The latest online MBA ranking reports show shifting acceptance rates across top programs, a sign that admissions standards and cohort design remain central to program value. Indiana University’s Kelley Direct led the list with a 23% acceptance rate for the 2024–25 intake, while other leading schools reported mixed movements in selectivity. The ranking methodology weights admissions standards, including acceptance rate, as a major component of program quality. For institutions investing in online graduate education, the data point to competing strategies: tighten selectivity to boost perceived rigor or expand access to capture market share. Deans and admissions directors must reconcile yield, student success metrics and marketing claims when calibrating future class sizes.