SUNY Oswego continues as the top-ranked online master of business administration (MBA) offering in the state among public universities, according to the 2025 Princeton Review Online MBA rankings.

Jumping ten spots to #34 overall from ranking 44th the previous year, Oswego’s MBA continues to receive high marks for its student support, flexibility and outstanding faculty -- while providing value and affordability.

For Brian Fried –- an inventor, innovation coach and entrepreneur who works with everyday people to transform their ideas into market-ready products –- SUNY Oswego’s MBA represented the next step in a career journey with its blend of expertise and flexibility.

“Coming back to Oswego was a no-brainer,” Fried said. “I got my undergraduate degree here in 1995, and now they're the #1 public online MBA in New York. The program is AACSB accredited — only 5 percent of business schools worldwide earn that distinction, so I knew the credentials would carry weight. The program gave me the flexibility to keep running my businesses while earning my degree.”

Fried’s experience confirms the strengths the program is known and recognized for.

“Coming back to school after so many years, I was impressed by how well-organized and efficient the platform is,” Fried noted. “It works for both the professors and students. The faculty are supportive, accessible, and invested in seeing us win. That matters when you're juggling a full professional life and graduate school.”

Kristen Eichhorn –- the interim dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship (COBE) and dean of Graduate Studies –- said the consistent top ranking reflects “the intentional design of our MBA program by our conscientious faculty, where theory meets application, and flexibility meets rigor.”

“We’ve built a curriculum that’s not only academically strong but also deeply responsive to the realities of working professionals,” Eichhorn said. “Our faculty bring real-world expertise into the classroom, and our students benefit from year-round access, just-in-time advising, and a schedule that adapts to their lives and not the other way around.”

Irene Scruton, assistant dean of COBE and MBA program director, takes great pride in the ranking while noting the importance of the work and planning required to develop and sustain a program that welcomes a range of students while supporting their successes.

“The MBA team and our MBA faculty are experts at understanding the career, family and community demands that working professionals face when they make the decision to return to school,” Scruton said. “Our concierge model of student support and coaching throughout their time in the program combines year-round options, plan flexibility and individualized support that greatly enhances their ability to succeed in the program.” 

Supporting, empowering students

Given all the demands on time and resources for current and prospective MBA students, showing a return on investment is key, Eichhorn noted.

“Our MBA programs — both online and in-person — offer high-impact learning experiences, personalized advising, and flexible course delivery across winter, spring, summer and fall,” Eichhorn explained. “We prioritize student engagement through applied projects, industry partnerships and faculty mentorship. From day one, students feel supported and empowered to shape a path that aligns with their goals and that sense of connection often extends well beyond graduation, with many staying engaged with faculty mentors for years to come.”

Scruton noted that when speaking with MBA candidates, especially working professionals, their primary concerns involve receiving support and program flexibility when needed.

“Candidates coming into an MBA program are academic and career achievers who are prepared to do the work and balance their commitments,” Scruton said. “They are also well aware that student support can make a difference in their ability to succeed and graduate, and that is where Oswego's MBA program stands out for students.”

Having an extensive portfolio of elective classes and exploration of emerging fields like artificial intelligence in a business setting also creates a robust experience that can align with professional and personal development, Scruton said. 

This commitment to innovation and relevance helps set Oswego apart, Eichhorn said.

“Whether online or on campus, our MBA students are immersed in a learning environment that values collaboration, entrepreneurship and real-world problem solving,” Eichhorn said. “Our College of Business and Entrepreneurship is deeply connected to industry and community, creating opportunities for students to lead, build and make an impact. It’s not just about earning a degree, our faculty are deeply committed to assisting students in launching their career trajectory."

The Princeton Review also ranked Oswego among its Best On-Campus MBA Programs, showing the strength of the program in its various methods of delivery.

In addition, SUNY Oswego continues its long-standing position among Princeton Review’s best-known list, “Best Colleges 2026: Northeast,” with this listing notably recognizing its strong academic programs, outstanding study-abroad options, knowledgeable professors, variety of opportunities and caring culture. 

Inventions and reinvention

Students like Fried realize these efforts impact their own careers and ability to transform the lives of others.

“After years of consulting with everyday inventors — helping them turn ideas into real products — I discovered my passion is mentoring and education,” Fried said. “I want to teach innovation and entrepreneurship at the college level, and an MBA is the credential I needed to make that happen.”

Even bringing in experiences that include building multiple businesses and helping so many inventors, Fried found that courses like “Design Thinking” and “Marketing Management” completely refreshed how I see problem-solving.”

“Oswego challenged me to evolve my thinking in ways I didn't expect,” Fried said. “I'm implementing new frameworks directly into my invention consulting practice. The ‘Design Thinking’ methodologies have changed how I guide clients through the creative process, and I'm teaching these updated approaches to every inventor I work with.”

The faculty exceeded Fried’s expectations as well: “Even though it's 100 percent online, I've connected with every professor and learned about their backgrounds and careers. What impresses me most is their passion — you can tell they genuinely care about what they teach and about our success.”

For Fried, working with inventors from all backgrounds, ages and industries to make their goals and dreams come true has been a passion as well as a profession. Fried has patented inventions and manufactured them locally and overseas, also working as a licensing agent and a connection between everyday inventors and companies. And the Oswego MBA experience has only enhanced these efforts.

“Innovation is for anyone with curiosity and a problem to solve,” Fried said. “Through Oswego's MBA, I'm building the credentials and knowledge to expand my impact as an educator and thought leader in innovation.”

About Oswego’s MBA programs

Oswego –- the first comprehensive college in the SUNY system to offer an MBA degree, starting in 1997 –- has increased the options students have for specializing within their graduate business studies, offering MBA programs in health services administration, management and public accounting. The college also offers a variety of graduate programs and five-year options that combine an MBA with such bachelor's degrees as broadcasting, public accounting or psychology.

MBA delivery options include classroom-based in Oswego and/or blended classroom-online programs, as well as the online MBA.

SUNY Oswego’s online MBA programs also continue to rank top among New York state public institutions in U.S. News and World Report’s online MBA listings, Fortune Education, Poets & Quants and other services.

For more information on Oswego's MBA programs, visit the MBA program website or email mba@oswego.edu.