Online Masters in Supply Chain Management

An online master’s in supply chain management is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and want advanced training in sourcing strategy, network design, and analytical planning. Programs may emphasize quantitative modeling, global operations, or general management depending on the school and the degree type.

This page explains how master’s programs are structured, what coursework typically includes, and what to compare across schools.

Quick answers

What is an online master’s in supply chain management?

It is a graduate-level program that builds advanced sourcing, planning, logistics, and operations knowledge through online coursework, usually with more emphasis on analytics and strategy than an undergraduate program.

What degree titles are common?

Common options include a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, an MS in Supply Chain and Logistics Management or Operations and Supply Chain Management, and an MBA with a supply chain or operations concentration.

How is an MS in supply chain management different from a supply-chain MBA?

An MS typically goes deeper into technical supply chain topics such as network optimization, demand modeling, and sourcing strategy. An MBA with a supply chain concentration usually covers broader general-management coursework – finance, strategy, organizational behavior – alongside a smaller set of supply chain electives.

What is typically included in the curriculum?

Most programs include a shared core in strategic sourcing, logistics and network design, demand and inventory planning, and supply chain analytics, plus electives or a concentration and often a capstone or applied consulting project.

What do admissions requirements usually include?

Most programs require a completed bachelor’s degree. Common elements include transcripts, a resume, and a statement of purpose; some programs request GMAT or GRE scores or relevant work experience, though many online programs are test-optional.

What online formats and pacing options are common?

Programs may use standard term schedules, accelerated shorter terms, or part-time options with lighter course loads for working professionals. Master’s programs typically run 30 to 36 credits.

At a Glance

  • Degree type: MS in Supply Chain Management, or MBA with a supply chain concentration
  • Typical duration: 1-2 years full-time
  • Credits: Typically 30-36 semester hours
  • Format: Online, often designed for working professionals
  • Accreditation: Institutional accreditation is the baseline; AACSB or ACBSP accredits the host business school broadly

Schools to compare

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Grove City College

Grove City, PA BOC Score 91.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 84%
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL BOC Score 90.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 86%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $81,054
Avg net price $14,355/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 95%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD BOC Score 89.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $82,860
Avg net price $15,678/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT BOC Score 77.1
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $75,790
Avg net price $15,564/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 74

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA BOC Score 62.5
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 61%
Graduation rate 86%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,435
Avg net price $32,875/yr
Tuition
In‑state$20,644
Out‑of‑state$41,790
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon

Bayamon, PR BOC Score 58.2
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 35%
Graduation rate 34%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,409
Avg net price $8,484/yr
Tuition
In‑state$6,284
Out‑of‑state$6,284
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

MiraCosta College

Oceanside, CA BOC Score 54.0
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,845
Avg net price $7,339/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 89%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Fresno City College

Fresno, CA BOC Score 41.3
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,361
Avg net price $8,069/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard


Typical topics in a master’s program

Course TopicWhat You Learn
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier ManagementCategory strategy, negotiation, contracts, and supplier risk
Logistics & Network DesignFacility location, transportation strategy, and distribution network modeling
Demand & Inventory PlanningAdvanced forecasting, multi-echelon inventory, and service-level tradeoffs
Supply Chain Analytics & OptimizationOptimization models, simulation, and decision analysis
Global Supply Chain StrategyTrade regulation, offshoring and nearshoring decisions, and geopolitical risk
Supply Chain Risk & ResilienceDisruption planning, dual sourcing, and continuity strategy
Enterprise Systems & IntegrationERP and planning systems, data flow, and process integration
Capstone or Applied ProjectEnd-to-end analysis of a real or simulated supply chain

Skills and outcomes to compare

Outcomes vary by program, but you can compare:

  • Depth of quantitative modeling and optimization coursework
  • Applied project, case competition, simulation, or practicum requirements
  • Concentration or elective options, such as procurement, logistics, or analytics
  • Exposure to ERP and planning software used in industry
  • Career services support, including recruiting relationships with manufacturers, retailers, and logistics providers

For pacing and delivery comparisons, see: How Online Supply Chain Management Degrees Work

How to compare online master’s programs

  1. Identify the program type: general MS in supply chain management, a specialized track such as logistics or analytics, or an MBA with a supply chain concentration.
  2. Review the core curriculum and capstone or applied-project requirements.
  3. Check concentrations and electives that fit your target career path – procurement and network design pull on different skills.
  4. Confirm admissions expectations, including test-score policies and work-experience preferences.
  5. Compare online format and pacing options against your schedule.
  6. Verify institutional accreditation, and note whether the host business school holds AACSB or ACBSP accreditation.
A master’s degree is not the same as an ASCM (formerly APICS) certification such as CPIM or CSCP. Those are industry certifications earned through separate exam programs. Some master’s programs align coursework with the exam topics, but completing the degree does not confer the certification.

Admissions requirements

Requirements vary by school, but most programs require a completed bachelor’s degree. Common elements include transcripts, a resume, and a statement of purpose. Some programs request GMAT or GRE scores, letters of recommendation, or relevant professional experience, though many online programs offer test-optional admission. Undergraduate coursework in statistics or business is sometimes expected, and programs that admit career changers often provide bridge or foundation courses instead.

Master’s vs a bachelor’s in supply chain management

A bachelor’s in supply chain management is generally the entry credential for analyst, planner, and coordinator roles. Logisticians, an occupation commonly entered with a bachelor’s degree, had a median annual wage of $82,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A master’s is more typically pursued to build deeper analytical skills, support a career pivot into supply chain from another field, or position for advancement into management. Management-level supply chain occupations generally expect substantial prior experience in the function rather than a graduate degree alone: transportation, storage, and distribution managers had a median annual wage of $107,230, and purchasing managers $148,080 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

If your interest is the modeling side of the work, note that operations research analysts, at a median annual wage of $88,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), often expect graduate coursework – a comparison worth weighing against data analytics programs.

Compare degree options:

For a value and fit discussion, see: Is an Online Supply Chain Management Degree Worth It

Next Steps

Data verified: August 10, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.