Do you see yourself playing a significant role in the organization, storage, and distribution of products? Are you a keen problem-solver who loves working with and managing teams? With the exponential growth of e-retailing and online sales, the demand for supply chain managers and logisticians has similarly skyrocketed. In fact, the current economic and cultural climate is ideal for those interested in earning a degree in logistics or supply chain management. Which is not to say the job doesn’t have stability; in fact, this area is considered to be one of the most stable fields. While domestic retail patterns change, customers generally don’t, so you’re guaranteed a place in the world of business.
In fact, the current economic and cultural climate is ideal for those interested in earning a degree in logistics or supply chain management. Which is not to say the job doesn’t have stability; in fact, this area is considered to be one of the most stable fields. While domestic retail patterns change, customers generally don’t, so you’re guaranteed a place in the world of business.
In addition to job stability, another great perk of working in logistics and supply chain management is financial: salaries are notably higher compared to other jobs requiring only an undergraduate degree. On average, logisticians make over 74k annually, and purchasing managers make over 111k annually. And those numbers only reflect averages, not the limits of the earning potential. So, whether you’re interested in job stability, financial security, or a rewarding career that combines business strategy, interpersonal communications, and problem-solving, a degree in supply chain management and logistics could be perfect for you.
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Getting an online degree is one of the most economical and flexible ways to advance your education and career. Distance education has lost its stigma and is now recognized as an affordable alternative to “traditional” education, offering students the ability to work while earning a degree, pay lower credit hour costs, and still work with the same faculty and curriculum as on-campus students. Whatever your current situation, an online BS or BA is a great option.
What are the Best Online Bachelor’s in Logistics / Supply Chain Management Degrees?
The twenty colleges and universities below are diverse in their size, specialities, and pedagogy, as some are notable research universities, others technical colleges, and still others Catholic liberal arts colleges. But what all of these schools share in common is their commitment to providing the best, and most accessible, online degrees in logistics and supply chain management.
So whether you’re passionate about quality control or international business (or both!), the following programs ensure you a sturdy foundation in supply chain management and logistics, thereby ensuring you a rewarding career in an array of industries.
Our methodology in aggregating the best schools consists of thorough investigation, into those schools with the best academic reputation, retention rates (which reflects student satisfaction), the early annual salaries of its graduates, and credit hour cost. What we arrived at is a list of the nation’s best online BS in Logistics and Supply Chain Management degrees. Our information and figures come from the university and colleges’ websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.
Best Bachelor’s Programs for Supply Chain Management and Logistics
A public research university just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Kennesaw State University is one of the top fifty largest universities in the United States, enrolling close to 34,600 students each year. Beyond its main campus and satellite campuses throughout Georgia, Kennesaw State offers over 70 online degrees to its students using Brightspace, a highly reputable learning management system.
Features
Kennesaw State University kicks off our list as the number one school for receiving an online bachelor’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management for a number of reasons: its low tuition, high early pay scale for graduates, competitive reputation, and supportive financial aid packages. The 120-credit-hour BAS in Supply Chain Logistics program at Kennesaw State is designed for students who have already completed a technology or science associates degree in Georgia. Some of the classes include:
Statistical Quality Control
Engineering Economy
Warehousing Systems
IET Project Management
Notables
Beyond its business program, Kennesaw State University has a lot going for it as a school; for one, it was ranked 31st in US News & World Report’s “Best Universities in the South Region.” It also performs well among military personnel and veterans. In 2014, it was named 30th in the nation for “Best Colleges for Veterans.”
A worldwide institution, with over 125 campuses and learning centers in total, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university that offers degrees in seven different areas: applied science, aviation, business, computers & technology, engineering, security, intelligence & safety, and space. It holds the honor of being the world’s largest university that specializes in aviation and aerospace.
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Offered via the Embry Riddle Worldwide Campus network, the Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management is a 120-credit-hour program that lets students receive their classes a number of different ways: online, face-to-face, and through video teleconferences. Similar to the focus of Embry Riddle as a whole, this program specializes in management within aviation and aerospace. The core management classes at Embry Riddle include:
Transportation Science
Management of Air Cargo
Logistic Management for Aviation/Aerospace
Advances Professional Logistics
Notables
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University is notable in and of itself; it is the first university to offer a number of unique programs, such as Space Physics, Aerospace Physiology, and Spaceflight Operations. Even more, US News & World Report named it first in its “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” of 2017. Over 93 percent of graduates are either employed or enrolled in a graduate program within a year of graduation.
Founded in 1957 as a state college, California State University, East Bay has since grown into a strong public university with three campuses in Hayward, Oakland, and Concord, California. Cal State East Bay is most known academically for its business program, and has received a number of awards for its reputation, such as getting ranked as one of the “Top Business Schools in the West” by BusinessWeek.
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The two-year, online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Cal State East Bay gives students the chance to specialize in one of four areas: Finance, General Management, Information Technology Management, and finally, Operations and Supply Chain Management. Beyond the required core classes and two core specialized courses—Global Supply Chain Management and Enterprise Resource Management—within the Operations and Supply Chain Management option, students can choose from the following classes:
Supply Chain Data Analytics
Supply Management and E-Procurement
Management for Quality Improvement
Service Operations Management
Seminar in Operations and Supply Chain Management
Notables
At California State University East Bay, you are guaranteed quality and diversity. It has the distinction of being the most ethnically diverse college in California, as well as ranking number 14 among online programs in the United States. Even more, Princeton Review recently listed it as one of the “Best in the West” colleges.
Established in 1875, Park University is a private university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees to around 18,700 students each year. Its online program, which began in 1996, has made Park University a top school for adult learners and military veterans, and its Military Degree Completion Program is one of the strongest in the nation.
Features
The Bachelor of Science in Logistics at Park University readies students for professional work in both general management as well as the management of logistics systems. The online, 120-credit-hour program requires 66 hours of classwork in the logistics concentration. Some of those classes include:
Transportation and Distribution Systems
Quality Control
Purchasing and Vendor Management
Logistics Management
International Business Perspectives
Notables
Park University has a long history of being a military friendly school; Military Times gave it a number one ranking in “Best for Vets: Colleges 2016.” It also tends to rank high for its overall affordability. US News & World Report listed it as the 7th most affordable private university in the United States.
The largest university in South Florida and the fourth largest in the country, Florida International University is a force to be reckoned with. Based in University Park, Florida, the school enrolls over 55,000 students between its undergraduate and graduate programs. It holds the highest classification of ranking as a research university by the Carnegie Foundation, and is regionally known for its high research activity.
Features
At Florida International University, you’ll receive a Bachelors of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management 100 percent online. Students in this program not only have top-notch faculty members leading their classes, but they also have access to the Ryder Center for Supply Chain Management and the FIU Global Logistics Advisory Board to keep them well-connected in their field post-graduation. Some of the classes in this 120-credit-hour program include:
Marketing Channels
Logistics Technology
Decision Making & Negotiations
Business-to-Business Sales & Marketing
Notables
Florida International University has a lot to be proud of, especially when it comes to business. It ranks among the top 5 percent of business schools in the entire world, and US News & World Report listed its undergraduate international business program as 6th in the United States.
The first Catholic college in Florida, Saint Leo University is a private, Roman Catholic university that was founded in 1889. Though Saint Leo University is based in St. Leo, Florida, its reach is impressive—the university’s 14,650 students are enrolled in over 40 locations throughout the country. The Center for Online Learning at Saint Leo was created in 1998 with a particular goal of reaching military students and adult learners.
Features
The online BA in Business Administration with a Logistics concentration at Saint Leo University prepares students for logistics and management in both general business settings and military-specific settings. Saint Leo University also includes core requirement classes called Common Body of Knowledge, which uniquely address all areas of life, from “Evaluating the Predictions of Global Warming” to “Love and Desire in Literature” to the “McDonaldization of Society.” Within the Logistics concentration, you can expect to take some of the following classes:
Procurement, Purchasing, and Vendor Management
Inventory Control and Materials Management
Quality Improvement and Management
Notables
Saint Leo University has a number of areas in which it shines. For instance, Guide to Online Schools recently listed Saint Leo as number 17 in its list of top online programs in the country. This distinction is well-earned, since Saint Leo University was one of the first schools to venture into online learning in 1998. Even more, US News & World Report included Saint Leo University in its list of “Top Universities in the South” in 2016.
Completely online, American Public University is a for-profit institution that serves close to 98,500 students each year. American Public University is known for its affordability, and it is notably the least expensive school on our list ($270 per credit hour). The school is also well-known for its support of military personnel—77 percent of their student body are active-duty military or veterans.
Features
Unique to the online program at American Public University, students receive a Bachelor of Arts in Transportation and Logistics Management, all with the focus of serving future military, government, or corporate customers. This 121-credit-hour program features concentrations in three different tracks: air cargo, general, and reverse logistics management. Some of the classes you can expect to take among these three concentrations are:
International Logistics Management
Air Transportation
Food and Beverage Reverse Logistics
Hazardous Materials Transportation and Management
Notables
American Public University knows how to take care of its students; it recently ranked 11th in Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017.” The classes at American Public University are also set up in a way that maximize flexibility and accessibility. Classes are offered 100 percent online, start monthly and running for either 8 or 16 weeks.
Known for being an affordable and military-friendly school, Trident University International is a for-profit university that delivers its degree programs 100 percent online, primarily in business, health sciences, education, and information technology. The university shapes its programs around the Trident Learning Model, which uses active case-based education to encourage critical thinking and problem solving.
Features
The online BS in Business Administration degree at Trident University International is a 120-credit-hour course that includes 52 credits in the following plethora of concentrations: Contract Management, General Business, Human Resource Management, Information Technology Management, Logistics, Management/Leadership, Project Management, and Safety Management. The Logistics concentration includes these four specific courses:
Introduction to Supply Chain Management
Operations Management Control
Introduction to Global Logistics Management
Capstone Course in Logistics
Notables
Around 75 percent of the student body at Trident University International are military personnel, and Trident certainly steps up to the plate when it comes to taking care of its students; Military Times has listed it as a “Best for Vets” school five times, and it was named a top university for military education and transition the last two years.
With a history spanning back to 1900, Rasmussen University is now a for-profit private institution that offers over 70 degree programs in health sciences, business, design, education, nursing, and technology. Though its headquarters are based in Bloomington, Minnesota, Rasmussen also has 24 additional campuses across the United States as well as a thriving online program.
Features
Offered as a hybrid program or completely online, the bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain and Logistics Management at Rasmussen University is designed to align with the Six Sigma and TQM models, which guarantees that graduates will be a step ahead of the game in the working world. Unique to this program, students either finish their 180-credit-hour degree with a capstone project or an internship in the field. Along the way, you can look forward to taking some of the following classes:
Supply Chain Risk and Compliance
Winning Customer Service Strategies
Leading Change
Management of Information Systems
Notables
Unique to Rasmussen University, all students are given the opportunity to complete their degree using Flex Choice, which blends together traditional learning with competency-based education and online self-directed learning. This not only save students lots of money, but it also meets each individual student at their unique place in life and allows them to learn at their own pace.
A small, religious college located in central Ohio, Ohio Christian University was originally founded as Mount of Praise Bible College, affiliated with the Churches of Christ in Christian Union. Its 4,000 students attend mostly online or through one of its thirteen satellite campuses throughout Ohio and Georgia.
Features
At Ohio Christian University, you’ll earn a Bachelor of Arts in Business with the opportunity to specialize in the Logistics concentration. The core classes in this program include a number of Bible and Christian worldview courses, though the program ultimately prepares students to work in management positions in either secular or religious settings. Within the 120-credit-hour program, the Logistics concentration is made up of just four, 3-credit classes, each taken over the course of five weeks:
Logistics Management
Transportation Systems
Warehousing and Terminal Management
Strategic Procurement
Notables
Ohio Christian University is often a stand-out school when it comes to affordability and financial aid support. Its online degrees have been known to be among the most affordable in the country. Ohio Christian University’s relatively small enrollment size also leads to close-knit classes, with an impressive student to faculty ratio of 10:1.
Southern New Hampshire University is private university located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Though the total enrollment of the school is around 60,000 students, only about 3,000 students attend on the main campus. The majority of its students attend through Southern New Hampshire University’s College of Online & Continuing Education.
Features
Using both small-scale tools (spreadsheets and statistics) and large-scale systems (reverse logistics and supply chain management), the online BS in Operations Management in Logistics and Transportation at SNHU prepares students for the whole gamut of tasks in management. This 120-credit-hour degree includes general education core classes, business core classes, and then the specific degree courses in Logistics and Transportation, some of which include:
Sustainable Operations
Integrated Supply Chain Management
Continuous Improvement Tools and Techniques
Management Science through Spreadsheets
Notables
Within the region the School of Business at Southern New Hampshire University is held in high regard. New Hampshire Business Review awarded the School of Business a number of “Best of Business” recognitions, including “Best Online Degree Program. As a whole, Southern New Hampshire University is known for its innovation and was recently named the 12th most innovative organization in the world by Fast Company.
Founded in 1936 as a women’s college by the Sisters of Saint Agnes, Marian University is a small Roman Catholic university based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It now is fully coeducational, enrolling around 2,180 students each year. Despite its size, Marian University offers a wide range of degrees, including 11 bachelor’s degrees, 4 master’s degrees, one doctoral degree, and an adult undergraduate program that specializes in online education.
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At Marian University Wisconsin, students can earn an online bachelor’s degree in Operations and Supply Chain Management through the Adult Undergraduate program. After taking a Liberal Arts core (30 credits), a Business Administration core (37 credits), and electives (35 credits) to lay the foundation of a solid education, students are required to take 18 credits of Operations and Supply Chain Management courses, some of which include:
Statistical Applications
Process and Quality
Purchasing
Operations Management
Notables
Graduates of Marian University’s business department tend to outperform the national average in a number of ways. For example, in the Peregrine CIP Comp Exam, 45 percent of Marian students ranked in the top 20 percent nationally. Even more impressive, 100 percent of graduates of Marian University’s business program landed jobs within six months of graduating.
Ranked on a global scale as one of the top 500 universities in the world, Northern Arizona University is a public research institution that is based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Northern Arizona University educates its nearly 30,400 students throughout the entire state, with branch campuses in Yuma, 22 state community colleges, and online.
Features
The online bachelor’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Northern Arizona University approaches the field from a fresh, global perspective, preparing students to go beyond local business management. Students in this 120-credit-hour program are trained to tackle difficult logistic operations, coordinate purchasing and transportation for large-scale orders, and control the management processes at every step of the way through some of the following courses:
Fundamentals of Logistics
Green Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Principles of Management in a Global Economy
Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Notables
Among Northern Arizona University’s large student body population, about one-third of them take classes through the Extended Campus program, either online or through its web of satellite campuses. Most online students use Blackboard Learn (BbLearn) as a learning management platform, while others use the Personalized Learning option, which lets students work through a degree at their own pace.
Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and home to around 10,300 students, Bellevue University is a private university that focuses primarily on adult education, with nearly 80 percent of their undergraduates aged 25 and over. Bellevue’s online degrees have been nationally acclaimed; in fact, US News & World Report named its online bachelor’s degree program as among the top 10 in the United States!
Features
The Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Logistics Management at Bellevue University is designed to keep students ahead of the curve in the job market. For example, the classes jump right into global logistics management, and introduce students to Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), a fairly new concept in the field. Some of the classes that demonstrate this forward-thinking model include:
International Trade Policy, Regulation, and Ethics,
Emerging Trends in Supply Chain and Logistics Management
Global Business Law
Electronic Commerce and Distribution Channels
Notables
In addition to these degree-specific classes, all students are required to complete the Kirkpatrick Signature Series, which is the “intellectual linchpin” of the Bellevue curriculum. This includes courses called American Vision and Values, Tradition and Change, and Freedom and Responsibility. You’ll leave Bellevue with not only a great understanding of logistics and supply chain management, but also with the sense of how your work fits into larger society.
Known to be small but mighty, Granite State College is a four-year school that is part of the University System of New Hampshire. It consistently is listed as the least expensive college in New Hampshire with an average credit hour cost of $335. Granite State College enrolls close to 1,900 students each year, both through its nine on-campus settings throughout New Hampshire and through its online programs.
Features
The online Bachelors of Science in Operations Management at Granite State College gives students the chance to explore all areas of the field: project management, statistics, operations, quality control, and more. Unique to Granite State College, 84 percent of its students are transfer students, which means Granite State is both accommodating and flexible with credits. Some of the classes included in this degree are:
International Economics
Organizational Behavior or Leadership
Financial Modeling and Decision Making
Managing Information Technology
Notables
For its size, Granite State College still makes a noticeable impression on the online education world. US News & World Report ranked it 79th in the country for its online bachelor degree program in 2016. It also ranked first in New England for Washington Monthly’s list of “Social Mobility” among liberal arts colleges.
Colorado Technical University is a for-profit institution based in Colorado Springs, Colorado that offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in business, technology, engineering, criminal justice, finance, health, and computer science. Most students at CTU (over 90 percent) are online learners and the online programs—especially information technology, criminal justice, and business—offered by CTU are consistently ranked as among the best in the nation.
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The main goal of Colorado Technical University’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program is to bridge the gap between management theories and real-world, industry-proven techniques. The online, 180-credit-hour program compiles general education classes, business core classes, and then 28 credits of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management classes, which include:
Quality Management
Contract Management
Supply Chain Negotiation
Procurement and Acquisition
Notables
Colorado Technical University is often recognized for its online degree programs and for its suitability for veterans. In 2016, Colorado Technical University was ranked among the “Best for Vets” 2016 list by Military Times, and US News & World Report recently ranked it 58th for “Best Online Programs of 2015.”
Founded in 1922 as a means to meet the demand for professional educators in Kentucky, Murray State University has since grown into a large public university (enrollment is around 10,500 yearly) that awards a wide variety of degrees through its 30 departments and four academic colleges. An impressive 23 percent of undergraduate students at Murray State University are enrolled in the College of Business.
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The Logistics and Supply Chain Management program at Murray State University join together an Associate of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science in Business degree with a focus in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. During the first two years, students will gain a foundational knowledge of core concepts and then earn 47 credits in Business Core and Logistics Core courses to complete their degree, which include the following classes:
Enterprise Resource Planning
International Transportation and Logistics
Issues in the Global Economy
Information Systems and Decision Making
Notables
Murray State University has a long and steady history of top rankings in US News & World Report’s lists. Among other regional universities in the South, Murray State University was listed at number 12 in 2016, and it has maintained a top spot on that list for the last twenty-six years to boot! On a smaller scale, Murray State University was one of eight schools in Kentucky to gain the AACSB accreditation for its business programs.
Offering 140 programs of study and the chance to earn degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a large, public research institution that is based in Birmingham, Alabama. The school is known for having one of the biggest academic medical institutions on its campus, and for its stand-out status as a research institution in the South. Its 18,500 students attend UAB either on its main urban campus or through its online and blended programs.
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The program at University of Alabama at Birmingham takes a slightly different approach by offering an online Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution. This degree address all the same principles and concepts as the other schools on this list, but it takes a specific focus on the logistics and management involved in distribution, offering specializations in either Industrial Distribution Engineering or Medical Equipment and Sales Distribution. Depending on your concentration, you can expect to take the following classes:
International Marketing (Upper Level Core)
Overview of Mechanical Components (Industrial Distribution Engineering Core)
Health Care Marketing (Medical Equipment and Sales Distribution)
University of Alabama at Birmingham prides itself on not only achieving notoriety as an overall school, but also having a renowned business department—the Collat School of Business was recently ranked 7th among state business schools by US News & World Report. As a school, University of Alabama at Birmingham ranked 1st in the state for federal research and development funding, a good indicator of forward thinking and innovation.
Based in Athens, Alabama, Athens State University is a public institution that began originally as Athens Female College but has since broadened to be coeducational. It awards degrees in 33 different majors between its three academic colleges: Business, Arts and Sciences, and Education. As one of the more affordable schools on our list ($274 per credit hour), Athens State University is also known for its relatively low tuition and fees.
Features
The online, 124-credit-hour program at Athens State University earns students a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Requiring an impressive 62 credits in Professional Core classes, this degree includes both a capstone class in Business Policy and a Seminar in Business to ensure that graduates of Athens State University leave ready to jump into the field of business. Other courses in the program include:
Financial Management
International Economics and Trade
Management of Change
Enterprise Systems and Business Processes
Notables
In addition to traditional undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Athens State University offers an Adult Degree Program, which gives non-traditional college students the chance to finish their degree (or start one for the first time!). The Adult Degree Program allows you to learn at your own pace and are offered 100 percent online, giving students flexibility and freedom.
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