Purdue University’s online MBA can help you make it in the Emirates. If you’re a UAE citizen looking to become part of the nation’s propensity for “enterprise, innovation, and corporate expansion,” then this is the programme that’ll empower you to achieve just that.
Offered by the Mitch Daniels School of Business, the Purdue online MBA is ranked the #7 Best Online MBA in North America by CEO Magazine. Now with newly lowered MBA tuition, its already high return on investment is even higher.
Dakota Michel had long harboured a dream of earning a master’s degree from Purdue University, the school where his grandparents met. But the cost of Purdue’s online MBA had initially put the programme out of reach.
It was only a matter of time, though, before the opportunity would circle back to him. Two weeks before applications closed, a Purdue enrollment advisor had emailed him to say that the university had reduced tuition to a rate within his means.
“Within seven days, I had my entire MBA application packet completed and submitted,” says Michel. “And then within 10 days of that email, I was accepted into the programme.”
The new tuition rate, effective fall 2025, was part of Purdue’s push to make its world-class education more accessible. This means students like Michel get an even faster ROI with no compromise on the degree’s academic rigour or career value. And more mid-career professionals everywherewill have a more flexible and accessible MBA.
Tech-focused courses add another layer of advantage for UAE-based students. Taught by top-notch faculty, they allow students to develop skills that top industries and employers in the region will need. And these new skills and knowledge can be immediately applied to their roles.
Experience learning from Purdue’s world-class faculty members at a lower cost. Source: Purdue University
Online MBA graduates achieve career goals
Purdue’s online MBA graduates command an average salary increase of US$25,000. More than four in five (82%) report enhanced managerial and leadership capabilities, 45% of graduates move into roles with higher responsibility, and about 77% report having the ability to implement organisational change.
For graduate Christian Coakley, the online MBA would lead him to two promotions without putting his career on hold. When he joined the programme in 2020, Coakley was working on the engineering side of United Airlines, and projects often took him around the world. Choosing this online programme just made sense. He could maintain some flexibility to travel for work without risking missing class.
“This programme showed me that I can really study anywhere,” says Coakley, who’s now moved to the business side as manager of inventory performance. “I’ve had work projects take me from the most rural areas to the most populous places on the planet. Whether I was in Louisiana or Hong Kong, I could still get my coursework done.”
The online MBA is flexible in other ways. It has three starting dates per year. Students have the option to complete the programme in as little as two years or take a lighter course load to allow them more time and focus. There are as many as 10 specialisations to choose from, such as Business Analytics Fundamentals, Fundamentals in AI, or Marketing Analytics.
Purdue University’s Online MBA was ranked #7 in North America by CEO Magazine in 2025. Source: Purdue University
Support on all fronts
Just because your courses take place online doesn’t mean you’re not connected or supported. When Coakley took many credits in his first semester, he had trouble managing his time effectively. Thankfully, his academic advisor stepped in, explaining to him that it’s okay to take on a lighter load and that there’s a lot of flexibility in terms of how many classes you take each semester.
Coakley’s peers were there for him too. Almost all his classmates were also full-time employees, so when it came to team projects, everyone was in the same boat. It was easy to get along with everyone, which made the coursework a lot less stressful.
“My biggest takeaway from the experience was the amount of support the school provided to help me complete the coursework and advance my career,” says Coakley. “The online MBA programme provides all the tools and resources you need to be successful. All you have to do is utilise them.”
Feeling motivated to take your career to the next level? Check out Purdue’s online MBA programme today and experience high-value learning at lower costs.
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