Online business programmes from Ivy League schools that you can enrol into

Do you have your eye set on applying for a business-related programme at an Ivy League school? Apart from the social cachet, graduating from an elite school can open the door to careers with companies that prefer candidates who graduated from a tier one institution. With COVID-19 disrupting life as we know it, more business schools have shifted online; this means online MBA programmes or online business-related courses are aplenty.

Despite that, out of the eight Ivy League schools — Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University — do any offer online MBA programmes or business-related courses?

With the exception of Brown University’s IE Executive MBA programme that is partly delivered online, none currently offer online MBA programmes. Many, however, do offer online business programmes.

These are some of the online learning courses that are currently offered by Ivy League schools:

Harvard University

You can access Harvard’s online programmes via Harvard Business School Online, which offers learners a unique and engaging way to learn vital business concepts. Courses are created by the Harvard Business School (HBS) faculty.

You can take courses in business essentials to finance and accounting. Some of the courses can serve as a good preparation for an MBA. 

Yale University

Students can explore Yale’s online learning options at Yale SOM Executive Education, which offers a wide range of topics. They offer two types of online programmes: those that are delivered live and those that are self-paced.

Some of their courses include the Accelerated Management Program, Decision Making and Digital Marketing: A Strategic Perspective, to name a few.

Princeton University

Princeton Online is home to massive, open, online courses (MOOCs), offering online education on platforms such as Coursera, edX and Kadenze.

Princeton Online’s courses are free and not for credit. 

Columbia University

Columbia Business School offers MBA and Executive MBA programmes, but students can take a number of courses online via CBS Executive Education.

You can find courses related to management and organisation as well as strategy, innovation and business development. 

Brown University

Brown offers a joint online programme with IE Business School of Spain.

The IE Brown Executive MBA is a 15-month curriculum designed to develop strategic leaders equipped with a broad vision and ability to innovate in a complex and evolving business climate. The programme blends online learning with in-person sessions so students can earn an EMBA without interrupting their career.

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business doesn’t offer an online MBA, but the institution offers online courses in a variety of subjects through DartmouthX, “a partnership with ‘online learning destination and MOOC (massive open online course) provider,’ EdX.” 

DartmouthX courses are open and free for all.

University of Pennsylvania 

You may not find an online MBA programme at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, but the institution does offer world-class business education via Wharton Online.

You can find courses in Leadership and Management, Digital Marketing Certificate, Artificial Intelligence for Business, among others.

Cornell University

Cornell offers a number of MBA-related programmes at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, but students preferring online programmes can explore a number of business-related courses via eCornell.

Students can find certificate programmes in marketing, leadership, business and finance, to name a few.