employment as a global manager will help you to achieve that. The type of institution hiring global business leaders runs the gamut. You might be hired by a large, multinational company, national corporations looking to expand into global markets; foreign universities; or even a local company with an idea it wants to replicate internationally to become a global company. And earning a degree in business administration, international business, global management, global marketing management, and more specialties with a focus on global context and global business administration from one of a huge number of business schools around the country can give you the global perspective and knowledge you need to succeed in the global economy.
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What is an MBA in Global Management?
As the job title suggests, global managers have responsibilities that span countries. They may work in their native country and, as their job duties dictate, work internationally to take care of business deals. Some global managers earn MBAs from business schools with a global management concentration after getting their start in sales, in training, as a consultant, or in technology or product development depending on their skill set, base knowledge, original industry, and studies. Professional students attending full-time at their school or university of choice will have options that include the ability to network, study under executives that work as faculty, gain mentors in the form of alumni, and take courses on analytics, communication, investment, account management, finance, marketing strategies, international business, and other advanced topics that prepare then for the real world. The degrees they earn will allow Master of Business Administration (MBA) program graduates to institute change and lead their institutions to success as a global business that's part of global markets.
Top 25 Best MBA in Global Business Management Programs
Stanford University
Score: 93.29
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $58,746
- Out-of-State: $58,746
- Net Price: $18,279
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 18,283
- Undergrad Students: 8,049
- Graduate Students: 10,234
- Grads Salary: $116,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
University of California-Berkeley
Score: 84.05
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,264
- Out-of-State: $27,366
- Net Price: $19,257
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 45,307
- Undergrad Students: 32,479
- Graduate Students: 12,828
- Grads Salary: $97,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Florida
Score: 79.37
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,770
- Out-of-State: $27,335
- Net Price: $11,740
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 55,211
- Undergrad Students: 34,552
- Graduate Students: 20,659
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Lehigh University
Score: 76.8
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,810
- Out-of-State: $27,810
- Net Price: $30,453
- Acceptance Rate: 37%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 7,394
- Undergrad Students: 5,624
- Graduate Students: 1,770
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
University of the Potomac-Washington DC
Score: 76.07
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,400
- Out-of-State: $5,400
- Net Price: $16,802
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 534
- Undergrad Students: 228
- Graduate Students: 306
- Grads Salary: $120,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of Chicago
Score: 76
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,145
- Out-of-State: $65,145
- Net Price: $36,991
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 18,339
- Undergrad Students: 7,595
- Graduate Students: 10,744
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
Babson College
Score: 75.43
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $54,600
- Out-of-State: $54,600
- Net Price: $28,400
- Acceptance Rate: 22%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 3,989
- Undergrad Students: 2,761
- Graduate Students: 1,228
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Northeastern University
Score: 75.08
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,728
- Out-of-State: $27,728
- Net Price: $35,827
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 30,013
- Undergrad Students: 16,302
- Graduate Students: 13,711
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Virginia Tech
Score: 74.64
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,234
- Out-of-State: $30,702
- Net Price: $19,301
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Total Enrollment: 38,170
- Undergrad Students: 30,434
- Graduate Students: 7,736
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
San Diego State University
Score: 74.06
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,176
- Out-of-State: $16,680
- Net Price: $13,017
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 37,402
- Undergrad Students: 32,194
- Graduate Students: 5,208
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 25:1
University of Delaware
Score: 72.2
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,504
- Out-of-State: $18,504
- Net Price: $18,044
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 80%
- Total Enrollment: 24,039
- Undergrad Students: 19,482
- Graduate Students: 4,557
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
San Jose State University
Score: 72.05
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,176
- Out-of-State: $16,680
- Net Price: $14,219
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 35,751
- Undergrad Students: 26,863
- Graduate Students: 8,888
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
University of South Florida
Score: 70.91
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,350
- Out-of-State: $19,048
- Net Price: $11,004
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 49,600
- Undergrad Students: 38,047
- Graduate Students: 11,553
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
University of Detroit Mercy
Score: 70.34
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,250
- Out-of-State: $22,250
- Net Price: $18,197
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 5,360
- Undergrad Students: 3,156
- Graduate Students: 2,204
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of San Diego
Score: 69.55
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,854
- Out-of-State: $28,854
- Net Price: $36,008
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 8,815
- Undergrad Students: 5,669
- Graduate Students: 3,146
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Florida A&M University
Score: 68.98
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,019
- Out-of-State: $22,108
- Net Price: $11,583
- Acceptance Rate: 33%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 9,215
- Undergrad Students: 7,709
- Graduate Students: 1,506
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University at Buffalo
Score: 68.79
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,310
- Out-of-State: $24,260
- Net Price: $18,524
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 32,099
- Undergrad Students: 20,761
- Graduate Students: 11,338
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
The University of Texas at Dallas
Score: 68.62
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,088
- Out-of-State: $29,468
- Net Price: $13,555
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 31,570
- Undergrad Students: 21,617
- Graduate Students: 9,953
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 27:1
Kettering University
Score: 68.44
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,384
- Out-of-State: $14,384
- Net Price: $34,486
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 1,769
- Undergrad Students: 1,422
- Graduate Students: 347
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Florida International University
Score: 68.13
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,119
- Out-of-State: $21,600
- Net Price: $9,881
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 55,609
- Undergrad Students: 45,688
- Graduate Students: 9,921
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
Saint Peter's University
Score: 68.1
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,210
- Out-of-State: $15,210
- Net Price: $11,996
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 3,430
- Undergrad Students: 2,071
- Graduate Students: 1,359
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
CUNY Brooklyn College
Score: 67.9
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,090
- Out-of-State: $20,520
- Net Price: $5,972
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 14,195
- Undergrad Students: 11,661
- Graduate Students: 2,534
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Score: 67.84
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,556
- Out-of-State: $28,160
- Net Price: $12,444
- Acceptance Rate: 54%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 8,223
- Undergrad Students: 6,116
- Graduate Students: 2,107
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of Illinois Chicago
Score: 67.8
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,108
- Out-of-State: $25,481
- Net Price: $10,384
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 33,747
- Undergrad Students: 21,807
- Graduate Students: 11,940
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Texas A&M International University
Score: 67.68
- Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,350
- Out-of-State: $10,712
- Net Price: $5,383
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 8,505
- Undergrad Students: 6,979
- Graduate Students: 1,526
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
What Can You Do With an MBA in Global Management?
From working for an employer to starting their own business, MBA graduates with a global perspective in international business administration can either find or make work of their own. Get more info about the different careers and salary potential associated with an MBA in Global Management.
While the demand for this career is out there, it’s not as strong as other jobs. At 8%, the rate of job growth is only about as fast as it is for other occupations. It also depends heavily on the rate of the growth for each specific industry. The topmost professionals in global managerial roles face stiff competition for their positions.
New competitors are rising and developing in smaller countries and, because their country’s markets are too small to support their output, they are naturally forced to go global in order to survive. As soon as they realize they have to look beyond the borders of their homeland, their strategy is to jump in with other, longer-established global concerns in global markets.
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Companies that focus on knowledge-intensive or information-based services are the best at this and most likely to advance to a global business role more quickly because of the easy digital access to a customer base.
The CEOs of companies that were formed in the US are from other developed countries, such as Australia. In other words, they must be willing to move to another country to claim a new job. This means that, if you were born in the US, your competitors for global manager positions you’re eyeing may come from India, Japan, Southeast Asia, or Europe and you might receive offers from international business concerns located out of state or in other, distant locations.
As a global manager, you’re going to have a clear advantage over other business roles. Your experiences and skills will be sought after in the public sector.
You’re more likely, too, to be hired as an international business expatriate. However, if you have a family that you do not wish to relocate, you may have to live apart from your family or bypass the offer.
A short-term international business role may better fit your needs if you do have a family.
The type of institution hiring global managers runs the gamut. This is including large, national corporations looking to expand into new countries; organizations providing office electronic supplies seeking customers in other countries; foreign universities; electronics companies wanting the opportunity to sell their products internationally; or even a local company with an idea it wants to replicate internationally.
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Export Authorization Manager, International Operations
Salary: $100,740
Help support trade compliance focal leads in sales across worldwide organization. Requires the employee have experience with ASW, LSW, and XSW as well as providing guidance on licensing needs for business initiatives. They must also reconcile quarterly agreements with suppliers and vendors.
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Global Power Leadership Development Manager
Salary: $100,580
You'll work with various customers around the globe to have an impact with real employees in the power industry. With areas such as mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic to choose from, you will work alongside experienced managers and make an impact in global organizations.
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Global Customer Experience Manager
Salary: $129,380
The manager in this position should have an affinity for technology and a high level of understanding of customers around the world. The right manager ensures that their team will center on correctly identifying and improving the customer experience across priority markets. Person selected should have experience working in a “globally focused” digital business environment
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Program Manager, Global Information Systems
Salary: $139,220
The person in this role will lead and manage the business relationships with company’s business partners as they deliver support or request information on projects using their strategy and roadmaps. In this role, the manager will be accountable for establishing the strategy and execution for several areas.
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Supply Chain Leadership Development Program
Salary: $74,590
In this US-based position, the person hired should be highly familiar with supply chain management, cybersecurity solutions, defense and civil government. The manager will be placed into the Leadership Development Program (LDP), where they are exposed to cross functional leadership opportunities. The selected manager should also have prior leadership experience and capable of managing “complex relationships” that support its technology, products and programs. In addition, the Supply Chain Leadership Development Program (SCLDP) develops several professionals who will later fill key roles within the organization.
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Head of International Business Payments
Salary: $75,740
This position is with a worldwide company and requires managers to correctly prioritize product requirements. They should be knowledgeable with accounting, legal matters, TRMS, Treasury, Finance, Tax and Compliance so the company satisfies all national and international requirements. When problems develop, the manager problem-solves and troubleshoots the issue. They work closely with the company’s tech team. Will be responsible for overseeing the reporting of business operations goals, the dashboard for PBI and metrics. Should have experience with the B2B marketplaces.
Types of Global Management MBA Degrees
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Master of Global Management
Average Salary: $110,000
Length: Program length ranges from 12, 15, and 21-month options
This program offers several similar elements of a traditional MBA but adds in more specialized curriculum, especially for students majoring in the Global MBA program and interested in international business management on an international scale. Each specialization focuses on students going into non-profits or non-government organizations (NGOs), state or federal government, or foreign service or international business. Students take part in experiential and interactive class formats that allow class participants to apply what they learn in their degree programs and in life. Global leadership courses enable students to develop essential leadership skills needed by seasoned managerial professional as they lead world-wide businesses, government service, or non-government organizations. Students benefit from cross-training in topics related to international business roles.
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Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership
Average Salary: $102,490
Length: 2 Years
Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership This 33-credit program teaches its students to become leaders in their global business organizations. Classes teach students to use their critical thinking skills, develop problem-solving skills, practice and use global management strategies, and investigate ethical decision-making in the global business environment. In addition, students learn how to apply cross-cultural and business communication skills to their everyday international business encounters. Within this major, students work frequently on project assignments that help them to develop and hone their familiarity with each component of the program. Students work in virtual teams as they mirror contemporary business practices and international business marketing strategies. Once they have graduated, students will be able to apply strategic thinking, collaboration, and critical analysis process in strategic business challenges.
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MBA in International Business
Average Salary: $110,000
Length: 10 months-2 years
Graduates with an MBA in International Business can apply for one of several positions of employment that focus on an international sphere. They can work as managers or consulting in many locations including government and public institutions, financial services, small and medium-sized corporate enterprises, and for multinational companies. Students can opt for two-year or full-time programs when they seek admission to the schools of their choice. If they are already have a job, then an online option may work best for their needs. For students who want to work in an international position, this major gives them a comprehensive understanding of the academics and hands-on training required to work in an advanced position in international business. Students learn marketing, operations, and strategic decision-making within the global environment. Students who want the actual international environment could choose to study abroad, off their local campus, in a International Business Experience program.
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MBA in International Business and Entrepreneurship
Average Salary: $121,060
Length: 13.5 months
The University of Louisville’s (Kentucky) Global MBA program focuses on international business and entrepreneurship. Even with this focus, it is still considered to be a general management program. Students learn contemporary management and critical thinking skills and work on developing solid, well-grounded business practices even as they develop a spirit of enterprise. While students are in this program, they develop leadership skills and learn to think in an action-oriented mindset so that they may find success. The program accepts applications from all over the world — its academic partner, Akademie Wuerth Business School, located in Germany, offers access to staff and resources and teaches UofL students during the academic year. During the summer, they are in class at UofL for 4 and one-half weeks.
Sample Curriculum & Courses for Global Management
With the current focus on global business, students are exposed to challenging, high-concept classes that offer them dynamic takes on economic issues, events, questions, analytics, and case studies.
- Competing in the Global Business Environment:
Competing in the Global Business Environment This is a core course that informs students about tools, concepts, and institutional knowledge, allowing them to carry out in-depth analyses of global competitive landscape while they earn their degrees. - Business Leadership in Changing Times:
Students learn to use leadership skills in challenging times for their business. C-level executives monitor student performance and critique efforts. - Marketing Engineering:
This class is intended for marketing specialists and provides hands-on experience and analysis techniques, task prioritization, strategic repositioning, communication strategies, financial restructuring, and the psychological implications of troubled situations. - Social Intapreneurship: Leading Social Innovation in Organizations:
This course requires knowledge of social research and network analysis. Students develop a toolkit that allows them to lead social innovation inside their organization once they enter their new jobs. Live case studies are used as a resource. - Strategies for Growth:
Students learn to determine direction of growth market penetration, vertical integration, and diversification related and unrelated to integration. - Action Learning Project in Operations, Procurement, and Supply Chain:
Students should already know about the supply chain for this course as they will be focusing on problems of supply chains within their company. Guest lectures by Fortune 500 company executives and prominent alumni are a feature of this course.
Who Should Consider Getting This Degree
After earning a Global Entrepreneurship MBA, graduates are well-positioned to establish their own companies, moving into overseas markets. When graduates have benefited from a well-structured curriculum, they will be able to take what they have learned and worked on as they develop their business idea, then start the company. Because of the global focus of their degree, they will be much more familiar with developing clients overseas.
Managers who have decided to establish an international network, know that, if they know the right person, their opportunities are endless. A Global MBA leads employers to look at such graduates much more closely, especially by organizations with a worldwide presence.
Managers and students looking for exposure to a wide representation of international students will meet students from Asia, Europe, and the Middle and Far East. They will also learn about all of these different cultures.
The manager with a goal of advancing their career and possibly moving into a C-suite office benefits from the blended format learning approach. They participate in three-day workshops delivered by senior faculty. In these sessions as well as elsewhere, Global MBA students will use theory as they face business challenge scenarios.
Students interested in the Global MBA should have six traits. Language and communication skills. Familiarity with other languages sets the international CEO above others, as does the ability communicate well. Knowing, and being sensitive about, other cultures aids the Global CEO ideally. Knowing traditions and believes is vital. Flexibility and patience mean the Global CEO will know how to wait for opportunities. Creativity and turning ideas into reality are other needed skills. Handling pressure well means this executive will be able to leave stress and tension to the side. Earning the Global MBA sets this executive up for an international career.
How to Choose the Right Program
- Research, research, research. Students should explore every aspect of every Global MBA program they are interested in. This also includes comparing a Masters in International Business vs. an MBA in International Business.
- Look for the international network. This network should consist of fellow students and, possibly, a stint at a partner school.
- The right program should utilize a variety of instructional methods. These include textbook instruction, an overseas residency program and hands-on practice.
- Students should look for programs that invite a diverse range of students from several countries. In this way, all students benefit from shared cultures and beliefs.
- Time may be an issue. If it is, the student should look for a part-time or an online Global MBA program.
- Students who know they want to work in a specific country should look for a Global MBA program that offers instruction in this country. A residential program is worth more than the tuition paid for it.
- As students prepare for their international residency program, they should understand that they will be spending the majority of their days working on their program. They will have little free time.
Potential Scholarships to Consider
Financing your education as a Master of Business Administration student is done through a combination of personal funds, financial aid, and if you are diligent in applying, scholarships. take a look at a few hand-picked scholarships for Global MBA students we have selected.
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International MBA Merit Scholarship
Based on merit, high GPA and GMAT scores -
Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., Memorial Scholarship
In memory of Thomas E. Burnett, who died on United Flight 93, on September 11, 2001. Awarded to Graziadio School students who have demonstrated their leadership skills. -
J. McDonald and Judy Williams Scholarship
For active members of the Church of Christ who are attending the Graziadio School. -
Continuing Global MBA 36-Month
Track and Master of Accounting. Based on both merit and financial need. -
GSBM Berryman Endowed Scholarship
For African-American students with demonstrated financial need and merit and pursuing a graduate degree in the Graziadio Business School. -
Reva Graziadio Endowed Scholarship
Endowed by Reva Graziadio, who was the widow of the benefactor of the college, George Graziado. For full-time MBA students who have shown they deserve support. Must be active community members and aspiring leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of specializations can I choose with my global management degree?
There are several option when it comes to which specialization you might want to earn alongside your global management degree. These specializations are often chosen based on your previous career, such as those who have worked in marketing for years earning their MBA in global management with a concentration in marketing. Your options include global marketing, international sales, international logistics, trade compliance, and more.
What will I gain with an MBA focused on global management?
By earning your master’s degree in this field, you will be able to gain many perks for your ongoing career. These include a broader network, especially if you choose a concentration and are able to connect with those who are working with international companies within your specific specialty. By this same logic, you may also expand your job opportunities. At these levels, it’s often helpful to already know someone within a company if you want to get hired. Expanding your network can help you make that happen. This degree will also help you gain a greater awareness of the global market and help you to have better time management and communication skills.