Top 10 Master’s in Management Programs in Pennsylvania

Many leaders come to a point in their career when they see the benefit of investing in a greater level of training for success in business and management. Leaders, and potential leaders, in need of an efficient and effective education in management that will sharpen their skills and help them reach their goals need not look any further than to one of the quality Master's in Management (MiM) programs listed as the very best in the state of Pennsylvania. These graduate degrees in leadership and management offer incredible features that will help their graduates lead others and have a greater impact on the organizations they are a part of.

While all these programs offer advanced guidance in the exciting field of management and seek to give future leaders the tools and network to continue their leadership careers, there are many variables throughout the available MiM degrees. There are 100% online programs that offer unparalleled flexibility and accessibility for the working professional, as well as the hybrid and on-campus programs that deliver the intentional in-person connection that some students need. Whether on-campus or online, the location of the program is an important factor to consider because it can have financial implication for the student. Some universities have a residency requirement for lower in-state tuition. Then students must weigh their priorities in the areas of accreditation, affordability, average salary after graduation, and prestige, in order to find the right fit.

The following ranking shows a wide variety of quality programs in the state of Pennsylvania. Whether your priorities lie in an accelerated course schedule, an affordable tuition rate, or a robust and practical curriculum, let this ranking help you find the highest quality Master's in Management in Pennsylvania!

Also, check out our Top 25 Undergraduate Business Schools in Pennsylvania and our Top 25 Master's of Business Administration degrees in Pennsylvania.

Note: A detailed explanation of the methodology we used to determine the best online MBA in Accounting programs can be found at the end of the ranking.

#10 Rosemont College Schools of Graduate and Professional Studies – Rosemont, Pennsylvania

The Schools of Graduate and Professional Studies at Rosemont College features a Master's of Science in Strategic Leadership. This 33-credit hour program is priced at $650 per credit making it the third-most affordable degree in our ranking with the total cost of tuition at just $21,450. The school reports most students complete this degree, which focuses on "innovation, change management and leadership development, with coursework that emphasizes the practical application of ethical leadership concepts and skills, critical thinking, organization innovation, decision-making and creative problem-solving," in only 18 months. This 11-course program features no prerequisite courses and no electives, but instead is comprised of a pre-determined list of courses each student will take to satisfy the degree requirements. Courses within this Master's of Science in Strategic Leadership include Leadership Fundamentals: Ethical Leadership and Values-Driven Organizations, Information Systems Strategy, Organizational Psychology and Behavior, Economics in the Workplace, Globalization and Cultural Negotiation, and Decision-Making Methods. This program concludes with a Thesis course.

Located 11 miles west of Philadelphia is Rosemont College, a small, four-year, private, not-for-profit, Catholic institute of higher learning which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to the 887 students currently enrolled there. The college was established in Rosemont, Pennsylvania by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1921 as an all-women's college and began to accept male students in 2009. Traces of that heritage are apparent in the school's Immaculate Conception Chapel where the stained-glass art depicts only women. Rosemont College, which receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, is comprised of the Undergraduate College which offers 24 majors, the School of Graduate Studies which features seven degrees, and the School of Professional Studies which features "accelerated degree programs, certificates, and corporate training."

Estimated Program Tuition: $21,450

#9 Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies – Malvern, Pennsylvania

A Master's of Leadership Development is offered at Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies. Students interested in applying for this program are encouraged to submit the following materials to the School of Graduate Professional Studies: all official transcripts from accredited institutions of higher learning featuring a cumulative GPA of 3.0, a current resume, professional work experience of at least three years, essay answers to questions featured in the online application, two references, and a $65 application fee. Applicants are not required to submit GMAT/GRE scores. This 36-credit hour program is priced at $949 per credit making the total cost of tuition $34,164. Some students have reported an early career salary of $72,900 upon graduating revealing a strong return on the investment of education. Receiving its exemplary business accreditation through the AACSB, the School of Graduate Professional Studies considers the entire lifespan of the student, desiring to shape them through focusing on "social responsibility, ethics, creativity and innovation, global mindset, and most importantly, the value of the individual." The program's curriculum is divided between 12 credits of Leadership Cornerstones, nine credits of Leadership Competencies, 12 credits of Leadership Contexts, and then three credits of a Leadership Capstone course. Context electives include Global Intercultural Management, Negotiation Strategies, Cornerstones of Sustainability, and International Business.

First named the King of Prussia Graduate Center and established in 1963, the Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies was originally designed to equip local businesses with graduate engineering degrees. After over two decades of moving facility locations, the school settled into an 8.5-acre campus in Malvern, Pennsylvania in 1987, the same year the school introduced a graduate management program and changed its name. Today, the four-year, public school, which receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, exclusively offers master's degrees to the 429 students enrolled. Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies has recently been named as one of the best business schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Estimated Program Tuition: $34,164

#8 Neumann University Division of Continuing Adult and Professional Studies – Aston, Pennsylvania

Neumann University offers a Master's of Science in Organizational and Strategic Leadership at its Division of Continuing Adult and Professional Studies. This accelerated, cohort-based graduate program has been designed to offer students flexibility through online and on-campus courses while allowing them to complete all coursework in as few as 18 months. All courses are presented within eight-week modules by instructors with significant management experience. Priced at $670 per credit hour, this 30-credit program features an attractive total tuition cost of $20,100. Consisting of 10 courses, the curriculum for this program is delivered through highly-interactive online and classroom-based discussions. All coursework is founded on "research, reflection, and experimental learning components." Courses for this Master's of Science in Organizational and Strategic Leadership include The Challenges of Leadership, Leadership Research and Evaluation, Change Management, Strategic Planning and Systems Thinking, Social and Ethical Responsibility of Leadership, Fiscal Planning for Effective Leadership, and Knowledge Management. The Division of Continuing Adult and Professional Studies has recently been recognized as one of the best colleges in the Northeast by the Princeton Review.

Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Neumann University is a four-year, private, not-for-profit, Catholic university situated in Aston, Pennsylvania. The school currently oversees 2,901 co-ed students seeking degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Neumann University was originally known as Our Lady of Angels College and established as an all-female school in 1965. Later the university was renamed in honor of St. John Neumann, a Bishop of Philadelphia. Home of the Knights, the athletic department at Neumann supports 21 varsity men's and women's teams competing at the NCAA Division III level within the Colonial States Athletic Conference.

Estimated Program Tuition: $20,100

#7 Messiah College School of Graduate Studies – Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

The School of Graduate Studies at Messiah College offers a Master's of Arts in Strategic Leadership. This 30-credit hour program has been designed by the School of Graduate Studies to equip and empower its students to be able to successfully lead change, develop as leaders, empower teams, and help structure organizations to achieve real results. All courses can be completed online utilizing an eight-week course structure allowing students to graduate in just two years. Priced at $645 per credit, this 10-course program is the most-affordable degree on our list with a total tuition rate of just $19,350. Required materials for acceptance into this program include an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited university showing a cumulative GPA of 3.0, a completed application with $30 fee, official transcripts, a 300-500-word personal statement of purpose, two letters of professional and academic recommendation, and a resume. Courses for this degree include Organizational Communication: Theory & Practice, The Character of a Leader, Strategic Thinking, Planning & Organizational Change, Best Practices in Leadership, Organizational Effectiveness, and Research Methods.

Based on the goal to "educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society," Messiah College was originally founded by the Brethren in Christ Church and today exists as a four-year, private, not-for-profit institute of higher learning with a main campus in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Receiving its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Messiah College currently oversees 3,302 students and offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The athletic department at Messiah College supports 22 varsity men's and women's teams which compete at the NCAA Division III level within the Middle Atlantic Conference.

Estimated Program Tuition: $19,350

#6 Misericordia University College of Business – Dallas, Pennsylvania

A Master's of Science in Organizational Management is featured at the College of Business at Misericordia University. This 36-credit hour program is priced at $720 per credit hour making the total cost of tuition an accessible $25,920. Coursework for this degree is divided between 24 credits of Organizational Management core-coursework and 12 credits of a specialization of Management, Healthcare Management, or Human Resource Management. Attractive features of this program include a flexible schedule of online and evening on-campus courses, small class sizes, three start times each year, an accelerated option, and financial aid and tuition deferment programs. Courses offered within this Master's of Science in Organizational Management include Financial Management, Research Methods, Legal Aspects of Administration, Introduction to Human Resources, and Strategic Planning and Management of Change.

With a school named that is translated from "heart of mercy", it is fitting that Misericordia University finds its roots in the Religious Sisters of Mercy seeking to pray for, teach, and care for the sick of the Wyoming Valley region of Pennsylvania in 1875. The school was later established in 1924 on almost 100 acres in Dallas, Pennsylvania, near Scranton. Begun with a class of 37 female students, Misericordia would become a co-ed school and begin to offer master's programs in the 1970's. Today the university exists as a four-year, private, not-for-profit school which offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to the 2,963 students currently enrolled there. The school receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Estimated Program Tuition: $25,920

#5 Robert Morris University School of Communications and Information Systems – Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Robert Morris University's School of Communications and Information Systems offers a Master's of Science in Organizational Leadership. This degree is offered as a fully-online program or a hybrid with some coursework being done in the classroom. Students pursuing the hybrid program can expect to meet for class for two hours one evening each week at the Moon Township campus with an additional 3.5 hours of online work each week. The 100% online coursework is expected to take 5.5 hours each week at the student's discretion. The School of Communications and Information Systems encourages applicants to submit official transcripts showing an undergraduate degree from an accredited university with a corresponding GPA of 2.75, two years of professional work experience, a current resume, two letters of recommendation, and a completed application with $35 application fee to the office. Courses within this program include History & Theory of Leadership, Leadership and Ethics, Leadership & Organization Change, Gender and Race in Leadership, Global Perspectives, and Conflict Resolution.

Named after well-known American Revolution financier and Declaration of Independence signer, Robert Morris, Robert Morris University was founded in 1921 under the name of the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy. Today, RMU's main campus sits on 230 acres in suburban Moon Township, Pennsylvania near the Pittsburgh International Airport, and is listed among the best colleges in the Northeast by the Princeton Review. Receiving its accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the four-year, private, not-for-profit school currently offers 49 undergraduate, 35 graduate, and three doctoral degrees to the 5,377 students enrolled there. Home of the Colonials and wearing the official school colors of blue and white, the 16 men's and women's varsity sports teams compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Northeast Conference.

Estimated Program Tuition: $24,450

#4 Saint Joseph's University College of Arts and Sciences – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Joseph's University offers Master's of Science in Organization Development and Leadership. This 36-credit hour program is priced at $853 per credit hour making the total cost of tuition $30,708. An average early career salary of $55,700 has been reported by some students upon graduating from the university, revealing a strong return on the investment of education. The College of Arts and Sciences has divided this degree into three areas of Foundational Courses, Electives, and Advanced Courses. The electives for this Master's of Science in Organization Development and Leadership include Psychological Assessments, Leadership and Team Development, Positive Psychology and Scholarship, Career Development: Theory and Practice, Social Media and Learning, and Implementing Change.

Saint Joseph's University is a four-year, private, not-for-profit, Catholic university, and is recently listed as one of the top colleges in the Northeast. The university is situated in the Merion Station suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers associate degrees, 60 bachelor's majors, 53 master's programs, and doctoral degrees to the just-over 8,600 students currently enrolled there. Home of the Hawks and wearing the school's official colors of crimson and grey, the men's and women's sports teams at the university compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Atlantic-10 Conference and Philadelphia's Big 5. Holding the distinction of being the seventh oldest Jesuit university in the United States, Saint Joseph's University was established by the Society of Jesus in 1851. The school works to promote the Jesuit principle of Cura Personalis or "Care for the Whole Person." The Jesuit tradition is still valued at Saint Joseph's as seen in the 100 Jesuits residing on campus, 18 of which are staff members.

Estimated Program Tuition: $30,708

#3 Duquesne University John F. Donahue Graduate School of Business – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A Master's of Science in Management is offered at the John F. Donahue Graduate School of Business at Duquesne University. This 30-credit hour program consists of 10 courses priced at $934 per credit making the total cost of tuition an accessible $28,020. Some students have reported an average early career salary of $49,000 upon graduating, showing a healthy return on the investment of education. Part-time students can complete this degree within five semesters while full-time students can complete all coursework with two full semesters of four courses followed by two courses within the third. Courses within this Master's of Science in Management include Ethics & Stakeholder Management, The Legal Environment, Competitive Intelligence, The Entrepreneurial Manager, Leadership and Change Management, Business Strategy, Behavior in Organizations, Human Resource management, and Project Management. The admissions office at the John F. Donahue Graduate School of Business considers a complete application to include all official transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores unless waived by previous academic or professional experience, two professional references on file, a written essay, and a resume.

From its humble beginnings in 1878 when six educators and 40 students assembled under the name of the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost, today's Duquesne University is now a four-year, private, not-for-profit Catholic university situated on 50 acres on a hilltop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With a current enrollment of 9,404 students, the school offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The athletic department at Duquesne supports 16 men's and women's varsity teams which compete in sports at the NCAA Division I level within the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Northeast Conference. Among the Duquesne Dukes' accomplishments include two appearances in the men's basketball national championship games in the 1950's and winning the 1955 NIT championship game. Duquesne University receives its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Estimated Program Tuition: $28,020

#2 Lehigh University College of Business and Economics – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh University's College of Business and Economics offers a Master's of Science in Management. This two-semester program takes just ten months to complete and features a total tuition fee of $47,950. An average early career salary of $69,800 has been reported by some students upon graduating from the university, revealing a positive return on the investment of education. Students interested in the Master's of Science in Management are encouraged to fill out an online application with $75 fee, and submit a personal essay, resume, GMAT or GRE score, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation into the admissions department. Highlights to this program include a pre-term orientation, cohort-based learning experience, constant exposure to personal and professional development, and distinctive learning opportunities throughout. The College of Business and Economics, which has been recognized as one of the best programs in the nation by both the Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report, receives its exemplary business accreditation through the AACSB.

Situated among 2,350 acres on and around South Mountain, Lehigh University is comprised of three campuses: the Asa Packer Campus on the north slope, which is the predominant campus, the Mountaintop Campus featuring intramural sports fields, and the Murray H. Goodman Campus to the south which features sports facilities and the school's large stadium. Conceived and established by Asa Packer in 1865, Lehigh gets its name from one of Packer's well-known passions in life: the railroad. Receiving its regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Lehigh is a four-year, public institute of higher learning which offers degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the 7,054 students currently enrolled there.

Estimated Program Tuition: $47,950

#1 Penn State Smeal College of Business – University Park, Pennsylvania

The Smeal College of Business at Penn State offers a Master's of Professional Studies in Management and Organizational Leadership. With a national business school ranking of #36 by U.S. News & World Report and a recognition by the Princeton Review as one of the best in the Northeast, this MMOL takes just two semesters to complete taking advantage of the business school's schedule that includes a pair of seven week modules each term. These modules feature class sessions running from Mondays through Thursdays. Coursework also includes an immersion experience each semester; the first focusing on negotiations skills and tactics while the second deals with team-building and leadership exercises outside the traditional classroom setting. Receiving its excellent business accreditation through the AACSB, the Smeal College of Business offers the Master's of Professional Studies in Management and Organizational Leadership at the accessible total tuition price of just $21,294. The business school considers a complete application as one that includes GMAT/GRE scores, an admissions essay, a resume, educational transcripts, a video application response, two professional letters of recommendation, and the completed application paperwork.

Receiving its regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Penn State is a four-year, public university which offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to the almost-50,000 students enrolled there. The three-fold mission of Penn State University is "teaching, research, and public service." Situated in University Park, Pennsylvania, the school was first established in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. Widely known as the largest university in Pennsylvania, Penn State was recognized as the second-largest overall contributor to the state's economy in 2003. Home of the Nittany Lions, the school's original colors were black and dark pink before being changed to the commonly known white and blue of today. Most team sports at the university are affiliated with the NCAA Division I within the Big Ten Conference. Perhaps best known for its football program, the stadium at Penn State features the second-largest seating capacity in the U.S. only behind Michigan Stadium.

Estimated Program Tuition: $21,294

Ranking Methodology

In the state of Pennsylvania, there are almost 400 educational institutions listed with the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences' National Center for Educational Statistics. There are over 30 colleges within the state that offer focused master's degrees in the area of management and leadership. Programs within this ranking were first vetted based on their location in Pennsylvania and a focus in management and leadership, and then evaluated by the following six factors:

Accreditation: Since accreditation affects a program's value and brand recognition, each prospective MiM student must take this factor into account because it could affect their competitive advantage in the job market. Each master's program in this list is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting organizations recognized by the US Department of Education, specifically the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Additionally, each program was evaluated on whether it holds a third party business accreditation from one of the top business school accrediting institutions: IACBE, ACBSP, and AACSB. AACSB is widely regarded as the most prestigious business accreditation in the world, thus the schools that hold this accreditation were given the highest scores.

Affordability: Each management master's program was evaluated on the estimated total base tuition for the full program. This tuition cost directly affects each student's return on investment, and thus is another important factor to consider. Each tuition cost was gathered from the most recent data given on each program or school's website. The lowest tuition in this ranking is $19,350, the highest came in at $47,950, with the average resting at $27,340.

Average salary: Another important criteria to consider while looking at MiM programs is the reported salary from graduates of the university. This salary data was collected from PayScale's Graduate School Salary Report, which shows the average early-career salary reported by recent master's graduates from each institution. The highest early-career salary reported for this ranking is $72,900. Any school without a recorded PayScale early-career salary was calculated at zero because of no available third-party data.

Prestige: This criteria was collected from two of the most prestigious sources in educational rankings, US News and World Report and The Princeton Review. Each program was ranked on their score within the US News and World Report's Top Graduate Business School Ranking, as well as whether they were included in the Princeton Review's Best Northeastern Colleges Ranking.

All data was collected, weighted equally, and then averaged for this ranking for the Top 10 Master's in Management Programs in Pennsylvania.