The Best MBA Programs in Pittsburgh for 2027
Key Points: Best MBA Programs in Pittsburgh
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ranks #1 in the Pittsburgh area on a 94.1 Program Score, with an 85% graduation rate.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania follows at #2 with a 76.8 Program Score.
- Programs analyzed
- 11
- Schools ranked
- 7
- Average graduation rate
- 66%
We analyzed 11 accredited MBA programs in Pittsburgh and the surrounding metro and ranked 7 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus leads with a 94.1 Program Score on an 85% graduation rate. Across all 7 ranked MBA programs in Pittsburgh the average graduation rate is 66%, ranging from 59% to 85%. 2 of the 7 are public and 5 are private. National median pay for the field is $105,770 a year per the BLS, the benchmark every school on this list feeds into regardless of what it charges.
The Top MBA Programs in Pittsburgh at a Glance
Pittsburgh leads at 94.1, and Geneva College closes the chart at 65.3. Longer bars rank higher.
How the MBA Programs in Pittsburgh Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 7 Best MBA Programs in Pittsburgh, Ranked for 2027
The 7 best MBA Programs in Pittsburgh, ranked by outcomes.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA · Public
- Grad rate
- 85%
- Admit rate
- 58%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh's Katz MBA is offered as a 12-month accelerated, 18-month full-time or flexible part-time program.
- 85% graduation rate
- Program Score 94.1
- 58% admit rate
- 12-month, 18-month or part-time formats
The University of Pittsburgh offers MBA programs through the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. The page lists several formats: a 12-month accelerated MBA, an 18-month full-time format, a flexible part-time format, and dual or joint degree options. Related options include an MBA with Business Analytics and executive programs. The school describes an experience-based approach that builds skills such as presentation, research, teamwork and decision making through case competitions, consulting field projects and a management capstone, supported by the Center for Integrated Learning. It also says its graduate students learn to work with AI using judgment, ethics and strategic insight. The page notes an alumni network spanning the globe, and the school reports recognition from U.S. News for its full-time and part-time MBA programs.
Pitt graduates 85% of its students and admits 58% of applicants. The Program Score of 94.1 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want to choose the pace of their degree, from a one-year sprint to part-time study alongside work, and who value hands-on consulting and capstone projects. Applicants should confirm which format matches their timeline before applying.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 66%
- Admit rate
- 71%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Slippery Rock's online MBA takes 12 to 24 months, starts in any of four terms and offers five concentrations.
- Program Score 76.8
- 66% graduation rate
- Fully online, 4 start terms
- 5 concentrations, 30 to 36 credits
Slippery Rock University's MBA is delivered fully online through flexible, asynchronous courses. The program facts list 30 to 36 credits, a completion time of 12 to 24 months and start terms in fall, winter, spring and summer. Core courses cover corporate accounting, managerial economics, quantitative analysis, financial management, supply chain management, strategic marketing and strategic management, and students choose a concentration in accounting, finance, human resources, management or marketing. The School of Business reports AACSB International accreditation for its business degrees. Applicants need a bachelor's degree, a C or better in business statistics or precalculus, a resume, and either a business degree with a 3.0 GPA, professional work experience, or a master's or terminal degree. There is no application fee, and GMAT scores are requested only if the GPA is below 3.0.
Slippery Rock graduates 66% of its students and admits 71% of applicants. The program's Program Score is 76.8 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals who want to choose a concentration, begin in any term and finish in as little as one year without sitting for the GMAT in most cases.
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 66%
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A fully online 30-credit MBA in 8-week sessions with a built-in certificate in Business Analytics, AI, or Project Management.
- 66% graduation rate
- Program Score 75.8
- Fully online, 30 credits
- Built-in certificate option
Robert Morris University offers its Master of Business Administration through the Rockwell School of Business as a fully online, part-time program. Students complete 10 courses, or 30 credits, in accelerated 8-week sessions. Taking one course per session leads to a degree in under two years, with the option to slow down. Seven courses are core classes in finance, marketing, analytics and leadership, and the other three are electives. Every RMU MBA includes an integrated online certificate in Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, or Project Management. Classes are asynchronous, use case-method analysis, simulations and software tools, and end with a capstone in systems thinking and strategic synthesis. Each student is assigned a success coach, and the school says it keeps classes small.
Federal data show a 66% graduation rate at RMU and a 90% admit rate. This program's Program Score is 75.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits working adults who want a general MBA they can finish in under two years without attending campus, and who want a second credential in analytics, AI or project management attached to the degree.
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Seton Hill University's online MBA in Business Analytics runs in 8-week sessions and can be finished in as little as one year.
- Program Score 72.2
- 67% graduation rate
- Fully online, 8-week sessions
- 30 to 33 credits, finish in one year
Seton Hill University offers an MBA with a Business Analytics specialization delivered fully online in an asynchronous format. Courses run in 8-week sessions, and students can start at the beginning of any session. The curriculum totals 30 to 33 credits, and the page says the degree can be completed in as little as one year or taken more slowly. The focus is on the quantitative and managerial skills needed to analyze complex data sets and support data-driven decisions across an organization's supply chain. Applicants submit a graduate application, transcripts, a resume, a letter of recommendation and a personal statement, and must complete BU502 (MBA Orientation and Fundamentals) or equivalent undergraduate coursework before admission, which may be taken alongside the first MBA classes. The school also points students to its Career and Professional Development Center.
Seton Hill graduates 67% of its students and admits 80% of applicants, so entry is moderately selective rather than competitive. The program earns a Program Score of 72.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals who want a data-focused MBA they can fit around a job, start on several dates a year and, if they choose, finish within twelve months. Applicants without a business background should plan for the orientation prerequisite.
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Carlow University offers its online MBA with six listed tracks, from Fraud & Forensics to Project Management, plus MSN/MBA and MSW/MBA dual degrees.
- Program Score 67.9
- 60% graduation rate
- 87% admit rate
- Online MBA with 5 focus areas
Carlow University lists an online MBA alongside a series of focused MBA options: Fraud & Forensics, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership & Management, and Project Management. The school's program catalog also shows an Executive MBA delivered online and two dual degrees, an MSN-MBA and an MSW & MBA, both online. Students who want something shorter than a full degree can look at the graduate certificates in Fraud & Forensics, Healthcare Management, Human Resources and Project Management. The page does not state credit hours, internship or capstone requirements, so check the catalog for those details before applying.
Federal data show a 60% graduation rate at Carlow, a Pittsburgh private nonprofit with about 2,416 students. The admit rate is 87%, so most applicants are accepted. The program earns a Program Score of 67.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. This is a practical fit for working professionals in healthcare, human services, nursing or HR who want a business credential tied to their field, and for anyone who prefers an online format with several specialization choices over a single general MBA.
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 59%
- Admit rate
- 97%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Point Park University's 36-credit MBA requires a portfolio of work from every course and offers eight concentration areas.
- 59% graduation rate
- Program Score 67.9
- 36-credit MBA
- Course portfolio requirement
Point Park University's Master of Business Administration is a 36-credit program in Pittsburgh. The page centers on a distinctive requirement: from admission onward, students build an MBA portfolio containing at least one item from each course, such as a case study, research paper, strategic business plan, marketing plan or presentation. The school says the portfolio helps graduates show skills to employers and supplies graduate-level work samples for doctoral applications. Concentration areas named on the page are business analytics, engineering management, global supply chain management, health systems management, international business, management, management information systems, and sport, arts and entertainment management. The school reports that the MBA is accredited through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
Point Park graduates 59% of its students and admits 97% of applicants, which makes it close to open in practice. The program's Program Score is 67.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The MBA suits students who want a choice of specialty and a tangible body of work to show employers. The portfolio adds ongoing work across the degree, so applicants should plan for it from the first course.
Geneva College
Beaver Falls, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Geneva College's on-campus MBA meets one night a week in nine-week sessions and offers Finance, Marketing and Operations concentrations.
- Program Score 65.3
- 61% graduation rate
- Open admission
- 36-credit MBA, one night a week
Geneva College's on-campus MBA is built for people who work during the day. Students attend class one night a week for nine weeks per session, and by taking one class per semester they can finish within two and a half years. The general MBA is 36 credits. Three concentrations are offered: Finance at 36 credits, Marketing at 39 credits and Operations at 45 credits. The program page emphasizes in-person engagement with faculty and fellow students in the classroom. A concentration checklist and a course schedule are published for planning, and applicants can reach the program by email or through the form on the page.
Federal data show a 61% graduation rate at Geneva, a private nonprofit in Beaver Falls with about 1,366 students, and the school is open admission. The program earns a Program Score of 65.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits professionals in western Pennsylvania who prefer a classroom to an online format, want a predictable weekly schedule, and may want a concentration in finance, marketing or operations without taking a long break from their job.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked MBA Programs in Pittsburgh
The median school on this list graduates 66% of its students. The highest rates belong to University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (85%) and Seton Hill University (67%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus85% graduation rate
- #4 Seton Hill University67% graduation rate
- #2 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania66% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the MBA Programs in Pittsburgh?
On this list, 1 of 7 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 84%.
- #1 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus58% admitted
- #2 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania71% admitted
- #4 Seton Hill University80% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private MBA Programs in Pittsburgh
This list holds 2 public and 5 private nonprofit schools. Their median Program Scores: 85.4 public and 67.9 private nonprofit.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Online Options Among the MBA Programs in Pittsburgh
Of the 7 schools ranked here, 4 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, at #2.
- #2 Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA
- #3 Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, PA
- #4 Seton Hill UniversityGreensburg, PA
- #5 Carlow UniversityPittsburgh, PA
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the MBA Programs in Pittsburgh
Enrollment on this list runs from 1,366 at Geneva College to 35,724 at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus. Of the 7, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 4 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the MBA Programs in Pittsburgh Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| #2 | Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | $81,485 |
| #3 | Robert Morris UniversityRobert Morris | $99,983 |
| #4 | Seton Hill UniversitySeton Hill | $79,722 |
| #5 | Carlow UniversityCarlow | $82,739 |
| #6 | Point Park UniversityPoint Park | $90,722 |
| #7 | Geneva CollegeGeneva College | $62,048 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $62,048 at Geneva College to $99,983 at Robert Morris.
The highest-ranked school in the table, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (#2), reports $81,485, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level.
What MBA Programs in Pittsburgh Cost
The federal data behind this ranking reports each school's undergraduate tuition, not its MBA price, so this page does not quote a per-program MBA cost. Graduate business tuition is usually billed per credit and varies by format: full-time, part-time, evening, and executive sections at the same school often carry different rates. Get the current per-credit rate and total program cost from each school's graduate business office before comparing.
Run the full two-year math on that quoted rate, and add fees and any required residencies. Against the national median of $105,770 a year for the management roles MBA graduates move into, a lower total cost pays itself back faster. Employer tuition assistance and graduate assistantships change the real price more than the sticker does, so ask about both.
Accreditation Across Pittsburgh Business Schools
The MBA programs in Pittsburgh lean private: 5 of the 7 ranked schools are private against 2 public. Accreditation is what makes their degrees comparable at all. For an MBA the signal employers read is business-school accreditation from AACSB sitting on top of the university's institutional accreditation, and a private school's higher price does not mean it carries it. Confirm it on each school's own page before applying.
Why Study for an MBA in Pittsburgh
The 7 ranked schools are spread across 5 towns, which makes "Pittsburgh" a looser description than the heading suggests. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus tops the list, with Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and Robert Morris University in Moon Township behind it, and the table names the town of each. For a part-time cohort meeting on weeknights that spread is the deciding constraint: a campus an hour out is a different degree from one on the way home, whatever the ranking says.
4 of the 7 also run a confirmed online option, which keeps the credential but gives up most of the local access that justifies studying in Pittsburgh in the first place.
Careers and Pay After a Pittsburgh MBA
Every one of the MBA programs in Pittsburgh points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay for the field at $105,770 a year, a figure that describes the profession rather than any single school here. That is the tradeoff this ranking exists to expose: in the federal wage data, a higher price does not buy a higher salary.
Keep Exploring
MBA Programs in Pittsburgh: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best MBA program in Pittsburgh?
By Program Score, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ranks first among the 7 ranked MBA programs in Pittsburgh, with a 94.1 score and an 85% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Do MBA programs in Pittsburgh require the GMAT?
Fewer of them every year, and the 7 ranked here are not uniform about it. Many programs now waive the GMAT or GRE for applicants with several years of relevant work, and the terms differ program by program, so check them on each school's admissions page before registering for a test. A waiver saves the fee and the study time, and it does not loosen the rest of the file.
How much does an MBA cost in Pittsburgh?
It depends on the school and the format. The federal data this ranking uses reports undergraduate tuition, not MBA pricing, so ask each school's graduate business office for its current per-credit rate and total program cost, and compare full-time, part-time, and online sections separately. Neither figure includes Pittsburgh living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many MBA programs in Pittsburgh does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 11 accredited MBA programs across Pittsburgh and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 7 schools, listing one entry per school. This list covers the Pittsburgh metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth doing an MBA in Pittsburgh instead of online?
4 of the 7 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Pittsburgh this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.